Wooden Ships Comments on this Royal Mersey Restricted Class Gaff Cutter Royal Mersey Restricted Class gaff cutter, built in 1913 by Samuel Bond and Sons on the Wirral to a design by G.H. Wilmer. Bought by the current owner in 2001 in a very poor state, she was given to David Moss Boatbuilders in Fleetwood for a complete rebuild which commenced in 2005.Wooden Ships Comments on this Royal Mersey Restricted Class Gaff Cutter Royal Mersey Restricted Class gaff cutter, built in 1913 by Samuel Bond and Sons on the Wirral to a design by G.H. Wilmer. Bought by the current owner in 2001 in a very poor state, she was given to David Moss Boatbuilders in Fleetwood for a complete rebuild which commenced in 2005. The work involved replacement of the keel and keel bolts, new oak floors, many new frames and a complete new deck structure. The rig, interior and systems were all new. Fitted with 3 single berths, a heads and galley, she offers comfortable accommodation even though the headroom and space is not huge. Since the rebuild she has been kept in lovely condition and updated as required with new standing rigging in 2016 and regular paint and varnish to keep her looking smart and tidy. A delightful looking boat in superb condition with a very good pedigree and history. 2019 survey available. Length on Deck 25’6” Length Overall 32’ Length Waterline 23’5” Beam 8’1” Draft 4’1” Displacement 5 tons Construction Carvel planked in 1” pitch pine fastened with copper rivets to steam bent oak timbers of 1.5” square at 7” centres. Oak floors across the centreline. Keel and stem in oak. The floors in way of the mast have longer arms in order to spread the load of the mast. Mast step in iroko laid on top of the floors. External iron ballast keel of 2.25 tons fastened with galvanised steel keel bolts, all new in 2010. 100lb of internal lead ballast Epoxy sheathed plywood deck on douglas fir deck beams and beamshelf, all new in the rebuild. Varnished iroko toe rails and rubbing strakes. Bronze deck fittings including fairleads and cleats. Coachroof with curved iroko coamings and an epoxy sheathed coachroof deck of plywood over T&G pine. Bronze portlights and varnished iroko handrails on the coachroof. Non self draining cockpit with varnished iroko coamings. Varnished iroko thwart either side with lifting lids giving access to cockpit lockers. Varnished sliding entrance hatch and washboards. Transom hung rudder with varnished tiller. Rig The complete rig was new in 2010. Gaff cutter rig on a keel stepped Douglas Fir mast. Pitch Pine boom, sitka spruce bowsprit and a hollow gaff of sitka spruce. Stainless steel standing rigging, all new in 2016. Stainless rigging screws to external stainless chain plates. Running backstays on 4:1 tackles with Tufnell blocks. Double tailed mainsheet to a galvanised horse on the aft deck with Tufnell blocks. Staysail and jib both on Wickham Martin furling systems. Mainsail with slab reefing All sails new at the time of the rebuild by Fleetwood Trawlers but first used in 2010, all in good condition. Mainsail, staysail, jib and storm jib. Machinery Perkins Perama M30 3cyl 28hp diesel, new in 1998. Tecnodrive TMC 40P gearbox, new in 2019. Stainless shaft to a centreline fixed 3 blade bronze propeller giving 5 knots cruising speed, 6.5 knots max. Fuel consumption of 2 litres/hour. 42 litre plastic Vetus fuel tank in starboard cockpit locker. 10 litre spare fuel can. 2 x 12 volt batteries charged from the engine alternator or through the shore power system. Installed shore power system with a CTEK Marine battery charger. 1 manual bilge pump and 2 electric bilge pumps. Accommodation 3 single berths with 5’ headroom in the saloon. Steps down over the engine box. Chart table to starboard and galley area to port. Chart table is fixed with a storage space beneath. Electrical switch panel under the deck head. Galley has a single burner Dometic Origo spirit stove and a plastic bowl used as a sink. Saloon has a settee berth either side. Port side door through the forward bulkhead. Single berth to starboard and a heads on the centreline. Heads is a Baby Blake sea toilet, totally reconditioned, that discharges directly overboard. Equipment Sowester Bosun steering compass NASA Marine sounder NASA Marine Log ICOM M321 DSC VHF Cobra handheld VHF Clock and barometer 2 x lifejackets Life buoy Horse shoe lifebuoy with light and throwing line 4 safety harnesses with cockpt clips Jackstays Sea anchor 40lbs Danforth anchor. 30lbs Fishermans anchor 8m of 3/8” chain and 100m of 14mm warp on each anchor Warps Fenders Inflatable dinghy Boom tent Cabin Tilly lamp Bunk and berth cushions Dometic Origo single burner spirit stove Baby Blake sea toilet Full specification and details available upon request Disclaimer: These particulars have been prepared in good faith from information provided by the Vendors and are intended as a guide, Wooden Ships cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. The Purchaser should instruct his agent or surveyor to validate all details as necessary and satisfy himself with the condition of the vessel and its equipment.
