1938 Fred Shepherd Bermudan Cutter

Wooden ships Comments on this Arthur Ransomes Fred Shepherd Yacht

SELINA KING is a Fred Shepherd designed bermudan cutter built by Harry King & Sons in 1938 for the author Arthur Ransome. She was the largest boat commissioned by Ransome.

Passing through various owners, she was bought by a gentleman from Bermuda in 1972 who set out to sail her home and was caught in a nasty north Atlantic storm. Rescued by the navy, she eventually made it to Bermuda where she remained for some time before being sold again and cruising to the Caribbean and the States. Found abandoned and in a poor state in Florida, she was sailed back to Bermuda and eventually bought by the current owner in 2011. There started a major refit, culminating in her launch in 2023 at the very yard where she had been built at Pin Mill, Suffolk.

Now after spending a lot of years, effort and money rebuilding the boat, the owner wishes to pass her on to someone who can appreciate the good work and use her properly.

Photo Credits: Nic Compton.

Specifications

• Length on Deck: 35’10”
• Length Waterline: 28’4”
• Beam: 9’10”
• Draft: 5’
• Thames Tonnage: 12TM

Construction Hull

Carvel planked in pitch pine fastened with copper rivets to steam bent oak timbers. 2”x2” oak timbers interspersed with slightly smaller timbers. Many new frames fitted using laminated oak.

Cast iron ballast keel of 3.56 tons fastened with stainless steel keel bolts, all new in 2024.

Mix of timber and galvanised strap floors across the centreline.

The hull below the waterline has been sheathed in epoxy glass cloth after careful consideration with West System. The hull above the waterline is not sheathed and has been splined for a fair finish.

Decks and Cockpit

T&G pine deck laid over oak deck beams and sheathed externally in epoxy glass cloth.

Teak toe rails all round with stanchions and guard wires.

Elegant original cockpit with varnished teak coamings curving in to meet the coachroof at the forward end. Self draining sole with varnished teak thwart lockers either side with a bridge deck to.

Superstructure

Varnished teak coachroof which is narrow in proportions, typical of the period. Bronze portholes and a sheathed coachroof deck.

Varnished teak grab rails and a teak butterfly skylight on the forehatch.

Rig

Bermudan cutter rig on a keel stepped varnished spruce mast.

Varnished spruce slab reefing boom and staysail boom.

All spars newly built for the boat and first stepped in 2022.

Standing and Running Rigging

New stainless steel 1×19 rigging in 2022, hardly used since first installed.

Running rigging all new in buff classic braid.

Sails

She is currently sailing with an old mainsail and staysail. New sails will need to be ordered by the next owner.

Winches

Pair of Lewmar 30 bronze self tailing cockpit sheet winches.

Pair of non-self tailing bronze and Tufnell mast winches.

Machinery Engine

Yanmar 3JH30A 30hp 3cyl diesel. Installed as a second hand unit in 2020 with very low hours.

Hydraulic gearbox with stainless shaft to a centreline fixed 3 blade bronze propeller.

Tanks

Plastic fuel tank installed in cockpit locker.

50 litre plastic water tank.

Batteries and Electrics

All new wiring and systems.

2 x 12 volt batteries installed under the chart desk. Charged from engine alternator.

Accommodation Berths and Headroom

4 single berths including 2 saloon settee berths and 2 single berths in the midships cabin.

6’ headroom in the saloon.

General Description

Much of the joinery is original and has been saved as far as possible.

Steps down from the companion hatch with a galley and chart desk at the aft end of the cabin.

Main saloon has a settee berth either side with elegant lockers under the deck head all with original doors and fittings.

T&G painted bulkhead with a port side door going forward into the midships cabin which has 2 single berths and a hatch above.

Centreline door into the forepeak with the heads and ample storage space.

Galley

Paraffin stove with a single stainless sink that discharges directly overboard. Water system with electric pressure pump.

Heads

Blakes Lavac sea toilet discharges directly overboard.