Hillyard 20 ton Yacht Survey for Pre-Purchase and Valuation.

Just a 'heads up' for my BLOG readers. I will be in Preveza from the 1st of October until the 1st of November 2021. This months inspections include: Bavaria 40, Broadblue Catamaran, Glaros Wooden Gulet, Carena 40 steel Ketch, Jeanneau 50DS. Blogs on each inspection to follow with more to be booked.

Todays Inspection was on this Classic Hillyard 20 Tonner on the Island of Samos in Greece. The exact number of these yachts built by Hillyard's is not known. It could have been as many as 800 and there are records of around 600 with tonnages between 2.5 and 29. The yachts quality of sea kindliness is legendary. I have actually owned a 2.5 tonner and also a 20 tonner over the years. The smaller yacht I left in pieces in a boatyard in Kent, UK before heading off to Newzealand. I often wonder what happened to her!  

David Hillyard established his reputation as a builder of pinnaces and other small wooden vessels for the Admiralty in the First World War. In the very early 1920's he commenced building sailing yachts at the yard in Littlehampton for private ownership. One of the earliest, Twinkler 4 tons 1922, is still being sailed by owners Ted and Diana Evans out of Woodbridge on the River Deben, Suffolk.

This one was planked in mahogany and Iroko all copper fastened to sawn oak frames with steamed intermediate oak timbers. Oak backbone and grown oak floors. External iron ballast keel with Plywood decks overlaid with cascover sheathing.

Rigging Survey also included! 

Thinking about buying a wooden yacht in Greece? Drop me a message to steventruss1:aol.com

Pre-purchase Yacht Survey in Leros

I was back in Leros Marina carrying out a Pre-Purchase Yacht Survey on this Catamaran yesterday. This 1980's highly regarded Prout Snowgoose 37 has earned a well-deserved reputation as an exceptional blue water passage maker. With nearly 100 reported circumnavigations completed, you would be hard pressed to find another line with this track record.

Lifting her out for the bottom inspection

The low draft greatly increases the skipper’s anchoring options when storms approach, and makes her ideal for exploring the shallow waters found in coves around the Greek Islands.

The Prout family began building cats in the 1950s, and their boats have been well known and respected in the United Kingdom and Europe for half a century.

The interior is well executed with abundant storage and counter space. The liberal use of teak creates a warm and elegant atmosphere not seen on many modern day cats.

Surveyors comments: The Snowgoose 37 is a solid, capable world cruiser with a proven track record. It may not be as flashy as newer-designed cruising cats, but when the ocean is in an unpleasant mood the last thing on your mind is flashiness!

Thinking about buying a boat and need help, email me at  info@yachtsurveysgreece.com