Custom-Boats Windermere Gaff Sloop for sale in Herefordshire United Kingdom

Wooden Ships Comments on this Windermere Gaff Sloop

Built by Shepherds of Bowness on Lake Windermere in 1906 to a design by Percy C. Crossley, a naval architect and well known lake sailor. The design was for a cruising boat but obviously with an emphasis on performance judging by her lines.

The commissioning owner was A.H.E.

Wooden Ships Comments on this Windermere Gaff Sloop

Built by Shepherds of Bowness on Lake Windermere in 1906 to a design by Percy C. Crossley, a naval architect and well known lake sailor. The design was for a cruising boat but obviously with an emphasis on performance judging by her lines.

The commissioning owner was A.H.E. Wood and historical records show he had built at the same time a slightly larger racing yacht, a very early example of the Windermere 17, a class still being raced today.

This is the only survivor of 3 boats built to the design and was exhibited at the Windermere Steam Boat museum for 25 years, bought by the current owner in 2003 and restored by Michael Dennet Boat Builders of Chertsey-on-Thames between 2018 and 2019.

Since her refit she has not been afloat and needs work to the rig to complete her. She has all her spars but no sails.

This is a very beautiful boat with a well documented and interesting history which will be a fascinating boat for the right person to cherish and enjoy. She comes with a trailer and can be towed easily behind a moderate size car.

Length on deck 21’

Length Waterline 15’

Beam 5’

Draft 3’6”

Weight 1500kg

Construction

Planked in pitch pine all copper fastened to steam bent oak timbers. Frames doubled or repaired as necessary.

Hull sheathed externally in epoxy glass cloth to stabilise the delicate original planking.

Oak floors across the centreline with some added steel plate floors back aft for extra stiffness.

External cast iron ballast keel.

Straight laid pine deck planking fastened to the deck beams. In the refit this was sheathed externally in epoxy glass cloth for a neat and totally water tight deck. Finished in 2 pack paint, requires non-slip coating.

New oak Sampson post through the foredeck.

Varnished teak rubbing strake all round

Cockpit coamings in varnished teak with new varnished mahogany thwarts.

Rig

Gaff sloop rig on a keel stepped solid pine mast. The mast, boom and gaff yard are with the boat but need refurbishing.

Various parts of standing and running rigging. Various fittings and blocks for the rig come with the boat including a box of bronze work.

Oak pin rail across the forward end of the cockpit with bronze belay pins.