Cockwells Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter 55' - a true replica of PET
As Polly Agatha leaves, lofting begins for our next new pilot cutter. Last year Cockwells was approached by a successful West Country business man interested in purchasing a new boat and, many thanks to Bob and Anna Bruynee, Dave was able to take him for a sail on their Pilot Cutter Marguerite.
“Originally when I met Dave Cockwell I knew I was going to purchase a new boat. The decision was whether it would be a modern catamaran or a traditional pilot cutter. After sailing on a pilot cutter I was easily persuaded. As I am not getting any younger, the seaworthiness of a pilot cutter really appealed to me. When sailing in a force 5/6 in a cat you are in survival mode yet in a pilot cutter you can take it comfortably. Also being built in wood the internal environment is far more comfortable and pleasurable. Once I had decided on a pilot cutter choosing Cockwells was an easy decision. I respect Dave’s passion and enthusiasm for wood. He is honest and felt I could trust him. With Dave what you see is what you get!” says our new customer.
Originally the plan was to build a boat along the lines of the Pilot Cutter Marguerite. However ideas have been swayed by a recent exciting discovery.
In the 1960s Dennis Williams, a Pill shipwright, was instructed to cut up a well known 55 foot Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter called PET. Fortunately he had the foresight to take the lines of the vessel before she was destroyed. Dennis, with his son David Williams a boat surveyor, recently visited Dave Cockwell and offered the scantlings and offsets for him to use to build a replica of Pet.
The romance of recreating a historic pilot cutter captivated our customer and, after seeing her lines and learning her history, he has decided to have an exact replica built.
The internal layout is still in the design process but it will incorporate three double cabins with en-suite heads and showers, a galley, navigation area, wet locker, sail locker and workshop. Once launched, the owner’s intent is to offer upmarket event charters to the professional market.
So Philip Austin has started the lofting process on the floor of our workshop and Dave will soon be travelling to Hull to purchase a 45-foot log for the keel. The rest of the wood, the oak and larch, is stored at our sawmill ready for use.
As more details become available we will post them on the website, we will have our usual gallery for this project so you can follow her build.
We were recently contacted by a person who was researching the Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter PET. Their link to her was that their great uncle and grandfather commissioned the original PET from the Rowles Yard in 1905. They sent us some photos (see below) of PET which we are very grateful for as it helps to fill in any missing details. If anyone else has photos of this Pilot Cutter, we would love to see them.
Click on an image below to view more details (larger image is show below these thumbnails).
Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter 'PET' in Pill Creek Near Rowles Yard
Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter 'PET' probably leaving Barry to return to Pill on Relief Day
Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter 'EMC' and 'PET', well known photograph by Graham Farr, 1937.
Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter 'PET' under sail
Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter 'PET' in Barry Harbour
Possible the Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter 'PET', published in a French magazine ''Chasse-Maree'' No.34.
Close up of Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter 'PET' from that article in the French magazine''Chasse-Maree'' No.34.
Philip Austin lofting the lines of PET for Petal
Click here to see some images of our 45' Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter, Polly Agatha during build and on the water.