Please help identify this classic wooden speed boat

[paul25]

hello,

I am about to restore this wooden speed boat and would love to know who and where it was made and some of it's history, to aid selecting the right fittings etc..

I bought it from someone in Exmouth Devon, who believed it to be local, but could not be any more specific.

any help would be much appreciated.

many thanks

[Rapier]

Hi Paul, this was one we saw up on ebay a few times. Personally I don't know what it is. The ZUG IV had me intrigued though - I lived in a town called Zug for a year - perhaps it's Swiss / German? The hardware looks period 1960s and generic to many boats then (bar the stern cleats? look ali and modern?) and the steering wheel a common 1960s design. Am sure someone on the forum or a CMBA member, might be able to shed a light on it, as is a very unusual design.

[puddleduck]

This is a Westcraft Watson 15!!! I restored one in 1988, which I thought was the only one built. Mine was a sterndrive version, originally fitted with a 80hp Chrysler sterndrive, but I fitted a Volvo Penta AQ70, the original 1600cc 70hp sterndrive from Volvo. The distinctive 'ragged chine' hull was developed by naval architects GL Watson for the 18ft fast offshore lifeboats for the RNLI. Westcraft, who occupied the yard at Topsham in Devon, also made a 15ft version for the sportsboat market, and others along the same lines up to a 30ft flybridge diesel cruiser. Don't know what happend to the company, but the yard subsequently became Tremlett Boats, I guess in the early 70's.

see attached photo of my Westcraft 'Purpy II' on the Hamble River in 1989.

Chairman Chris

[puddleduck]

Hi Paul, forgot to say your boat was probably built in 1968.. nice construction, cold moulded ply on mahogany frames, and those external strakes are mahogany too. Good seaboat, excellent design for the choppy stuff!

[Rapier]

Nice boat Puddleduck, not often you see a capable rough water wood boat. Suspect bar the Tremletts and the Kelvin (?) Sorcerers there aren't many. Was the Chrylser 80 like this? How did it go with the AQ70?

Where's the boat now?

[paul25]

thanks fantastic, thanks for the info puddleduck.

do you still have yours, or did you sell it on?
do you have any more pictures?

[puddleduck]

Rapier, I've got a folder of photos for Paul, how do I upload them and make a new album in the gallery? It's 1.04MB.

By the way, I fitted a Volvo AQ80 (not 70 as previously stated!) inot my Westcraft. It had the original type 100 leg. The original engine was an 80hp Chrysler sterndrive, long since gone. They were typified by a circular transom shield on the outside, but I could not figure how they got the engine under the low deck line (see the modification I had to make to cater for the Volvo carburetor.) I later discovered that the engine was a marinized version of the Rootes 4cyl car engine, which was inclined, hence the low profile. Fitted to the Hillmann Hunter etc. I think, check with Rocket Ken, I bet he had one!

chris

[BroomBroom]

Excuse me busting into the this thread...

how do I upload them and make a new album in the gallery? It's 1.04MB

Just email them across to me Chris and I'll create a new album and drop them in for you when I next update

Cheers,

R

[Tremlett 15]

This is a Westcraft Watson 15!!! I restored one in 1988, which I thought was the only one built. Mine was a sterndrive version, originally fitted with a 80hp Chrysler sterndrive, but I fitted a Volvo Penta AQ70, the original 1600cc 70hp sterndrive from Volvo. The distinctive 'ragged chine' hull was developed by naval architects GL Watson for the 18ft fast offshore lifeboats for the RNLI. Westcraft, who occupied the yard at Topsham in Devon, also made a 15ft version for the sportsboat market, and others along the same lines up to a 30ft flybridge diesel cruiser. Don't know what happend to the company, but the yard subsequently became Tremlett Boats, I guess in the early 70's.

see attached photo of my Westcraft 'Purpy II' on the Hamble River in 1989.

Chairman Chris

good one Chris

not too sure re your dates re Tremletts yard?? I think Tremletts were in " Odams" Wharf, Topsham since 1961, the earliest brochure I have is from 1966 which gives the address as "Tremletts ( Skicraft ) Ltd, Odams Wharf, Topsham, then on a newer brochure ( late 60s/early 70s ) the address is Odhams Wharf, are these the same ? did they move up/down river?? at any time, as you know I am not a "local"

T 15

[puddleduck]

Hi Austin,
You're quite correct about tremletts at Oldam Wharf, I'll have a look at my records again re. Westcraft. Unfortunately I gave the new owner my 'history' file on the boat when I sold her, about 1992. Anyway, they were definitely in Topsham, that I know - it's not a big place, perhaps they shared the yard.