History:

This is a 1935 Gloucester Built sloop boat. As far as I know it is the only Gloucester Sloop-Boat left in existence. While she was built at the end of the Sloop-Boat era, she conforms to the type. The New England Sloop-Boats were the predecessors to the Friendship sloops (a type of New England Sloop-Boat) and were built up and down the coast from the cape to Campbello Island Canada. The Gloucester Sloop-boats tended to be of deeper draft and finer lines than a Friendship as they were intended more for sea work and for speed, verses handling and heave-to ability to haul traps, etc. Info on these boats can be found in Wooden Boat Mag issue 152, Chapellels "American Sailing Craft", and a few of Joseph Garlands books, "Voyager":, etc. Jonathan Blackburn of Gloucester fame sailed a similar boat to this to England in the 1920s---all with stubs for hands (fingers lost to frostbite years before).

This particular boat was built in 1935 at Montgomery Boat yard in Gloucester---still there and run by David Montgomery. She was built as a yacht based on the Sloop-Boats of Gloucester---I think to lines by Joseph Bishop (But..???). She was built for a Doctor or dentist in the area (many boats where built for more wealthy people for very little at that time due to the Depression). She was built to a half-hull (David thinks he might still have it), and launched in Gloucester where she remained (at least nearby) up into the 1970s. She was then purchased by a fellow in CT and the keel, stem, sternpost, and all planking and 1/2 frames were replaced with great workmanship. in the 1980-90's she was bought by a young couple in CT and some work was done to make her more of a Blue Water cruiser, a few frames sistered, floor timbers installed in brass through some sections. She was sold after the couple moved with a new baby to the current owner in southern CT. She is now on the hard in southern CT.

She is white cedar on oak and fastened with Bronze.

Condition:

She is in very nice condition. 2003 survey has her as "Above Average", and since then most of what needed to get do to be "Bristol" has been done. The hull is great, no rot, great paint, canvas deck (needs repainting and areas re-bedded). The cockpit may need attention as the engine hatch may be leaking a bit of green/rain water into bulge (not a big deal at all). Aft of the cockpit a hatch construction was started recently, but not finished. Her interior was removed to get her hull in 100% condition and has not been rebuilt---the interior need to be built again from scratch. Her spars are in very nice condition (bright), with top rate bronze hardware-—a lot of work and attention went to these and they have not been on the boat since. She has a Westebreak 25-30hp diesel in fine condition. Her sails are very good with some very new ones.

Reality:

Basically you are looking at doing the interior, painting and updating bedding on the deck, and analyzing the cockpit and aft hatch to make it water tight and workable for you style of sailing.

She is ready to go into the water and can sail after swelling and covering the hatch aft. Sail her for the season and in the winter build the interior you want.

Personally, this is my favorite type of American Working/Sailing boat along with the Oyster Sloops/smacks of the late 1800. I would get the rig back to a gaff cutter and extend the bowsprit again to a Gloucester sloop-boat proportion. I would have the rig and sails cut returned to include the little club staysail, etc. of the type and era. I would build a very simple classic interior with a solid fuel stove and very little electronics (hide this nicely)---then I would sail the classic races in ME and live it up...... Maybe she will be on the next "Wooden Boat" calendar after you win the class at the EGGEMOGGIN REACH REGATTA off Deer Isle (You have to invite me to crew!!)

OR maybe that’s what I dream of doing..........

I have put 10 or so pictures, an equipment list, a detailed history and parts of the survey on a webpage www.overlandexperts.com/cutty.htm---take a look.
 

UPDATE:  Wade Smith a shipwright at Mystic Seaport is the new and proud owner of Cutty Sark.  Visit them both at Mystic Seaport!