SELKIE, the lowdown

Here's what I know from a phone conversation with SELKIE'S builder & owner. 

Sails & Rigging:

She has 2 sets of sails. An traditional cotton set handmade by Don Lucas, a Master Sailmaker who does guest builds at Mystic Seaport. P describes them as beautiful & smelling nice, but had them replaced for regular use & are only rigged for boat day displays. The newer set at, I imagine, Dacron & the jib is over size. 

Stainless steel rigging was replaced with Dyneema in 2024. 

The rig is gunter lug. The main is hoisted on the main halyard, the top spar is them trimmed to about 15° off the mast, "not hard against like Mirror Dinghy.

Timber spars, apart from the mast, all is stowed under a boat cover. The mast needing a revarnish each other year.

Under Sail:

She will carry full sail to 18 knots & is described as being a gentle & forgiving sailer, "never anything nasty or upsetting". She is a dry boat & she once "handled running before 2 metre seas quite safely". 

She had not been set up to self steer, but "does heave to very well. Just backwind the jib, lash the tiller & she stays very steady". Reference made to her good manners due to her long keel. 

Accommodations:

Two very roomy 6'6" long berths amidships. Galley with single burner Maxi to port, esky to stbd. 

Forepeak is basic storage for the anchor rode.

Adequate "space for two or three nights afloat. Very comfortable."

Towing: 

She has been kept on a stand at Goolwa, but has a professionally made trailer. The trailer is well mannered, dual axle with override brakes. Care needs to be taken to adjust speed before entering corners necause, although "light enough to tow behind my Subaru Outback, she will push through corners". Estimated weight is 850kg.

Launching & Retrieval:

Described as going on like a buttered dolphin, just wet the tyres, goes easily. 

Retrieval is more difficult because she wanders,at need a helper to keep her square.  

Spares & Other Equipment:

* Torquedo electric outboard, stowed forward, bracket to stbd.

* Left over paints for touch ups.

* Bearing buddies for the trailer. 

* A shipwright made bimini.

*aSpare sails. 

* Below the waterline is treated with Copperbot, coppery epoxy paint that is very good. 

Oddities: 

The keel as drawn in the plans was massive steel plate of inordinate size & weight. SELKIE has an aluminium centreplate which is easier to handle. The ballast as per design was adjusted by fitting lead billets externally. Once each year or two these need to be reseated ... hacksaw blade & Sika.  

Handover:

At Goolwa, preferred 20 March as P starts leave then, otherwise any Friday to Monday by arrangement. 

Reason for Sale:

Not using her enough & wants to see her used. My regular crewmate got sick around Covid & is now too frail to sail. 

 P has recently semi-retired & is getting serious about rowing. Already has a smaller Oughtred boat for sailing solo.