This sailboat, a Gaff-rigged cutter, is 18 feet 6 inches overall, 15 feet on deck, and has a waterline length of 12 feet. She carries 96 square feet of sail spread across her 3 sails. The boat has a fiberglass hull and has a full, unballasted keel. All of the spars (mast, boom, gaff and staysail club) are wood as are the cockpit cleats; deadeyes are used to adjust the shrouds.
This boat was featured in the Readers Boat section of the January/February 2009 issue of Small Craft Advisor (Issue # 55). There also was a letter in the Reader Mail section of the May/June 2009 issue (# 57) addressing some of the quirks of the Pepper.
The boat was designed by the late William E. Hitchcock (1928-2006), known for his many models and dioramas on exhibit at the Mystic Seaport Museum, South Street Seaport, the Mariners' Museum and others and was built in 1977 by Salt Marine in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. She is one of only 6 known copies still in existence.
Major Improvements:
The boat has been restored. The bowsprit and combing have been stripped and varnished, the cockpit and cockpit sole stripped and painted. The teak trim and rub rails aft of the combing have been cleaned and oiled, forward of the combing they have been varnished. The cockpit sole and the foredeck are nonskid paint.
Extra gear included:
I have a second jib that replaces both the staysail and the jib. The area of the sail is a little more than the 2 head sail rig and brings the CE a little farther aft.
This sale includes a trailer registered in Maryland. It is tired but sound with tires and lights in good condition. The bearings were checked and repacked last summer.
Additional Comments:
The Pepper, bought in 2002, was dry-sailed in-season and was garage kept off-season. The boat has not been used for 3 years and has been garage kept for that time.
There are a few minor gelcoat repairs that were done by the various owners. While not affecting the integrity of the boat some of these repairs should be redone.
Email Fran at boatstuff4sale@verizon.net
or phone (410) 233-8572
