HOLDFAST is a 1967 Bristol Channel Pilot Sloop. Rodney Warrington Smythe Design.
Designed for taking pilots off-shore into the North Atlantic to charter themselves to captains bound for ports in Europe. She is tough and steady under foot in a rough sea. Heaviest weather I have sailed in was Hope Island to Penetanguishene in 48knots. We surfed with the wind at 8.1 knots, in large seas using the jib. We have sailed in the snow and sailed in the lightning. We sail and motor sail in any seas within reason and do it at between 4 and 8 knots.
Built in Port Credit Yacht Club in 1967. Full documents etc... 6.5 tons, full keel, 24'8"LOA, 23'WLL. I am the third owner. The 2nd owner, responsible for much of her life-long mtce and upkeep, sailed her for 32 years, between Montreal, Toronto and Ottawa.
HOLDFAST has been fully restored in a keel-up, plank by plank, seam to joint, fittings to sheets, and sails to anchors overhaul. This repair, dismantling, restoration and reassembly took 3,500 hours of hands on work and about 2.5 years to complete. At this point, she was a usable boat, but still required a few more touches to bring her up to, now, November, 2010 standards. This vessel is 43 years old and has had her share of ding and doings. She is in a beautiful and robust state and a pleasure to sail. Her heavy 5/4 inch teak and mahogany hull gives a smooth gentle but firm ride. She doesn't get tossed about at anchorages either. I usually single hand HOLDFAST and have never had a concern that "the boat couldn't take it." Penetanguishene to Manitoulin Is. and back, single handing...no concerns whatsoever.
Some of the equipment on board: 900 cfh Nicro-vents were installed in the V-berth ceiling, main cabin ceiling, and, using a vent hose, there is a 24hour/day powered exhaust vent, venting the bilge as well. Air movement with these 3 fans is 2,600 cf/h,24 hours/day/week... HOLDFAST always smells clean and inviting upon entry. Water lift muffler and new exhaust. There is a new evaporative alcohol stove (Origo 2 burner, completely safe), on gimbals and with fiddles, for cooking. Many glorious meals have been prepared below, assisted by the propane BBQ on the aft deck. BBQ will light and stay lit and cooks in 70 km/h winds. HOLDFAST was built as accommadations for 4, but..., as the saying goes:6 for drinks, 5 for supper and 4 for bed. One half of a port V-berth, is presently used for cooler storage. The other half is a comfy bed. In the main cabin, which can be separated from the V-berth by a door, are 2 separate port and starboard berths. New mattresses and covers have been made, all clean and inviting looking. The cabin sole is constructed of teak and holly, over top of plywood. There is much storage space available beneath the floor for bottled drinks. Also cool to note, that this is below water-line and cooler than any other storage area for drinks, etc... The interior of HOLDFAST is beautiful and very old fashioned, but her wood work looks new. A soft glowing interior of glossy varnished hardwood awaits, ribbon mahogany, teak ceiling arches and beams, hand rails etc... All of the copper nail head rivets are visible and embedded in White Oak ribs. These copper nails penetrate the teak hull planks (bunged) and are terminated by roves (rivet heads). Under the deck heads, and below, there are no unsightly electric wires running to and fro for lighting, but, Parafin lamps, candles and well placed battery LED's cast the proper interior evening light. In the galley "area", there is access to a great Orogo alcohol, double burner stove , mounted on gimbals, with fiddles too. There is a deep sink for washing dishes etc. Water is pumped from the lake with a foot pump. Storage for canned goods, cooking supplies and all the esentials is within easy reach. Net storage along the ceiling and deck heads. There is a proper private marine toilet, with a hinged sink and 20gallon holding tank. Fresh water is supplied to the toilet sink via a footpump.
All of the standing rigging is 1x19 stainless steel wire, swaged and oversized. Mast and boom are Sitka Spruce. The spreaders are white ash. The cabin is African ribbon mahagony. There are large windows on the cabin sides and brass portholes in the companionway walls. The decks are bronze screw attached teak strips, toe rails are teak as well. The rub rails are spruce. The teak hull is jet black and below water line, is oxide red ablative bottom paint. The outhung rudder has folding steps incorporated into the design, which are used as a boarding ladder. The rudder is built from 3 well formed solid teak planks, pinned together with stainless steel bolts.
When this vessel was stripped to the planks and had all the cotton caulking removed, she was thoroughly cleaned, then soaked in a penetrating epoxy called CPES. (Clear Penetrating Epoxy Sealant. Check it out on the 'net). All of the brightwork is coated with many coats of Bristol Finish varnish.
Sail inventory: there is a roller furling boom, which works very well in all sea conditions. A new full batten main and 150% Genoa are Dacron Tanbark, or Ox-Blood coloured red with black stitching. There is also a jib and a #2 Genoa for really rough weather. The hull is glossy jet black and the rub rails are gold. HOLDFAST is a much photographed boat in Georgian Bay and the North Channel. She has been featured on the front cover of GAM magazine, accompanied by a several page write-up in GAM magazine in the Jan/Feb and March/April 2010 issues. (Back issues are available at GAM magazine. Look on line)
Her auxiliary power is a Ford Cortina 20 hp motor called a Sea Wolf. 3 blade bronze propellor will push her at 4.8 knots at no strain and less than one gallon of gas per hour. The generator is rebuilt and ignition and plugs are new. 70 litre gas tank is stainless steel and leak proof/pressure tested. New gas lines and fuel pump etc... There are 40 fathoms, (240feet) of anchor chain, a 15kg Bruce anchor that has never failed to maintain ships anchored position, despite much distress from wind and sea. Dock mooring lines are 3/4 inch kernmantle rope and much over rated, as is all of the rigging, mooring, sheets and fittings. There is a boom cover, sail bags etc as well as a boom tent, pictured on this website.
Myself and my 2 boys sail HOLDFAST from April, to well into November. This season we have sailed almost 3000 miles.
The reason I am selling this awesome vessel, is that I have found another sailboat in need of much restoration.
I am asking $15,000 for this sail away classic wooden boat.
I have plenty more pictures should you need them to make a decision. In the mean-time come up to Dutchman's Cove in Penetanguishene, any time and see HOLDFAST, yourself. She's stored inside, and I'm around most weekends. Best Regards, Simon Minc
