General Description:

Designer : Pat Patterson                      Builder : South Coast Marine

Hull : GRP, moulded in 1976. Sold to Constellation Yachts, Mary Tavy, Nr.Tavistock and fitted out by SCM in 1977.

LOA : 8 meters/26’ 2”     LWL : 7.0 meters/23’      Beam : 4.2 m/13’ 9”

Draft : 0.7 m/2’ 3”                    Displacement : 2385 Kgs/6250 lbs.

Sail Area : Main – 13 m ²/140 ft²;        Genoa – 22.3 m²/240 ft²

Engine : Yamaha FT 9.9 AE(U) 2 cylinder 4-stroke, remote electric start.

Small Ships Register : SSR108298                Sail No :396M

Tankage : Water 2 x 100 ltrs (1 in each hull); Fuel : c.80 ltrs in Containers

From the owner: A good example of these ever popular ocean-going cruisers, ‘Tarla’ is in good condition throughout for her year. She is well equipped for extensive cruising. A full Survey Report, carried out in 2003, is available for study if required.

Hulls are white and generally in good condition, no leaks! 3 fenders are worn on each side. The decks are light blue with moulded non-slip panels. The foredeck is enormous and very safe to work in. The ‘trampoline’ is slatted teak, in good condition. There are two large lockers at deck level containing the ground tackle. In the starboard locker a CQR anchor has some 8 meters of 3/8" galvanised chain and about 35 meters of Anchorplait warp. The CQR rides in the bow roller for convenience. The port locker has a Danforth (type) anchor with 15 meters of 3/8" galvanised chain and Anchorplait warp plus several containers of reserve fuel.

The cabin top is a large clear area, which is popular for sun-bathing. It also provides access to the lower mast area for fitting or removing the sail cover, and scaling the mast should the need arise (!)

There is a centre cockpit which has the helm position on the port side. Steering is by Morse wheel and cable to the port rudder, which is linked to the starboard rudder. The steering box was replaced in 2002, and there is a spare Morse cable assembly in the port after cabin. The essential navigation electronics are in a cabinet adjacent to the wheel. Seating is arranged on three sides of the cockpit and there are four large storage lockers beneath. The ships batteries, fuel tanks and gas bottles are located here. There is a large sheet winch on each side of the coaming for control of the genoa sheets. On the starboard coaming are two hand pumps for the bilges, one for each hull. They are very effective.

Aft of the cockpit are two cabins, on the roof of which are mounted the three solar panels for battery charging. Further aft of these panels is the main sheet traveller, a vital piece of kit when it comes to fine tuning the mains’l.

The rig is masthead sloop with an inner forestay. If a smaller jib, say a storm jib, is flown from this stay you have a sort of cutter arrangement. I haven’t tried it, but those who should know tell me it can be good for another knot or so in the right conditions – whatever they are!! The genoa is the driving sail and is of the furling variety. This sail was taken down, washed, and all seams checked and repaired where necessary this year. A new sacrificial strip was sewn in and the sail now sets very well. The main is half battened and bears the sail number 396M which was allotted to ‘Tarla’ in 1985. The sail is capable of slab reefing or roller round the boom, according to taste. The standing rigging is all stainless steel. I had it all stress checked last season and tweaked accordingly. I think it is now about 4 years old? Running rigging was replaced by the previous owner and I have fitted new genoa sheets and mooring lines. The sail complement includes a new, unused cruising chute with snuffer – very colourful. All I need is the lightest wind in the right direction…..

Down below, the accommodation is Tardis like. The saloon, which is the bridge deck, will seat 6 to 8 people on comfortable bench seats, each side of a folding table. When this table is folded the resultant berth is very wide for two (or three, if very good friends!). There is storage under the cushions of the benches.

Galley – this is in the port hull, and is about 10 feet long. From the port bow back there is a buoyancy chamber, then a large storage area which I use for extra water bottles, below this is the port 100 litre water tank (filled from the port deck fitting), with some space above for storage. Then we are in the galley and the first thing is the fridge. This is 12volt dc/230 volt ac. It is wired via a relay so that when attached to mains power the fridge will run on 230vac. When, or if, this supply is terminated the source is automatically switched to 12vdc. However, there is an override switch to isolate the battery if the need be.

A stainless steel sink is next with a new Whale hand pump, primed from the tank in the port forepeak. Next to this is the cooker, with two burner hob, grill and oven. My crew cook (wife) has prepared tucker for six on this device, so you can be sure it works. It is butane gas fired, by the way, from the bottle in the port locker in the cockpit. Aft of the cooker is a small prep surface with storage for plates and other crocs above. A fire extinguisher is set above this flat and, along side it, there is a fire blanket and a spice rack (with spices). Below all this is storage space for food and cleaning gear, pots, pans and the usual accoutrements peculiar to the culinary art. We are now at the after bulkhead which separates the galley from the cockpit. So, there is a massive storage space which runs under the cockpit to the bulkhead which forms the forward end of the after cabin on the port side. The depth sounder transducer is found under the sole of this compartment.

Heads – this is in the starboard hull. From the starboard bow back there is a buoyancy chamber, then a large storage area where I keep the sails. Below this is the other 100 litre water tank (filled from the starboard deck fitting), which feeds the small hand basin in the heads and aft of this, the heads themselves. A standard sea toilet is fitted, with a single pump. It works well! For privacy there is a door to close that area off when in use. Hanging on the outside of this door, and accessible at all times, is the ship’s First Aid box.

When the door is closed we are in the navigation area. This is a drop down affair with a platform to take half an Admiralty chart laid out for plotting. There is storage for many charts under the work desk and there is much space for pens, pencils, parallel rules, compasses, dividers and the like. When in use, the navigator sits on the step up to the saloon. Sitting in this position you are facing the starboard side of the ship. There is a fluorescent light within the cabinet and there is a double 12vdc socket thing for charging the hand-held VHF and mobile phone.

Now, immediately on your right and aft of the nav. position, is the starboard bulkhead separating the area from the cockpit. A fire extinguisher is fitted here. Aft of this is a vast cavern where I keep the deck scrubber (when she’s off duty!), the mop (when I’m off duty!), the radar reflector (when off duty!), two large buckets and a fisherman anchor in a delightful little holder, tailor made for it. This area also sports the through hull fitting for the NASA Log. The paddle is, reportedly, removable for cleaning. What they don’t tell you is that you get a pretty good shower bath when you do it. Fortunately, there is a high volume hand operated bilge pump to clear this area when necessary.

Now we come to the after cabins. These are about 7 feet long and 5 feet wide – each capable of offering very comfortable sleeping accommodation for two people. All you need is a duvet and two pillows for each cabin and you will be asleep in no time. Very comfortable indeed. Access to the cabins is via sliding hatches and doors from the cockpit. Each cabin has its own fire extinguisher.

Electrical : There are 2 x 12 volt batteries located in the starboard inner locker in the cockpit, with the ubiquitous ‘Off-1-2-Both’ selector switch. The batteries are charged from the engine when running and from the solar cells and the mast mounted Forgen 1000 wind genny when sailing. There are 12volt fluorescent light fittings in all cabins, the saloon, galley and heads. A 230vac shore supply is installed. This feeds the fridge and 4 x 13 amp double sockets – 1 in each after cabin, 1 in the galley and 1 adjacent to the navigator’s position. Fusing is by 6 amp and 16 amp circuit breakers, located by the batteries.

Mast mounted navigation lights are conventional – 1. Riding light; 2. Tricolour; 3. Steaming Light; 4. Deck Light; 5. Depth Sounder; 6. Log/Speed. These are all switched from the electronic cabinet next to the helm position. On the instrument panel there is the Fridge isolator Switch, Motor-Sailing switch (nav. lights mounted on the pulpit and stern), spring loaded fog horn/signal switch. The NASA Log/Speed and NASA Sounder heads are also mounted here, as is the engine starter switch and oil pressure warning light. The single lever Morse engine control is mounted on the side of this construction, hard by the wheel.

Safety : 2 auto Life jackets with harnesses; 1 harness only; 2 life lines; U-shaped lifebuoy; 4 fire extinguishers; 1 Fire Blanket; Stainless Steel Lazyjacks fore and aft on each walk-way and 1 athwartships in the cockpit. A folding boarding ladder is mounted on the transom. 1 set of Offshore Flares; a few old hand held flares (white and red). The boat passed the RNLI Safety Sea Check 2004. A brass barometer is mounted in the saloon.

All radio licences, Ship’s Registration Document, Bills of Sale are held by the owner and available for perusal. Documents and Instruction Books for all equipment are also available.

JRC1000 Radar
Furuno GPS GP30
Icom IC-M421 VHF/DSC Tx/Rx (new 2005)
Silva M-299 Hand held VHF Tx/Rx (new 2004)
NASA Clipper Navtex (new 2003)
Steering Compass in gimbal
Brass Barometer
Plastimo Hand Bearing Compass with 2 brackets
Auto Pilot Autohelm 3000

Photo page

Contact Scott Brown

Asking £21,950 reduced to £20,250 or near offer

SOLD