River Cruiser "Corsair" - For Sale

For Sale

£30,000

1902 Walter Woods River Cruiser 

Corsair is the middle of 3 boats designed by Woods, built by George Applegate, Potter Heigham at The Norfolk Broads Yachting Co. Ltd.

She is the only one of the three that retains her bright topsides. 

Builder:         Walter Woods | George Applegate, 1902
LOA: 29ft 10in  (9.1m)
LOD: 29ft 10in  (9.1m)
Beam: 8ft 2in  (2.5m)
Draft min: 3ft 6in  (1.1m)
Keel: Fin

Oak on Oak Clinker

Douglas fir / Bruynzeel ply / epoxy glass sheathed decks

Very well maintained – topsides varnished and bottom painted every year

Wintered ashore

Twin-axle trailer

ePropulsion Pod drive 3 Evo fitted 2023

3x E40 Batteries – range approx. 30 miles

2x 12V 24Ah auxiliary batteries 

High-peak gaff rig

Counterbalanced mast stepped in tabernacle

Wooden mast, gaff and boom

Jeckells mainsail and jib 2016 (excellent condition)

Previous gunter rig mainsail, genoa, 2x jibs (used condition)

Bronze Murray winches

All-over cover

Awning

Cockpit sunshade

3 berths in one cabin

2x Single side berths convert to double

1x cross berth

Berth cushions all in excellent condition

Optimus paraffin double burner stove – no gas locker or certification required

Sea toilet – no holding tank

Full length lifting roof with standing headroom

2x gimballed paraffin lamps

Boat Safety Scheme certificate (expires April 2028)

Fire blanket

2x Fire extinguisher

Carbon Monoxide detector

2x Mud weight

2 x rhond anchors

6 x fenders

Various warps

Quant pole

2x electric bilge pumps

Manual bilge pump

Crutches – 2x low 1x high

Subject to a "no expense spared" rebuild from 2009 to 2016, which was forensically documented with supporting photographs at every stage, she is probably the soundest vintage cruiser on the Broads, whilst still maintaining her original soul.

All damaged and rotten non-original materials were replaced; original was repaired if feasible. Everything that was inserted is date stamped. This list of works is too exhaustive, but in summary, (from the bottom up):

• New keel deadwood and replacement bronze bolts.
• Strengthened hog cockpit to transom to redress deformation at rudder.
• New stainless spade rudder with bronze bearings.
• Completely re-planked in 1/2" English Oak, air-dried and quarter sawn.
• Re-framed, bar two originals in the forepeak.
• New decks – 3/4 inch old-growth Douglas Fir, ¼ inch Bruynzeel ply (25 year guarantee), epoxy sheathed, lapping top inch of sheer and ½ inch cabin sides.
• New oak floors.
• New tabernacle base
• Bespoke bronze castings – chainplates, tiller socket, outboard bracket, mast gooseneck
• New forward bulkhead
• New cross berth
  
• New oak sole boards
• New cabin roof

She is for sale for no other reason than being seriously under used!

...deployed as a block ship on South Walsham Broad during 1939-45, she was raised and saved in 1947. From then until 1967, she remained in my family. In March 2009, she returned somewhat worse for wear. What started as an expected heavy-ish maintenance regime, evolved to a rebuild, but as sympathetically as could be achieved.

Relaunched in 2016, she has been based both South and North.

Recent valuation extract:

General impression of vessel. The vessel was of conventional design, but her varnished oak clinker planking made an immediate visual contrast to most Broads cruisers. She had been built and subsequently maintained using very good quality timber and workmanship. She was in commission and presented in a very clean and tidy condition, clearly well maintained by a caring and knowledgeable owner.

• Hull, deck and fittings. These were in very good order, with no visible unrepaired damage or deterioration that would prejudice their strength or integrity. She had not been “over-restored” and her coachroof and cockpit in particular had a rich patina suitable for a vessel of this age.
• Mechanical propulsion. Electric pod installation: in good condition but not run at this time.
• Sailing rig. In very good condition.
• Steering gear. In good condition.
• Gas system. Nil installed.
• Equipment. Sufficient for current inland use, and included a trailer and all-over covers.

Valuation. The vessel really stands out from the crowd in terms of Broads cruisers, not only in her style, but also in the quality of workmanship and maintenance.

Relaunch 2016

Pod Drive Controller & Auxiliary Batteries

Drop-Down Pod Drive Controls

Pod Drive Battery No.3

Pod Drive Batteries Nos. 2 & 3

Cabin Forward

Cabin Aft

Stove

All-Over Cover

Craning In

A word about maintenance...

For some reason, varnish is frightening. I never understood why - it's paint without pigment!

Every autumn, on returning home, Corsair is jet washed and bottom very thoroughly scrubbed -  (2 hours max). Boot-top is scrubbed with Scotch pad to remove limescale - (1 hour max).

When dry, bottom of boot-top is masked - (2 hours) and bottom paint (tar varnish) is prepared. Again, quell the fear - I have enough for at least 15 years. Dilute tar varnish with proper creosote (again, this is not difficult to obtain) to consistency of condensed milk. With disposable brush, cover the lands and with a 4" roller, likewise the planks and keel - (3 hours max). This is NOT thick goop; after 9 years annual application, the wood grain is still clearly discernible - and there is never any significant weed growth.

Topsides sanded with random orbital sander 4" and/or 6" pads and 240 grit at low speed. Sand all varnished planks as wide as pad. Switch to orbital sheet sander for narrow sections and hand block for fiddly bits and folded sheet for plank edges - (2 hours both sides).

Wipe with white spirit and tissue - changing wet face every 6' or so. When dry, tack rag twice, again changing surface frequently - 2 rags per side folded 16 times (0.5 hours).

Epifanes Extra UV Filter Clear Varnish is diluted with their own thinners 180ml:20ml and applied with roll-and-tip method. You must use superfine black foam 4" rollers - they don't break down; even with two-pack solvent... and 2" poly foam brushes. Work in 6' sections along the same plank, maintaining a wet edge. Varnish the underside edge of plank above with foam brush first, then the plank below with the roller; basket weave pattern i.e. longitudinal first, then up and down then longitudinal again. Switch back to foam brush and very, very lightly draw across the rolled area, dispersing any bubbles and don't revisit. You will get a finish like glass. (2.5 hours each side).

A minimum of 3 weeks later (4-6 is better), test to see varnished fully cured and mask of top and bottom of boot-top and paint with Light Ivory yacht enamel (4 hours).

That's about 3 days effort, once a year.