Custom Built Bickford Checkstone 28 Sloop Boat for Sale

• Manufacturer: Custom Built
• Location: South Devon
• Year: 1976
• LOA: 29'10" (9.09m)
• Beam: 9' 3'' (2.82m)
• Berths: 3
• Draft: 1.14
• Keel: Long keel
• ID no.: 171244

• Cabins: 1
• Heads: 1
• Watertank Size: 70 Litres
• Engine Make: Beta
• Horsepower: 30hp
• Drive Type: Shaft drive
• Fuel Type: Diesel
• Fuel Tank Size: 140 Litres

Broker Remarks

This Classic wooden Checkstone 28 was designed by Jim Bickford. The current owner purchased the hull and had it delivered to his house where he could oversee the completion work which has been carried out over the last 5 years.  She is now all but ready to launch for the first time, 40 years after the keel was first laid.   Engine, Rig and most interior finishing installed in the last four years and as new.  A beautiful example of a classic wooden sailing yacht that offers a lot in her 28 feet. This classic can arguably be described as new, and now looking for an enthusiastic owner who appreciates classic wooden boats, to lavish attention on her, complete the finishing touches launch, name and enjoy her.

Accommodation

Cockpit:

• Two storage lockers for general use
• Ventilated cupboard for gas bottles.
• Access to a deep stern locker
• Solid mahogany wash boards with Sliding hatch to Saloon
• Deck and Fittings:
• Mahogany escape hatch over forward V berth.
• 4 stainless steel roof vents.
• Mahogany hand rails on port and starboard coach roof

Saloon:

• Entrance via cockpit hatch with Mahogany steps fixed to engine room access panel

Starboard side:

• Rear single berth with fitted mattress / seating
• Ample storage under
• Seating with fitted Mattress
• Electric Panels with main Battery switches.
• Three ventilated Lockers made with interlaced teak.
• Solid Brass Time and Moon Clock.
• Four Mahogany framed LED individually switched ceiling lights
• Solid Mahogany Table in three sections folding on a centre support
• Fitted loose carpets with bound edges

Galley ( to port):

• Stainless steel sink with teak cover
• Cold water tap with pressure pump switch
• Teak cup holder for 6 cups
• Flavel two burner stove with grill
• Single L shaped berth with fitted mattress / Seating
• Ample storage under
• Storage shelf over seating
• 240 volt ships switchgear with 240 volt supply with 4 outlets in saloon

Door to vestibule / storage area, and heads

• Fitted loose carpets with bound edges
• Two overhead LED lights

Door to forward V berth

Forepeak:

• V berth with fitted mattress
• Ample storage space under.
• Two LED reading lights individually switched
• Mahogany escape / ventilation Hatch
• Access to Chain locker
• Fitted loose carpets with bound edges

Mechanical and Rigging

The first Checkstone was built by Lavis's Yard in Exmouth in 1973, designed by Jim Bickford and was named after a ledge of rock that was visible from the front window of his house on the sea-front at Exmouth Devon.  Ron Lavis improved on the design and he and his father started this build in 1974/5 and worked on her for several years in between commissions, over a two year period the hull, deck and superstructure were completed.

In 1993 20 years later the Checkstone was still in the workshop, work had been done on the cabin floors and walls, a toilet, cooker and bunks had been added .

 It was in November 1993 that the “Classic Boats Magazine” did an article on the original Checkstone ‘Dobbin’ and referred to this Checkstone by saying, “in the corner of a Boat builder’s workshop in Exmouth lies a half-completed wooden boat waiting for a loving owner, it's pedigree is impeccable and it's workmanship unimpeachable”.

 The current owner purchased the boat and had it delivered to his house where he could oversee the completion work which has been carried out over the last 5 years.  She is now all but ready to launch, 40 years after the keel was first laid.

Construction:

• Iroko teak and Mahogany strip planked on laminated frames
• Formed with Marine plywood and covered with Iroko teak strip decking laid with and caulked with Secoflex
• Cockpit 6 feet 5 inches long, self-draining marine plywood floor with teak checker board flooring, teak covered seating areas.

Engine:

• Beta Marine B 30 HE 3 cylinder Diesel 0n flexible engine mounts, giving 30 hp at 3600 rpm.
• 2:1 gear box, high rise injection elbow and V pulley.
• Seawater cooled, via the engines heat exchanger, the sea water enters via a copper sea cock and passes through a raw water filter prior to the raw water pump.
• Teleflex single lever Morse control
• Shaft drive to 12 inch three bladed propeller via 1 inch stainless steel shaft in bronze stern tube
• Final bearings water lubricated by a scoop bearing
• Rope cutter
• Water cooled exhaust system has a Vetus exhaust Silencer / water lock, and discharges at the stern just above water level, the skin fitting has an anti-surge flap to prevent sea water entering the pipe.  There is an anti-syphon loop in the exhaust to prevent back flow.
• Engine controls on starboard side of cockpit

The whole installation, was inspected and approved by Marine Wise UK Ltd., the local Beta Marine Agents, who also carried out the final alinement's and balancing. 

• 240 volt Shore Power circuit
• 4 power points protected by Breakers and mains isolation switch.
• Battery charger
• 2 x 90 Amp Hour lead acid batteries
• Three lighting circuits one for saloon, one for Head and one for forward V berth reading lights
• Fresh water pump with switch under sink
• 12 volt supply to instruments
• 12 volt supply to masthead navigation lights
• 12 volt supply to sump pumps

Tankage:

• Fuel capacity 140 litres in 1 x plastic tank
• Fresh water capacity 70 litres in 1 x plastic tank

Rigging:

• Z401 single spreader masthead rig not tapered
• Z204 Slab reefing boom
• Stainless 1x19 standing rigging
• All Running rigging
• Pulleys and blocks
• Sliding track for mainsail situated at entrance to saloon

Winches:

• 3 x fixed on Mast
• 2 x 100mm Barton winches for Genoa in cockpit

Sails not supplied and required as follows:

• Sail area main 169 Sq ft
• Sail area genoa 245 Sq ft

Inventory

Navigation Equipment:

• Clipper Duet Depth/ Speed instrument encased in Mahogany boxing
• Garmin GPS MAP 551 encased in Mahogany boxing
• Windex

 Anchoring and Mooring Equipment:

• Double Bow roller
• Anchor and chain (chain falls into forward locker in front of forward V berth)

 Safety Equipment:

• Navigation masthead light LED
• Stainless steel pushpit and pulpit
• Stanchions with two strands of coated safety rail