This poor old girl sat beside the road just outside Truro looking unloved for many many years (may even still be there but not passed that way for ages). Always thought it was a real shame but never had the time to stop for a better nosey around. Not the best image from google maps but in the flesh she was rather striking despite the grime and uv damage.
I grew up in Porthcawl, a harbour town on the S Wales coast. Although I've always been much more interested in sailing yachts there was a cabin cruiser in the harbour that always caught my eye when I was a kid. It was about 40", sleek, luxuriously appointed and belonged to one of the local Italian restaurateurs. I remember watching it setting off one fine summer evening, a beautiful engine note, (I was later informed it was running on hefty twin supercharged V8's), the owner and guests were on deck, champagne glasses clinked. As soon as they'd cleared the pier he opened it right up, she planed and skipped away across the waves, apparently they could be in Ilfracombe in less than half an hour. Years later I wished I'd paid more attention to what this boat was.
I grew up in Porthcawl, a harbour town on the S Wales coast. Although I've always been much more interested in sailing yachts there was a cabin cruiser in the harbour that always caught my eye when I was a kid. It was about 40", sleek, luxuriously appointed and belonged to one of the local Italian restaurateurs. I remember watching it setting off one fine summer evening, a beautiful engine note, (I was later informed it was running on hefty twin supercharged V8's), the owner and guests were on deck, champagne glasses clinked. As soon as they'd cleared the pier he opened it right up, she planed and skipped away across the waves, apparently they could be in Ilfracombe in less than half an hour. Years later I wished I'd paid more attention to what this boat was.
Looking at Google maps that'd be 80kmh / 50mph, eminently achievable!
I grew up in Porthcawl, a harbour town on the S Wales coast. Although I've always been much more interested in sailing yachts there was a cabin cruiser in the harbour that always caught my eye when I was a kid. It was about 40", sleek, luxuriously appointed and belonged to one of the local Italian restaurateurs. I remember watching it setting off one fine summer evening, a beautiful engine note, (I was later informed it was running on hefty twin supercharged V8's), the owner and guests were on deck, champagne glasses clinked. As soon as they'd cleared the pier he opened it right up, she planed and skipped away across the waves, apparently they could be in Ilfracombe in less than half an hour. Years later I wished I'd paid more attention to what this boat was.
Looking at Google maps that'd be 80kmh / 50mph, eminently achievable!
Of course, most small cabin cruisers with a 75hp outboard on today would do it with the elements in their favour. My memories of that zippy floating gin palace are circa 1980 and I got the impression it was nearly a 'classic', possibly early or mid '60s?
Every time we go to Puerto Calero marina in Lanzarote i drool over this beauty. Not the biggest or flashest by any means but the lines...wow!
Nice lines but far too modern for my taste. I'm about to break a cardinal rule of this thread ,for the first and last time 🤫, this is much more along the lines of what I'd yearn for; Pilot Cutter Review 2013 by Debbie at Classic Sailing, on Flickr
