Hillyard Yachts

[ishmael]

Anyone familiar with them in general, and the 33 foot currently at Cannel Payne in particular?

http://www.cppyacht.com/wood.html

"Nutmeg" is what I typically think of. Short ended, canoe sterned, life-boaty, often with a center cockpit. They had a good reputation as sea boats, back when I used to read about such matters. Are they slow? How about build quality?

This one has been sitting for a long time, as reflected in the price.

Just curious about any info.

[Hwyl]

Originally posted by ishmael:
, Are they slow?

They redefine slow.

Glaciers consider them stationery obstructions.

They have instructions as to how to avoid continental drift.

[ishmael]

Make Tahiti Ketches look like greyhounds of the seas, slow?

I kinda figured that, just looking at the photo.

[Peter Heiberg]

While the hyperbole is amusing it's hardly fair to criticize a boat for what it was never intended to do. David Hillyard (?) designed them to take a family to sea safely. I have a close friend who went through, if the not the ultimate storm, at least his ultimate storm on a delivery just south of Biscay in a Hillyard 36 (if memory serves). He's still dining out on the story.
So it's good to find out all you can before buying a boat but...

[Hwyl]

I agree, they were safe and inexpensive for their day. They were also given shallow draught to make British moorings cheaper. The trade off was lack of speed. It's strange that Bill Cannell is selling one. He tends to go after the Dom Perignon budgets

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

They are comfortable. practical, family cruisers.

Arthur Ransome had three, one of which was his favourite boat, and he liked all three better than his Laurent Giles boat.

No, I don't think they are slower than a Tahiti Ketch, but maybe not much faster...

[ 02-27-2006, 05:36 AM: Message edited by: Andrew Craig-Bennett ]

[ishmael]

Thanks for the comments. I may call the broker today and find out where she's stored. They have a nice stout look to them. I've not been able to find a set of lines, but have a fairly good picture, I think. The boat looks...comfortable.

What was the Hillyard Yard's reputation circa 1964? I like the sound of the construction: mahogany, oak, rivets. What sort of oak would that have been, do you suppose? Probably all bent frames, or might she have sawn?

[Bark]

See if this helps (from Macnaughtongroup.com):

http://www.macnaughtongroup.com/david_hillyard.htm

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

1964? On the top of their form!

1964 was almost exactly their high point.

All bent frames, English oak ( quercus robor roughly, your white oak, in practical terms)

Copper nails and roves, all the way through.

You may find the D. Hillyard special on the decks - strakes laid V fashion.

[ishmael]

Well, I got an e-mail from Bill today. The boat has been out of the water for a number of years, and is "parked in" at the moment. He said someone tried to get aboard a week ago and couldn't. Also that there are some questionable repairs to past damage, which he didn't specify. Owner anxious. Hm. It'll have to wait till Spring.

[Alan D. Hyde]

See---

http://www.hillyardyachts.ukf.net/

*****

Alan

[PeterSibley]

Frank Mulville's "Iskra" is a Hillyard,isn't she From a much earlier period?

[PeterSibley]

This is the one I like from the Hillyard Owners site,Brynhildr (1933) - 11 ton
http://www.hillyardyachts.ukf.net/brynhildr.htm

Is she a sister to Iskra?

[Alan D. Hyde]

A pretty boat, Peter.



*******

Alan

[wyndham]

Very seaworthy boats in their day. Slow is a relative term.
The real question is who is going to pay 10k for a Dyer Dhow?

[ishmael]

"Nutmeg" is on my Spring list. With that boat, well found, one could go anywhere. You might not go there fast, but if things were strong and true you'd have a good chance of going there. And the price is enticing.

Lying Yarmouth, ME, on the hard. Gareth, care to have a look in a month and a half?

[Hwyl]

Love to Jack, is she in Royal River boatyard. I have to go there some time soon anyway.

It's about the time of year when I try to persuade you to come to the Maine Boatbuilders show and you claim your truck is not up to it.

[ishmael]

Well, my truck is more wonky(I'm thinking fuel pump), and I'm probably not going to make it to the MBBS, unless someone local is going. But I am interested in the Hillyard.

I don't know the boatyard. What, there must be three in Yarmouth?

As winter unwinds here, and boats go over, maybe we'll meet to have a look see.

P.S. I heard your two requests on MPBN this morning, Gareth. Fun as I was driving my wonky truck. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[hillyardladybear]

Hi We currently own and live aboard our 12 ton Hillyard Ladybear. She is very comfortable in port and at sea.
No she isn't fast but she stands up to a blow like nothing else I've sailed on.
I made a full English breakfast and coffee whilest hove to in a gale of 30-40 knots off the gulf of Taranto last year while the wife and kids were asleep in the aft cabin.
the girl who was crewing with us slept through the whole thing!
I did manage to get 9.8 knots with the number 1 jib with 1 reef in it. is that a recard?

[johngsandusky]

Thanks for the follow up.