One thing leads to another, and in the context of my main occupation (day dreaming) I started collecting information on Beautiful-Boats-I-Will-Never-Own. It is obvious that I have a soft spot for plastic gaffers with a long keel. Whoever said that "there is nothing naffer than a plastic gaffer" either didn't like the gaff rig, or enjoyed spending the winter and a lot of money sanding, varnishing, sanding, and varnishing more.
Tradewinds Atoll
A stylish, roomy 25-footer that even the CE certification classifies as a blue water cruiser (class A). What is more, they are made on order just a stone-throw from here, near Terneuzen. There is even one for sale in Lisbon. Now, all I need is about 200,000 euros.
Cornish Crabber 24
Despite the name, these boats were never used for crabbing in Cornwall or anywhere else. Still, they are beautiful boats and at about 100,000 euros they are a bit more ...."affordable"!? Maybe because they are CE marked "only" as B.
Yarmouth 23
Continuing on the same theme, the Yarmouth 23 was once built on the eponymous place on the Isle of Wight. These days they are shipped in a container from Sri Lanka. At least they are built closer to the sources of tropical hard wood.
The Yarmouth 23 is very similar to the Crabber 24, only with a raised sheer hull. If I had to choose it would be just a matter of aesthetic preference.
Here is a short video of a Yarmouth 23 sailing:
Norfolk Smuggler
Hidden in Norfolk, there is another boatyard building plastic boats with gaff rigs and romantic names. The one that fits in this series is called Smuggler.
Equally CE rated B. Despite this open waters capability it is still very much a Broads boat and the ease of mast lowering and raising is an important feature. I am not sure this would be my priority in a boat too heavy to be trailered by a family car.
Here is a video of one of them in action:
