Another hello from Great Britain ..

[Clippsey]

Hi guy's .

My names Mickey , based in the UK , i joined the forum yesterday , though i've been in the background some time . I came across the site by accident , being honest , while i was researching something completely different .
Right now , i'm pretty much as far from the coast as you can get over here . I did live aboard for a while in Ipswich , on the east coast . I already owned a 25' cruiser/ racer , when a situation change , meant a move was required . As i'd always being interested in the live aboard life style , since high school , i gave it a shot . I loved it , though the choice of area was not the best . My car was broken into 9 times , and i kid you not . I ended up getting shot of the car , and as i equally enjoyed that freedom , it lasted for pretty much the rest of the time i was there .
Being a cruiser/racer , my boat was unsuited for a liveaboard life . Small and cramped , the vessel was narrow gutted at 7'6" beam , but perhaps the biggest problem was i could fully stand up . However , i was younger , so i got over these issues . My biggest victory was watching other weekend sailors packing and going home , while i sat in the cockpit drinking tea , and planning dinner . Ah the feeling . I began looking into making the lifestyle more permanent , and was researching a new boat . Only slightly larger than my present one at 30' , it had a 9' beam , and a lot more space , when a more pressing problem showed up with my present boat . My parents also had a serious problem with where they lived , so i move back ashore , and to where i am now . My original plan was to deal with my boat , sort the parents out , and then return , but it never quite happened like that .
I'm now just south of Oxford , own a house (something i never planned on doing) , and have Mother living with me . Yeah i know sad , but it is what it is , i guess . My dad died in 07 .
A trucker by trade , i've been hauling for the last 39 years . Frankly i now hate the job , but it pays the bills . To escape , i began hang gliding , the boat proved far more serious than at first imagined . I got involved with the training school shortly after , and began to spend my summers helping out . At first i camped , but as i spent more and more time there , in 2017 i brought my RV . I changed my original plan , to retire and travel (i've always had itchy feet) , however the green policies we have over here now , are throwing that plan into doubt . Now i know you guys don't like political issues jamming the threads , and that's fine by me , so i won't go any further , but with retirement just around the corner , the live aboard , car less lifestyle is beckoning once more . But not quite like it was before though , that marina ceased trading , after the owner sold up . They later built several blocks of flats on the waterfront , completely changing the waterfronts appearance .
I finally sold my old boat last year , and became interested once again in a new class , actually the same one , i was looking at all those years ago .
My choice of boat is quite simple . I want something big enough to live on , but small enough to singlehand . Yes i have done it before , that why i was looking at this class in the first place . I also wanted a two sticker , to split the sail area , for easier handling . It must have a tiller , i've spent years behind a steering wheel , time for something different , plus of course there's less to go wrong . I'm a firm believer in the kiss principle . And finally stay below 10 metre , slip fees over here are cheaper . Space is not really an issue . I'm single , and used to living in quite small spaces , my RV is only 20' long . A shower would be nice , a decent galley equally so , and of course a decent bed . Standing headroom over the bed is not important , as i don't sleep standing up . Smaller spaces are easier to keep warm , and cost less . Yes you do have to keep them tidy to gain , but i look at it from a different direction , less space to clutter . I guess i'm the ideal , what you guy's call , tiny home owner .

I am mechanically minded , in fact i've got the RV in bits right now . Engines done , steering next , give anything a go . I'm also a biker , but i've only got one now , after i sold my other four . There was enough spares to build a fifth . And finally i dabble with radio control toy's/ models . Only dabble , though i'm particularly good at crashing helicopters . Planes are reasonable safe . He say's !

Anyway , that me . Thanks for reading this , and hopefully we will speak soon .

Mickey ..

[boatman61]

Hi Mickey, welcome to CF..
Sounds like you've fitted a lot into your life so far and now want to fill the remaining half of the glass.. Good on yer.
Split rigs with tiller are scarce, maybe look at something like the Nantucket Clipper.. solid boats with yawl rig and tiller.. sail well under jib n jigger and heave to well with the same set up..

[Clippsey]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Nantucket Clipper..

Thank you Boatman ,


Rat's , busted . That's exactly the class i'm looking at . We have quite a few on the market , right now .

The majority are in pretty poor shape , and a couple have had some quite bizarre modifications , but these don't really bother me that much , so long as the price is right . We should never forget , these things are hitting the half century . So are more than due a seriously major refit anyway , in all areas .

However , they are renowned for their sea keeping , and passage making abilities , and their heavy construction . Yet , no one wants them because their design is dated , and to a large degree their accommodation is cramped compared to modern designs . I have heard there is an issue with rudders though , and some can have soggy side decks , along the bulwark line . The older boats were often over built , because the people who built them didn't really know the material they were working with . My last boat was launched in 1967 , and was built like a bloody battleship . Plastic again , the hull was just under an inch thick . It survived being rammed by a Thames sailing barge , and despite almost half the boat going under the bow , refused to sink . Yes , she was damaged , brought the mast down , and buckled the pulpit . But she withstood the impact till the mooring parted , and she popped out . It was osmosis that got her in the end , twice . The guy who brought her , is currently repairing her as we speak . I didn't because the cost would outweigh her value , and ultimately that was her fate .

I've never being one to allow the grass to grow under me feet . There's loads more i've done , that i've not listed . The likes of canoeing , scuba diving (bsac third class), and water skiing , horse riding , even started a ppl course (but i couldn't justify the cost) . I guess it's a case i've just never grown up . I can turn my hand to most things , a recent example i guess , would be on my motorhome . I learnt to plastic weld to repair the bumper , and right now i'm studying hydro-dipping to finish a conversion , i've made , to make a double din radio aperture in the dashboard on the same . Keeps the grey cells active , if you know what i mean . There is pretty much always a way .

Regular 006 and a half , huh . What ya reckon ?

[boatman61]

There's a nice example in Holland going for €14500.. they tend to treat their boats with a bit more TLC than Brits..
https://dailyboats.com/boat/92245-bu...ket-clipper-31

Mind, its an expensive time to buy, oldies have gone up in price it seems..

[Clippsey]

Originally Posted by boatman61

There's a nice example in Holland going for €14500.. they tend to treat their boats with a bit more TLC than Brits..
https://dailyboats.com/boat/92245-bu...ket-clipper-31

Mind, its an expensive time to buy, oldies have gone up in price it seems..

Yes , i do have to agree , that is a rather nice example . I knew there were a couple in Holland , from the OYCOA website . Unfortunately i couldn't get the site to work properly , but that's not unusual with my internet connection . From what i could see , it looks pretty much an original mk1 , and doesn't appear to have been fiddle with . I didn't see any scuppers though . Many versions appear not to have them , and i suspect this maybe , the reason for the soft deck edge issue . Interesting mast step arrangement ! .
Interior is pretty much what i'm looking for as well , though i would change it to an "L" shaped , mk3 dinette for more room . I first saw this , years ago , when i first started looking at them . Unfortunately , it also appears to be a very rare layout , as i've only ever seen it , that once . It made the interior look much bigger , and worth the extra effort of searching , and for me , sealed the boats usefulness as a liveaboard . I don't like the settee version , what i believe is the mk2 . Having the galley stuffed in the corner , to port of the companion way , means the galley is just too small .
And i'm really torn between the A , and B keel configurations . The fin would make the boat more manoeuvrable , but the long keel better at self steering . Both could be an advantage for a single hander in my view , though the long keel would allow extra water capacity , and protect the rudder at the same time .
Truth of the matter is , i haven't started looking in earnest just yet . I don't want to get bogged down with two major work programs at the same time . My current task is due to finish about mid year , and the finance is being put in place for around the Autumn , so that's when i plan to begin to start looking properly . With the refit beginning around mid next year , though i will admit storage arrangements , for the refit are in progress .

[boatman61]

Yup.. I prefer that galley arrangement myself, have seriously considered them myself for both the looks and the Sail plan, the only thing I don't like is the hawse pipe running through the V berth. That set up would have to be rearranged for me to be happy..
Good hunting..

[Clippsey]

Originally Posted by boatman61

the only thing I don't like is the hawse pipe running through the V berth..

I wholeheartedly agree , it is a nasty . Certainly an area , i will have to visit myself . I have a few ideas , but i'm not sure if any of them would work . A secondary issue , is i intend to use a winch , which complicates the issue . Well actually a capstan , a standard winch , takes up too much deck space . Once i've got myself sorted out , i'll give it some serious thought .

Thanks again , Boatman . I'll be around in the background , quietly figuring out the forum workings , but i'll let ya know when i'm set .