Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter on WBRF---and WBRF update.

[OEX]

We have a listing for a Bristol Channel Cutter on the site. This is a fantastic boat that really needs someone in love with these channel cutters. She is either a true channel cutter of Bristol Pilot’s fame, or built by one of the same yards (research is still on). Anyway, she is on the WBRF site with pix, text, etc.
Chris Rockwell of Gannon and Benjamin’s yard and I saw her a couple of days ago. You can get his take on the project if this helps (contact us)---reality check.

Please take a look. Wooden Boat Rescue Foundation (http://www.woodenboatrescue.org) .

Also the restoration classes are a go and we have Wade Smith, Ross Gannon, Nat Benjamin, and many other doing sessions....please see the website if you are interested. They sart in Sept or Oct and go one weekend a month for as long as each boat takes---starting with a 40" 1903 Oyster Sloop. See classes (http://www.woodenboatrescue.org/wooden-boat-repair-classes.htm)

New Restoration Progress Log: These are logs of restoratioins in progress---great place to see what it looks like start to finish (or?)---get the last two issues of WB with the fantastic restoration articles (Philbrick et al), and sit back and enjoy.

New boats:
Coming this week a 35 ketch in very fine (for WBRF) shape, a Chesapeake Dead Rise, and a Quincy Adams one-design.

Cheers, Bruce Elfstrom
.

[Stephen]

Here's the link to the cutter:
http://www.woodenboatrescue.org/carview.php?view=81

I am skeptical as to whether the vessel actually ever carried a pilot, as it was built in 1925, after the last sailing cutter in the Bristol Channel had already handed over her station to a steam-driven vessel in 1922. Also, she is planked in teak and rivet fastened - which was too fine a construction for a working pilot boat.
I suspect the vessel has a finer pedigree than being an old pilot boat. I would follow up on the possibility it was associated with Claud Worth somehow - perhaps he was the designer? Tern IV and a sistership Alzovola (ex-Gracie III) were built at the same yard as this vessel. Gracie III was built with Rangoon teak planks and copper fastened too. Tern was built as a gaff cutter, Gracie III as a bermudian yawl with a raised cabin and deckhouse.
At any rate - whatever she is - she has a very pretty shape to her below the waterline. Well worth restoring her. Let's hope someone with the funds and drive can get her going again.

[TimH]

Are there any more pictures available? Talk about beautiful lines. Looks almost identicle to a design I drew up when I was a teenager as what I thought the perfect hull shape should be...

[Terry Rhoads]

In my copy of "Philip & Sons Ltd., Shipbuilders & Engineers" by Derek Blackhurst, Senorita is listed as yard #665, "auxiliary cutter-rigged wooden yacht." Most of the details and history are in agreement with the description on the site, with the exception of the first owner being listed as E.W. Harding, Brixham. There is a period photo of her under sail, unfortunately I won't be able to scan and post until later in the week.

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

Not a pilot cutter; date of build, external lead ballast and teak planking all rule that out. Built as a cruising yacht.

Restorable (but certainly not by me!)

[OEX]

yup. Copper rivets and teak did away with the Pilot Cutter idea. But very similar lines to Alpha meets Mischief. Not sure if the external ballast is original or not. Interior is defiantly yacht (mirrors, etc) not pilot cutter like. She will be a big project, but a fantastic one. Like to see more about #655!! Could you e-mail pix to me and I will post them with the listing? bioelf@mindspring.com

Anyone want to know more about her current shape---just ask me as i did go over her a bit.

Cheers, Bruce

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

I'd hazard a guess that the teak planking and copper nails will be almost all good, but the oak grown frames might be another story. I'm familiar with a Camper and Nicholson cutter, here in England, of similar size, type and age, which was bought by an enthusiast who had a yard re-frame her before running out of money and abandoning the project.

Certainly a good yard, if only because chosen by Worth for Tern IV.

[OEX]

More info the better---spread the word in the UK about her---better traditional connections--might help save her.

Andrew, if I remember right you used Coelan on you boat---yes? If so I would love to here a bit more about you experience. I have seen your post from the past, but wanted up to date info. I am restoring a 34 foot gaff cutter here and contemplating it instead of Ply, Dynel and Epoxy on her deck. Deck is pitch pine and contour laid. (2 X 1.75 inches.). The boat in question is at http://www.woodenboatrescue.org/Katarina%20 Colin%20Archer--%20Atkin.htm (http://www.woodenboatrescue.org/Katarina%20Colin%20Archer--%20Atkin.htm)

Cheers, Bruce

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

Bruce,

If the deck planking is structurally sound - no movement - and holding caulking (even if the seams leak) I would use Coelan on it.

It is up to you whether to use clear Coelan or to do as I did and paint over it - my decks were no longer very pretty so I went for paint.

I have now had ten years experience of the Coelan - painted deck, and the boat is still bone dry - not a deck leak anywhere.

Indeed, we commonly dust the bilges, which is not bad for a 68 year old boat!

Edited to add - when I first did the job I kept the covering boards and rail varnished - having seen the error of my ways these are now clear Coelan and look just like they did when varnished (but the Coelan is much tougher than varnish!)

"How changed from before!" ;)

I see you can now get Coelan in the States. Their handbook is well worth reading.

Use disposable brushes; the thinner is too exoensive to use for brush cleaning, but DO THIN THE COELAN!!!

I will post a link to your page on "Zarefah" on the Classic Boat website. And I'll put the word around at the OGA`meet this weekend.

Strangely, the boat's name rings a bell, not sure why.

[ 07-20-2005, 07:06 AM: Message edited by: Andrew Craig-Bennett ]

[OEX]

thanks---I think I am going with it. I will post progress along with all the other "progress logs" on the WBRF website link (http://www.woodenboatrescue.org/Woodenboat_Restoration_progress_reports.htm)

Please spread the word over there---I am still looking for a UK rep to do what I do here!! Know anyone :)

Cheers, Bruce

[Terry Rhoads]

Here's the pic of Senorita/Zarefah:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid178/p1759827b91990085ab7593661e79b275/f3298655.jpg
Apparently Tern IV (658), Gracie III (659) and Senorita (665) were essentially consecutive builds for Philip & Son, the intervening numbers being either dinghys or cancelled orders.
There are no designer listings in the Blackhurst book, and I noticed that US registry listings for Zarefah have no designer listed either. Perhaps someone with an old Lloyd's could see if there's a designer listed?(ACB?)

[OEX]

CAN I USE THE PICTURE ON THE WEBSITE? ANY COPYRIGHT ISSUES?

THAT IS ONE FINE LOOKING BOAT.

THE YARD... DID THEY EVER BUILD WORK BOATS OR PILOT CUTTERS? I.E WHAT WAS THEIR PAST TO GET TO THE YACHT STAGE?

CHEERS, BRUCE

[ 07-22-2005, 09:50 AM: Message edited by: OEX ]

[Terry Rhoads]

Bruce- The photo is from "Philip & Son, Shipbuilders & Engineers" by Derek Blackhurst, copyright 2001. I believe it has recently gone out of print. I don't know what the legalities of posting a photo on a web site are.
Philip & Son was a large yard, going back to at least the 1860's. They built ships, fishing vessels, work boats, tugs, ferries, yachts, etc., in both wood and steel. The final yard number was 1497, a steel trawler launched in 1999.(That does not mean they built 1497 vessels- there were some early ones that had no number and others that were cancelled.) At a quick glance the only vessels I saw that would interest you were : #96 ... composit pilot schooner...ordered 1892......for the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board, Liverpool. And: #99 Pilot schooner. No further information. No cutter-rigged pilots. Later on they built several steel power pilot vessels.
Terry

[OEX]

Thanks Terry. When I get a sec I am posting all this text with the listing. I will post the pix--If I reference it I think that would do.

Cheers, Bruce
P.S (and I am sorry for this, but....) if anyone wants to support WBRF we are selling t-shirts and etc with the logo and the Gloucester Sloop-Boat design drawings.

Of course you can join the restoration classes too!! All this is on the site...<a href="http://www.woodenboatrescue.org" target="_blank">
www.woodenboatrescue.org (http://www.woodenboatrescue.org</a>)[/url]