Kingfisher 20, 20+ and 22

Possibly a MK1 or MK 2 Kingfisher 20 with a transom hung rudder.

As with all of these older GRP yachts, finding reliable information about them is not easy. Getting hold of manufacturers’ brochures is one way of obtaining authentic data, but that’s easier said than done. Owners’ Associations are another source. Messages at yacht forums can’t be relied upon, because much of the discussion is based upon the memories and opinions of those taking part. There are a couple of brokers’ websites that provide fairly reliable information relating to older yachts.


I know for a fact that R.A.G. Nierop designed the Kingfisher range, one of which I owned. She was a junk-rigged Kingfisher 26, named ‘Trio’.* Kingfishers were built at Westfield Engineering Co. (Marine) Ltd, Cabot Land, Creekmoor, Poole, Dorset, England, between 1959 and 1978. Nierop retired in 1978, and at that time he transferred construction and marketing to Moonstream Ltd (Kingfisher Yachts). They continued building Kingfishers until 1981.

Close-up


The main difference between the Kingfisher 20 and the 22 is the overall length. The latter and the 20+ had a LOA of 21’ 7”; the former had a LOA of 20’ 6 ¾ “. The 20+ was the extended version built when Nierop was producing them, but the 22s were manufactured by Kingfisher Yachts between 1978 and 1981. All of the Kingfisher 20, 20+ and 22 yachts had twin keels with the exception of one Kingfisher 20 fitted with a fin keel. Only the first six Kingfisher 20’s built before 1967 had encapsulated keels and their rudders were transom mounted, but the 20+ version and 22s had rudders mounted on a shaft through their transom. All other Kingfishers were fitted with cast iron keels. For mechanical propulsion they relied upon outboards which were usually situated in a purpose-built well at the stern of the boat. One or two 22s had long cockpits without outboard wells, and their outboards were transom mounted. The first six Kingfisher 20s had engine wells sited immediately in front of their stern lockers. They were built in 1959.


Some Kingfisher 22+s and 22s were rigged as junk sloops; the most famous was Pete Hill’s ‘Shanti’, a Kingfisher 22+. In 2006 he was one of only two competitors to finish the Single-handed Plymouth to Rhode Island Race organised by the Jester Challenge.org.**



Text for the Day

Ephesians 6:10 ‘Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.’



Links



*Kingfisher 26, Junk Rig

http://bills-log.blogspot.com/2010/02/kingfisher-26-junk-rig.html


**Jester Challenge.org

http://www.jesterinfo.org/


Kingfisher 20+ details

http://www.kyoa.org.uk/k20+technical.htm


Kingfisher 20 Details

http://sailboatdata.com/viewrecord.asp?class_id=4795


Info Kingfisher 22

http://www.go-sail.co.uk/kingfisher22.asp


Kingfisher Yacht Owners Association

http://www.kyoa.org.uk/index.htm


Kingfisher 20 under Sail

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzfUXzXiD08&feature=player_embedded#!


Kingfisher 20 for Sale £1,995

http://www.boatshed.com/kingfisher_20-boat-125352.html


Kingfisher 20 for Sale £2,499

http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/php/new_view.php?place=viewadvert&ref=F223171


Kingfisher 20 for Sale £4,499

http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/yachts/kingfisher-20-OSB116


Kingfisher 22 for Sale (Greece) Euros 4,500

http://www.theyachtmarket.com/boats_for_sale/93168/#


Four Kingfisher 20, 20 +/22s for Sale here

http://yachts.apolloduck.com/boats.phtml?view=1&layout=1&id=871&fx=HUF&minv=Minimum&maxv=Maximum&minl=0&maxl=0&ymin=&ymax=&sort=0&limit=10&type=