Clasic for sale

Not sure if this is a gaffer or a hooker or something else, certainly a working boat. 

She's similar to Pettifox I photographed in Fowey last year, which in turn is neither a Polperro Gaffer, or a Plymouth Hooker but a recent replica of a Breton Cameret Crabber (langoustier) to a design by Francois Vivier .

Whatever she is the rig is a towering gaff with the ability to set a topsail above

And the mid section profile is almost plank on edge like, vertical stem and slight angle to the rudder and stern give her a long waterline.  She was advertised for sale with  Jeremy Rogers in Lymington.

Rigging Masterclass?

Spotted in a local sailing club by friend Greg, could this be a high tech innovation for back stay tension? 

And yes it is off center (crooked), maybe to give better tension on starboard tack where the boat has right of way?

The repair to the bottom rudder pintle apparently was made with a piece of plywood packed with Isopon (same as Bondo in US) 

 Hopefully one of those boats for working on rather than sailing.

Yachts I like

 I'm not really in the market for a new (new to me) yacht, but I still like to wander through the boat yards in winter.  Mostly to remind myself how nice it is not to have to be doing maintenance on a freezing cold and dreary grey day, but occasionally I come across a boat that stirs the soul like this one.

Cruising Boat

 Anyone who has read might remember that I especially like classic yachts, long overhangs, navy topsides with a smart bootstrap and just enough teak to finish off. 

But for cruising narrow beam equates to less space, you can't put weight in those fine ends, something like this in my opinion makes a much better coastal and offshore cruiser.

There's nothing too extreme, the base boast can probably be picked up relatively cheaply, add to that some good quality hardware and robust improvements, twin furlers etc and you have a good offshore boat.

Jolly Bus Shelter

Anyone who's read some of my Fowey posts might have noticed that I quite like quirky bus shelters but I'm not sure I understand why the Jolly Sailor chose to put one up on the river.

 

Standing Stones

Actually more like flying than standing, this group of stones are hidden away in a patch of what looks like communal ground on the way into Hamble, each depicting old planes from aviation history.

The stones look like blocks of concrete possibly from long demolished works that used to be on the site.

 The village has a long and ongoing history with aviation, the location of the stones is probably on the site of Armstrong Whitworth Factory or possibly A.V. Roe & Co.

Local Cars

 Stumbling upon the local car meeting on a recent Sunday, we were actually picking up something for lunch, I didn't take nearly enough photos but these few did take my eye.

This cute Austin 7 alongside two local Ferrari, I'm always for the underdog and would be more than happy driving home in the yellow convertible.

This one's interesting, at first glance I thought it was an Italian exotic, but it urns out to be a fiberglass  body conversion fitted to a BMW Z4. Given that the Z4 styling was something of an acquired taste not a bad use for one. The body is very stylish, maybe they had gone a little overboard on louvers and cut outs, but great car for sunny days with the roof down and the music playing.

  should have paid more attention to this, but I seem to recall wit was a late 40's or early 50's Bentley saloon which had been converted into the magnificent sportster harking back to the blower Bentley's of the 30's. Very nice.

Waterside des res

 Sadly age has got the better of a long time local acquaintance who is selling up his fantastic riverside property in order to move closer to family.

 

 

Apparently prior to WW1 a pub the "Ship and Launch" stood on the site, but was rebuilt or modified to the pebble dash castle home that's been a familiar site since I've been around the river

 

If you fancy your own riverside battlements, complete with a marine railway leading into the boathouse better get in quickly.

Classic Motorboat

Good enough to tempt any sailor over to the dark side.

 Seen upriver above Bursleodn railway bridge.

Just lovely.