Wooden Ships Comments on this West Country Gaff Ketch West Country Gaff Ketch built by Pearce of Looe in 1919. The design of the fishing boats built in the various ports of Devon and Cornwall all vary in detail but generally follow the same distinctive lines with a straight stem, long keel and transom stern and were built in a range of sizes from the little 20’ Toshers up to the larger boats, commonly 42’. The earlier boats were sail only with originally lug rig, always popular with working boats all round the country up to the last days of the 1800s when the gaff became more common. With the advent of the railway bringing the tourist industry to the West Country, visitors who bought houses often wanted boats and the local yards would often build pleasure boats for their customers on the same lines as the fishing boats they were usually building. This is one such, built as a yacht on the lines of the fishing boats and slightly large giving a voluminous interior and lots of deck space. The vessel was bought after the war by the author George Millar who wrote about his passage through the French Canals and on to Greece in his book, Isabelle and the Sea. In his hands she is believed to have been the first yacht into Paris after the war when the Duke and Duchesse of Windsor were entertained on board. Apart from Millar, She has had many notable owners with interesting lives who have cruised the boat all around the Mediterranean and up to Scandinavia. The vessel has been undergoing a very thorough refit in the present ownership since 2011 and the bulk of this work has been done. The interior joinery is not yet finished and there is scope for a new owner to adapt the interior for their own needs. The engines and systems are all up together and the rig is nearing the end of its thorough overhaul. The owner has had a long love affair with this vessel and although he has come to the end of his journey with her, he is determined to see her in good hands with a new custodian who can finish the work and get her back to sea. With that in mind the price is not the owners highest priority hence her attractive asking price. Length on Deck 50’ Length Waterline 48’ Beam 13’ Draft 5’ Construction Hull Planked in what is thought to be pitch pine fastened with galvanised boat nails to sawn oak frames. Oak keel and centreline structure. Internal ballast of iron pigs. More recently fitted external steel keel box filled with iron punchings giving ballast and rigidity to the hull. Internal bulkheads replaced throughout the boat. Transom hung rudder with wheel steering via cables. New rudder 2012. Cables and pulleys overhauled. Work to the hull in recent years has included: -Many new frames -Refastening of portions of the hull -Some new planking but most of the original is still good -Re-caulking underwater hull -New keel bolts Deck Marine plywood deck sheathed externally in glass cloth and finished with deck paint. Deck largely replaced in current ownership. Step in the deck forward which gives vastly more headroom in the forward cabin than she had previously. Bulwark all round all new since 2011. Oak stanchions with a utile capping rail and bulwark planking. Large oak sampson post fitted with reinforcing steel work below the deck that also carries the windlass. Superstructure Elegant wheelhouse midships replaced in previous ownership to original design using iroko. Epoxy sheathed plywood wheelhouse roof. Small coachroof extends forward of the wheelhouse increasing headroom below with a varnished teak butterfly skylight set in the coachroof deck. Original companion hatch to the aft cabin sits on the aft deck, varnished teak with a curved sliding hatch. Low profile modern forehatch on the foredeck. Rig Gaff ketch rig on deck stepped solid wooden masts set in tabernacles. All spars have been stripped, repaired as necessary and varnished ready for stepping. Boom with original bronze roller reefing gear. Standing and Running Rigging Standing rigging replaced in previous ownership, so approximately 15-20 years old but has not actually seen any service. All new running rigging in 2024. Sails Mainsail – good condition and professionally serviced Jib – god condition Staysail – Good condition No mizzen sail with the boat. Machinery Engines Dedicated engine room below the wheelhouse with ample space and good access around the engines. Twin Perkins 4107 4cyl diesel engines. Fresh water cooled with heat exchangers. Engines rebuilt in 2010 and have done minimal hours since. Hydraulic gearboxes to fixed 3 blade bronze propellers. Both engines rebuilt in previous ownership and run very little since. All wiring and ancillary parts have been checked or replaced so both engines are running very sweetly and reliably. Tanks 2 x stainless steel fuel tanks in the engine room giving total capacity of 150 gallons (675 litres) Batteries and Electrics 4 x 110ah 12 volt batteries charged from the engine alternators. Victron Centaur 240 volt 20amp battery charger when connected to shore power. The internal boat has been completely re-wired however there is no wiring to external fittings such as navigation lights. Accommodation Interior fit out is partially finished giving an aft cabin, midships cabin, central saloon, forward galley and a forepeak. The fit out is not yet complete and could be altered to suit a new owner. All the sole boards and bearers throughout are new, bulkheads are in place and the berths are in. Berths and Headroom 7 berths including 2 singles in the aft cabin, double and a single in the midships cabin and 2 x saloon settee berths. General Description Companion steps down from the wheelhouse into the midships cabin with a double berth to port and single to starboard under the side decks. Central door going forward into the main saloon which has excellent headroom and light. Settee berth either side. Door going forward into the galley area which has some carcasses but no complete galley yet. Right in the bows is the forepeak and anchor locker, a large space for stowage. Aft cabin accessed via the aft companion hatch has 2 large single berths. Equipment Steering compass VHF (not yet installed) Chart plotter (not yet installed) 2 x Whale Gusher 30 manual bilge pump Large CQR anchor with chain Fishermans anchor Manual anchor windlass Mooring warps Fenders Mainsail – good condition and professionally serviced Jib – god condition Staysail – Good condition Deck covers for aft hatch and wheelhouse Airtronic hot air cabin heater 4 x 110ah batteries Victron Centaur 20 amp battery charger
This 1919 Pearce of Looe West Country Gaff Ketch is listed for sale in Sussex, England. With a 50ft layout, inboard engine setup and used condition, this boat is suited to buyers looking for sail options in this location. View full details, photos and specifications for reference RB671392 on Rightboat.