"Rowspar", Gaff Cutter built by Berthons Lying  Chichester

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Owner's Comments

Rowspar was rebuilt in the 90's by the owner and Chidham marine. The rebuild was intended to provide a yacht for 1 or 2 people to cruise the whole season. Storage and tankage is large for a 25ft boat, in fact storage is exceptional.

Only the best materials were used and attention was given to retaining the character. Where ply was used then a Teak layer was glued to the visual side.  Bunk fronts and bulkheads look like Teak but the structure is ply. Decks are Teak laid on ply and the cabin trunk is a teak / ply / teak structure  1 1/2 " thick. The result is a massively strong yet traditional looking boat. 

Another feature is that the space between the sheer strake, beam shelf and between the frames has been chocked in (wood blocks glued in) and the traditional rather weak deck / hull structure is now immensely strong.  

The spars (ex boom) are new (mast is hollow) and give no concern in hard weather.  The sails, although 15 years old have actually had little use until 4 years ago. Only one is not so good due to incorrect sheeting angle when new. 

This boat can be driven in much harder weather than the crew can put up with! There is NO inside ballast and with 3 tons outside she is stiff and powerful.

There are some big sails (the genoa sets on the bowsprit and sheets on the transom cleats) and a jackyard or jib headed Tops'l  and some heavy weather storm sails.

Weather helm to windward rather depends on angle of heel. If you want the deck edge under then the weather helm will be excessive. With the cove line down to the water, weather helm is equivalent  to the tiller being about 1" to 1.5" to windward.

With 1 reefin the main, No2 jib and No2 stays'l she can be driven up to a force 5/6. Take the stays'l off and keep going to a good force 6. More than that and a second reef and storm jib and storm stays'l will let you carry on if you have to - personally I would rather bear away for the nearest pub!

The boat can be sailed under just a main -  for manoeuvring (those used to older boats will appreciate what I am saying)

If your interest is sailing an old style boat and no worries about the rig or the hull then Rowspar is probably one of the strongest small boats around. Unfortunately she is not big enough for my plans.

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For further details or to arrange to view, please contact Adrian  Espin at: - Astonbury Marine Services 
19 Colne Road, Brightlingsea, Essex, CO7 0DL  Tel: 01206 305 996  or +44 1206 305 996   
or email to: adrian@EasternYachts.com
In this case we are acting as Brokers only. The Vendor is not selling in the course of a business. Whilst every care has been taken in their preparation, the correctness of these particulars is not guaranteed. The particulars are intended only as a guide and they do not constitute a term of any contract. A prospective buyer is strongly advised to check the particulars and where appropriate at his own expense to employ a qualified Marine Surveyor to carry out a survey and/or to have an engine trial conducted.