1928 Collins River Cruiser

• Fin

MAKE/MODEL: Built by A Collins, designed by Powles

CONSTRUCTION: Teak carvel

YEAR: 1928

DIMENSIONS: LOA 32′ 6″ (plus 5′ bowsprit), BEAM 9′ 6″ approx., DRAFT 3′

KEEL TYPE: Fin

COLOUR: White with varnished superstructure

INTERIOR: 4 berths in 2 cabins plus separate heads and galley area in cockpit

ENGINE: Mercury 6 hp outboard (on removable bracket)

RIG TYPE: Topsail Gaff

MAST/SPARS: Timber, in excellent order

SAILS: Main, topsail and staysail (1,000sq feet in total). Virtually new sail cover, plus overall cover.

EQUIPMENT: The vessel has a superb cockpit with seating and lockers to either side. To starboard, the lockers are fitted for battery (with charge indicator) and hand basin with manually pumped cold water. To port there is a long locker in which the seller currently stows a small camping cooker (not in the sale). A large locker under the aft deck, with access both into the cockpit and also via a deck hatch completes the storage in this area. Double doors lead into the main cabin, which has a full-length settee berth to either side. These, like the upholstery in the forward cabin, are upholstered in dark blue dralon and are in excellent condition. There are drawers under the settees and further storage is to be found behind them. Going forward, there is a cupboard and drawer unit to either side of the door leading into the forward cabin. Although the boat has a fixed roof, this area benefits from having a long sliding hatch over the companionway. Going forward again, there is a full-length quarter berth to either side (again with drawers under and in addition there is a small built-in cupboard to either side of the door leading through to the heads. The quarter berths extend forward, behind the heads compartment. In the heads, there is a sea-toilet to port and a porcelain hand-basin with cold water to starboard. Interior woodwork is in teak and oak, and is in excellent condition. This extends to the easily removable, but very decorative oak panelling with which the interior of the boat is lined (i.e. behind the settees). The forward cabin and heads have toughened glass, opening skylights above. In the forepeak, there are twin water tanks which are linked by a balancing pipe, plus storage for sails, tools, etc. Mast lowering is by a pulley system and there are removable lead counterweights to simplify this. The boat has 12 volt electric lighting, 4 power points, bilge pump (plus manual pump) and running lights, and power is supplied from the engine and also from a solar panel mounted on the aft-deck. External: The boat’s paint and varnishwork appear to be in excellent condition. Her decks are covered in a cork/epoxy finish. Frames for a cockpit tent exist but, at the present time, there is no tent per se.

REMARKS: This much admired boat has been the subject of some renovation and appears to be in really excellent condition. She is clearly a very powerful boat, carrying a large spread of canvas. She was built for a Colonel Burrell (of Thetford Steam Engines fame) and was fairly obviously built with no expense being spared. Broads River Class cruiser, sail number 1.

OUR OPINION: A real beauty, both inside and out. A classic and well worth seeing.