Harvey Eastwood 37

[NBYCo2124]

Hi Floyd Raser,

I have a mate whose father had a Santa Caterina built that was exhibited at The Boat Show. She was called Gipsy 3, and I have a photo of her at the Boatshow, and she looks remarkably like Denham Owl. If you email me I will send the picture, as I can't seem to load the photo.

I saw Denham Owl for sale on the Thames, and thought she might have been Gipsy 3, so asked my friends if they had a photo. I saw her again for sale in Scotland, but thought she was too much of a project for me to attempt, as i had too many boats at the time, so didn't pursue the purchase.

I think my father's firm built a Santa Caterina many years ago for Harvey Eastwood, as I remember the wheelhouse sliding roof was operated by a ratchet spanner from a tool kit. This was the late 1970's and the firm was was called Trianglain Yachts. I remember delivering another built for Harvey Eastwood, but it was more like a Caribbean Major, destined for the German river network, and a bigger than normal engine.

Regards

Robert Newman

[NBYCo2124]

[NBYCo2124]

I have found some photos of Denham Owl when she was moved out of the Marina on the Thames and moored to the riverbank opposite the marina entrance

[floydraser]

Hi Robert, welcome to the forum.

Wow! A very big thank you for posting this information, it's always fascinating to piece together more little bits of the boat's history. If you or your mate can find any more pictures I would obviously love to see them but so would others on the forum as there is a lot of interest in old Broads boats.

My first observations of Gipsy 3 is the white sides to the structure above deck level. The other two known Santa Caterinas both now have wooden sides, probably as a result of renovations. They also have white non slip decks whereas mine is teak so it would be interesting to know if Gipsy's was also teak when built.

I also see that the rail between the pulpit and the wooden stern rail is wire (or something very thin). On the Owl it's the same tube as the pulpit all the way. But then, are they davits I can see at the rear?

I would love to know when and where the photo of the Owl was taken; I see the horrible chimney for the water heater has been fitted and the 6ft pointless mast has already been shortened, the top bit appears to be laying on the cabin roof. She also lost a few of those fenders on her way north.

Yes the canopy handle is a 1/2" drive ratchet handle and it's not reversible. There's a screw you have to remove to take the handle off and flip it round. Still there on mine but redundant.

Blimey it's late. Thanks again Robert. I look forward to your future posts.

[unclemike]

welcome indeed robert

[NBYCo2124]

Dear Floydraser , I am pleased the photos are of use. I have more, so will try and load them. I was on a boat cruising down The Thames in October 2017, and saw quite a few old Broads boats, so took photos of them. will load a few more.

Sadly my mate only has this picture of Gypsy 3. They didn't have it long, and I think she left the Broads when sold. She was built for his father Sam Hornor around 1969/1970. Yes those are davits on the stern, and apart from the missing hand rails, she bears too similar a resemblance for my money. I was pretty convinced when I compared the photos, but does anybody have archive material for Harvey Eastwood, and the boats built?

Regards

Robert

[floydraser]

DING! A light comes on and all the planets line up! 

Robert,

It was past midnight when I saw your original post and I'm a bit all over the place at the moment as we have a funeral tomorrow.

But looking to my port side as I sit here this is on the wall of my mancave:

The wiring diagram was passed to me with the other paperwork from the previous owner. Due to the interior layout being changed and the fact the sheets don't look like first generation copies of the originals I assumed they were from another boat, but now it looks like too much of a coincidence.

It would be interesting to know Sam Hornor's original specifications; I wonder why he had such heavy duty davits fitted? The central brace is a hell of a thing with a solid 22mm stainless steel bar to keep it all rigid. It looks like Sam would have sold her on to Len Frampton, and from there to Edward Woodward. I have another name in the chain but he never responded to my request for information unfortunately.

Somebody told me NYA bought all the rights to LJ Eastwoods but I never got a response to an inquiry I made via email. I did intend to nip round in person but haven't got round to it yet.

When "this is all over" you would be welcome to come and have a look over the Denham Owl, as would be anyone else actually. And you may even get a second bite of the cherry as I decide whether or not to sell, move or whatever as we settle into the new normal. 

I see the lovely wooden boarding ladder is there which the previous owner disposed of. October 2017 is when she was shipped north so at the time of these photos she had probably been chucked out of the marina and tied to a tree awaiting the low loader.

Thanks again for these photos, Ive copied them all into the files to go with the boat if that's ok?

 

[NBYCo2124]

I don't know about the Davits, but will ask. I remember unusually she was specified with 3 bunks in the fwd cabin, as Sam had 3 children. I think 2 V berths and a smaller one above.

I am pleased you sorted the conundrum, as I was pretty sure she was originally Gypsy 111. There were too many similarities. As you say shame about the boarding ladder, but I sometimes see nice ones for sale.

I have too many boats currently, so there will be a cull next season, as have just bought an old broads boat that I have always coveted, called President; designed by my father and built at our yard. Like Denham Owl she needs a bit of work. Unlike Denham Owl, she is in mid France, so totally isolated currently!!!!!

Regards

Robert

[floydraser]

4 hours ago, NBYCo2124 said:

I have too many boats currently, so there will be a cull next season,

Now there's a complaint you don't hear very often! 

My wife complained when I had too many cars (4 at the time) and I complain about her sewing machines (current tally = 8) but I think more than one boat would mean too many holes in the water. 

If however, you have a spare Freeman 33 Sedan laying around in the corner of your shed we may be able to do a swap. 

Where was your Dad's yard? I just put Trianglain Yachts into a google search and got some "interesting" results! 

Back on page 10 of this thread Tobster also recalls his Grandfather's old boatyard.

If this link works it's to a thread about Broads boats far from home and I think there may be others about old Broads boats, yards and personalities. I'm sure someone will be along shortly and point the way.

Yep, worked.

[NBYCo2124]

Dear Floyd,

At last count 9 boats! I seem to be good at buying and not good at selling!! Sadly no Freeman 33 Sedan. I did sell a recent project, where my heart got the better of my financial sense: a 1936 Chris Craft twin engined cruiser 31' totally original, but sadly in terrible condition. I had to move her on. President is a Bourne 40 hulled broads Cruiser, and I have a 30ft mahogany slipper launch near my home in Glos. The other boats are a mixture of smaller vessels, accumulated over time, including my Laser bought new by my father when I was still at school, and raced at NBYC.

My father's boatyard was The Norfolk Broads Yachting company in Church Road, Wroxham, next door to Landamores, and on the other side Jeckells. He bought it in around 1971, and I think sold it at the end of the 1970's. A furniture making company closed down in the area, and my father employed some of the employees in a new venture building boats under contract for: Harvey Eastwood, Oyster yachts, Emerald line on the Shannon, and the Beaver Fleet in France were some of the customers. It also allowed more work, as the hire boat business was very seasonal, and played havoc with cashflow, more importantly. Trianglain Yachts helped to even out the seasonal income from the Norfolk Broads Yachting company, which mainly hired out boats, although they did build their own too. The Trianglian Yachts sheds were erected on the same site, closer to the road.

If you search Trianglian Yachts, there is an Ocean 30 that comes up, which unusually had a single 6 cylinder engine and two shafts, connected via hydraulic drives. Originally she was built for a local wine merchant who had very exacting standards, and I remember her being totally immaculate, as a very fastidious owner. The rest of the boats wouldn't have had any Trianglian badges, or recognition, as they were built under contract for other yards. 

Regards

Robert

PS Vaughn, I think you bought a day boat off my father, and I delivered it to your yard in Womak Water? It was based on an Oyster 16 hull, with a Saab engine? My father was Alastair Newman who owned  a couple of White Boats and Sailing Cruiser Sally No 146, along with several other Broads boats over the years

[floydraser]

Robert,

Oh dear. Nine is an addiction and I think you should seek help. Luckily you're in the right place. 

I'm enjoying the information you're posting on here and I'm starting to sense the love coming in from the wooden boat enthusiasts who are I'm sure, about to demand pictures of your craft.

Good luck with all that restoration!

[Vaughan]

Hello Robert,

I don't remember the day boat I am afraid but I remember your father!

Nice to have you with us on the forum!

[NBYCo2124]

Dear Vaughan

Thank you for your note. I remember delivering one of our day boats to a boatyard in Womack, but it was years ago, probably late 1970's, so I may have the details wrong. It could have been for a rental, as i think the dayboat returned, but can't be sure. My father sometimes gave me the job of collecting/delivering boats, which of course I loved as a young teenager. He bought a Fine Wind or Fair Wind from Woods, and I brought it back to the yard in Wroxham. 

On another matter, we hired some cruisers from Martham in July 2015, and chatting to the people at the boatyard they thought Sally was moored along the river near Potter Heigham, but I couldn't find her. I don't know whether you know? It is just out of pure interest, as we had so many happy memories sailing/mostly racing on Sally.

Reading some of the posts is very nostalgic for me.

Regards

Robert

 

 

[Vaughan]

2 hours ago, NBYCo2124 said:

I don't know whether you know? It is just out of pure interest, as we had so many happy memories sailing/mostly racing on Sally.

 

I see that Sally is still registered with the River Cruiser Class, and has a racing handicap.

[maysailor]

1 hour ago, Vaughan said:

I see that Sally is still registered with the River Cruiser Class, and has a racing handicap.

She has unfortunately been out of the water for the last couple of years and I believe is in need of some remedial work doing. Prior to this she was still racing regularly. 

[NBYCo2124]

Thank you. I hope she finds a saviour.

I remember Sally leaving the hire fleet and having her aft sections elongated, so that she had a very pretty stern, rather than the more truncated one she had whilst a hire boat.

Picture attached of her racing on Wroxham Broad. Ian Tims helming, so we were probably doing quite well! Must have been about 1982.

[Vaughan]

I do like all the specialised yachting clothing worn by the crew.  They look as thought they have just got back from a christening, in time for the cruiser race.

Wouldn't be the first time that has happened on Wroxham Broad!  I remember Tom Percival and his crew, on Swallow, doing the cruiser race in morning suits, on one occasion.

[floydraser]

The guy at the front thinks he's in a Mars advert - helps you work, rest and play.

Nice pic.

[NBYCo2124]

I seem to remember we decided on a dress code for fun, having seen some of the Cowes Crews looking so smart in matching gear: white shirts, jeans and a hat. The bow man seems to have extra supplies, but Sally's trim is pretty good, so there must have been a few beers in the forepeak to balance the full cockpit!

[NBYCo2124]

Dear Floyd,

Back to Denham Owl. I was trying to find the sites that I came across when researching whether she was originally Gypsy 3, but can't find them I suspect you have already seen the pictures of her when she was bought and transported to Scotland:

https://boats-from.co.uk/not-specified/project-boat-48521/48522

However, I had found some when she was in tip top condition, and up for sale with a tender on those davits, but now can't find them. I will continue looking

Robert

[floydraser]

15 hours ago, NBYCo2124 said:

Dear Floyd,

Back to Denham Owl. I was trying to find the sites that I came across when researching whether she was originally Gypsy 3, but can't find them I suspect you have already seen the pictures of her when she was bought and transported to Scotland:

https://boats-from.co.uk/not-specified/project-boat-48521/48522

However, I had found some when she was in tip top condition, and up for sale with a tender on those davits, but now can't find them. I will continue looking

Robert

Robert,

Yes I have seen that old advert but looking at it again and I notice it's you who asks if it is still for sale. I wonder if you had a reply? In the advert the mast is complete, there is a tender with outboard and the cover is valued at £1,800. Seems to be in Windsor Racecourse Marina. My understanding is that it was sold on to someone before being sold again on 10 October 2017 to the lady I bought it from. In that short space of time the tender and outboard went elsewhere, the cover was said to be worth £6,000, someone took a saw to the mast and the purchase price went up by £5K!

In your first post here you don't say which marina the Owl is close to; my understand was that she was shipped from Shepperton.

There was another website where the Denham Owl was being offered as an air B&B on the Thames for the Royal Wedding of Harry and Megan, even though it was moored at Bowling on the Forth & Clyde at the time!

I would love to see the pics if you find them, thanks for looking.

 

[NBYCo2124]

Dear Floyd,

No I did not get an answer!

The pictures taken by me of Denham Owl on The Thames were on the 6th September 2017, and at Dorney. She was badly moored to the mud bank, practically opposite a Marina entrance on the other bank, and appeared to have been towed out and abandoned, but I was more interested in the boat than the marina.

Regards

Robert

[floydraser]

I've just checked the paperwork and the hull survey was done at Shepperton on 17 October 2017. She would have been lifted there shortly after.

[floydraser]

Robert has prompted me to go through all the paperwork I have relating to the history of the Denham Owl and I have come accross this receipt. Could someone tell me what this means please? I have deleted the name due to modern confidetiality rules but it is not E. Woodward!

She would have been down on the Thames I believe in 1988 if that means anything. I also have a Ship Radio Licence for 1999 to 2000 but that was issued in Ambleside!

Thanks in anticipation.

[stumpy]

30 minutes ago, floydraser said:

Robert has prompted me to go through all the paperwork I have relating to the history of the Denham Owl and I have come accross this receipt. Could someone tell me what this means please? 

At one time Denham Owl would have been Part 1 registered, a fee would have been charged to change ownership, the main register was in Bristol but larger port Custom Houses could act as agents for the registrar and collect fees and authenticate documents. The hardest part was usually finding the solitary date stamp that may have last been used a couple of years ago! Havenbridge House was just up from Haven Bridge on North Quay and very handy for The Star (I was told). The gross tonnage quoted wouldn't have been actual weight but Thames Tonnage, a theoretical cargo capacity based on fiendishly complicated measurements and sums that all sensible Customs Officers avoided like the plague!