‘Temagami’, a Lovely Gaff Cutter

Today I had an opportunity of seeing ‘Temagami’, an ex Beer or Exmouth lugger that has been converted into a cruising gaff cutter. The conversion was done by an old friend of mine, Bill Johnson. He rebuilt the hull and added enclosed accommodation. The original luggers were open clinker boats, but my friend re-planked ‘Temagami’ as a carvel boat. He beefed up the frames and put in more internal ballast; he also gave her a shallow ballast keel. All of this has made little difference to the designed waterline, and the original hull had high topsides to keep her dry when beaching and launching through surf, although I suspect this particular boat was an Exmouth lugger that would have been kept on a mooring in the Exe Estuary.

Her present owner has given her a new mast and a refurbished 20 HP Yanmar diesel auxiliary engine. She has been undergoing sea trials before setting off for a cruise to Holland from Pin Mill where she has her mooring. I was impressed with the yacht, since she has some very good practical features such as a comfortable secure cockpit from which there is excellent access through the companionway to the cabin. The interior layout is simple with single berths either side of the main cabin, and a double berth in the fore cabin. Her galley has a gimbal stove with an oven and a beautiful copper sink with a fantastic bronze fresh water pump.

Links

Beer Luggers

http://bills-log.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/beer-luggers.html