A.R. Luke CLOVER - Classic Sailboats

Sail Number: 613

Type: Topsail Gaff Cutter

LOA: 68’0” / 20.72m – LOD: 60’0” / 18.28m – LWL: 52’0” / 15.85m – Beam: 14’0” / 4.27m – Draft: 9’0” / 2.74m – Displacement: 50 LT DWT – Ballast: 16,000 Lbs – Hull material: Wood – Sail Area: – Designer: A.R. Luke – Built by: Luke Brothers, Hable Southhampton – Year Launched: 1938 – Current Name: Clover – Original Owner: Eric Thompson RNR – FLAG: USA – Location: Glen Cove Marina, Vallejo, CA

Historical:

Clover, a pilot house cutter, was built in 1938, at A.R. Luke Brothers, Hamble, Southampton, England for Eric Thompson, a member of the Royal Cruising Club and a Royal Navy Reserve officer. During the war Eric was involved in developing rubber dive suits. After the war he owned Faith and Sante, a 30’ fiberglass motorboat.

Clover was seconded to the Royal Navy in 1939 and fitted with ASDIC (named after the Anti-Submarine Detection Investigation Committee), later known as sonar, which is still aboard her. At the time it was a new secret device invented for locating submerged submarines by using sound waves. After the war her original owner, Eric Thompson, RNR, sailed her through the 1950s, when she was purchased by an English family that took her to Jamaica to live aboard. She then passed through several hands and operated as a charter boat and a pleasure craft, but by the 2000’s fell into disrepair. Heading for the breaker’s yard, she was acquired by WBFV in 2016 with the purpose of restoring her for service with veterans.

Ongoing Restoration

The restoration work completed includes:
Nine hull planks replaced.
50% of her hull re-caulked below the waterline.
Seven floors in way of the aft cabin replaced.
Aft cabin removed and replaced.
Main engine removed, inspected, repainted, and remounted and aligned.
Tankage removed, refurbished, reinstalled.
Main deck made watertight with fiberglass sheathing.
Cabin-top re-caulked.
New bowsprit shipped and knightheads repaired.
Seven through-hull valves replaced.
Hull topsides and bottom painted.
Bulwarks refinished.
Main cabin, Pilothouse hatches and deck fittings stripped and refinished.
Bilge sandblasted, primered and repainted.
Forward cabin and forepeak stripped and refinished.
New upholstery installed in the main salon.
New lifelines spliced on.
Her restoration will continue in 2021 with the following major elements:

Deck

Strengthen the deck beam structure; replace 4 kingplanks.
Add the second layer of deck.
Re-install anchor windlass and deck fittings.

Mast

Transport to Rutherford’s Boat Shop in Richmond CA. Strip and repaint mast and boom and prepare for stepping.
From measurements of pictures and input from Steve Canright, cut down mast to size for original rig.
Reuse standing rigging fittings, install new wire for stays.
Step the mast.

Mechanical

Reinforce cockpit and brace fuel tank.
Install Exhaust system.
Install fuel filtration and coolant systems.

Electrical

Purchase and install DC system (AGM battery bank, smart charger, integrate with existing AC and DC panel.)
Install wiring for basic services (cabin lighting, galley.)

Plumbing

Install compostable head system (donated by AirHead Inc.)
Install water pump and plumbing for water tank.

Wooden Boats for Veterans

Wooden Boats for Veterans (EIN 46-4194065) a nonprofit private foundation, was founded by combat veterans and sailors dedicated to enriching veterans’ lives. We have served and we have a passion for restoring and sailing boats.
Our long-term strategy to deliver a prolonged impact to veterans includes building community in the Bay and Delta regions through wooden boat restoration projects and sail training, ultimately leading to a capstone voyage to Hawaii.

To find out how you can be involved, visit us at www.vetsboats.org or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/vetsboats.org/

Provenance

Owner/Guardian: (1938) – Eric Thompson RNR
Owner/Guardian: (2013) – Lee and Diane Deckard
Owner/Guardian: (current 1.28.2021) – Wooden Boats for Veterans

Resources

Mulcahy Patrick
Wooden Boats for Veterans