Boats For Sale

Boat. 44' West Country Ketch Lugger built by Kitto's, Porthleven in 1921. For sale at any price... On the YOUTUBE for aprox. 6min. Filmed in 2017, under : 'TAKOMA' 42' West Country Gaff Ketch ''TAKOMA'' is a lovely Wooden Long Keel Ketch Lugger, designed and built during 1920-1921 by the renowned 'R.J. Kitto and Son's' Boatbuiders Yard of Porthleven, Cornwall. She is one of six of the same design, shape and type that were made at this time.
She is mainly made of original natural shaped English Oak on the Keel, Stem, Stern, Frames, Transom, Beams, Carlings and upper deck outer Covering Boards; Larch for the Main Hull Planks (several of which have been replaced with Iroko over time) and Iroko for the Straight Laid Deck Planks. These woods plus several other high quality and grade woods such as douglas fir, cedar, ash, mahogany, pine and marine plywood have all been used throughout the vessel, giving plenty of good attention to her strength, detail and all round good construction. Her hull dimensions are; Length 44 feet, Breadth 12.5 feet, Depth 7.4 feet and a Keel Length of 38 feet. Her Tonnage was registered as 23.18 tons. She was fitted with a Lug and Mizzen and her first inboard motor was a four cylinder 39HP Bergius Kelvin.
She was completed and launched in January 1921. On the 12th March 1921, she was given her original name ''EMBLEM'' and the fishing boat registration code of 'FY325' as a sea-fishing boat (1st Class) at Fowey, Cornwall. She was originally made for the 'Mr William Furse and Sons' fishing family, who lived at Mevagissey in South West Cornwall. They sucsesfuly fished from here, with a crew of four using the Line and Drift Netting methods. The Furse family successfully fished with her for many years, including into the World War Two.
In 1944 ''EMBLEM'' was sold to Mr Robert C. Carter of Newlyn, which is just West of Penzance in Cornwall, to carry on the fishing with her. In her fishing history she went all around the UK, Ireland and several other adjoining countries, using the English Channel, the North Sea and the Atlantic. She finished work as a fishing boat and was de-registered as a fishing boat in late 1947. ''EMBLEM'' was then sold to Mr William F.
Hanneman in 1947 and sailed to London. She was then converted to a lovely sailing/house yacht. With all the big changes in her details and characteristics, her name was also changed to ''TAKOMA'' by the new owner. She has since then been sailed around the UK and various places in Europe from Holland down to Spain over the next seventy years or so. Mr William F.
Hanneman owned and sailed ''TAKOMA'' for the next eight years till he sold her in 1955. She was sold to Mr Francis H. Newman who owned her for the next two years (1955-1957). Then she was sold to Mr Philip H. Howsego in 1957, who owned her till at least 1960.
All of the owners from 1921 to 1960 had registered her, but from then on ''TAKOMA'' was not registered anymore. She then carried on being sailed and used for living onboard, by several people and families based mainly on the River Thames, London. The last owners before me were Mr and Mrs Bruce and Carole McGain. They have looked after and owned her for twenty two year from 1995 to 2017. They sailed around the UK and Europe, and lived onboard her during all of this time.
They have taken her out of the water several times for mini refits and maintenance during this time, mostly at the well known and still running 'Eel Pie Island Boat Yard' in Twickenham, London. I was informed by Mr and Mrs McGain that since 1960 she had been owned by several other owners, who carried out sailing, living onboard her and looking after her. She had even come out of the water in London in about 1982 for a big refit where she had several needed things done, including her transom being replaced !!! The next owner was me when I bought her in 2017. During the next five years till now, she has remained afloat on the R.Thames in Teddington, London.
Therefore, she has been based afloat on the River Thames, (mostly West London), for the last 70 plus years now, except when obviously sailed away, or being taken out of the water for mini refits and work to maintain her. ''TAKOMA'' is a very pretty houseboat with all the needed facilities onboard. She can sleep three in two cabins, plus three in the main lounge/saloon if needed. She can go back to sailing and living onboard if wanted, but will need work doing to her first. Her condition is deteriorating and she now needs to come out of the water for a good refit/repair or as a proper PROJECT.
Main work requirements are: >Replacement of the transom including the feather frames, >Frames next to the transom, >Various hull and deck plank repairs or renewals, >Possible Fwd. Deck beam replacement, >External cleaning, >Caulking, >External/internal painting, >Repair or renewal of wheelhouse roof, >Repair or renewal of the main's gaff. >Repair or renewal of the aft mast and boom Plus lots of smaller but easier work/repairs including; >Deep cleaning (to remove dampness, dirt and moss), >Painting, >Smaller repairs, >General maintenance, >Servicing. This is all needed to get her all 'Ship Shape and Bristol Fashion' again, making her suitable for living onboard and good for sea fairing again. ''TAKOMA'' has a very good boat layout starting with a lovely shaped and generous deck with good sails, rigging, fittings, etc.
From the deck, easy access into the Wooden Wheelhouse is viable through strong doors on the Port and the Stbd. sides. She has a big wooden steering wheel, remote steering, navigation, engine controls, a chart table plus plenty of storage room, which is all facing or to the sides of a big seat. Below the Wheelhouse, via stairs on the Port side, is a Fwd. To Aft. Passage Way.
On the Port side of the Passage Way is a Diesel Tank (300lt), the Main 12v Domestic Batteries (x2), storage compartments, a washing machine and a fully working Baby Blake Classic Marine Toilet. On the Stbd. Side of the Passage Way is the access door to the Main Engine Room. This gives good access to the Ford 2715E '6'cylinder 120hp diesel engine, a PRM gear box, shaft feeding the central propeller, the Stbd. Diesel Tank (300lt), 12v Starting Battery (x1), plus more.
Astern of these, is the main Aft. Cabin, which has a large Double Bed, sink and mirror, with plenty of storage space etc. Forward of the Passage Way is the Large Midships Main Saloon with Galley. This has good sized L-shaped seatings/berths to starboard with a wooden table, and another good size seat/berth on the port side. All berths have storage room beneath and around.
The kitchen/galley is on the Stbd. Aft. Side. This comes with a gas oven plus a gas water heater for the galley sink, stern cabin/bedroom sink and the shower room. All fed from a midship Fresh Water Tank (300lt) and a pump. Plenty of storage room.
On the Port. Aft. Side of the saloon is a fridge/freezer, a storage locker for dry food, all covered by a wooden table with plenty of room on it for the microwave, a TV, books etc, etc. She also has a wood/coal fire place in the Stbd. Fwd. Part of the lounge that can also heat radiators around the boat. Forward of the saloon is the Fwd. Cabin.
This has a single berth to Port with storage below, a table and lots of storage on the starboard side. The next cabin forward, has the Shower Room in it on the Stbd. Side, more storage room and access to the Fwd. Removable toilet . The next cabin forward, has the Shower Room in it on the Stbd.
Side, more storage room and access to the Fwd. Removable toilet . Forward of this is the Fwd. Anchor Chain Locker cabin with a removable toilet to Port and storage room. Walking around and standing in ''TAKOMA'', virtually all the way back from Fwd.
To Aft., there is plenty of room to stand etc. Going through the doors between spaces and the Passageway however, does require the lowering of one’s head a bit though.... the wood top(s) are nice and hard!!!!! There is much, much more onboard.... Unfortunately, due to my personal health issues and the Covid restrictions, I have been stopped from maintaining and enjoying her for the past three years plus now and which also includes into the future. I have been unable to carry on with her maintenance to which she is suffering, or sail her, so therefore, I will sadly need to let ''TAKOMA'' go at best offered price. She now needs a new owner to continue her history, life, health, maintenance, general looking after, and of course, her enjoyment and pleasure.. A very reluctant sale, but she will be loved and worth it by whoever has the desire and competance to own her next. Thankyou.
UPDATE....UPDATE....UPDATE....UPDATE....UPDATE.... TAKOMA had a buyer, but unfurtunatly she sank in April 2022.Therefore no sale... She was underwater for several weeks and then she was recovered and moved to the boatyard of Essex Marina in Essex where she has slowly been drying out since. In July, I finally managed to get up to see her from Cornwall and look at her condition etc. She is very dirty and yucky all over but drying out. She has several holes in her hull now including two nice ones bellow the water line on the port side. Her Stbd Fwd and Aft topsides have been broken in with several other damages around her, inside and out.
All her inside is in a turmoil and diseray. Unfortunatly due to my health conditions etc. I still need to get rid of her. She is still viable to Refit or as a Project. Otherwise, she will have to be scrapped which is a shame for a 101 year old boat. Therefore.
Any offer is more than open, just to take her of my hands. Kind regards, Richard.