WILDERNESS Beaver 23
"Tophyl"
3-4 Berth
This 3 (optional 4) berth, 2-owner Beaver 23 was manufactured and supplied by us in December 1985 as “bare boat “. The interior of the boat was painstakingly fitted out by the original owner, a skilled jeweller and competent woodworker in his Sussex garden over a 4-year period. The result is a very well-crafted interior and the cabinet work on galley doors, drawers and dividing doors for toilet, shower and wardrobe are in high quality hardwood and are still in very good condition.
The forward open-plan saloon area provides a double berth across the boat at night but, there is scope for conversion to 2 singles length-wise.
There is a large demountable central dining table sufficient for 4-persons, which when not in use may be stored out of the way on a dedicated storage shelf at the stern, under the cockpit floor. The table, on warm, sunny days, may also be configured for alfresco dining rested on the gang plank at one end, and on its folding leg at the other, whilst the 4x crew sit either side on the locker tops.
The galley, shower and toilet are amid-ships, effectively dividing the interior in two separate cabins.
The rear cabin accommodates two longitudinal single berths, the feet of which extend under the external stern deck locker seats. These rear berths serve as daytime seating but are crafted to create a double-across if required. A high-level clothes hanging rail is provided above the berth in the rear starboard corner and is concealed by a curtain.
There is a radio/CD player in the forward saloon under a forward quarter deck together with extra useful storage below. This storage space is accessed via a folding step which facilitates access via the front doors to the small forward external well deck which can be used as seating whilst cruising.
The two 90L rigid Fiamma freshwater tanks are either side under the saloon seating and there is an electronic water gauge with LCD read-out on the galley bulkhead. Each tank is independently filled via dedicated high-capacity fillers located on each side of the front deck, which allows for quick filling but water levels are balanced via pipe between the tanks.
Space heating can be from two sources, either from a 2 kW. Thermex catalytic radiant gas fire in the galley, and/or from an (unexpectedly removable) small solid-fuel stove, burning solid fuel ovals, which is sited, complete with a de-mountable heat protection enclosure on the forward end of the port rear bunk top. Removal, or re-installation, we are told, takes less than 2 hours. When the boat is in “stove-mode” it is effectively a 3-berth layout pending the stove’s removal in Summer.
With the stove installed, the boat’s interior becomes a warm cosy two or three berth boat for late season and even winter cruising.
This stove installation meets Boats Safety standards, has been approved at 4 yearly B.S.S. inspections; and it is reported as running well.
Aft of the fridge there is a versatile full-height storage cupboard housing crockery etc., the lower half of which has a free-standing stack of 4 deep drawers clothes for clothes or food storage.
The toilet and shower compartments are situated opposite one another aft of the galley, with their doors interlocking across the corridor to provide a useful dressing area between the two. The shower cubicle has an easily demountable wash basin above the shower tray. The shower tray is emptied by an electric Whale Gulper pump which discharges overboard, is controlled by a high-level switch in the shower compartment and is reported as working well.
Externally, the craft is in overall good condition for its age and is free from major impact damage.
The boat’s coachroof is surfaced with durable “Everflex” leatherette, and the cabin sides and end panels have recently been professionally sprayed with 2-pack polyurethane paint which is adhering well. The hull topsides have been recently repainted by the Vendors with single-pack marine gloss paint. The hull-below-waterline is in good order as one would expect of a trailer-stored trail boat and appears osmosis-free.
The central galley has a recently installed, full-sized, full-height Thetford Caprice gas cooker providing 4 hob burners, grill, large separate oven and pan storage at floor level. It has 12v. ignition and flame failure thermal shut-off ( F.F.D.) There is a stainless-steel sink and drainer beside the cooker and storage cupboards below fronted with well-made hardwood doors, easily lockable when towing, which is a feature to be found on many of the other doors.
On the other side of the galley is a small work-top below which is 60L Electrolux RM212 gas fridge with a small freezer box, which is currently running well. The 12v circuit is also wired into the car’s leisure (12S) socket allowing fridge to operate whilst towing. This circuit also charges the boat’s 12v battery. There is a generous cutlery drawer and stack of 3 more below-worktop drawers above the low-level mounted catalytic heater. The fridge carries a B.S.S. approved safety conversion but it is required to be serviced every 4 years prior to Boat Safety Certificate renewal. The current certificate runs until 29/08/2025.
The deckhead (ceiling) throughout the boat is panelled-out with satin varnished plywood with additional insulation above adding to the boat’s overall good level of insulation and is an important, visually pleasing feature of the interior.
The buttoned upholstery consists of fawn hard-wearing woven fabric over high quality foam: all cushions are in good condition as are the tartan-patterned window curtains.
Cabin lighting is largely 13-watt fluorescents which could be easily up-graded to modern LED units however there are 2 high-level adjustable reading lamps in the forward saloon that are already converted with LED bulbs, as are the bulkhead lights in the shower and toilet compartments and one outside above the rear entrance doors. The exterior tunnel light is also LED. A burglar alarm is fitted guarding front and rear doors and has an external deterrent red flashing LED when active.
The boat comes with much carefully selected loose navigational equipment as well as a good spread of crockery, cutlery glassware, mugs, new saucepans, and other domestic equipment.
Tech Specs:
The outboard engine is a tiller-steered electric-start 4-stroke petrol 9.9hp Yamaha (first used from new in 2010) and is fitted with one of our aluminium steerage rudders giving good straight-line steerage underway and at slow speed makes for accurate berthing. The engine provides electrical charging to the boat’s 115 A/h single leisure battery; there is space for an additional battery if required. There are two 12L portable fuel tanks for long distance cruising. In the gas locker there are two, full, 3.9kg Calor propane cylinders connected to the gas system via a gas bubble tester used to ensure there are no gas leaks .
Trailer: the twin-axle fully galvanised road trailer was supplied new by ourselves in December 1993, has been well-maintained, is fitted with a heavy-duty low-profile tyres and “bearing saver” protective hub caps. It is well specified at 2,600kg M.G.W. for the carried load. It also has a robust 2-speed loading winch and two spare wheels. The all-up tow weight (boat, engine, trailer and personal kit ) is likely to be of the order of 2,300kgs
This Beaver 23 is a well-honed, well cared for two-owner Wilderness trailboat with a welcoming homely ambience and it is an ideal rig for exploring the inland waterways of the UK, France and indeed much of the rest of Europe. It has been used over in France via cross-Channel ferry for many extended holidays.
The boat has been wintered out of the water most years in recent times and comes with a bespoke heavy-duty all-enveloping winter cover and securing ropes and elastics.
The craft is now here in Wiltshire on its trailer and is available for viewing
The Vendor is now seeking offers for the whole rig and ancillary equipment approaching £22,950
For further information and arrangements to view contact Ian Graham on 07973 815 920 or 01380 870 141 including evenings and weekends.
Also available by separate negotiation direct with the Vendor :-
Mitsubishi Shogun tow car 3.2 L Diesel LWB Automatic 4WD Estate
Mileage: 94,542 First registered: September 2009
Car is located away from boat in Taunton, Somerset. NOW SOLD