Wooden Ships Comments on this Tamar River Sailing Barge Tamar sailing barge launched in 1896 at the yard of James Goss in Calstock on the banks of the River Tamar near Plymouth. Part of the National Historic Fleet of prestigious vessels. The extraordinary and well documented history of this boat tells an incredible tale from her days working the river delivering cargo between the sea at Plymouth right up to the small inland villages, to be rescued from the mud and rebuilt not once but twice, with passionate and dedicated people who have saved the boat and her history for all to enjoy. The majority of her working life was spent carrying stone from inland quarries to the port of Plymouth and further down the coast to Fowey, Falmouth, Dartmouth and the like, although her general cargoes would have included coal, market garden produce and a myriad of items to be sold around the coasts. After her war service in Plymouth, she returned to carrying stone before being laid up to sink in the mud in a small creek off the Tamar. Here she was found by eccentric enthusiast Charlie Force who literally dug 33 years worth of mud from her hull by hand, floated the hulk down river and started a major rebuild in the 1990’s replacing most of her planking and frames plus new deck and rig. Interestingly her original mast was located elsewhere on the Tamar and was reunited with the boat. Now owned by a Community Interest Company, a second major refit was completed in 2017. She was put into commercial operation in 2019 and undertook various trips around the Plymouth area giving people a glimpse of a bygone era and the skills necessary to navigate a sailing barge in the close confines of a river. The vessel is largely empty below decks and serves as a fantastic platform for community learning or an exhibition centre. She visits various maritime events and opens her decks to the public to educate people not only about the specific history of Lynher herself, but of the world into which she was launched. So what does the future hold for a vessel of such historical importance and one as unique as Lynher? Her size and volume lend her perfectly to be a platform for events and displays, providing day trips for educational or charter purposes, or perhaps as a corporate flagship. Time will tell but it is certainly important that whoever takes on this beguiling vessel continues to use her and maintain her for the benefit of all. The full story of her history can be found at Length on Deck 52’’6” Length Waterline 48’ Beam 18’ Draft 4’
Construction Hull Carvel planked in 2” larch fastened with galvanised boat nails to heavy sawn oak frames. Internal ceiling planking of 2” larch gives a huge amount of strength to the hull. Frames are approximately 6” x 10” @ 22” centres. Oak keel, deadwoods and knees with galvanised steel centreline bolts. Internal ballast of natural stones laid between the frames in the traditional manner. Deck Straight laid solid pine deck fastened to the oak deck beams. Caulked and payed seams, finished in grey deck paint for ease of maintenance. Heavy oak carlins either side of the cargo hatch with half deck beams supported beneath by iron hanging knees. Superstructure Large central cargo hatch with oak coamings. Hatch is decked over with pine boards and a canvas cover to make it water tight. Curved forehatch with ladder into the forecabin. Rig Gaff cutter rig on a solid pine deck stepped mast in a tabernacle. Solid pine bowsprit, gaff and boom all with an oil finish for ease of maintenance. Standing and Running Rigging 7×19 galvanised wire standing rigging seized around the deadeyes. Rigging new in 1999. Rigging tensioned with deadeyes and lanyards to external galvanised chain plates. Running rigging all new in 2022 is all traditional look 3 strand with wooden blocks. Sails All sails in tan duradon from Patrick Selman in 1999. All in excellent condition. Mainsail 2025sqft Staysail 175sqft Jib 160sqft Winches Large hand winch on the foredeck can be used for halyard falls to enable the vessel to be sailed with a very small crew. This winch can also be used to lower the mast if required. Rebuilt Simpson Lawrence manual anchor windlass has a capstan and can also be used for halyards. Machinery Engine Beta Marine 75hp diesel engine installed in 2018. Mounted on the starboard side, drives a fixed 4 blade bronze propeller. Port side electric wing engine is a Lynch system with twin motors connected via belt drives to the shaft. This wing engine gives hugely improved manoeuvrability in close quarters. Tanks 75 litre stainless steel fuel tank in the engine room. Batteries and Electrics 1 x 12 volt 110ah engine start battery 1 x 12 volt 110ah domestic battery 8 x 6 volt AGM batteries to power the electric motor. These are charged from the engine alternator or via a large solar panel array mounted on the cargo hatch. Electric systems on the boat are simple and minimal with LED strip lights around the cabin under the deck head. Accommodation Berths and Headroom Large double and a pipecot in the forepeak. Possibility of 5 more pipe cot berths in the main hold area. Headroom of 5’6” in the cargo hold. General Description Below decks has been kept simple and open. The main cargo hold area has a central table and a bulkhead at either end but otherwise is a free space that could be converted or altered to suit the boats intended purpose. Port side door gng aft into the engine room. Simple galley against the forward bulkhead of the main hold with a large storage space on the starboard side. Port side passageway going forward with storage locker to port under the side deck. Forecabin has a single pipecot to port and large double berth on the starboard side. Galley Simple galley area with gravity fed water from barrels on deck, a 240 volt induction hob and microwave. Equipment Lead line for depth sounder 2 x life buoys Simpson Lawrence manual anchor windlass 40kg Fishermans anchor 30m x 16mm link chain 25kg Danforth anchor 40m anchor plait warp Mainsail Staysail Jib Mainsail cover Clinker rowing punt plus oars
This 1896 James Goss Tamar River Sailing Barge is listed for sale in Cornwall, England. With a 52ft layout, other engine setup and used condition, this boat is suited to buyers looking for power options in this location. View full details, photos and specifications for reference RB671388 on Rightboat.