Construction

Hull: wood/epoxy; Douglas Fir strip planks on laminated frames; 2 layers bi-axial e-glass sheathing.

Topsides paint: black yacht enamel – 2009. Livery now Black / dark grey trim and boot top / red antifouling (April 09) / cream superstructure and inner bulwarks

Deck and superstructure: composite, pine planked

External trim: teak

Keel: lead bolted

Interior: panelled timber in antique pitch pine and mahogany; oiled/varnished and painted;

heavy timber cabin sole

Mechanical Data

Engine: Lister Alpha 45 hp diesel

Standard mechanical gearbox approx 3:1 reduction

3-bladed propeller

Speed: max 6 ½ to 7 knots; cruising 6 (5 ½ for economy)

Engine hours are not known but WESTERNMAN has done 12 years of cruising with this unit

All maintenance as per manufacturer’s recommendations; no recent problems

Cruising range: c 550M

Fuel consumption per hour at cruising speed: < 1 gph.

Electrical System

Batteries: 2 x 12 volt - 250/60 amp hours – 2008 (2006 for small engine start)

1 x 75 amp alternator

1 x Sterling battery charger

Other Mechanical

Water pressure system: 12 v + manual

Calorifier – engine heated

Bilge pumps: 2 x Rule 12v; 1 x Whale

Wood/coal stove in main saloon

2 x dry powder extinguishers (large); 1 fire blanket; 1 engine space extinguisher

Tankage

Fuel capacity: 90 gallons (409 litres) in two stainless steel tanks (suitable filtration, independently switched)

Fresh water capacity: 220 gallons (1000 litres) integral wood epoxy (in-line filter on drinking water pump)

1 x reserve tank

Holding tank: 1 x 35 gallons (159 litres) black water, stainless steel (pump out ashore)

Spars and Rigging

Gaff cutter

Spars: wood (mainly hollow) by Noble Spars/Covey Island Boatworks

Standing rigging: galvanised plough steel wire, well maintained in excellent condition

Rigging: bobstay tensioning tackle (8:1) Spectra, topmast forestay on turning block and 4:1 tackle.  Shrouds tensioned via dead-eyes.  Lanyards set up via throat halyard + jigger = 16:1.  Forestay passed through stemhead tensioned with galvanised bottle screw on deck.  Large diameter lightweight bamboo booming out pole, bamboo jackyards.  Working tops’l set without yards.  In heavy conditions, mainsheet can lead to aft capstan. 

Electric aft capstan

2 bronze mast winches for reefing and/or topsail sheet

Winches

Sails

Sail area c1450 sq ft

Deck Equipment

4-person Seago liferaft (2008) – 3 year warranty

1 x Tepco lightweight GRP stem dinghy

1 x Honda 4-stroke, 2.5hp outboard engine (2006)

2 boarding gates in the 12” bulwarks

Removable bronze stanchions with Dyneema guardrails and boarding gates, Rope bathing ladder.  No pulpits etc.

Anchors: 1 x 85 lb Fisherman (main bower); 1 x 40lb Spade kedge

30 fathoms 7/16” galvanised tested chain + appropriate kedge warp

Large Simpson Lawrence sprint electric anchor windlass

Tiller – hand-crafted wrought iron

RORC-style flare pack (2009)

406 EPIRB (serviced 2009)

4 x lifejackets

Mosquito netting (companionway and portholes)

Solid oak cockpit table for 4

Terracotta mainsail cover

Terracotta covers for forehatch and skylight

Terracotta cockpit cover

Cockpit cover doubles as a properly supported cockpit sun awning

Heavy-duty teak boathook with bronze grabbit hook for retrieving bower anchor via staysail halyard.  Anchor stows easily on pad outside starboard bulwarks.

Powerful oil-burning dioptric-lens anchor light, bosun’s chair, etc. 

Navigational Equipment

Domestic Equipment

Cooker: Spinflo 4-burner + grill (separate oven) – powered by 3 x 13 kg propane bottles in a self-draining locker – massive cooking range for foreign cruising

Cold box – readily convertible to simple 12v fridge

Toilet: 1 x Groco – top model (US made)

Shower in large, full-headroom heads compartment

Five oil lamps in main saloon.  Large chart stowage.  Heavy mahogany dining table extends to seat 10.  12V stereo music system in saloon – CD, tape, radio (LW & FM), Ipod via tuner (not supplied).

Owner’s Remarks

WESTERNMAN was designed by Nigel Irens to a tight specification agreed with myself and my wife, culled from many years of cruising with various gaff cutters. 

She is the logical gaff cutter inspired by the smaller pilot boats of the Bristol Channel before World

War I.

Conceived as a second home for us to cruise 2 or 4-handed for 3 months each year, she has been a resounding success.  Not only has she proved comfortable both at sea (rare these days) and in harbour, she has also shown herself a fast, powerful, all-weather yacht.

The Lloyds insurers have never asked me for a survey.

Items currently on board but excluded from the sale: various pictures, hangings etc., anchor weight, Walker log, 2 forward oil lamps (will be replaced with like), drawer handle, small mirror from aft cabin, half-model, Derby crockery and wooden plates.  Crockery etc is personal but can be replaced in moderation by negotiation.  Drinking glasses go with sale.

Of further interest:

‘Westernman’ was the nickname given to the hands on the original Bristol Channel pilot cutters.  They sailed the boats far to the westward to board their pilots onto ships inbound for Bristol, Barry, Cardiff etc.; they then kept to sea no matter what the weather, waiting for their pilots to return to them when they brought their next ships down-channel.  We all felt ‘Westernman’ was an honourable name for a vessel that these unsung heroes would surely have appreciated.

A number of articles have been written about WESTERNMAN.  We hold these digitally and are delighted to email them to you should you wish.

Disclaimer

These particulars have been prepared from information provided by the vendors and are intended as a general guide to the yacht, their accuracy cannot be guaranteed by us. The purchaser should confirm details of concern to them by survey or engineer’s inspection. The purchaser should also ensure that the purchase contract properly reflects their concerns and specifies details on which they may wish to rely.