C/O JUDITH R100 CLASSIC BOAT AUGUST 2016CRAFTSMANSHIP
COOKHAM, UPPER THAMES
Commuter launch restored
for the Thames
AXMOUTH, DEVON
New Beer lugger
Woottens Boatyard on the Upper Thames has recently
re-launched a 57ft (17.4m) American commuter yacht after a
decade-long restoration. Judith R was built in 1935 for the
then-president of Paramount Pictures, Barney Balaban, by
Robinson Marine of Lake Michigan. He owned her until 1974,
and her second owner (until 2003) kept her as she was,
meaning that much of her remains original. She was bought by
her current, and only third, owners in 2004, Susanne and David
Williams, and transported to Woottens for the work to start.
Her hull is mahogany on oak, her bridge and saloon are
fitted with mahogany furniture and she offers two guest cabins,
two heads and a galley. Judith R is currently being prepared for
charter. To find out more visit judithr.co.ukFife 6-M saved
A 6-M project that started four years ago is nearing
completion and the photo speaks for itself. Co-owner of the
second rule 1932 Fife-designed Piccolo, David Cockburn, told
CB that the yacht once belonged to his grandfather, and that
he remembers sailing her as a child, when she had a cabin,
which was added around 1950. Before that time, she won her
fair share of races, and the aim for David and co-owner
Martin is to take her back to her birthplace and see if they
can bring her back to her winning ways. To that end, she'll be
kept at Largs Marina for the sake of practicality, but she will
also have a mooring in Fairlie Bay. Obviously, the cabin has
gone, and in nearly all respects, the yacht is being restored to
her original lay-out. One change is the new keyhole cockpit,
invented by Olin Stephens in the early 1930s and popular on
Sixes these days, for the efficient distribution of crew labour.
The work, which has been pretty much a total rebuild, is
being carried out by Tom Owen of Classic Yacht Restoration.
CB readers will know of Tom's work, which includes the
restoration of the 6-M Valdai, drawn by Alfred Mylne, and
winner of our ‘Best European Restoration under 40ft’ in 2013.
We have put the story up on our website, classicboat.co.uk.
As soon as Valdai is out of the shed, work will start on
another 6-M, Marletta.After many years of being ‘over-boated’, Giles and Hannah Frampton
made the decision to buy a simple boat that they could enjoy often
and easily. The answer came in the form of a handsome, partially
decked 16ft (4.9m) clinker launch that they spotted at the Axmouth
yard of HJ Mears, run by Paul and Alex Mears, second and third
generation boatbuilders. It was being built on spec in odd moments
and suited their needs perfectly. She’s larch on oak with an iroko
foredeck, and all timbered, bar from one strong oak frame to support
the engine bed, now home to a Yanmar 1GM10. “A bit noisy, but good
engines,” says Paul. She might be termed a ‘Beer lugger' although Paul,
who has built dozens of beach boats over 56 years, considers the term
to be broad. The main pre-requisite is an ability to take the ground
well, something achieved by a flattish bottom shape and bilge keels.
This will suit her new home of Lyme
Harbour, where she will sit on a drying
mooring. The next step is rigging her for
Monday night Beer lugger racing.C/O LARGS YACHT HAVENC/0 HANNAH FRAMPTON