Another Itchen Ferry

Following my post about Wonder, Tom Armstrong who blogs at 70.8% kindly sent me details of another Itchen ferry for sale. This one is is located in Bristol, Maine and is a 1999 replica based on the lines of Wonder

Broker's comments - "This is a historically accurate reproduction of an 1860 Itchen Ferry Cutter. The builder was able to obtain the plans and offsets for the famous "Wonder" and built "Blackjack" to those specs. We sailed her briefly around Maine and I could not believe the interest in her by gold plate wooden boat owners. This is truly a fun boat and stood up very well to 25 knot winds and a 2' chop!"

Her dimensions are 19'2" LOA, 8'3" Beam, 3'6" Draft, with a displacement of 6,500lbs (ballast 1500lbs) Blackjack is offered for sale at $17,500 which makes her good value even at current exchange rates!!

Wonder - Itchen Ferry for Sale

Wonder is a genuine Itchen Ferry, a Solent boat built by the locally renowned shipwright Dan Hatcher around1860.

She was owned by the Nicholay family for many years and two generations, and in total she has passed through only six owners in her long life. Wonder underwent some major restorations at the Newport Classic Boat Museum on the Isle of Wight a few years ago.


About five years ago, we were able to lend a hand caulking, painting and pumping out for a few days, as the planking took up, while she was in a local boat yard . Sadly we didn’t get to sail her, as before she was rigged, she was moved to a berth at the Dolphin Quay Boatyard in Emsworth.

During her 140 years, Wonder has sailed the Solent, only recently having been fitted with an engine. She is now up for sale for at £14,000, I just hope a new and committed owner can be found.