Burnham Motor and Boat Company Ltd – ‘Wayfarer’

Boats for Sale

Burnham Motor and Boat Company Ltd – ‘Wayfarer’

Boats for Sale

Price reduced! Now £9,995

The Wayfarer if a 42ft, six and a half ton wooden boat built in 1906. She was launched on June 14th 1906 having been built by the Burnham on Crouch Motor and Boat company. She was originally destined as a pleasure launch in Southend but was brought to Cambridge via the Wash (August 23rd 1906). She was the first boat registered by the Cam conservancy and still has the brass plate.
It is thought that she was built as an open launch and acquired a full length coach roof in the 1920s. She was originally powered by a 25HP Truscott petrol engine. This was removed in the 1960s.
The hull is teak round bilge carvel construction with a straight stem, A fine entry at the deep forefoot, flat floors at the midships sections and a long run aft to a small transom stern. The stem, deadwood, sternpost and transom are all oak. The hull is teak planking fastened to steamed oak ribs. The coach roof trunking is made of teak. The coach roof itself is made of pine tongue and groove supported by oak deck beams.
Little of her history as a passenger launch is known. By the 1950s she was owned and berthed at Appleyard Atkins boat builders in Ely. Sometime in the 1960s the steering was transferred from the bow to port midships. In the late 1960s the engine was removed and she was left semi derelict. She was berthed by the pub on Jesus’ green and for many years was used as a houseboat for postgraduate students.
When inherited in 1990 she was leaking badly and needed significant repair. Nearly all the ribs and some rotten timbers were replaced. She was fully refitted caulked and blacked. The internal cabins were modified to allow increased sleeping berths. In 1997 a BMC 1500 cc diesel engine was installed in the bow and the existing propeller shaft used. This ran the length of the boat. The propeller fell off in 2005. She was lifted and another propeller fitted. This stimulated her later conversion to electric propulsion.
She was converted to electric propulsion around 2007, with a 48-volt system and Lynch motor. Steering has been enabled at both midships and bow. The 48-volt battery set was charged by a Fischer Panda generator and later back up solar panels.
In 2005 the water ingress had increased considerably and the keel was found to have rotten. The boat was lifted, and a hardwood keel inserted. This was a remnant of a boat that had been deconstructed. The keel was thought to be an African hardwood and in very good condition. The rudder was created out of steel repositioned forwards to allow more sensitive steering. The whole boat was refitted, re caulked, and repainted this time green.
In 2018 lifted for survey and hull was blacked
Lovely boat looking for a new owner who is able to maintain her
She would be ideal as a summer live aboard
Link to Restoration Photographs 2005-2006
Specification
  • Make & Model:    Burnham Motor and Boat Company Ltd – Classic Wooden Cruiser
  • Length:                  42′
  • Beam:                    8′ 3″
  • Berths:                  Four berths
  • Engine:                  48 Volt DC Electric Motor, Battery Bank and Diesel DC Generator
  • Built:                      1906
  • Boat Safety:          August 2026
  • Survey Report:     July 2018 (available on request)
Construction
  • Wooden carvel constructed from 5″ wide teak planks secured on oak frames with copper nails and roves
  • Mahogany bulkheads, teak superstructure and oak roof trusses
  • Roof is covered with canvas or cascover style non-slip material
  • Hardwood handrails run the length of the roof
  • Photographs of 2005/2006 restoration in our yard – 2005/2006 Restoration
Cabin
  • Access doors and hatches on both sides open to stairs down to washroom area
  • Sliding part glazed hardwood doors open to main cabin
  • Two long bench seats with cushions – starboard seat is convertible to become a double berth
  • Large storage areas are under the seats
  • Webasto Airtop diesel warm air heater is under the port seat
  • Full height wardrobe
  • Cabinet with surface for TV
  • Varnished hardwood paneling with blinds and tilting glazed windows
  • Frame and plank ceiling with period lighting
  • Warm air heater ducts
Galley
  • Laminate work surface with inset stainless steel sink and 3 burner gas hob
  • Hardwood cabinets under with shelving
  • Built in Smev single oven and grill
  • Isotherm 12 volt compressor fridge
  • Warm air heater ducts
  • Varnished hardwood table with folding leaves
  • Cabinets and shelving units
  • Double opening doors lead to the prow
Prow
  • Helm seating position with side operated steering wheel and single lever motor control
  • Vee shaped seat with storage under and access to small diesel tank for heater and generator
  • Co-pilot seat with cushioned folding seat
Aft Cabin
  • Sliding door access to rear cabin
  • Glazed opening windows to rear deck
  • Opening side windows
  • Two single berths with slated vee infill and cushions to make a large double berth
  • Under the berths are two fresh water storage tanks, mains electric hot water calorifier and auto water pump
Washroom
  • Washroom area with a cabinet housing an inset sink with hot & cold water
  • Storage under the sink
  • Behind the starboard steps in an enclosure is the diesel generator
  • Second helm position with steering and speed control
  • Toilet cubicle with shower tray
  • Shower with mixer control
  • Flushing sea toilet
Propulsion
  • Motor – Lynch 48v 8.5kw electric with reduction gearbox
  • Batteries – eight 6 volt 220Ah lead acid
  • Motor Speed Controller – 4QD-300-48  With remote controls at both helm positions
  • DC Generator that directly charges the batteries – Fischer Panda AGT-DC 4000 (requires a new charge controller)
  • Mains Battery Charger – for charging battery bank when connected to shore power
  • Four flexi-solar panels and Morning Star ‘Tristar’ solar panel controller (condition unknown)
  • Working order of all the above equipment cannot be verified
Equipment
  • Full length winter cover cabin covering the entire cabin and prow to beneath the gunnels
  • Webasto Airtop 2000 diesel warm blown air heater
  • Surecal calorifier water heater with 1kw mains element
  • Rear deck houses storage for two 13kg propane cylinders
  • Starter battery for DC generator
  • Leisure battery and charger for lighting and domestic electrics
  • Mains distribution with 13A sockets in each cabin
  • Bilge pumps with auto switches
  • Hydraulic steering with forward and rear quarter helm position
  • Working order of the above equipment has not been been verified