Five Under Five
The mornings are getting lighter and the magnolia tree in the lane is already paving the bluestone with petals. Thoughts turn to spring and adventure. E.F. Schumacher wrote in his seminal work Small is Beautiful that “Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius — and a lot of courage — to move in the opposite direction.”
Let’s see what you could pick up this week for less than the cost of a 1995 Ford Falcon!
BOAT ONE - 1970 Lexcen 33ft Racer $100
How about this for a piece of history? OK it won’t be ready for this summer… and its going to cost you a few multiples more than the asking price…But…MARSUDE is Ben Lexcen's first offshore racer. Built in the 1970s by Ben (when he was still Bob Miller) she's a beautiful 33-foot yacht that sailed in the 1975 Sydney to Hobart 50 years ago! Owner says she sails like a dream. The hull is constructed in triple diagonal cedar, marine ply decks, and fibreglass cabin top and cockpit appearing to be from a Swanson 36. The boat is currently in Ashbury, NSW. Find out more HERE
BOAT TWO - 1970 125 Sailing Dinghy-Asking $2200
The Seafly is a one-design dinghy developed in the late 1950’s by Stan Herbert from the original design by J.Kelley. Originally built by South Devon Boat Builders in the UK as a larger version of the Mayfly dinghy, it has a single chine hull with the chine upswept to the bow. For racing, the Seafly dinghy is a fast, two person non-trapeze dinghy, which is well balanced on the tiller and very fast to plane on a reach. The performance is especially good in stronger winds and rougher sea conditions when gybing still remains an easy operation.
This particular example is #259 called “Chaika”. The boat has been fully and lovingly restored-new decks, bulkheads, toe straps etc.. It was built in 1963 by Harold Lang shipyards in Sorrento, Victoria, for a family in Canberra ACT. The owner has the full history of the boat including a builder’s plaque and race records. It comes with all sails - main, jib and spinnaker-mast, boom spinnaker pole and self furling jib setup. All sheets - main, jib etc and lines. The trailer is in excellent condition and has 10 month’s registration, new bearings and submersible lights and wiring. The boat sits on a removable wooden cradle.
The boat is currently in Brisbane. For More infomation click HERE
BOAT THREE - Ulua double outrigger sailing canoe-Asking $1800
Imagine showing up at the 2025 (Pacific Themed) Australian Wooden Boat Festival in this! You would be one of the stars of the show.
The Ulua design broadly resembles the classic Hawaiian canoe with some differences. Designed by New Zealander Gary Deirking. This one is strip planked composite, folding iakos (arms) on one side make it easy to transport and set up. It comes with a traditional steering oar but does also have a rudder you could set up but its not currently attached. There is also has an additional set of half amas - with the float on one side. Stable to sail due to the amas (floats) and you can also just paddle without the sail and use as outrigger canoe. Without trailer, but does have the cradle with it that you can attach to a trailer. Currently in NSW. More infomation click HERE
BOAT FOUR - Arch Davis, Sand Dollar design- Asking $5000
Arch Davis learned boatbuilding and design in New Zealand in the 1970s. He is now based in Belfast, Maine and his philosophy is that a boat should be beautiful, not just by virtue of her lines, but also in her construction. He says that no material makes this possible like wood.
Arch writes of this particul design…
Sand Dollar is designed for the first-time builder, including those with no previous woodworking experience. She is a flat-bottomed skiff, with lapstrake sides. The bottom and sides are marine plywood, glued and screwed to a simple framework. I took great pains with the lines, building a model to refine the shape. The result is a very pretty, practical little boat that will satisfy both the novice and experienced boat builder.
This particular version was built by owner. It’s gunter rigged with sails by North. Trailer included. Tingalpa QLD. For More infomation click HERE
BOAT FIVE - 38ft Timber Ketch Asking $5000
Yes I know I’ve plugged this one before! But she’s too good to meet the chainsaw!
Read all about her in our article HERE or visit the Brokerage site HERE… Time must be running short!