Description

For health reasons, having sailed all my life, I was forced to give up sailing about 5 year ago. However, my health improved and as sailing was always a passion I purchased Wild Oat earlier this year as a way to get back on the water. I sailed her from the Tamar to the Solent encountering some quite strong winds which she handled very well and I was very pleased with her apparent seaworthiness I understand around 1400 boats of this design were built by Dufour. This particular boat is a Sovereign model - not sure what the significance of that is but understand it’s a better spec’s model I might be wrong!

Long story short, after sailing her in the Solent for a few weeks I moved her to Lakeyard in Poole onto a swinging mooring which is paid up until end of October. Whilst at Lakeyard I’ve replaced all her sailing instruments with good used Raymarine ST60+ instruments including transducers (depth/speed/wind), she’s been Antifoul Ed, had a ST4000+ tillerpilot fitted, LED masthead tricolour light etc. I also had the engine professionally serviced.

She’s had 2 previous owners (as a matter of irrelevant interest, I was told her original owner was one of the RAF Dambusters) with her last owner having converted the mast to in mast reefing (Easyreef) including new standing rigging and sails in approx 2012. The engine was professionally replaced in 2016 with new stern gear & prop. All cabin windows were replaced at the same time with one deck hatch replaced too. Sadly, a couple of years after doing this work, the owner passed away and the boat was laid up. Her engine has only done 340 hours. She was put up for sale this year which is when I purchased her.

She has the original VAT sales invoice for the boat herself and for the engine replacement work.

Unfortunately, I took a tumble 4 weeks ago and am actually writing this from a hospital bed because I have broken my pelvis and a few other bones too! My family are quite wisely advising me to be a little less active and sell the boat -,take up knitting was a suggestion! Realistically I do think my sailing days are over, I don’t want to leave Wild Oat neglected in a yard so with a heavy heart I want to sell her quickly.

I want to be honest so you know what sort of condition she’s in.There are a couple of jobs I was going to tackle this winter, she has about 4 coats of old crinkly and flaking Antifoul and would benefit from having it all scraped off. The second more major job is tha Treadmaster decking laid on top of the GRP deck is truly on its last legs with peeling and flaking in several areas. I gather this is quite a labour intensive job and the advice I’ve received as the easiest way to accomplish this is to remove it using a Fein Multitool which I’ve already purchased and which I’ll include in the sale, finally repaint the deck with non slip deck paint.

Otherwise I think it’s fair to say the boats in good condition cosmetically for her age, her topsides & gelcoat are good and buff up nicely.

She comes with a good quality Lodestar dinghy (NSA230) with inflatable floor & keel and no patches. Also a 2016 Honda 2.3hp 4 stroke air cooled outboard which has been recently serviced.

And that’s about it folks. My son will be dealing with this sale on my behalf and I’ll provide his contact details if you need more info, I’m due to be discharged from hospital tomorrow and can meet at the Lakeyard Marina in Poole for viewing but I won’t accompany viewings as a) I’m profoundly deaf b) I’m a bit doddery on my feet right now and c) I’m the worlds worst salesman! My son son will help with viewings. FYI Lakeyard provide a free water taxi service at weekends.

Specifications

Accommodation

Construction

Equipment

I am giving up sailing so have no interest in retaining any sailing gear, whatever’s on my boat or in my shed can be included in the sale. Things like charts, lifejackets, harnesses etc, pots & pans etc. there’s also a good quality good condition Lodestar inflatable dinghy with outboard. Unfortunately I don’t have pictures of the equipment as I wasn’t anticipating selling the boat!

Navigation Equipment

Unfortunately no photographs but I’ve just completed installing a full set of used sailing instruments on Wild Oat including Wind, Depth & Speed, also an St4000+ tillerpilot which is a step up from the more usual ubiquitous ST2000+. All the instruments and tillerpilot are working 100%. There’s a Swiftech VHF set fitted (quite elderly), a couple of handheld GP sets and (I think) a couple of handhelp VHF sets with chargers. There’s also a handheld Raymarine chartlotter (RC400 I think) with UK charts.

Engine(s)

Engine was replaced in 2016 with a Beta 16, however boat was stored from around 2018 I believe so total engine hours are 320 from new. The original invoice for the engine replacement is available and includes cost for replacement shaft and new prop.

Sails & Spars

The main mast is a silver anodised Selden spar with a retro fitted Easyreef mainsail furling system. This was installed in 2012 I think and it works fine, There’s a small self tailing winch fitted to the coachreef for the purpose.

Safety Equipment

Again no,pictures sorry, but there’s a horseshoe lifebelt, fenders, warps (old), lifejackets (good) boathook etc.

Location Map