Pilot Cutter Replica Yacht
Construction
Hull
Planked in 1 ¾” larch all bronze screw fastened to heavy sawn oak frames of 3 ¼” siding and tapering from 6″ thick at the keel down to 4″ at deck level, all at 18″ centres. All futtock bolts are bronze. The hull is caulked and payed in the traditional manner.
Oak keel, stern post, stem and deadwoods all through fastened with bronze bolts. Internal floors mainly of grown oak with bronze bolts, however there are a few bronze floors in the ends of the hull.
External lead ballast keel of 3 tonnes with bronze keel bolts, these pass right through the oak floors in order to tie the whole back bone together. 3 ¼ tonnes of internal ballast which is mostly lead ingots.
Decks and cockpit
Straight laid pine deck bronze screw fastened to the deck beams, caulked with cotton and the seams payed with Sikaflex.
Heavy section grown oak hanging knees and lodging knees to support the deck and hull, all fastened through with large copper rivets.
A relatively high bulwark all round is set on stanchions which are bolted alongside the frame heads with an oiled oak capping rail. A single guard wire on bronze stanchions runs aft from the shrouds.
Cavel bars fore and aft for mooring lines give reliable strong points.
There is no cockpit, the wheel steering is mounted on a pedestal with a wooden structure aft of it which houses the hydraulic steering gear and acts as a seat for the helmsman in a very successful manner.
Superstructure
The doghouse has been designed in such a way that it does not detract from the aesthetics of the hull. With a significant camber on the roof and a curve to the top of the windows there is a certain softness about its design which makes it decidedly unobtrusive yet eminently practical. The companionway from the deck is extremely wide with double folding doors and a sliding hatch, and with only a short step down into the doghouse it is very easy to access even when the ship is moving in a seaway. Once in the doghouse there are comfortable bench seats either side which double as berths when on passage but more importantly give sheltered seating in a position where it is still possible to see the world passing by. This is superb when sailing in colder climates to ensure the entire crew do not freeze, but also for family sailing, those not wishing to be out in the elements can still be part of the sailing and enjoy the scenery while staying warm and dry without having to go below decks.
At the forward end of the doghouse is a large box set athwart ships which is an excellent seat but also gives a large amount of secure deck storage.
A butterfly skylight is set over the main saloon just aft of the mast with double glazed toughened glass. Over this is a teak deck table on galvanised legs which serves several purposes, firstly it makes an excellent table when entertaining on deck and secondly it gives a flat and stable platform on which to stand when packing the mainsail, otherwise the crew would constantly be clambering over the skylight and damaging the varnish.
Slightly offset to starboard on the foredeck is a very traditionally designed forehatch with double doors and a sliding curved top.
Rig
Gaff cutter rig on a solid keel stepped mast with a fidded topmast. Mast and topmast both finished in oil.
Slab reefing boom with wooden jaws. Wooden gaff yard with oak jaws. Both boom and gaff are varnished.
Bowsprit is set through the bulwark to the port side of the stem with a galvanised gammon iron bolted to the side of the stem. The heel is held between the large oak bitts with a securing pin. The bowsprit can be run in and out using a heel rope round a pulley in the heel of the bowsprit and the oak rollers set top and bottom of the bowsprit in the bitts. This is not a job the crew would wish to do on a daily basis but the task has been made as easy as possible.
Galvanised wire standing rigging which has been parcelled and served in the traditional way and coated with black varnish. Standing rigging is tensioned with dead eyes and lanyards to external galvanised chainplates, these are virtually the only galvanised bolts in the entire hull. The oak deadeyes were all specially made by the builder for this rig. Galvanised rigging screw attached to the channel boards takes the top mast cap shroud.
Sails
All sails new in 2014 by Crusader Sails.
Mainsail 602sqft
Staysail 170sqft
No.1 Jib 258sqft
Jib headed topsail 216sqft
No.2 Jib 150sqft Second hand sail from 2003, good condition.
Winches
A single pair of large sheet winches have been placed on the deck amidships in order to make handling the headsail sheets an easier task. This has proved successful and does not detract unduly from her traditional design.
Engine
Yanmar 4-LH-TE 10hp 4cyl diesel engine installed as a reconditioned unit. Single lever control with a centreline stainless steel shaft through the sternpost to a fixed 3 blade bronze propellor. Gives 8 knots max speed, 7 knots cruising at 5 litres per hour consumption.
Engine removed in late 2017 for a thorough service and check
Tanks
Welded aluminium fuel tank on the centreline aft of the engine. 210 litre capacity with twin fuel filters.
Stainless steel water tank located in the forepeak.
Stainless steel grey water tank with electric pump out under the cabin sole at the aft end of the saloon. All grey water from the heads and galley drains into this and is pumped overboard.
Batteries
4 large capacity 12 volt batteries under the companionway steps give dedicated engine starting and a separate domestic bank. Charging is from engine alternator and through a 240v charger when connected to shore power.
Accommodation
Berths
10 berths total. Quarter cabin each side with a generous single which pulls out to a double. Pilot berth in the saloon with a saloon settee berth each side. Forepeak has 3 single berths with the potential to be easily changed to suit the requirements of a new owner.
Saloon
The saloon has been purposely kept very open and light and because of the extra height of freeboard there is a vast amount of space with a very wide cabin sole making it feel like the saloon of a much larger boat.
Access to the quarter cabins in either corner of the saloon through panelled doors. Single berths which pull out to make comfortable doubles. Glazing in the sides of the companionway allows light into the quarter cabins.
The companionway down from the doghouse is exceptionally wide with brass handrails with 2 sets of steps down over the engine box. The galley is to port and the chart area is to starboard.
The wide cabin sole is made of laid oak boards with a centre line table. The table has been cleverly built with leaves that fold over from the top rather than lift up from underneath which means that the people seated around the table do not have to move in order to fold the leaves up.
The settee berths are very long giving space for 8 to sit comfortably at the table. Pilot berth to port behind the settee.
The bulkhead at the forward end of the saloon has been carefully designed as a curve in order to allow passage around the forward side of the mast. The panels have all been exquisitely hand made to create the curve which increases the feeling of space in the saloon enormously.
New cast iron wood burner fitted in 2016.
Galley
The L-shaped galley has oak work tops with cupboards below and above under the deckhead. Double stainless sink outboard with hot and cold pressurised water, drains into the grey water sump tank.
Gas oven with 3 burners, oven and grill mounted athwart ships and uses fiddle rails rather than being gimballed.
Heads
Heads compartment is forward of the saloon to port. Jabsco sea toilet pumps directly overboard. Provision has been made for a shower tray if required. The panelling in the heads is in keeping with the rest of the boat.
Equipment
Sestrel steering compass
Clipper sounder
DSC VHF
Garmin 128 GPS
Autohelm 7000 hydraulic autopilot
4 x lifejackets
Life buoys with lights
Danbuoy
Fire extinguishers
34kg CQR anchor
Electric windlass
90m of 1/2″ chain
100m 1.5″ warp
Seago 2.9m inflatable dinghy
Sail covers
Deck hatch covers
Mooring warps
Fenders
- Designer: Traditional Length on deck: 45'7"
- Year: 2012 Beam: 13'2"
- Location Sussex Draft: 7'8"