I stumbled across this Foxcub 18 when walking at
Leigh-on-Sea yesterday. A friend of mine had one years ago, not long after I became a member of
the Up River Yacht Club at Hullbridge. The time of his ownership was about
1975. I remember that she was fast, and did well in handicap racing on the
River Crouch between Hullbridge and Burnham. Perhaps credit should be given to
the owner, because he went on to twice win the Burnham Week Local Handicap
Trophy, but with a twin keel Pegasus 700.
The original Cub was built by Copeland Boats of Ventnor,
Isle of Wight. She came in three versions: fin keel, twin keel and lifting
keel. I’m not sure if Uffa Fox actually designed the Foxcub 18, but I believe
her hull was based on one of his 18 foot dinghies. The early boats had a lower
cabin structure than later ones. Over 650 were built before the moulds were
transferred to Dublin in 1983.
Features I like about this boat are her flared bow for
keeping her dry when working to windward; her masthead furling Genoa which is
good for windward sailing and for ease of reefing; her high coaming for keeping water out and
for crew comfort and security; her companionway above the bridge deck to make
her less vulnerable to the cabin being flooded in rough water conditions; her
skeg to protect the transom hung rudder, and her fairly wide transom for keeping her stable
when on the run and to help the boat to plane. The spinnaker is useful for
racing.
The fin keel version has a draught of 3.25 metres which
could present problems if she were to be stranded and dry out, but this
particular boat has twin keels, and with her skeg, she should dry out OK,
provided enough weight is aft of the keels to prevent her bow falling forward.
Links
Foxcub Info
Foxcub Data
YBW Foxcub 18 Thread
Foxcub Yahoo! Groups
Images of Foxcub 18s
Two Foxcub 18s for Sale £1,250 and 1,400 Euros
Foxcub 18 Sold – but good photos
Foxcub Sold - more craft like this required
Burnham Week 2014
7 comments:
Hello Bill, I have to agree with you, the Fox cub looks a handy little boat. I had my eye on one a few months ago, on Boatshed. She had the distinction of vertical, behind the mast reefing/furling on the main-sail.She was nicely presented, and complete with a four-stroke outboard, quite a low price, and of course didn't hang around for very long.
The most noteworthy boat I've seen for a while is the 'Deben-Cherub' on e-bay, number is 131266355630
Richard,
She's a beauty. One on EBay in July 2013 went for £4,500. Another was advertised at Wooden Ships for £12,500. The Cherub in question is almost as old as me! We are both high maintenance!!
Cheers,
Bill.
When I started sailign small yachts the Foxcub was the first boat I became interested in.. b.t.w, the blue Foxcub on Apollo Duck belongs to a fellow club member and is in nice condition...
I got one for sale needs tidying on a road trailor £750
If you want it phone 07838026689 got everything you need to sail
If you want it phone 07838026689 got everything you need to sail
I got one for sale needs tidying on a road trailor £750
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