BROKERS COMMENTS 

It has been said that if Laurent Giles had never designed a sailing boat he would be remembered for his power craft…...the sweeping, elegant simplicity of WOODPECKER’s lines are certainly memorable. This vessel's semi-displacement hull probably represents a pinnacle in this hull form and she has been listed as the "beau ideal" among medium-sized fast motor cruisers.

WOODPECKER underwent a full restoration in 2000 / 01 and considerable attention has been paid to ensure her original character was retained with modifications made in some areas to enhance her practicality as a family cruising yacht. Further evidence of this includes; the wonderful dining area on deck and the fact that WOODPECKER can be used easily by just two people.

WOODPECKER has that very special quality that makes knowledgeable people stop, look and admire. Moreover on the practical front she can be remarkably economical and capable of cruising well over 1,000 miles on one refuel.
 

HISTORY 

WOODPECKER was built in 1948 for a Mr A A Hall, a gentleman of means, and there can be no doubt that he knew exactly what he wanted. Hall had already owned another Laurent Giles design built of 45 feet and named SAMAKI.

WOODPECKER was built by the highly respected yard of R A Newman & Sons of Poole and became a well known sight cruising the Solent and South coast of Britain, regardless of the weather - she remained with the Hall family until 1962.

In the early 1980s the boat sat in a mud berth in Wootton Creek, on the Isle of Wight. It was a Mr Nigel Humphreys who realised the vessel's potential and he set about restoring her so that she could be used and enjoyed - thankfully her former owner had spent a fortune having her hull sheathed in heavy Admiralty grade copper and she remained sound and dry. WOODPECKER spent some time cruising the East coast of United States, where she was available for charter, later returning to France under a new French owner.

Two years of meticulous restoration work, starting in 1999, was needed to take the boat to her current level of condition and layout; which would hopefully have pleased even Laurent Giles himself ! Although conceived to carry 10 people in great comfort for a day out; WOODPECKER now sleeps 6. This vessel is large enough and easy enough to use to make her a unique family yacht, with a wonderfully private separate owner's cabin of generous dimensions, and areas for convivial dining both on deck and below 

CONSTRUCTION 

Double diagonal Honduras mahogany planking over longitudinal pine stringers running inside the ribs at intervals between garboard and gunwhale. The hull exterior is glass sheathed and painted with royal blue Awlgrip paint. External brightwork; 8-10 coats of Epivanes varnish and the vessel's interior is coated in oyster white Awlgrip paint. 

DECK LAYOUT 

The deck layout of WOODPECKER has been changed very little - the only additions are sympathetic and help her to be enjoyed as a family yacht. A bathing platform has been added in teak on her stern which allows an Avon jet rib tender to be stored. An Opacmare passarelle allows easy boarding when moored stern-to.

The decks are pitch pine and were new at the time of her restoration. The vessel's side decks are wide and uncluttered - she has teak varnished coverboards and bulwarks and a raw teak rubbing strake. The superstructure, including trunk cabin, wheelhouse and deck saloon are painted white with sky lights (butterfly hatches) and other deck furniture in varnished teak.

There is a cosy cockpit or welldeck, aft of the trunk cabin, which houses a massive lazarette. There are two teak boarding ladders. The trunk cabin roof has two dorade boxes (teak) and chrome vents; teak cheeked blocks for the boom (for steadying sail) and butterfly hatch ventilating the owner's cabin. There is a large sunbathing platform made from raw teak, covered and emblazoned with the yacht's woodpecker logo. The raised part of this coachroof has a tabernacle style mast step and spruce spar for the steadying sail.

The wheelhouse, which is barely 6 feet (1.83m) above the main deck sits just aft of amidships and has a short extension projecting forward to form a small deck saloon or chartroom. The wheelhouse has chunky teak handrails at shoulder height running down either side and varnished teak WOODPECKER name plaques. There are a further two dorade boxes and chrome vents on the wheelhouse roof; period searchlights; hailers - and fitted to the mast are downlights and running lights in teak boxes.

The forward superstructure ends above the galley (for’ard of the deck saloon) and has two more dorade style vents and two large removable hatches, giving excellent ventilation to the accommodation below.

WOODPECKER's foredeck is a massive expanse of flush deck, broken up only by a large butterfly hatch (teak) which now has a substantial teak table added; allowing for dining on deck, without the confines usually encountered when entertaining, even on a vessel of this size. There is a bench seat and other appropriate deck furniture.

A final bench seat, the forward cabin dorade vents and deck hatch are well forward, behind the original Hyland hydraulic anchor windlass. There are four bronze mooring cleats and numerous other original deck fittings. 

ACCOMMODATION 

The main accommodation, which benefits from full Webasto central heating is entered through the wheelhouse, which itself is air conditioned and has two doorways, to access either port or starboard sidedecks.

The deckhead is oyster white Awlgrip and the cabin sole is an extension of the exterior pitch pine deck. Visibilty from the deckhouse is excellent and the large rear windows drop down and the forward side windows slide open.

A centrally fixed helm seat is opposite the ship's wheel; the engine instrumentation, including Kobelt controls; Sidepower bowthruster control and all navigation equipment (see Navigation/ electronics section) are mounted on a teak dash (top of wheelhouse/ deck saloon bulkhead)

A beautifully crafted double hatch arrangement allows access to the owner's cabin and en-suite wc / bathroom on the port side of the wheelhouse, or the engine room to starboard.

The owner's cabin is vast, even for a motor yacht of these dimensions. Entering the aft cabin, from the wheelhouse, down a four step companionway, there is a well appointed bathroom with an automatic Tecma WC, shower and storage lockers. Moving aft into the owner's cabin there is a large double berth, settee, desk and interior joinery allowing a great amount of storage. There are four bronze opening ports down either side of the trunk cabin, and a butterfly style hatch at the aft end of the deckhead. A Candy 3.5 kg washing machine is fitted in the aft cabin. The cabin sole is oak, the bulkheads are oyster white Awlgrip and plenty of teak trim.

Moving forward from the wheelhouse, there is a small deckhouse or chartroom, once again with excellent visibility forward. There is a U-shaped settee, the ship's barometer and clock, a full size chart table and two folding occasional tables. There are two 240 volt sockets and further navigation electronics (see Navigation / electronics section).

Descending another level brings you to a spacious and well equipped galley, which is to starboard, but laid out athwartships. This space is manageable and secure, even in rough conditions. There is a Eno gimballed gas oven and four burner hob; a Bosch dishwasher; Moulinex microwave; two large fridges and a stainless steel sink with mixer taps. Opposite the galley is a large storage cupboard for ship's stores and crockery.

Another three steps down is the main saloon; the same mix of oyster white bulkheads, teak and mahogany joinery gives a wonderful feeling of space and light - helped by four opening
ports and a butterfly hatch in the deckhead. Comfortable settees run either side and there is a fold-up dining table amidships (to seat eight). There are picture and reading lights and a flat screen TV.

It is a reminder that you are on a 70 foot (21.35m) boat when you move forward from the saloon, into a small vestibule, with two identical shower/ WC compartments port and starboard (1 x Jabsco manual WC and 1 x Tecma automatic WC). Further for’ard is a large double cabin with twin berths and a stairway to the foredeck via a forward hatch. This cabin also contains drawers and lockers. 

MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL 

- 2 x Perkins Sabre 225TI diesels / 225HP each
- Cruising speed 12 knots / 13.5 knot designed maximum hull speed

- Bank of house/domestic batteries and dedicated engine start batteries
- 1x Lister Petters generator 10KVA (separate start battery)
- Mastervolt inverter/ battery charger
- Shore power system: 240 volts shore power supply 

NAVIGATION/ ELECTRONICS 

- Raytheon R41 radar
- Geonav GPS / plotter
- Furuno GPS navigator
- Furuno RD 30
- Garmin 120 x L GPS
- Autopilot
- VHF 

TANKAGE 

- Water tanks 1,000 litres (and fresh water maker)
- Diesel fuel tanks 2,000 litres 

RUNNING AND FUEL CONSUMPTION OPTIONS 

Engines at revs per minute shown consume in litres per hour per engine

Both @ 2000 at 11.5 kts or one at 9.7 kts consumes 22.5
Both @ 1900 at 10.5 kts or one at 9.4 kts consumes 20.0
Both @ 1800 at 9.5 kts 0r one at 8.4 kts consumes 17.5
Both @ 1600 at 8.0 kts 0r one at 7.7 kts consumes 12.5
Both @ 1400 at 7.6 kts 0r one at 7.2 kts consumes 8.0

Cruising at 10.5 knots on both engines, consumption figures from Perkins show 2000 revs consuming 45 litres per hour which would give a 466 mile range, at 9.4 knots on one engine at 1900 rpm consumption goes down to 20 litres per hour and range doubled to 940 miles.

On a recent trial, one engine at 1400 rpm achieving 7 + knots consumed approx 8 litres per hour and a range therefore of 1,750 miles.
 

OTHER EQUIPMENT 

- Avon Jet RIB tender
- Full sun awnings for forward and aft decks
- Full winter covers
- Steadying sail 

DISCLAIMER

These particulars have been prepared from information provided by the vendors and are intended as a general guide. The purchaser should confirm details of concern to them by survey or engineers inspection. The purchaser should also ensure that the purchase contract properly reflects their concerns and specifies details on which they wish to rely.