October 2023 – FOR SALE

We are delighted to bring you a unique yacht for sale. This is a one of a kind Nordic Folkboat, commissioned for the current owner in 1997 and built by the renowned John Perry in his Southsea premises.

John had started his career with the renowned boatbuilder Harry Feltham on a six year apprenticeship, this just illustrates what it took in 1949 to be recognised as a qualified shipwright.

Felthams and in particular John Perry were no strangers to Folkboats as in 1953 they built the famous ‘Jester’ for Blondie Hasler. By 1959 John had started on his own and over the decade built Folkboats, Vertues and Buchanan designs, all of which command premiums due to the workmanship. In 1982 John built a new Victory which was the first such order in twenty years, which was to continue a long association with the Victory class in Portsmouth.

What better way to support this unique advertisement then use extracts from the 1999 Classic Boat Magazine article featuring the building of this iconic little yacht.

The yacht is built to the strict One design plans, John acquired from the Nordic International Folkboat Association and whilst in metric (something John was not familiar with due to growing up in an era of feet and inches) he found the metric scale of 1:10 easy to multiply.

As the yacht took shape and planking began with the woods of Iroko as far as the waterline and continued in mahogany to the sheer with the one design of just 16 planks per side of 16 mm thickness. These had encrusted the American elm ribs which bent into place at 250mm centres.

The deck is framed by teak margin boards rebated for a double skin of staggered 8mm cedar boards given a glass cloth and epoxy resin overcoat. A coat of Blakes Warm Cream deck paint provides a traditional non slip finish which is extremely strong, durable and lightweight.

In recent years the yacht has only been used lightly, a couple of weeks a year, moored in a marina berth and stored inside during the time when not in use, as has its original mast built from two 225mm x 100mm x 6mm lengths of spruce, supplied by Vincent Murphy in Essex.

The owner is now looking for a new custodian to appreciate this very special yacht.

Files and history of build and any further works over the years, can be provided. We have listed this as a price on application, as the current owner wants to ensure the yacht goes to the right home at a fair price.

This is an opportunity to purchase what we believe to be the best UK wooden Folkboat ever built. Viewing can be arranged by appointment.

A full inventory list can be provided on request.