- Hull and construction
- Decks and cockpit
- Rigging
- Accommodation
- Engine
- Performance
- Conclusions
It was commonly observed of a famous wartime fighter aircraft that it was
hard to say whether she was beautiful because of, or in spite of, her shape.
Similar doubt may well arise today concerning many of our standard
production yachts with their universal sloop rigs, straight sheerlines and
short overhangs. The advent of Offshore Yachts' 29ft Nantucket Clipper with
yawl rig as standard, traditional clipper bow with bowsprit and sawn off
counter stem therefore provides something of a breath of fresh air and would
make her worthy of note even if she had no other redeeming features. Her
old-time profile however, is married to the otherwise most up to date trends
in design. The design is from the board of Alan Buchanan and Partners and
the hull mouldings are by Seamaster with final completion and fitting out by
the builders at their Royston factory.
Hull
and construction
The basic construction is of three mouldings comprising hull, decks and
coachroof and a deckhead lining. On the whole, these are excellently
finished, but there were one or two flaws, particularly in the coachroof
lining. One must, however, remember that this was the first boat out of the
mould. The lines plan shows a fairly deep hull with the clipper bow merging
into a deep forefoot with little cutaway before a relatively long and
shallow keel. The keel contains 3,360 pounds of iron giving a ballast ratio
of about 40%. The wide beam of 9ft in on a waterline length of 2lft has
permitted a fairly slack turn to the bilge which should make for sea
kindliness. The spade rudder is set forward of the bottom of the counter,
and is balanced to a certain degree. The propeller shaft emerges from the
hull through a shallow skeg. The lines are sweet with a low coachroof line
which produces a most attractive profile.
Decks and cockpit
The main feature of the deck plan is the plank type bowsprit which extends
some I 8in beyond the stemhead. It is a solid teak plank, wide enough to
stand on in safety and it carries the pulpit. It is bolted through the deck
and stayed by a bobstay and short dolphin striker. Although relatively
short, this bowsprit makes a considerable contribution to the working space
in this area and has enabled the coachroof to be carried well forward. Two
large mooring cleats are mounted at its aft end and there is a single pair
of handed fairleads. Double lifelines are carried by stainless steel
stanchions. The side decks have a minimum width of 15in increasing forward
and, being quite uncluttered, are sale and easy to use. Grabrails are
mounted on the coachroof and forward of the deck stepped mast a very fine
stainless steel and armoured glass hatch is fitted to the coachroof. It is
hinged aft. The main companion hatch is of timber and slides forward under a
drained moulded cover. Just forward of the break in the coachroof on either
side, is a Dorade type ventilator with a flexible plastic cowl. These are of
good size and supply air to both the saloon and toilet areas below. The
cockpit is some 6ft long with teak gratings both in the well and on the side
seats. The coamings are also of teak and are relatively low, contributing
little to comfort. There is a large locker under the port side bench and a
further cavernous one with a timber hatchcover under the stern deck. The
double lifelines are extended to the back of the cockpit but are not carried
round the stern. Large size mooring cleats are provided on the stern deck
but the hawse holes through the bulwarks are being changed for a pair of
fairleads. The rudder stock rises through the aft end of the cockpit well
and the tiller may be lifted out of the way when not in use. The short
length of IYE track on the bridge deck carries the mainsheet traveller.
Navigation lights are standard with port and starboard lights mounted on the
pulpit, a stern light on top of the counter and a masthead light. A steaming
light is an extra. The combination of wide beam and the use of bowsprit has
permitted a most spacious and uncluttered deck plan which would give credit
to a larger yacht.
Rigging
The boat has a masthead rig with single forestay and single backstay
anchored rather off the centreline so as to permit a transom hung rudder,
Standing rigging is of Norseman Seaproof sheathed galvanised plough wire 1 x
19 x 1.5 in. Downhauls are provided for main and jib and Barton roller
reeling is standard. Mast and boom are of aluminium alloy which can be
supplied anodised as an extra.
You may notice the
differences between the MK2 Clipper to that of the later Mk3 with the longer
keel and integral rudder. Some boats are also sloop rigged rather than yawl.
The sails are by Gowan of
West Mersea, the spars on the boat inspected were of alloy made by Stainless
Steel Spars, standing rigging of Seaprufe, In about a Force 3/4 breeze
Nantucket clipper was very easily driven and seemed to be making around 5
1/2 to 6 knots close hauled. The shrouds are plastic-covered galvanised wire
secured to stainless steel rigging screws and U- bolts shroud plates. The
main mast is stepped on a hinged, adjustable step and is supported by the
usual single forestay, three pairs of shrouds and a single divided backstay.
The mizzen mast has two pairs of shrouds and provision for a mizzen
staysail. Supplied as standard are a single halyard winch on the main mast,
one pair of sheet winches on the cockpit coamings, the necessary tack
downhauls for both main and jib together, and a kicking strap.
Accommodation
With the coachroof carried well forward of the mast, the fo'c's'le is
relatively spacious with 5ft 6in headroom and two good, wide, full length
berths, which are divided at their foot by the chain pipe. There is a
screw-down mushroom ventilator above each berth and the forehatch, which is
hinged aft, is also available for further ventilation. Electric lights are
mounted on the bulkhead, and there is the usual stowage beneath the berths.
A step between the bunk risers would be of assistance when using the
forehatch. Moving aft, we find the toilet compartment and hanging cupboard
with hinged doors separating the area from the saloon and fo'c's'le. A fine
stainless steel folding wash basin was mounted above the SL400 toilet to
port of the boat inspected, but standard boats have a somewhat simpler
arrangement with pumped water supply draining into the W.C. itself. Opposite
is a good, deep, hanging cupboard with a shelf above. The saloon, with 6ft
headroom, follows the popular dinette arrangement to port with a single
quarter berth to starboard. Opposite the dinette is a well fitted galley
with a gimbaled Argyle gas stove with fiddle and clamps. There is a small
stainless steel sink with very limited working space to one side of it.
Behind this, under the sidedecks are fitted cupboards with sliding doors,
with two further cupboards and a fitted cutlery drawer below. There is
undoubtedly insufficient working space in this arrangement and as will be
seen later, this fault will be rectified in future boats. The dinette is
over 6ft long, and 46in wide and can, therefore, reasonably be regarded as a
double berth, and again there are cupboards with sliding doors under the
sidedecks. The dinette does not extend right back to the after bulkhead, and
in this area is a deep bin and more clothes storage space. An alterative
arrangement with two single settee berths is also available.
On the boat inspected, the
quarter berth to starboard projected only marginally into the saloon and
although of full length would be difficult to climb into. Between the head
of this berth and the quarter bulkhead bounding the galley, there is a seat
at lower level and a folding chart table. The arrangement was not very
satisfactory and is being re-designed so that the quarter berth merges into
the seat at the same level and the folding chart table will be so mounted as
to provide an extension at the same level. The layout as a whole does,
however, provide comfortable seating space for five people out of the way of
the cook. Ventilation is taken care of by a louvred vent in the top weather
board of the companion hatch and the deck-mounted cowls already mentioned.
There are large discharge
type electric lights above both galley and dinette, curtain rails are
included and the general decor of solid teak and teak-faced plywood is not
only attractive but completed to a high standard. Once the modifications
already mentioned have been carried out the saloon should prove comfortable
and snug for an evening aboard with a full crew together with one or two
friends.
Engine
The standard engine is a 6/8hp Sabb single cylinder diesel with electric
starting by Dynastart. This engine gives the boat a speed of about 5 1/2
knots in calm water and provision is made for installation of larger motors
if required. Access to it is excellent and achieved by removing the whole of
the front of the engine casing. Once removed, all parts of the engine and
gear box are within easy reach, although there is also a screw-down hatch in
the cockpit sole. The engine was smooth in operation. It drives a variable
pitch propeller with the control lever rising through the forward end of the
cockpit well.
Performance
We tried out the Clipper on a glorious afternoon in the mouth of the
Blackwater river in about a Force 3/4 breeze on a virtually calm sea. The
yacht appeared to be very easily driven and closed hauled pulled steadily
away from one of the small Halcyon 23s moving under the power of her MDl
engine, indicating that the Clipper was making around 5 1/2 to 6 knots. She
was well balanced and carried little weather helm, but when close hauled it
paid to slacken off the mizzen sheet to prevent a degree of weather helm
appearing.
Whilst no measurement was
possible, an eye on the wash after going about indicated that she was close
winded with her heading certainly varying well under ninety degrees between
tacks. We were given to understand from the owner that her first performance
in a local club race came as something of a shock to the local champions. On
a broad reach, the speed appeared to build up to something in excess of 6
knots, which judging from the relatively small wash, did not appear to be
her maximum downwind.
The Clipper has very much a
big boat feel about her with a most pleasant, easy motion. The small mizzen
did not appear to be of much benefit under these conditions, but it is
claimed that the yacht is perfectly balanced with foresail and mizzen only
in strong winds and there is of course the advantage of being able to set a
mizzen staysail.
Conclusions
Leaving apart the unusual clipper bow which is such a distinguishing feature
of this yacht there is no doubt that it is a most comfortable well finished
cruiser with a good turn of speed and unusually spacious deck plan. In
relation to the basic price of £3,950 which includes the diesel engine,
stove, anchor chain, navigation lights etc the finish was good and the
standard of fitting out high. If about 10% were added to this price for
further sails and equipment, the result would be a very well equipped
seagoing cruiser of 7 1/2 tons TM.
She is a fine yacht in her
own right, but with a special appeal to anyone seeking something a little
different from the average.
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