Description

Over 100 year old Wooden Cruiser converted to electric propulsion
Four cabins with a dining room/galley, living room, washroom, toilet/shower and rear cabin
Four berths with a double or two singles in rear cabin and a convertible double in the main cabin
To suit an enthusiast able to look after her maintenance

HISTORY
The Wayfarer if a 42ft, six and a half ton wooden boat built in 1906. She was launched on June 14th 1906 having been built by the Burnham on Crouch Motor and Boat company. She was originally destined as a pleasure launch in Southend but was brought to Cambridge via the Wash (August 23rd 1906). She was the first boat registered by the Cam conservancy and still has the brass plate.
It is thought that she was built as an open launch and acquired a full length coach roof in the 1920s. She was originally powered by a 25HP Truscott petrol engine. This was removed in the 1960s.
The hull is teak round bilge carvel construction with a straight stem, A fine entry at the deep forefoot, flat floors at the midships sections and a long run aft to a small transom stern. The stem, deadwood, sternpost and transom are all oak. The hull is teak planking fastened to steamed oak ribs. The coach roof trunking is made of teak. The coach roof itself is made of pine tongue and groove supported by oak deck beams.
Little of her history as a passenger launch is known. By the 1950s she was owned and berthed at Appleyard Atkins boat builders in Ely. Sometime in the 1960s the steering was transferred from the bow to port midships. In the late 1960s the engine was removed and she was left semi derelict. She was berthed by the pub on Jesus’ green and for many years was used as a houseboat for postgraduate students.
When inherited in 1990 she was leaking badly and needed significant repair. Nearly all the ribs and some rotten timbers were replaced. She was fully refitted caulked and blacked. The internal cabins were modified to allow increased sleeping berths. In 1997 a BMC 1500 cc diesel engine was installed in the bow and the existing propeller shaft used. This ran the length of the boat. The propeller fell off in 2005. She was lifted and another propeller fitted. This stimulated her later conversion to electric propulsion.
She was converted to electric propulsion around 2007, with a 48-volt system and Lynch motor. Steering has been enabled at both midships and bow. The 48-volt battery set was charged by a Fischer Panda generator and later back up solar panels.
In 2012 the water ingress increased considerably, and the keel was found to have rotten. The boat was lifted, and a hardwood keel inserted. This was a remnant of a boat that had been deconstructed. The keel was thought to be an African hardwood and in very good condition. The rudder was created out of steel repositioned forwards to allow more sensitive steering. The whole boat was refitted, re caulked, and repainted (this time green).
In 2018 lifted for survey and hull was blacked (survey report is available on request)

Specifications

Accommodation

Access doors and hatches on both sides open to stairs down to washroom area
Sliding part glazed hardwood doors open to main cabin

MAIN CABIN
Two long bench seats with cushions – starboard seat is convertible to become a double berth
Large storage areas are under the seats
Webasto Airtop diesel warm air heater is under the port seat
Full height wardrobe
Cabinet with surface for TV
Varnished hardwood paneling with blinds and tilting glazed windows
Frame and plank ceiling with period lighting
Warm air heater ducts

GALLEY/DINING
Laminate work surface with inset stainless steel sink and 3 burner gas hob
Hardwood cabinets under with shelving
Built in Smev single oven and grill
Isotherm 12 volt compressor fridge
Warm air heater ducts
Varnished hardwood table with folding leaves
Cabinets and shelving units
Double opening doors lead to the prow

PROW
Helm seating position with side operated steering wheel and single lever motor control
Vee shaped seat with storage under and access to small diesel tank for heater and generator
Co-pilot seat with cushioned folding seat
Sliding door access to rear cabin

AFT CABIN
Glazed opening windows to rear deck
Opening side windows
Two single berths with slated vee infill and cushions to make a large double berth
Under the berths are two fresh water storage tanks, mains electric hot water calorifier and auto water pump

WASHROOM
Washroom area with a cabinet housing an inset sink with hot & cold water
Storage under the sink
Behind the starboard steps in an enclosure is the diesel generator
Second helm position with steering and speed control
Toilet cubicle with shower tray
Shower with mixer control
Flushing sea toilet

Construction

Wooden carvel constructed from 5″ wide teak planks secured on oak frames with copper nails and roves
Mahogany bulkheads, teak superstructure and oak roof trusses
Roof is covered with cascover style non-slip material
Hardwood handrails run the length of the roof

Equipment

Full length winter cover cabin covering the entire cabin and prow to beneath the gunnels
Webasto Airtop 2000 diesel warm blown air heater
Surecal calorifier water heater with 1kw mains element
Rear deck houses storage for two 13kg propane cylinders
Starter battery for DC generator
Leisure battery and charger for lighting and domestic electrics
Mains distribution with 13A sockets in each cabin
Bilge pumps with auto switches
Hydraulic steering with forward and rear quarter helm position
Working order of the above equipment has not been been verified

Engine(s)

Motor – Lynch 48v 8.5kw electric with reduction gearbox
Batteries – eight 6 volt 220Ah lead acid
Motor Speed Controller – 4QD-300-48 With remote controls at both helm positions
DC Generator that directly charges the batteries – Fischer Panda AGT-DC 4000 (requires a new charge controller)
Mains Battery Charger – for charging battery bank when connected to shore power
Four flexi-solar panels and Morning Star ‘Tristar’ solar panel controller (condition unknown)
Working order of all the above equipment cannot be verified

Certification

Boat Safety Certification to August 2026

Disclaimer

The correctness of these particulars is not guaranteed, they are intended only as a guide and do not constitute a term of any contract

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