Bombigher 50 ft Schooner 1982 - Sold

Daniel Bombigher designed his SHPOUNTZ schooners for long voyages: the hull shape, deck layout, rig sail plan and internal layout all contribute towards making them real marine homes. They are steady at sea, leaving no wake, even fully laden. The small draught provides easy access to estuaries and rivers. Her stability makes her comfortable to live well on board, regardless of the weather or the state of the sea, whether cooking, eating, sleeping or washing.

The sail plan is well spaced and easy to balance. The long keel slopes aft to optimise reaching. The centre board forward helps windward performance, and is adjustable to suit all headings.

The gaff schooner rig sails virtually by touch whatever the conditions - at maximum efficiency with no effort, just like a big dinghy.

HOLLANDER is currently in remarkable condition; this vessel has benefitted from an owner who has meticulously maintained every last detail and equipped the boat to go anywhere - the interesting thing is; she is schooner rigged and her dimensions and layout would allow a family to live comfortably on an extended cruise and handle her easily.

But sometimes owners want to move on, and having made this decision they will now consider all offers.

Apparently it was a wealthy Frenchman who wanted the Bombigher Schpountz 44-40 design for his son, handpicked a crew of master craftsmen, creating the firm Hollander S.A. on the Seine at Villeneuve le Roi and had her built - with an obvious obsession for perfection – over some 3 years.

Around 1991 a German music producer saw her in the Med - immediately fell in love and was to take her through the French and Kiel canals up into the Schlei, just by the Danish border. More a huntsman than a sailor however, his time aboard dwindled to two weeks a year and in the early 90s she came to the attention of her present owner. He did not acquire her on first acquaintance but a couple of years later, by which time she had become a bit neglected.

Her new owners, and a team of ten professionals from all the relevant trades working full time for four winters (September to June) set about with enthusiasm to give her a complete overhaul, covering every aspect of the boat from shaft to top of the masts. That done they have made full use of her to the enjoyment of all. Typically they have spent the summer months cruising the Baltic with the highlight in 2008; the 25th anniversary of the Risør Trebåt Festival. She has been wintered in the water under a custom designed cover.

Backbone and frames are laminated, the keel, stem and stern timbers of iroko and frames of Fir. Planking is built up of a cedar core, two diagonal layers of mahogany and an outer planking of iroko.

The keel, stem and stern timbers are iroko and frames of fir. The hull planking is cold moulded with cedar core, two diagonal layers of mahogany and a final thick outer planking of iroko - altogether an almost bulletproof and watertight 2 inch skin.

The bilge has internal ballast of pig iron cast in pitch, covered off with a ply sole. The centreboard floor timbers are reinforced with stainless steel and ballast is covered with stainless steel.

The centreboard is massively constructed of metal, wood and ballast so it can drop on its own even when under sail. Lifting is manual with a powerful winch on deck. It fits tightly in the trunk to avoid rattling and is hung without a through bolt to facilitate mounting and dismounting and eliminating leakage.

The deck is composite – Over laminated iroko deck beams are two layers of marine ply overlaid with one layer of teak, glued without dowels, and well sealed as there are no evident open seams. Well scrubbed to a non slip surface, it has never been sanded and therefore retains over 5 mm depth in the seams. In a near salt free environment, all unfinished teak has been treated with Boracol to kill algae and keep the woodwork healthy.

The interior is entirely constructed with iroko; apparently with no expense spared. It has been maintained with regular annual repainting and varnishing from bilge to deckhead.

Access below by hatchway and companionway steps to port leads to the galley which has a top and front loaded fridge with a small open freezer compartment. Two sinks drain into a small grey water tank which drains automatically and a two burner gimballed propane cooker (new 06). Two deck prisms and three portholes provide good light.

From the galley the main cabin saloon opens out forward. This features two pilot berths outboard and a huge drop leave table straddling the centreboard trunk (which is accessible for inspection and cleaning; even afloat) with settees either side. This table can seat eight people comfortably; up to fifteen at a squeeze.

A Refleks diesel stove (2006) provides heating and feeds water to a heat exchanger fan in the master and guest cabin plus the two towel racks in the heads, all of which makes this boat fit for high latitudes and / or late seasons. The old British steamer pendant lamp is now electric powered.

The guest Cabin has one double and one single berth, curtained off from main salon and with its own companionway (ladder that can be stowed). There is ample stowage in shelves and lockers.

The guest head has a shower with grating, towel rack, and push button Lavac WC (new 08).

The master cabin is approached – again from aft; the starboard side. It has asizeable chart table, double bunk athwartships, switch panel and ample stowage in drawers and lockers. En suite is a bath with shower, warmed towel rack (electric / water from the Reflex) and all new Rheinstrom WC.

The rig has two configurations - an offshore three headsail rig and a single headsail arrangement. The single headsail mode makes for easier sailing on the comparatively short runs expected in coastal waters. The two configurations are however easily interchanged.

Spars are of finest spruce and have been alternatively pulled over winter to keep them in pristine condition. The ash blocks have stainless steel bindings and bronze sheaves, a surplus allows for rotation and always a fresh set in use. All deck and rig hardware is custom made of high quality stainless steel. All shackles and most other hardware are from Wichard with abundant spares in the locker.

Standing rigging is all spliced stainless, soft eyed around the masts to eliminate any hardware failure. Shrouds are tightened with turnbuckles concealed within a set of traditional deadeyes and lanyards – not totally traditional but sensible modern working practice.

Overall the rig provides for shorthanded and comfortable sailing with a fairly big, traditional looking boat.

FSE Double Braided Classic running rigging all new 2016

- 65 lb CQR anchor on 100 m chain SB on hydraulic windlass
- 35 lb CQR on rope
- Complete set of fenders and warps
- Heavy 15 m hawsers to tie up in storm conditions

- The Engine room is amidships between galley and master bath; accessible from both sides
- Volvo TMD 40A 130 HP / 96 kW (1982) completely overhauled, regularly and professionally maintained
- Main engine drives a four blade SPW "sailing" prop (prop and shaft new 07)
- HFL 6 kW generator
- Large battery set
- 2 x Optima engine start batteries new 2016
- 500 litre stainless steel fuel tank under cockpit sole
- 700 litre fresh water tanks (under guest cabin berths)
- Grey water tanks for galley, guest head and shower port and master bathroom stbd
- Wiring, plumbing, hydraulics and all pumps new in 2005

- Silva navigation system
- Raymarine Evolution independent autopilot with P70 head unit new 2016
- ICOM M91D VHF operate with mast antenna or mobile new 2016

- Ocean Safety 8P life raft new 2016
- Ocean Signal E100 EPIRB with GPS
- 4 x Hand flares red new 2016
- 4 x Hand flares white new 2016
- 4 x Parachute rockets new 2016
- 2 x Gloria 2kg ABC fire extinguisher new 2016
- Life Sling overboard rescue system new 2016

- Tender (also Bombigher designed) strip plank constructed is capable, robust, rows, sails well and is very sea kindly.
- Rudder, oars, leeboards and mast (in two parts) stored on the port side of cabin trunk
- Emergency tiller
- Passarelle
- Legs mountable for drying out support
- 2 x extra booms intended for running in trade winds and usable as derricks
- Substantial store of miscellaneous spares and equipment housed in a container