Wooden Ships Comments on this Plymouth Hooker Gaff Cutter Built in Looe by Tom Pearce in 1896 as a Plymouth Hooker, she was a long line fishing boat with the number PH339. She was originally a half deck boat and would have fished the coastal waters around Plymouth. These boats gained their names as they frequently worked several thousand individual hooks on the long lines. After an extensive rebuild in the 1980’s she was bought by John Raymond-Barker of RB Boatbuilding in Bristol. He changed much of the planking and then sailed her across the Atlantic and back. Bought by the previous owner in 2005, she was in a bad state and soon after the purchase the boat was given to Ashley Butler of Butler & Co. for a comprehensive refit which was undertaken in 2006. A new lead keel was fitted with new floors, keel bolts and a greenheart keelson. A number of frames were replaced as well as a complete new deck structure and new rig. The interior was fitted in 2007 after the bulk of the main refit had been completed. The work included a new coachroof, full width to create a raised deck in the middle of the yacht. This increases the interior volume enormously without detracting from the outward appearance of the yacht. Bought by the present owner in 2021, she was surveyed by Will Stirling and a list of jobs highlighted that have been attended to in recent years. This mainly involved maintenance of the deck to eliminate leaks and upgrading of the rig. A lovely looking working boat in good sound condition with a well documented refit history. 2021 survey available. Also an option to take over the current marina berth in Plymouth subject to negotiation. Length on Deck 31’ Length Overall 44’ Length Waterline 30’ Beam 9’ Draft 5’ Construction Hull Carvel planked in 1.75” larch, fastened with bronze nails to sawn and grown oak frames. Frames are 2”x3” at 14” centres. Some frames replaced in the refit Grown oak floors across the centreline, bolted through the frames with bonze bolts. External lead ballast keel of 1 ton with bronze keel bolts. Floors, keel and bolts all new in the 2006 refit. 1.5 tons of internal lead pigs. Internal keelson fitted new in the refit using Greenheart. Keel bolts pass through the floors and the keelson to sandwich the whole centreline structure. Deck and Superstructure The complete deck structure and coachroof was new in the 2006 refit. Straight laid deck in 1.75” Iroko, bronze screw fastened. Cotton caulked seams payed with Jeffries No.2 in the traditional manner. Laid on oak deck beams and an oak beamshelf with grown oak lodging knees, all copper rivet fastened. All new in the refit. Covering board seams recaulked and re-payed. Paying compound repaired/replaced in recent years. Full width coachroof with iroko coamings and straight laid iroko coachroof deck. The coachroof deck is at the same level as the top of the bulwark, giving a lot of volume below decks without detracting from the outward appearance. Bronze portholes and deck lights from Davey. High bulwark all round on oak stanchions mounted through the cover board and side bolted to the frames. Iroko bulwark planking with a gold cove line and iroko capping rail, all varnished. Large companion hatch on the coachroof, made in varnished iroko, with a curved sliding hatch. The forward part of the hatch can be lifted off to allow lots of light and air into the cabin. Tiller steering on a transom hung rudder, all new in 2006. Rig Gaff cutter rig on a keel stepped solid wooden pole mast, new in 2006. Solid wooden bowsprit, boom and gaff yard. Galvanised mast fittings and goose neck. Boom needs replacing and the boat is being sailed boomless with a loose footed mainsail. Galvanised wire standing rigging, new in 2006, parcelled and served, with dead eyes and lanyards to external galvanised chain plates. Serving has been spot repaired where necessary. New lanyards. Bowsprit can be run in very easily to reduce the overall length. Half way position where bowsprit can be fixed to set a smaller jib in stronger winds. Running backstays on block and tackles. Backstays fully re-served and leathered 2023. Pair of non-self tailing Tufnell sheet winches on the coachroof deck. Running rigging in English Braids 3 strand rope. Much new running rigging. Blocks by Colin Frake with bronze sheaves. Sails Mainsail, staysail, No.1 jib and No.2 jib. All in good condition. Machinery Engine Volvo Penta D1-30F 3cyl 30hp marine diesel, installed new in 2012. Just over 100hrs since new. Mechanical gearbox with stainless shaft to a centreline Darglow feathering 3 blade bronze propeller, new 2010. Gives 5 knots cruising speed at 3 litres/hour. 7 knots max. Stern gear new in 2006. Tanks 50 litre stainless steel fuel tank aft of the engine. Emptied and cleaned. Batteries and Electrics 2 x 12 volt batteries under the chart desk. Charged from the engine alternator or through a Studer 240v charger. Installed shore power system. 1 manual and 1 auto electric bilge pump. Accommodation Largely open plan interior with new joinery inusing T&G oak. Berths and Headroom 4 berths including a large double forward and 2 singles in the saloon. Headroom in the saloon of 1.8m. General Description Companion steps down into the saloon. Engine box aft of the steps and chart table to port. Flat space over the fuel tank aft of the engine, the boat is completely open back to the transom. Starboard side opposite the chart desk is the heads, a simple bucket with an iroko lid. Single saloon settee berth either side. Teak saloon table on a fold out leg so can be pushed back out of the way. Starboard side forward of the settee berth is a solid fuel Colin Frake Faversham stove. Starboard side passage through the forward bulkhead into the forward cabin which contains a large V-shaped double berth. Large storage space below the berth. Anchor locker in the bows. Heads Simple ‘bucket & chuck it’ Galley L-shaped galley forward port side of saloon. Built in 2006 from solid iroko. Porcelain sink with manually pumped fresh water from a bronze tap. Space for a galley stove which is not fitted. Solid wooden chopping board pulls out like a drawer. Equipment Bronze steering compass Raymarine sounder and log Raymarine Ray54E DSC VHF Garmin GPS Map 276C 2 x 12 volt plugs Fishermans anchor with chain Manual windlass Bunk and berth cushions Gimballed oil lamp Faversham cast iron cabin stove 2 x 12 volt batteries Shore power system with RCD switch Studer 240v charger Hatch covers Whale Gusher 30 manual bilge pump