BM 16m2 (Sixteen-Square) Dutch Open Zeilboot

• Wood carvel construction
• Walnut decks
• Dutch built circa 1942
• Refurbished approx. 2001
• Professionally re-varnished 2021
• Will remain ashore until sold
• Full service history from current owner since 2015 & much improved over last 10 years

• No working engine with sale (Engine no longer runs, but is available if desired)
• Outboard bracket

• Gunter rig
• Wooden mast/spars (good condition)
• Mast stepped in wooden tabernacle
• Stainless steel standing rigging (2021)
• Running rigging in good condition (replaced during last 5 years)
• Mainsail (Mulnaar, good condition, still stiff/crinkles)
• Jib (Mulnaar, good condition)
• Sail numbers on sails do not correspond to vessel number
• Storm jib
• Spare suit of sails, poor condition
• Sail cover
• Sail area by design : 16 sqm
• Tufnol winches
• Blocks mostly Harken

• Single axle braked road trailer (Has been used locally, but would benefit from some refurbishment)
• Cockpit cover (2021, Topdekzeilen, very good condition)
• Mudweight
• Folding kedge anchor
• 2 x wooden paddles
• Tiller extension
• Fenders
• Warps

Dutch built, this beautiful classic day sailing boat with her sleek and elegant design is ideally suited to use on the inland waterways of the Norfolk Broads and offers ample space for a comfortable day on the water.

She has a mast stepped in wooden tabernacle, perfect for dropping the mast at low bridges and her cockpit design and cover even allow for a spot of overnight ‘camping’ if desired.

Well looked after by her previous owner who refurbished her in approximately 2001, she has been maintained and improved by her current owner who updated her standing rigging, running rigging and sails as well has having her professionally re-varnished in 2021.

This example is set up sympathetically for her age and is more suited to cruising rather than racing as she is understood to pre-date the change in class rules to using trapezes.

Ready to sail, she is a much loved and practical boat now for sale owing to an unexpected change in circumstances.

Class notes:

Designed by Hendrik Bulthuis, the BM Sixteen-square is larger than the original BM he created. Designed in 1931 for a competition, he innovated a new concept of using many narrow wooden slats giving the varnished hull a very distinct strip wood effect. These slats were easy to bend and could be nailed to the frame of the vessel, making it possible to create complex round shapes far more easily and cheaply than the traditional method of bending of thick wooden planks.

Named BM after the Bergumermeer, Bergum Lake that Bulthuis sailed on, the boats were a huge success and built in their hundreds, precisely because they could be built cheaply by anyone and the design was later recognised as a racing boat by the North Netherlands Water Sports Association.

The sixteen-square, also called “BM” or “Enlarged BM” has a sail surface area of sixteen square meters (The mainsail of 12 m² and the jib 4 m²) which was the maximum permitted size of the time before luxury tax was payable to the Dutch government.