3 Tonner


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We now have  all the 3Tonner drawings  scanned and on CD

 and  will send a CD to you, at cost, £5.00 UK and £6.50 overseas.

 


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Also Featured on this page are some of the many other designs  by Alan Buchanan.

There is also an owners assoc.

 

Click the burgee for a link to their site.

Buchanan Owners assoc.


Including!

This is the Neptune and Neptunian range, from an advert in an old Y.M.

I have some friends, ex colleagues, who sail one out of Ramsgate!


 

Yachtsman navigates around the world with an atlas

Cornish sailor completes traditional circumnavigation

A Cornish sailor has returned to the UK after a 17-month circumnavigation in which he used only an atlas for navigation.

Paddy Macklin, 52, arrived back in Falmouth after a 'traditional' circumnavigation via the three capes on his 27ft wooden Buchanan sloop with no EPIRB or proper charts.

His friend, Steve Ransley, said: 'He didn't want anybody to call help for him, he wanted to do it in the true tradition of going to sea and being prepared to drown like a a gentleman.'

He was feared lost in the Bay of Biscay just weeks into his voyage, when his family could not contact him via his satellite phone in poor weather.

But Mr Macklin had wrapped the phone up to protect it and only became aware of the major search operation that had been launched when he heard his name on the radio.

Then the former painter and decorator was forced to stop in Timaru, New Zealand when a knockdown damaged his boat off the Tasmanian coast and contaminated his food supplies.

The unscheduled stop scuppered his hopes of beating Sir Robin Knox Johnston's around-the-world time of 312 days.

Mr Macklin now plans to sail the North West Passage.

Comments?


 

 

'Brie' This was in the ownership of Robert Ford of Knibworth, is he still the owner we wonder? Apparently not!
     
 

Hello John

Thank you for the reply, I thought I might add that there is a picture of my little wreck on your website.  I came across it quite by mistake.  See the 3 tonner I've got my hands on is "Brie".  If only she looked like that now.

Luckily I'm a 2nd year boatbuilding student with no-end of enthusiasm.  I am actually planning on making some sort of blog of the work going on.  However I'm not sure how long it will take as I can't work on her full time yet.  Thought your organisation would be interested.

The CD will be very useful, thank you again for your time.

Robert Krelle

P.S. Here are some rather sad current pictures.

 

     
 

 

Does anyone know this boat? There is a possibility that it is the same boat as in the black and white pictures. Interesting to note there is an Eventide and a Waterwitch in the background. 2018 and the mystery is solved, thanks to Geoff the owner!.
 

 

 
 

Petite Fleur
 

 

 
 

Thanks to a recent mail, 2018  we now know  not only what she is but where too.
 

 

 
   
     
 

 
     
 

This is a 3Tonner, Petite Fleur, owned by Mike Ash.

May 2010 Mike has been back, it is a 3 Tonner and he bought it, she is called 'Petite Fleur' now moored in Cornwall. April 2018, we have more info!!

     
    On your 3 tonner section, you have asked in the second set of photos does anyone know about this boat?


The place is Langstone harbour Portsmouth. The varnished three tonner is called Petite Fleur, originally called Anita. Built by Reg Chamberlain, with only Hand tools, launched in 1962.


The other two boats belong to friends of mine an Eventide and Debenwitch.


There is a picture of me and my brother freshly restored. I went to Corsica on her, sold her in 1994.


I bought her back in Aug 2017.


I am busy restoring her with a view to getting her back in the water this year.
Yours Geoff Brooke-Jones.

We look forward to adding more pictures as Geoff restores her!  Geoff has recently joined us and we hope to see more of 'Petite Fleur'.
 

 

 

Alan H. Buchanan 10 Metre.
 
 

 
 

De Ruyter Class Motor sailer.  'Santiago'

We have just heard from  Roby and Marick, the owners of 'Santiago', apparently the boat is ok after Hurricane Dean  passed through Martinique, 16.08.07.  They have her ashore now repairing the steel plate hull.   Hope to hear more from them soon.

 

 

     
 

Details of Alan's De Ruyter class boat.
 
 

 
 

Kayann Built 1991/2 in iroko with ¾” thick planking, bronze-fastened and glued, based on the Alan Buchanan YM 3-tonner design, but with m/h rig, lead keel, s/d cockpit, side decks. Double-skinned transom. Teak deck, coachroof, cabin sole, cockpit sole.

 
 

 
  The 3 Tonner 'Sanderling' owned by Mike Field. The boat (and Mike) are based in Australia.

You make know Mike from www.woodenboatfittings.com (see our links page)

     
  The 3 Tonner 'Sanderling' More info to follow
     
  The 3 Tonner 'Sanderling'
     
  The 3 Tonner 'Sanderling'
     
  The 3 Tonner 'Sanderling'
     
  The 3 Tonner 'Sanderling'
     
  The 3 Tonner 'Sanderling'
     
  The 3 Tonner 'Sanderling'
     
  The 3 Tonner 'Sanderling'
     
  The 3 Tonner 'Sanderling'
     
  This picture and the two below, have just been sent in by Mike.  they are of the building, as 'Hilda D' and show the strip planking and  other details of the construction. Dated 1972/3
     
   
     
   
 
 

 
   I believe this is another 3 Tonner, this pic was taken in 'Crocketts Bay'  any clues.??

December 2006, we think we have the answer. 'Duyfken' 

     
          These were taken from the web, November 06,  where she was for sale. in South Australia.  who owns her now?
     
  Same boat as above I think?
     
  And again.
     
  Here we have the skipper in 'Port Phillip Bay'  Come on do not be shy who owns this beautiful craft now.    I found these files in my pile of discs, but I have mislaid the details on the owner.
 
 

 
  Alan Buchanan 'Yeoman'
     
  'Martooni' This beautiful Mk II Yeoman dates from 1958 and was featured in PBO November 2008.  Pic from PBO. 

 

    PBO list some of the other designs by Alan as, the Halcyon 23 and 27, the Wind Elf, MkII, the GRP Queen class, a development of the timber 'Vashti' and the Neptune and Nantucket class boats.
 
 

 
  'Sparrow' ready to launch back in 1975!  Built at Tim's yard on the Thames at Staines.  Nick never got to grips with her sailing, but a later owner took all the Club silver home with her!
     
   This is 'Sparrow' taken in Lymington 1978.  the owner at the time was Nick Entract, I remember him...   He would dearly like to know where Sparrow is today, can you help?  Contact Nick at  n.entract at ntlworld.com   I have just mailed Nick, Nov 06!
     
  'Sparrow' up for sale! November 06.  the former owner, Bryan has just bought the next vessel in the gallery. 'Blue Waves'.  Bryan is one of our latest registrants Nov 06.
     
  This photo of 'Sparrow' sent in in 2023 by the new owner Bob.

A brief history, mainly gleaned from former owners Bryan and Trevor in person or from folders of documentation:

Bryan Sautelle-Smith purchased Sparrow in 1993 from a Mr Paul Sanders who had owned her since 1989. Bryan sailed her extensively around South Cornwall (and fitted a new Yanmar 1GM10 in 2001) before upgrading to a Wind Elf.

There followed a period when she was largely laid up ashore in the ownership of John Barley, before being bought by Trevor and Suzanne Kennedy in 2011. They kept her professionally maintained and had new sails made, keeping her on the River Fowey until 2019, when she was laid up, awaiting repair.

I (Bob Shillito) acquired Sparrow in late 2020 from the Kennedys. Much work was needed to combat rainwater damage and repair the decks. This I completed by June 2021 and we set sail to Dartmouth as my son and his family live in Totnes. They enjoyed her for two seasons before she returned to Fowey at the start of the 2023 season.

During 2023, I have sailed her on the river and in the area around Fowey, including a trip to Helford. She also took part in the Fowey Classics event in July.

     
 

Sparrow remains a very eye-catching boat wherever she goes. A smartly-dressed yachtsman peered down at her from a gleaming 40' modern yacht as we cruised side-by-side into the river Dart. I was expecting him to turn up his nose, but he actually said "what a great little boat, I'd much rather be on that!"

I still find it incredible that a yacht that is over 70 years old can still be practical, fun, and good-looking! I also own an Alan Pape clinker river boat with a (modern) electric inboard. Their combined age is 130 years. Someone recently rolled their eyes and said "ah yes, wooden boats are a disease"...

     
 
 

 
   'Blue Waves' a Buchanon  Wind Elf design, now owned by Bryan, former owner of Sparrow above!
 
 

 
  'Floray' For years I have admired this vessel, sailed by Mike and Heather Gager out of Tollesbury, here she is out of water to reveal her Buchanan lines!  I will have to get one of her under sail, she is a picture! Thanks to J. Stevens for this pic, of her ashore at Tollesbury Sailing Club.
 
 

 
   I have been looking for a suitable boat for my daughter, I have been offered a boat, that looks to be highly suitable, a 'SeaFarer'.  Turns out she was designed by Alan Buchanan!  A nicer little day boat I have yet to find!  ( Sadly I did not buy it, too expensive, and too far away, but I have found her a boat designed by none other than Uffa Fox!)

  'Escapade', belongs to friends of ours in the Scillies.... 

 
 

 
       Two more 'SeaFarers' found on the net! No names to these ones, but the last shows she is a gutsy little boat, any owners coming forward?  There are apparently a lot of these little boats in Pembrokeshire and the South west of England.... found 2 in Burnham on Crouch...  not for sale though...
 
 

 
  'Panda'.   A SeaFarer!  August 2007, just purchased by Chris Reed, who has joined us. He bought this for £10.00 so he tells me!  there is a bargain I missed!
     
  Yes she is in need of a little TLC, but the hull is GPR and the woodwork is manageable. Hope to see her sailing before too long!
 

  'Tumbleweed'.   I found this boat in the Scillies July 2011.  I had seen it years ago but neglected to take a picture.  She is probably available to buy. she was for sale....  contact 'Rat Bags', St Marys, for more details. they used to own it and hired it out.
     
  The lines are still sleek even if the gel coat has faded!
     
  I took this of the cockpit, as I have had my eye on one locally (in Essex), for years and when it becomes available thought the cockpit lay out might be useful.
 

  This smart looking SeaFarer is 'Bechod', found on the web, having just been sold!
     
  Seems to be an all GRP version.  Like the sheet winch for raising the drop keel.
 

  Andrew Scot's nice looking SeaFarer 'Missee Lee'.
 

 


 

   East Anglian 'One Design'?.  'Hippocampus'  another of Alan's successful designs.

September 2009.

First of all I enjoyed looking at your very nice website, as I’m a fan of Alan Buchanan’s designs and wooden boats in general.

 Just a note to say that the East Anglian couldn’t be classed as a one-design as there are slight variations to coach roofs  and other small differences, and so was designated the East Anglian restricted class.

I am also particularly pleased to see the photograph of Hippocampus, as my family used to own her  in the early 1980s. She is a mark one East Anglian with a Clyde Cruising Club coach roof (stops before the mast), and was built at St Osyth in the 1960s . Hippocampus is iroko on oak below the waterline and mahogany topsides.

 I don’t know if this information is of any use but thought I’d get in touch.

 

Regards and Best Wishes,

Roger H. Harman (MMØBRG)
 

 
 

 
  'Humbug'  Great name for a 3 Tonner! for sale on the net, hope the new owner joins us to give more details. Found by J. S. of course.
 
 

 
  Another found on the net for sale, by J. S., on boats and Outboards site.
 
 

 
  'Aelfwyn'  a Buchanan designed 'Saxon' class I now have been informed, by the owner, Timothy.  She was snapped in the Blackwater near to the Nass beacon,  September 2007.  Unmistakably an Alan Buchanan! Timothy has been in touch to add a few details. She was raced by Alan Buchanan in Burnham Week, 1961 and did very well apparently!
     
  She was in Belgian ownership for some years and raced from Ostende, then registered in Australia!  Tim has owned her for the last 3 years.

As she slowly sailed away from me I could not resist taking a pic of that stern!

 

 


 

  'Zanzibar'     A 3 Tonner.  Mike is writing up a page on the restorers section for her, click here to go there.
 
 

 
  This Buchanan design was spotted  for sale on the web October 2008 by John Stevens.  I had no idea Alan designed clinker boats.  Anyone know anything about her?
 

  Spotted on a mooring in Salcott Creek West Mersea! sadly did not catch the name.  A Neptunian I believe.
 
 

 
  Buchanon 24 for sale in St. Osyth, Essex  November 2011.
 
 

 
  'Monique'.  Seen her  when she had been refitted a few years back and was about to be re-launched.
     
  The new owner has her ashore and is restoring her as she sadly was neglected for a while.  Let's hope she gets to look like this again!
     
 

 


 

 

We recently became the proud owners of an Alan Buchanan East Anglian MK II in a bit poor condition.
The ship was built in 1966, the first registration we can find is in 1989 in the Netherlands, then named “La Paloma”. We are very interested in her history, perhaps you can help us, place an ad on your website or maybe you can help us otherwise.
Anything is useful to us. In the attachment you will find a picture from the past and the present.

 Inge van Asten :-  inge at va-bouw.nl

 The Netherlands

Can anyone help Inge? 

 

 

 


 

 

‘La Simpatia’: 1962 East Anglian MK1.

Designed by Alan Buchannan

Built by Dixon Curley

For sale on our pages March 2013.

 

 

  'Running wild '  She was up for sale on our pages, April 2015, what a nice looking boat.  Based on the Deben.
     
  Cutter rigged with Alloy mast and spars, Iron keel, sails, Main, Staysail and Jib (Approx. 2002) Vetus 11hp diesel (2002)
     
  Custom Bronze bow roller (2010). Down below she has 3 good sized berths, an Origo spirit stove, gimbaled oil lamp, brass clock and barometer, sink with fresh water pump and plenty of stowage. 
     
  Cobra VHF/DSC with new ariel (2010) NASA Clipper Speed/Log/Sounder(2010) Varta 115Ah battery (2010) LED masthead light (2010)

 

Looks like a sail away boat!

     
  January 2021 and we have just heard from Andy, the new owner.
     
  'Running Wild' is an Allan Buchanan design. A Yachting monthly 3 tonner. Professionally built at a yard in Burnham-on-Crouch back in 1975.  She's cold moulded strip plank Iroko hull and mahogany top sides.
     
  I'm located on the river Deben at Felixstowe ferry boatyard.  I often sail her on the Orwell and take trips to Holland to complete in the (DCYR ) Dutch Classic Yacht Regatta. 

Just awaiting Andy's enrolment......
 

 


 

 

' Carman of Tollesbury'

According The Rudder (1954, vol 70) the Sea Spray (26'1" x 20' x 7'2" x 4’6") was designed by Alan H. Buchanan of Burnham-On-Crouch, Essex, England, for a designing competition held by the New Zealand magazine Sea Spray and was awarded first prize.

This is all I know about the design, so if one of your members knows more about it, it would be more than a pleasure to know. ;-)

Kind regards from the Netherlands,

 Freddie Kuiper

 

 

 

 


 

 

   

 

 

 
Halcyon 23 owned by relative of Chris our GRP advisor in the Netherlands and up for sale April 2016, see For Sale page.

 

Designed by Alan Buchanon of course, like her bigger sister the 27!

     
 
     
 
 

 


 

  'High Time' a 25ft long 'Wind Elf' design seen for sale on the internet December 2016.
     
  She is a very beautiful boat and has plenty of work done already, just needs a caring new owner to carry on the maintenance!
 

 


 

     
     
     
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