Wooden Ships Comments on this Kim Holman Sterling Bermudan Sloop
The Sterling, designed by Kim Holman, became one of his most popular designs and has been held in great acclaim ever since, heralded for their sailing qualities, space and comfort. This particular boat was built by Jack Holman at his Uphams Yard, Brixham in 1963 and was one of 19 Sterlings he built. The original owner, Mr Wilf Tarr, was a Torquay businessman and specified a particularly high quality yacht in comparison to many of the Sterlings being launched. This meant the interior was finished to a much higher standard with lots of varnished teak rather than painted plywood, and the materials used in the hull were superior to that of the standard Sterling.
Sold by Wooden Ships on a number of occasions, she has spent time cruising extensively around the UK, northern France and Ireland and has benefitted from some very diligent owners who have updated and maintained her to a high level. A major refit around 1996 saw a lot of refastening of hood ends and garboards, , re-galvanising of strap floors and re-fastening the oak floors. Since then she has had a new Beta engine, new sails, rigging and keel bolts and all new covers and canvas work plus full annual maintenance.
This is probably one of the nicest examples of a Sterling that could be found and is now in commission and ready to sail. They are ideal family boats that are easy to handle, are very safe and capable but have a decent amount of space and volume without excessive length.
Length on Deck 28’9″
Length Waterline 22’6″
Beam 8’7″
Draft 4’8″
Thames Tonnage 7TM
Recent Refit Work
2018
New genoa
Major engine overhaul
New mild steel keel bolts
New standing rigging
New running rigging
General rig overhaul
New LED navigation lights
New domestic and start batteries.
New solar panel for battery charging
New switch panel and fuse box
2019
New Darglow Featherstream propeller
New pulleys and raw water pump on engine
New all-over cover
Sails, sprayhood and covers valeted/serviced
Emergency tiller made
2020
New Hawk VHF aerial
Sails valeted and repaired as necessary
New lee cloths for bunks
New dodgers
2021
Sail and cover cleaning and repairs
2022
Strip all brightwork to bare wood and finish with 4 coats of International Woodskin
Paint the coachroof deck and hatch surround
Rudder removed, repaired and re-painted by Clare Lallows
New Hawk VHF aerial
New autopilot plug
New Whale Supersub Smart 650 auto bilge pump
Some interior paint and varnish
Painted topsides
Stanchion bases re-fastened
New fresh water pump and taps
Blakes sea toilet serviced
Sail valeting
Construction
- Planked in Pitch Pine below the water line, Lagos mahogany above, all copper fastened to steam bent oak timbers.
- Grown oak floors with a few galvanised straps under the water tank in the saloon. Oak and Iroko backbone.
- Cast iron ballast keel with 7/8” mild steel keel bolts. Bolts all new in 2018.
- Straight laid teak deck on a plywood subdeck. The teak is glued to the ply and seams payed with Sikaflex. Varnished teak king plank, covering boards and toe rails.
- Varnished teak coamings with oval bronze windows. Sheathed plywood coachroof deck with a varnished capping around the edge.
- Self draining cockpit with scrubbed teak thwarts. Lockers beneath the thwarts each side.
- Varnished teak companion doors and sliding hatch covered by a sprayhood.
Rig
- Masthead bermudan sloop rig on a deck stepped Sparlight aluminium mast.
- Varnished spruce roller reefing boom
- Stainless steel standing rigging new in 2018. Single spreaders with twin lowers, cap shroud, twin standing backstays and a Furlex roller furling headsail.
- Mainsail (2007), Genoa (2018), cruising chute (2010). Sail covers, hatch covers, spray hood and cockpit cover all new in 2013. Assorted other sails.
- 2 pairs of non-self tailing cockpit sheet winches
- Single non-self tailing halyard winch on the coachroof.
Machinery
- Beta Marine 13.5hp twin cylinder fresh water cooled diesel installed new in 2004.
- Professionally maintained with a major overhaul in 2018, new pulleys and raw water pump in 2019.
- Stainless shaft to a centreline Darglow feathering 3 blade propeller, new in 2019.
- New exhaust and fuel tank installed 2013.
- 2 x 12 volt batteries, both new in 2018. Solar panel charging.
- Stainless fuel tank in starboard cockpit locker.
- Stainless steel 20 gallon water tank under the saloon cabin sole.
Accommodation
- 4 berths in a particularly nice interior.
- 6′ headroom throughout the main cabin.
- The original owner specified a high standard of finish which sets her apart from most other Sterlings. Varnished teak trim with smart red upholstery and scrubbed teak sole boards.
- Steps down over the varnished engine box with galley to starboard and chart desk to port.
- Galley has a gimballed 2 burner gas stove with oven and grill. Single stainless sink with pressurised water. Lockers behind are specifically designed for stowing crockery.
- Chart desk made of varnished Maple with lots of storage and locker space around. Navigation instruments on the bulkhead above.
- Half height bulkheads into the saloon with port and starboard settee berths. Fold down backs to access large lockers, shelves and storage above under the deck head. Scrubbed teak cabin sole with varnished surrounds. Saloon table which can be removed when at sea and doubles as a cockpit table.
- Centreline passageway with heads to port where the door closes of the saloon cabin. Baby Blake sea toilet discharges directly overboard. Stainless hand basin to starboard with manually pumped fresh water.
- Fore peak has twin V-berths with forehatch above and a huge storage volume under. Bulkhead with a small door into the chain locker.
Equipment
Navigation
- Large display Conquest porthole compass above sliding hatch
- Brookes & Gatehouse sounder with cockpit repeater
- ICOM DSC VHF radio with integrated AIS
- Simrad tiller pilot
- Wind gauge
- Clock and barometer
- Charts
Safety
- Horse shoe life buoy
- Perry buoy
- Man overboard ladder
- MOB sling
- 2 x manual bilge pump
- Automatic electric bilge pump
- Radar reflector
- Jackstays
- 2 x safety lines
- Flares,
- Halon fire extinguisher in engine compartment
- 2 x powder fire extinguishers
- Fire blanket
- Anchor ball
- Air horn
- Lifejackets
- Auto electric bilge pump
- Manual bilge pump
Sails, Canvas and Rigging
- Mainsail, new Scanes (2007) with royal blue cover (2013) and spare red cover
- Genoa (2018) on Furlex (2004).
- Cruising chute (2010)
- Hanked genoa and jib
- 2 x sprayhood, royal blue (2013)
- 2 x cockpit cover, royal blue (2013)
- 2 x tiller cover, royal blue (2013)
- Cockpit dodgers
- Wooden spinnaker pole
- 2 pairs of non-self tailing cockpit sheet winches
- Single non-self tailing halyard winch on the coachroof.
Ground Tackle and Mooring
- 35lb plough anchor
- 20lb plough anchor
- 30 mtrs 5/16” chain
- Simpson Lawrence manual windlass
- Warps, fenders and mooring strops
Domestic
- Bunk and berth cushions
- LED interior lighting
- Crockery
- Plastimo 2 burner and oven gas cooker (2005)
- Dining table for saloon or cockpit
- Cockpit cushions
Other
- Mahogany cockpit gratings
- Wooden boat hook
- Extendable boat hook
- Grapnel
- Mahogany boarding ladder
- Folding Plastimo bathing ladder
- Ensign & staff
- Inflatable dinghy with stowage case
- Mercury outboard
