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I have 2 goals this winter. Number one is to get my GP14 back in sailing shape…
Number two is to sell my Seagull sloop, also a Bell Kit. Its been in storage for about 11 years and only has 4 seasons of sailing prior to that. I’m selling as we just dont use it. Though it needs a fresh coat of paint and varnish it is essentially a new wooden boat that has never been stored outside. My grandfather started the build but never finished so I dont have the sentimental attachment as i do the GP as he never sailed it.
The issue is the boat sits just north of Philadelphia Pa and you all are quite far away. Im unsure it makes sense to advertise a british design on british sailing sites considering the transportation costs to get her home. Appreciation for wooden boats here in the states isn’t really that high. This being a fairly obscure kit from across the pond its value is questionable.
Since you all have knowledge of Bell Kits i thought you may have some thoughts on the matter.
Thanks
Chris Fretz
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The Seagull and Seamew sloops, designed by Ian Proctor for Bell Woodworking and built either from Bell Kits or by Bells themselves are things of beauty, when maintained in good condition, and contemporary reviews suggest that for their size (and period) they were very seaworthy and with a surprisingly sprightly performance. However because they are all now quite elderly boats, and perhaps (I am guessing) a bit light for their size, not many still survive.
There is a website dedicated to them, at http://www.seagull-seamew-yachts.org. There is also some information on them on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_Seagull_and_Seamew .
I note that you say that “appreciation for wooden boats here in the states isn’t that high”. If someone from “across the pond” may have the utter temerity to hazard a view on a country he has never visited, my impression is that although there appears to be little appreciation for wooden boats in the mass market the other side of the coin is that you have some legendary wooden boat festivals and a thriving restoration and new building scene for wooden boats; it is just that this is a niche market rather than mass market.
Amongst the places where I periodically read about such events is the online Openboat forum, some of whose members are enthusiastic protagonists. https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/openboat/info. You might find it worth joining that forum and enquiring there of your fellow USA members, who can probably advise you on the situation there better than I can. All I can do is to point you in that direction, and hope that it helps.
Oliver
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