History and condition
History
Aeolus was originally built in 1904 in San Diego California, to a William Fife III design and CP Kunhardt developed a GL Watson inspired rig. She was owned and raced locally successfully and later was used for chartering. Skipper was Capt Tony Carter
Aeolus spent a number of years laid up in San Francisco Bay in the 1970s & 1980s.
Rebuild 1989
She was rebuilt by Eric Ashford, a well regarded shipwright, in 1989 as an exact replica with the keelson as the only original timber. Douglas fir planks, doubled to the waterline with light timber frames of white American oak, fir planks for the topsides, triple layered decking finished in Port Orford cedar, teak capping rails on low bulwarks. Ironwood has been used for beams and structural timbers. Mahogany used for deck structures, teak for capping rails, rubbing strakes. king planks, pin rails.
The spars and sailplan were replicated which, in the prevailing style at the turn of the last century, was over canvassed with a boom extending 10ft beyond the transom and light spars. While suitable for inshore racing it produced excessive weatherhelm and an unseaworthy boat. She was seldom sailed and spent more time laid up on the quayside.
To UK
In 2003, she was imported to the UK and taken to the Elephant BoatYard and then Lallows at Cowes for extensive work on the hull, deck, engine and electrics installed etc. She was rarely sailed.
August 2008 purchased by Anthony Wheaton, her current owner, who commissioned Ed Burnett, the UK’s foremost gaff yacht naval architect, to produce a balanced sailplan. The new sails from SKB in late 2009 have been cut very flat; the mainsail has a much shorter foot and bigger headsails have achieved balance and beauty. The rigging was renewed and interior built over each winter 2010 to 2015 to provide a full cruising accommodation giving eight berths,
Aeolus has been extensively sailed and raced, with a programme of improvement and maintenance, and is well known in the Solent.
Condition
Aeolus is in excellent condition, ready to sail.
The owner purchased in 2013 a full cover for the boat which covers the boat throughout the year, including between consecutive sailing weekends. It was the best thing done for the boat. It protects the boat from rainwater and preserves the brightwork, varnish and metal fittings.
Every year, the hull is inspected and antifouled, propeller adjusted and greased, anodes replaced, the engine serviced, cap rails and rubbing strips oiled.
Each winter, all sails and cushions are removed from the boat and shored ashore. Most ropes and blocks are removed from the mast and stored inside the boat to protect them from the weather.
Major works carried out in 2022 :
Topsides painted
Deck structures varnished
Spars stripped back to the wood and revarnished
All wooden blocks stripped, greased and varnished.
Technical specification - what is included in the sale
Ownership Anthony Wheaton
Ownership period 2008 to current
Registration OGA no 2938 https://www.oga.org.uk/boat_register/boat/?oga_no=2938
mortgages/encumbrance None
Included in the sale The vessel
All equipment on the boat
The website
The Instagram account
Facebook page
All photos and videos processed by the owner
A large file of documents, history, manuals, electronic and paper etc
Technical specification
Dimensions
Length overall 18m
Length on deck 12.85m
Length waterline 11.5m
Beam 2.7m
Draft 2.4m
Weight 18 tonnes of which 8 tonnes is laid lead and cement inside the hull and 6 tonnes of lead ingots on top, under the sole of the saloon and galley
Height of mast 20 m above waterline
Hull
Hull profile Plank on edge – see photo
Original build 1904 in San Diego, Californian USA, builder unknown,
Designer William Fife III design, CP Kunhardt developed a GL Watson inspired rig.
Restoration 1989 in San Francisco Bay by Eric Ashford
Fully renewed other than the original keel timber 8 x 1.2 x 0.8 m in size
Planking: Carvel Douglas fir, 25mm topsides, 50mm double planked up to the waterline
Double Planks sheathed with epoxy when rebuilt in 1898. Epoxy in good condition.
Hull is antifouled annually
Frames: American white oak steamed .
Size 45 x 45mm spacing 320mm
Fastenings: Bronze screws
Keel Frames and planks joined to the keel
Above the keel for 0.6m the hull is filled lead and concrete
Ballast External ballast none
Internal ballast -lead ingots 6 ton under sole value £10,000
Deck: New in 2006 Port Orford cedar 1in planks curved, on 2 layers of cedar T&G planks 18mm
Payed with Sikaflex, all renewed in 2015
King boards Teak, oiled
Cap rail and rubbing strake Teak, oiled
Deck structures, hatches and coachroof Mahogany, varnished
Cockpit Mahogany and oak, varnished, on top of the deck, self draining
Steering Tiller, wood, oak
Stemhead Galvanised gammon iron for bowsprit
Deck fittings Bronze
Belaying pins Bronze and Oak
Accomodation
Head-room Full height 1.8m in companionway, saloon, galley, heads
Aft cabin 1.4m
No of Berths 8
Foscle 1.7m Double berth with 4 mattress cushions
Aft cabin 1.8m 2 single berths with 2 mattresses
Saloon 1.8m 2 single berths/seats with 2 mattresses
2 cot berths above , canvas
Saloon Mahogany polished table to seat 8.
Offset to allow easy passage through the saloon.
2 fold down leaves
Bench seats with waterproof mattresses on both sides extending to full width bunks.
6 storage cupboards under the seats
4 brass lights
Skylight above
Galley Sink, cold water brass manual pump
Waste water electric pump and switch below sink
Water tank 200l
Stove, single burner, gaz canister, gimballed
Cupboard for 2 cold boxes, 12v plug in, removable
2 further cupboards
4 drawers
Cup, glass, plates, bowls coffee jug rack
Many shelves for food storage
Heads (next to the mast)
Toilet, seawater RM69, manual pump .
Light, toilet roll holder
Inventory
Rig
Mainmast Keel stepped Douglas fir Solid Varnished 1980
Topmast Stepped on mainmast Wood douglas fir hollow Varnished Collars 2011
Boom Wood douglas fir hollow Varnished Collars 2011
Gaff Wood douglas fir hollow Varnished Collars 2013
Bowsprit Wood douglas fir solid Varnished Collars 2017
Spreaders Wood oak, solid Varnished, painted topside Collars 2011
Standing rigging
Shrouds
Each side 3 for the mainmast, 1 for the topmast through the spreaders
Galvanised wire. Parcelled and served. All serviced in 2010
4 sets of deadeyes lignum vitae, lanyards new in 2010
Chainplates Bronze
Forestay Stainless steel, fixed length new 2010
Bobstay Stainless steel, bottlescrew new 2010
Outerforestay Stainless steel, fixed length new 2017
Tension adjusted by a rope tail led inboard to a tackle on the bowsprit
Backstays Running Main mast and topmast pairs
Stainless steel, rope tackles to chainplates. New 2010
Whisker shrouds (supporting bowsprit) Galvanised wire. Parcelled & served Serviced in 2010
Whisker stays – stainless steel poles new 2010
Running rigging All ropes renewed since 2010
All ropes are traditional looking 3 strand hawser laid Strand Hempex Rope. Synthetic rope with the style and feel of hemp. in brown or white.
Blocks – 64 on the boat, all in wood with stainless steel frames or wire.
Blocks for sheets have ball races for easy use.
Blocks at deck level are covered in leather
Machinery
Engine Volvo Penta D2 55 hp 4 cylinder 2006 Hours 840. Engine serviced annually.
Gearbox Volvo D2 2006
Single lever controls forward and reverse
Location Centreline, under the companionway
Propeller Maxprop, bronze 3 blade feathering
Speed 4 knts cruising 7 knts max
Fuel tank 70 l plastic, under the aft deck forward of the rudder stock
Engine start Electric
Gauges Rev counter
Oil pressure & temperature audible alarms
Electrics
Generator On engine
Batteries 12v 1 for engine starting ) new 2019
1 for domestic appliances )
System 12v electric wiring system renewed in 2016
3 isolator switches – engine/domestic/both
18 switches on panel above chart table for each light and appliance
18 Fuse box
Voltameter
12 v appliances :
Bilge pump
Waste water pump
Fridge x2 sockets
USB and socket chargers
Navigation – lights , VHF, instruments
12 v lights Saloon 4
Galley 2
Companionway 2
Aft cabin 2
Foscle 1
Heads 1
Chart table 1 white and red, touch on/off
240 v Shore power connection
Victron Energy charger and switch/fuse box
To charge the 12v batteries
To supplier 3 off domestic double sockets
Navigation equipment
Instruments Tacktick wifi system
System controller unit – above chart table
Compass transducer – opposite chart table
2 displays, digital and pictorial for wind direction
Wind vane and anemometer(speed) – on the topmast
Speedometer – thro hull. Removeable
Depth gauge - thro hull
VHF Cobra MR F77B DSC & GPS New 2022
Aerial inside the hollow topmast 15 m above sealevel
Hand held VHF
Navigation lights Topmast head – NASA LED white/green/red
Steaming light – white – mainmast head
Rear light - white – in transom
Compasses Tacktick on wifi display
Magnetic dome in cockpit
Hand held sighting compass
Manual instruments
Magnifying glass A vintage instrument placed on charts to magnify the detail. 6in diameter 3 in tall in brass with AEOLUS inscribed in the side - see photo.
Ruler, dividers
Binoculars
Torch
Charts and manuals Solent set of charts, South coast almanac,
Winning Tides,
2022 tide tables
Safety gear
Lifejackets and life lines 10 and 10
Jackstays 2 Webbing lines along the full length of both side decks
Fire 2 extinguishers + blanket
Flares Full container
Ground tackle
Anchors CQR 45kg 25m chain, 50 m rope
Folding fortress 10kg, 5m chain, 20 m rope
Mooring warps 4
Fenders 6
Additional items
Boom cover Green Ratsey 2013
Boat cover Full cover, brown. 2011 It has preserved the boat in excellent condition
Fuel container 10l for diesel with funnel
Bucket