1900ish Gaff Cutter
Could you please help me identify the yacht in the photo’s provided? I acquired it from my father in the early 1960’s and it has been in storage since that time.
I believe that the yacht originally belonged to my grandfather who died in 1917. I surmise this would date the vessel to pre-1900.
The hull is hollow, 24 inches in overall length with lead keel. The mast is 34 inches in height and the beam 4 ¾ inches with deck to keel depth of 7 inches.
I would like to renovate the yacht to bring
it back to its former glory and would welcome advice as to where information
can be sought, especially the sails, which no longer exist
VMYG Comment:
Almost certainly a commercial model from, as you suggest, the early years
of the last century. I don't recognise the style, so I can't say which of
the many manufacturers was responsible. Though we know there were lots of
makers, we know next to nothing about any of them apart from the boats that
turn up.
This is a well preserved example and should need relatively little work to
put her back on the water. The rig would have been a gaff cutter. The books
that you might look for as a guide to the style of a boat of this vintage
are in the bibliography on the web site. Grosvenor (1889) and Hobbs (1923)
are the ones to look for. Hobbs was all written before 1914.
The rig looks to be very big for the hull. I would be inclined to experiment
with something in plastic bin liner before commissioning a suit in cotton.
John Cherry (01428 355 419) and Nylet sails@nylet.fsnet.co.uk each offer a
vintage sailmaking service, but I have no personal experience of their product.
Russell