WILDERNESS Beaver 23
"Farthing"
4 Berth
This unique Wilderness Beaver 23 is the outcome of our supplying, to bespoke order, a long-cabin version of our Beaver 23ft trailboat as a bare boat for home completion. The coach roof cabin at 17ft6” is 2ft longer than a standard Beaver. This extra length of accommodation space was at the expense of the stern cockpit area.
It is laid out as a 4-berth with two long single longitudinal berths in the forward saloon area which is open-plan to a spacious central galley area. Aft of the galley is a larger-than-usual shower/toilet compartment together with a full height storage cupboard (which includes a built-in high-level 60L gas/three-way Electrolux fridge. The stern cabin contains daytime bench seating converting at night to a compact double across with a useful permanent storage shelf/work surface above the foot of the berth. The central positioning of shower/toilet compartment etc. could, with the addition of a tri-fold door, enable the interior to be separated into two cabins at night.
The boat has been ashore on its (yard) trailer unused for the last 5 years due to ill health and the Vendors’ living overseas. The solid fuel stove’s installation is in need of some safety improvements if it were to remain and achieve a Boat Safety pass. The Electrolux fridge is listed as a room-sealed model but is not currently working.
Cabin lighting is mainly from original fluorescents, supplemented by two low level berth reading lights with halogen bulbs; all of these could be easily replaced with modern, low energy LED units.
There are also bulkhead mounted 12v. power sockets but capacity is unknown. A 15” T.V. is bulkhead mounted above the galley and a demounted satellite dish is stowed in a nearby cupboard.
The boat interior is dry apart from two starboard windows which require removal and resealing and some possible leakage from shower waste plumbing which would need to be addressed by a new owner.
External woodwork (grab rails, hull rubbing strakes and cockpit rail cappings) are all original and of hardwood but are in need of T.L.C.
There is much loose navigational and minor engineering kit on board but this has not yet been sorted and listed.
Because of a lack of service history paperwork on this vessel, installation dates for much of the equipment cannot be verified, in particular, the solid fuel stove, the water tank and the engine.
The last Boat Safety Certificate expired in August 2018.
The galley is equipped with an enamelled sink and drainer, a 4-burner Vanette hob (with FFD but no ignition) and a separate small Vanessa oven. All of these appliances although original are clean and in working order. There are useful adjoining work surfaces with curtained shelves below for storage of food and galley equipment.
Also in cupboards below galley surfaces are the gas-fired, room-sealed water heater and an early Propex room-sealed blown-air space heater. There is a supplementary heating source in the forward saloon from an amateur-installed “Eno” solid fuel stove mounted at a high level, age unknown. None of these appliances have yet been tested.
Externally the craft is in fair order for its age and has been lightly used in the hands of its two owners and appears free from major impact damage. The hull below waterline also appears sound and is almost osmosis-free. However many of the original external glassfibre gelcoat surfaces, (hull top-sides and the cabin-sides and end panels) have been lightly painted and much of the paint is beginning to peel off.
One of several very positive features of this boat is its well-made double glazed windows; only the two large saloon cabin side-windows are single glazed and these are rubber-mounted acrylic rather than glass. There is an attractive pair of small outward-opening windows with decorated cut-glass patterns set in the starboard side of the galley which have been added in recent years.
Tech Specs:
Electrical supplies are from both a roof-top solar panel which, although old, is still working, and from the outboard engine’s charging circuit; there are 2no. 110 a/hr leisure batteries wired in, age unkown, but the Vendors have agreed replacements at point of sale.
The engine is a tiller-steered, electric-start, 4-stroke petrol, Yamaha F15 CEL which has been serviced since its arrival here. The boats stern exterior lockers accommodate outboard fuel and batteries respectively; gas for cooking and heating is stored up forward under a lid in the former front deck well which is now a dedicated gas locker containing 2no. 3.9kg propane bottles. Freshwater is also stored up front in a flexible 160L pillow tank inside the cabin under forward saloon seating.
In short, this craft is a structurally sound, lightly used example of one of our Beaver 23 derivatives, has a recently serviced 15hp outboard, a small working solar panel and space heating and hot water (all subject to operational test running). It requires work, a new Boat Safety Certificate and a partial external repaint. The twin axle trailer (manufacturer unknown) currently only fit for yard use and winter storage could, with some outlay, be repaired and up graded for road-going use enabling the exploration of distant UK waterways or even France.
Alternatively, the trailer could possibly be excluded from the sale for a purchaser not wishing to road-trail their boat.
The Vendors are seeking offers for the whole rig and ancillary equipment in the region of £12,500
For further information and arrangements to view contact Ian Graham on either 07973 815 920 or 01380 870 141 including evenings and weekends.