Unity of Lynn has been Sold

Unity of Lynn

all photos courtesy Delphine Garcin

Unity of Lynn is for sale. She is an English smack of 11m built in 1906 and restored in Essex in 1995.
She'll come with a beautiful set of sails, a wood stove, and a Lombardini 36 ch2009 for power.
Restoration of the bulwarks, the stays and gunwales are underway. She is lying in Tréguier, France.
From the owner:

Unity was built by Alexander Gostelow in early 1906 and in late May 1906 he launched the Smack Telegraph (38 tons) and he is supposed to have launched Albert in December 1906 (now rebuilding in Holland) so for a small yard he was very busy....

Unity was employed for most of her working life trawling for pink shrimps which is a major fishery in the Wash.
The oyster fishery in the Wash died out by the 1880's so Unity could not have taken part and I do not think she has ever commercially fished for oysters any where else.

Unity was one of three "sister" ships built, the other two were Providence and the Perseverance which is now preserved in Grimsby Heritage Fishing museum although many features of her rigging are not as she was originally built.

Unity, Providence and Perseverance are the emblems/ motif of the Oddfellows Order (a society a bit like the Masons, but for working men) so presumably the first owner was a member of the Boston Oddfellows Lodge.

The owner offers this link for more information on the English Smacks ; www.ssa-uk.org

If you have interest in Unity, please email me with your contact info and I will gladly forward it to Unity's owner. My email is found in the upper right hand of this page.

Unity is offered at 30,000 euro. The owner is open to discussion.

Nord Vinden still available...

This beautiful boat is still available. You can read about her and see more detailed photos here. Built by William Clements in 1988, to George Holmes Ethel design, this boat is a marvel. I've been in touch with the owner and he is asking 10k, though she's probably worth twice that. If you have interest or questions, please contact me via my email address, visible in this blogs introduction, and I will connect you with the owner. Located in southern VA.

Nord Vinden for sale on ebay

Nord Vinden

Full view

Stern on

A view forward

Cockpit seating

This is the centerboard arrangement with the lever for the folding bronze fan keel.

Parrel beads attach the standing lug mainsail to the mast

Boom yoke for the mainmast

And for the mizzen

Leathered oar

The rudder arrangement

Tiller attachment

One last look



all photos courtesy John Wurdeman

Built to a George Holmes design by William Clements in 1988, this compelling canoe yawl is for sale on ebay. William Clements is a long established builder of small craft and is known for his attention to detail. Take a kook at the photos here. John, the owner, was kind enough to send me photos of the boat as ebay has implemented new software which no longer allows direct downloading of photos from their site. John was also kind enough to send along some particulars on his exquisite little craft. John spoke to William Clements about what it would cost to build one of these today and the estimate was in the$20k range! The original Holme's boat was Ethel, and is a point in the evolutionary chain which eventually led to the larger Humber yawls as developed by Holmes and his contemporary Albert Strange. A recent publication by the fledgling Loderstar Books treats Holmes and his designs at length. I have yet to read it but it's on my list.

The owner lists her attributes:

Nord Vinden
Lug Rigged Canoe Yawl 13’, beam: 4’
Folding caned seat for use when rowing, Shaw and Tenney oars with
leathers, coppertips, black locust tiller, boomkin, yokes and cleats -
bronze oarlocks, pintal, gudgeons and fastenings - cherry stems,
cockpit coaming, king planks - ash and spruce deck framing - mahogany
rub rails - sapele maring plywood bulkheads - bruynzeel mahogany
marine plywood hull - teak deck - 340 lbs, designed by George Holmes
(1888), built by William J. Clements in 1988, includes trailer and
cover, garage kept, 100 square ft sail area, folding bronze keel,
draws 6 inches/2 feet, flip up rudder, excellent condition, would cost
$20,000 plus to build today according to builder.

The auction ends April 14, the 5k reserve has not been met, so here's your chance to own a modern/classic at 1/4 the price.

Contessa 26 for sale @ SailingTexas

Contessa 26 for sale on Sailing Texas. $11k. Proven world cruiser.

Wood Pussy c.1948 on eBay

Very nice little wooden daysailer going to auction on eBay. Designed by Phil Rhodes and built by Palmer Scott in New Bedford, Mass. The seller describes this one as having a sloop/cutter rig, but they were originally rigged as cats. Looks to be in decent shape for her age. Somebody ought to...bid.

Pearson Electra? on Ebay

Can't be sure but this looks like a Pearson Electra, 1962, and both the Electra and the Ensign were in production by then. The ad says 22' but both boats were 22'6", with the major difference being that after the success of the Electra, legendary designer Carl Alberg was asked to redraw her as a racing/daysailor with a lengthened cockpit, a cuddy and reduced accomodations. Apparently customers were clamoring for this. That doesn't look like a cuddy to me, so I'm pretty sure it's the Electra. Either boat is an Alberg classic and were very sturdily built in those days. Last time I looked the only bid was $10. She looks a bit scruffy, but at $10., someone could afford to invest a little in restoration. Someone should.

I cant's seem to link to this boat directly, so go to ebay motors, sailboats, and find her.

Sailing Texas/Sunfish et al.

David Lukenbach has a website called Sailing Texas. It's one I visit often, at least twice a week, mostly to look at the boats for sale. Don't let the name fool you, it's scope is far wider than Texas. This is a very rich website with lots of resources for sailors anywhere. Indulging a recent interest in Sunfish, Sailfish etcetera (I found an early sailfish lurking in the garage of a friend), I found these pictures,taken by David, of a vintage Sunfish, refinished and varnished to show the woods rich character and obviously meticulously restored, on the Sailing Texas website arhcive of boat photo's, a valuable resource. It's great for researching production boats, the site also has how to's, among other things and the sailboat listings are some of the best around. Visit. Often.

If you are lookin' to go around in a small boat...

Voyager 26's are few and far between and this is at a good price. For these boats. You could go anywhere in this boat. Double ended. Seaworthy. Beautifully and strongly crafted, these boats are not well known but are sought after by those who get it. Somebody get it.