1988 Farrington 25 River Cruiser - £23,000

Status : SOLD

Lying : Norfolk Broads - Viewing strictly by appointment through Topsail

(Please scroll down to the 'Images' section below for more photos.)

General Specification

Designer : Andrew Wolstenholme
LOA : 8.53m (28ft 0in)
LOD : 7.62m (25ft 0in)
Beam : 2.44m (8ft 0in)
Draft : 0.91m (3ft 0in)
Keel : Fin

Construction

• White GRP hull (original gelcoat)
• Varnished timber cabin, cockpit and transom
• Shoal draft fin keel
• Airofoil section spade rudder
• Bronze tiller
• Varnished bowsprit
• Lifting forward hinged cabin roof (epoxy coated)
• Teak toerails/rubbing strake (unvarnished)
• Varnished pine cabin sole boards
• Hull completely stripped back and antifouled 2013 (red, only afloat two months since)
• Always been in private ownership
• Wintered ashore annually
• No known signs of osmosis
• No recent survey

Rigging & Sails

• Gunter/high peak gaff rig
• Timber mast (by F. Collar) and spars (all in good condition)
• Mast easily raised/lowered by tackle and bungee/shock cord (no counterbalance weights)
• Wykeham Martin furling gear
• 2 x Harken bronze self-tailing sheet winches
• Running and standing (galvanised wire) rigging all in good condition
• Mainsail (white terylene by Jeckells, good/serviceable condition)
• Jib (white terylene by Jeckells, good/serviceable condition)
• Canvas sail cover

Mechanical & Electrical

• 7hp BMW single cylinder water cooled diesel inboard engine
• Shaft drive to bronze two blade folding propeller
• Stainless steel 40l fuel tank (in cockpit locker)
• Engine installed on centreline in forepeak

Accommodation

• 3 single berths in 1 cabin
• Galley with stove (two burners and grill), sink (hand pumped cold supply) and good storage
• Separate heads compartment port side aft with sea toilet (no holding tank) and washbasin (hand pumped cold supply)
• 12v electric cabin lighting
• Catalytic gas cabin heater
• Lifting cabin roof provides 1.83m (6ft) headroom at aft end
• Upholstered mattresses in tweed
• 'Hopper' type opening windows (providing good ventilation)
• FM radio/CD player
• Draining gas locker under aft deck hatch

Equipment

• Galvanised four wheel road trailer with strong adjustable bilge supports (purpose built by Peak Trailers, in good condition)
• Boat Safety Scheme certificate (expires 2017)
• Full awning (cream canvas, very little used and in good condition) with varnished awning rails
• Cockpit/cabin cover (cream canvas, good condition) for use with roof lowered
• Varnished pine mast crutches (high and low)
• Quant pole
• Brass clock and barometer
• Mudweight
• Rond anchors
• Various fenders
• Various warps

Remarks

With her GRP hull and traditional appearance, the Farrington 25 combines ease of maintenance with the beauty and grace for which Broads river cruisers are renowned. Currently lying ashore on her trailer and ready for inspection, this example is unexpectedly for sale due to a change of plans.

Owners comments

'Sandpiper' is a lovely classic Broads sailing cruiser, eligible for River Cruiser Class racing (-9% handicap). She is fast, close winded, handy and well balanced. Her BMW diesel engine drives her along well. Her cabin is not exactly spacious, but the galley works well and once turned-in she is warm and comfortable with no deck leaks! Her cockpit benches are surprisingly spacious for lounging. She is quite manageable to tow: the previous owner regularly towed her to Holland via the Harwich ferry, for sailing in the Friesland lakes, which must have been wonderful. The River Shannon and Lough Erne are another objective, but increasing age, stiffness and clumsiness I think mean it is time to quit while I'm still ahead!