Folksong 25 Classic Sailing Yacht

The Folksong 25 is a GRP cruiser based on the Folkboat. Its Scandinavian origins are pretty obvious and its a tried-and-tested formula copied in other marques such as the Contessa. Folksongs came as a complete boat or as a bare hull for home finishing and were produced, mostly, in the late 70s and early 80s. The Folksong is sleeker and faster than its forebears and it's a lovely, stiff and sea-kindly classic boat - an absolute pleasure to sail. But I have three boats and this doesn't get sailed at all at the moment (more of that later).

I bought it in 2011 and we sailed it for a couple of seasons on the east coast of Scotland. The previous owner had replaced the original two-tier guardwires with a single tier which disappeared altogether at the bow and my wife became increasingly worried by going forward in a blow. The boat's equipment was getting a bit past its best in any case so I decided to take it out of the water and strip it completely. All of the winches, blocks, cleats, eyes, sheets, control lines - everything except the hull, mast, boom, sails and rudder! - were replaced or refurbished.

The boat had been a less-than-professional home completion version and so even my limited carpentry skills were an improvement! The interior quality was improved by buying the inside of an old Folkboat and using its woodwork to redesign the interior. Though I'm keen on a wood finish, my domestic line-manager wanted it bright inside - thus the yellow paintwork - and then she decided offshore wasn't her thing at all. I finished the boat by converting it to big-loch-sailing.And it hasn't been in the water since because the water level has been too low for its 4' draft! There's no point in it sitting there for another couple of years so it's up for sale.It comes with everything required though I should point out that the pictures show the boat as it lies at the moment - everything removable has been taken out and stored in my shed - hatch covers, cabin sole, table, cushions, Origo cooker, sink, chart table, nav station seat, companionway steps, batteries, solar panel and bracket, boom, whisker pole, sails (inc.

Spinny), tiller, anchor, chain, warp, sheets, guardwires and stanchions, winter full length haulage quality cover - too much stuff for me to remember but they all come with the boat as does, obviously, the trailer, jockey wheel and the cockpit cover.The boat had its engine removed some time in the past (I'm not a great fan of iron sails) but the mounting is still there - adapted as a battery compartment - as is the outboard bracket. The original chainplates (mild steel of all things!) have all been replaced in stainless and the backstay split - rather than the off-set of the original - and renewed, as have the forestay and all the shrouds. The VHF and GPS aerials remain, together with their (renewed) wiring, and a new set of LED nav lights was my way of hanging on to the possibility it would be going off-shore again.The trailer is substantial, with Land Rover wheels and tyres, but the brake connections have been a casualty of the enforced idleness. New rods and adjusters are included in the sale but it's pretty difficult to fit these with the boat still on the trailer! The boat was towed (brakeless) to its present location by a contact with a brakedown truck (the trailer was a couple of inches too wide to go on the back!).

Since it's been sitting roasting in the sun the forward hatch seal has developed a leak and the non-slip deck paint has peeled in some areas (repainted darker blue in the photos). The boat's location (and the mooring it isn't on!) is paid up to mid-October.Enquiries welcome (I have lots of photos), inspection advised.VERY IMPORTANT - please note re payment: the price set is an end-of-season offer to move the boat on before the winter. That price includes everything required to sail the boat satisfactorily - sails, boom, sheets, blocks, spinnaker pole, two-teir guardwires and stanchions, tiller, mooring ropes, anchor and warp, hatches, fenders and, of course, the trailer and jockey wheel. What it won't include is the outboard, solar panel, cooker, battery and off-boat electronics. I'm happy to have a straightforward discussion about that so that a prospective buyer knows exactly what they're getting before they pay and these items will be available for separate purchase.

After inspection I would expect a deposit to secure the boat and then full payment by bank transfer before the boat becomes the buyer's property. NOTE: I will not accept any other forms of payment other than a bank transfer. It really is essential that a prospective buyer views the boat beforehand as she is sold as she lies plus stored additional equipment. I've had too many time-wasters on this to consider any other arrangement. A full bill of sale will be drawn up, with detailed inventory of everything included in the sale.

I'm happy to assist with moving the boat but once sold (i.e. Before it moves) it's the responsibility of the buyer. The boat is fully insured at the moment but that insurance will lapse immediately on sale and subsequent insurance will be the responsibility of the buyer - as will the mooring/storage fees after mid-October. Please ask if you have any questions, I'm happy to answer