From the Wooden Boat Rescue Foundation ( http://www.woodenboatrescue.org/carview.php?view=81 )
Listing : Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter
Type: Sailboat
Model: Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter
Rigging: Gaff Cutter (Ketch now)
Year: 1925
Length: 54'
Price: $0
City: Long Island, New York
Condition: good-needs lots work
Draft: 75"
Beam: 12'
Condition and reality:
The vessel has been ashore for two years now in a yard in Greenport, NY on the North Fork of Long Island. There will be some storage charges due.
Zarefah was originally a cutter, but is now ketch rigged. She is framed with 3”x4”(approx). double sawn oak, teak planked. She is approximately 54’8” on deck, with a 17’ retractable bowsprit; a beam of 13’and draft of 8’6”. The vessel is flush decked, except for a small house over the companionway. Outside ballast is lead, bilge is filled with concrete. Plank fastenings are copper rivets, with iron futtock bolts, some iron knees, etc. Spars are all in good shape, including a new mainmast that needs to have the ironwork fitted. There are topmasts I think on both masts. There are sails that seem to be serviceable. The interior was removed to do the work; some of it was thrown out, but there are plenty of pictures and probably enough of the joinery left to indicate what went where. Most of the hardware and line is here, as is the standing rigging, a mix of stainless and galvanized . The motor is a Mercedes diesel, with an unknown number of hours on it. It seemed to work OK, when we brought the boat from Huntington to Greenport. Running rigging, ground tackle, etc come with the boat.
Before the boat was hauled, its leaking was pretty controlled, the major leak being from behind the stuffing box. It has opened up a bit, but could be made to float.
As to the necessary work, the boat is a formidable project, a major restoration. Based on my observations and those of the surveyor Paul Haley, who looked at it briefly (we were not prepared at the time to remove planks or decking), here is what is required:
1) The concrete in the bilge must be removed.
2) The decking must be removed to determine how many deck beams need to be replaced. There are some that are already obviously split or rotted. The deck has already been reefed.
3) Perhaps 25% or more of the frames need replacement. This will be known better after the concrete is gone. The iron futtock bolts should be punched out and replaced with bronze.
4) The portside chainplates are practically falling off
5) 50% of the clamp or more may have to be replaced.
6) The transom has to be rebuilt.
7) The shaft log has to be cut back to clean wood.
8) The bulwark stanchions are all rotted and need to be replaced, as well as the railcap
9) Parts of the covering board need replacing.
10) There are a few butt blocks that need replacing
11) The interior, electric and plumbing systems (including water tanks) need to be replaced.
12) The condition of the backbone has yet to be ascertained
On the plus side, the planking seems to be in good shape, and the boat still has her shape.
I have gotten many inquiries from the ad, and I want to make a decision that is in the best interests of the boat. For those who want to pursue it, I would like to get from you some information about your abilities and resources to restore Zarefah, your experience and plans for using her.
Before committing yourself, come and take a look at it for a reality check.
One other thing. If I had the cash, I would be doing this myself. It’s what I do. So if this boat is a step into the unknown for you, or even if it isn’t, you should consider hiring me to do the work, or to work with you. My situation is such that I can work here or away from home.
I hope this answers most of your questions. After you have read this and the other document and looked at the pix, feel free to call me or e-mail me.
Sincerely,
Michael Kortchmar
This is an actual Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter, one of maybe two in North America. The owner stated she was in the water last year and that she needs lots of work, but maybe not major components. The owner is a shipwright and this was to be his boat, but things change and he wants her to go to a very good owner who is realistic about the importance of this boat and the cost and time of a restoration. He would love to take on the project himself for the new owner.
This will be a very fast and most classic boat of the pragmatic work kind. These boats are the ultimate cruiser with an amazing turn of speed.
Contact: mkortch@optonline.net, 516 509 2096
History:
First Owner: Document #5226
Charles Hellyer 1925
Brixham
England
Name of Boat: Senorita
Listed as having a “paraffin” (diesel) Motor 4 cylinder 4 ˝ - 6 ˝
Auxiliary cutter 1643 sq ft sail area
Built by Phillips & Sons, Ltd. in Dartmouth
Listed as 32 English tonnes.
Owner 1951: Document #8030
A.H. Birtwistle
Brixham
England
Listed as having been altered from a cutter to a Ketch in 1931
Name is now Zarefah, previously listed as also having Skipjack and Eniadeon as other names.
Draft listed as 8.5 ft
LOD as 54 ft 8 in
Beam 13ft 1 in
Now has oil engine 4 cy 2 ˝ - 4 ˝ made in Coventry 1947
Owner 1966: Document #11182
William M Mackinlay
Name is still Zarefah
Jenkins is preacher owner. Bought vessel in the Chesapeake and took it south to the Islands.
Sister ship is Tern IV (Turn Four??) Built in 1924 as an active pilot vessel for Claude Worth.
The Water Brothers owned Zarefah at some point in time and had her in Scotland sailing the North Sea. She also sailed to Gibralter two times. Also to Jamaica and Nova Scotia. She has crossed the Atlantic at least 6 times and Done at least one Dunkirk rescue trip, some question about a second run. During the war she was “Zarefah”.
Jenkins sold her to Thompson due to having a heart attack on the boat while sailing north to Bermuda from somewhere in the islands.
***
Work the work to put her right, I'd say...
Alan
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Originally Posted by pcford
