Swift in her glory a few years ago.
FREE TO a GOOD HOME. Yacht Swift’ is almost 100 years old, pitch pine on oak built gaff rig, with many stories in her long life. She has navigated passage around two thirds of the British coastline from the Hebrides around Wales to London. A joy to sail, strong and steady. Also a warm, comfortable live-aboard, and a sturdy day sail.
Model by John of Swift showing sail rig.
But she’s now in very poor shape. Her restoration is still possible, and she could again become a wonderful home, or again delight as a day sail. Her restoration could make an excellent training project
Swift in dry dock now. Most of her fittings have been dry-stored ashore.
She has been badly neglected due to our serious health crises and we have to accept we are not strong enough to save her. If she cannot go to another owner she will very soon be broken up.
FREE GIFT TO SAVE HER Moving costs will be paid plus a contribution towards her restoration.
If you do not want her/ cannot take her, but know someone who might and the deal goes through, we’ll pay you a finder’s fee. Send us the contact.
.More detail …………………………………………………………………………
‘Swift’ was built in 1930 by Phillips of Dartmouth, a 30ft gaff cutter, transom stern, deep keel, traditional lines. Construction is pitch pine on oak. She’s a typical traditional boat of the west coast.
Almost forty years ago, John bought ‘Swift’ from Mashfords in Cremyll.
Accommodation: forepeak containing a triangular double berth, now a single. The double could be restored. Aft of that a marine toilet to starboard, large hanging locker to port. Saloon has settee berths both sides and a solid fuel stove. This is vital for comfort. Dry heat. Aft of that a chart table to starboard and galley to port. She was originally built as a dayboat with a shorter cabin and a long cockpit. The galley and chart table are an extension. It has been well done.
She has sailed to the Outer Hebrides, with a season living aboard there. She was house and home and very comfortable she was too. She came back to Pembrokeshire, did a few season’s mixed sailing there, sailed along the Channel to London River, stayed in South Dock for a while then moved back to Pembrokeshire again and laid up. Swift and John have a lot of miles under the keel.
She never let me down and always looked after me. There are many memories and stories. I became very, very, fond of her.
But then came the period when if I had the money to give to her I had little spare time and conversely when I had the time there was little spare money. I was able to keep her tarped up and in reasonable condition.
When I finally had both money and time I became seriously ill with blood cancer and it has been touch and go whether I’d survive the last 5 years. Well I’m still here and might have a year or more to go. But I’m not strong enough to do the necessary restoration on poor ‘Swift’. I have been too weak even to visit her and to keep her tarped up.
So the rain has got in and the rot. She needs much of her hull and deck planking renewed. Her structure is oak and her scantlings are massive for a thirty foot boat. Philips of Dartmouth, who built her, used to build fishing boats and it shows in her strength. So she has kept her shape. She is certainly capable of being restored. I know of more than one wooden boat that has come back from being in a far worse state. But she does need extensive work.
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