Any other WOODS GYPSY owners in Australia

Discussion in 'Multihulls' started by MY BOAT SHED, Oct 4, 2014.

  1. MY BOAT SHED
    Joined: Aug 2014
    Posts: 5
    Likes: 1, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: Gold Coast, Australia

    MY BOAT SHED Junior Member

    Hi. I'm new to this forum, and am interested to know if there are any other GYPSY owners around. I purchased my Woods Gypsy - 28' catamaran - 2 years ago in Brisbane. Have been busy sprucing her up ever since. I'm surprised there aren't more of these fantastic little cats around, would appreciate knowing of any. Cheers!
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    Quote:
    Originally Posted by guzzis3
    I like all your deignes Mr Woods, in fact I've been agonizing over a gypsy named vala (I think) currently for sale here in Brisbane. They gypsy would be a perfect boat for the boss and me and at $29k it's a steal, but I'm really off plywood boats now. I am determined my next boat will be plastic.
    --
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by MY BOAT SHED
    Greetings all. I've been trolling through some of these older posts about the Woods Gypsy and was delighted to find this post about my boat, Vela. I purchased Vela in March 2012 in Brisbane and having been having fun with her ever since.

    This Gypsy was launched in 1996, and may have been the first one home built in Australia. The builder, Lachlan (Lochlan) Wilson, went out on a wing and built the hulls out of hand laid fibreglass panels. Very Solid!

    The result is an overbuilt, but very strong and forgiving little cat which sails beautifully. Vela drives well to windward, and is responsive without being skittish. It has cruised the Queensland Coast and served as a liveaboard for myself & my partner, with our little dog and ship's cat.

    I'm on the handstand now for the second time, and am pleased to report there has been no osmosis in the boat to date. I've done one or two repairs and am in the process of doing upgrades and improving the paint system. Will post photos shortly.

    If anyone has any more info on this boat I would love to hear about it.

    Meanwhile, here is a photo taken by a friend of me and Vela riding out the Australia Day 2013 front, which we fondly refer to as "ex cyclone Oswald." We were on anchor in front of the Versace Hotel on the Gold Coast Broadwater.
     

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  2. Teleman
    Joined: Oct 2014
    Posts: 14
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    Location: Australia

    Teleman Junior Member

    I saw Vela when the Wilsons left her up here in Shute Harbour for a year. (The GRP hull panels are a standard design option, no real weight penalty.)

    Getting that amount of comfortable accom on such a small boat without ruining the sailing performance and looks is very clever design. The fitout can be Wharram-simple without looking "wrong". A Gypsy has done a single-handed Panama-Tahiti.

    There is another one in Aus that has extended bows, extended cabin roofs, and was for sale at $99,000!
     
  3. MY BOAT SHED
    Joined: Aug 2014
    Posts: 5
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    Location: Gold Coast, Australia

    MY BOAT SHED Junior Member

    Hi, thanks for the reply. Yes I've seen that one online for sale for $99,000. Hasn't budged in the past twelve months. That one appears to be professionally built.

    I agree with your comments about the design. Folks are always amazed at the space I have. I basically live in the main cuddy, which has a double birth. Starboard hull is a dedicated private head, shower etc. Port is guest accommodation. I'm quite spoilt for space... I could comfortably sleep 6 if I needed to.

    Did you personally know the Wilsons? I'm quite curious at to how long he spent building Vela. According to the survey which was done when he sold the boat, it was only launched in 1996.

    I've just finished repainting top to bottom, all new rigging, windows, wiring, anchor winch, trampoline, sail cover etc etc. She's looking real pretty now. I'll post some finished pics when I get back in the water next week.

    Here we are on the hard before the antifoul goes on.
     

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  4. Teleman
    Joined: Oct 2014
    Posts: 14
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    Location: Australia

    Teleman Junior Member

    Had a brief chat and a quick look on board when they had her dried out in front of the Whitsunday Sailing Club for a bottom scrub.
    On Richard Woods' website, there's a quote from Mr. Wilson saying it took 17 months of evenings and weekends to build her, at a cost of 10K pounds sterling, with new rig and outboard motor.

    If you ever get up to the Whitsundays, I'd love to go for a sail. Happy to provide bribes of beer, a good red, bag of prawns etc etc............
     
  5. gypsy28
    Joined: Mar 2010
    Posts: 218
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    Location: NSW Australia

    gypsy28 Senior Member

    Great looking Gypsy you have the MY BOAT SHED. As you can probably see from my screen name Im quite a fan of the Gypsy, and would like to build one sometime in the future (have the plans, just need the time/space/cash)

    I think Ive seen her anchored/moored near Southport marina a few times, If that was Vela she certainly looks like a keeper

    Cheers,
    Dave
     
  6. MY BOAT SHED
    Joined: Aug 2014
    Posts: 5
    Likes: 1, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: Gold Coast, Australia

    MY BOAT SHED Junior Member

    Hi Dave

    Somehow I missed your reply on this thread....just read it now for the first time.
    Thanks for the compliment! Yes that is VELA you've seen around the Southport Yacht Club. It's a great little boat for living aboard, and for single handing. I've done a lot of upgrades in the past three years, and am about to start sanding and repainting the interior. The builder did a terrific job and build her very strong...but he wasnt too worried about aesthetics. She was a bit agricultural on the inside! Lol. I definitely recommend this design is you're after a smaller cat.
    Cheers, Karyn

     
  7. MY BOAT SHED
    Joined: Aug 2014
    Posts: 5
    Likes: 1, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: Gold Coast, Australia

    MY BOAT SHED Junior Member

    Thinking if selling my WOODS Gypsy this year

    Thought it was worth mentioning on here that I'm thinking of putting my WOODS GYPSY, 28' sailing catamaran up for sale this year. Over the past two years I've been cruising a lot with my partner on his Pescott 38' cat. My VELA doesnt get off the mooring much except for maintainence. Most of my spare time time and money has been spent upgrading VELA over the past 4 years but I can't be on two boats at once (apparently!). This is a fantastic little cat. Perfect for single handing, or would suit a young family starting out. Proven coastal cruiser, built well and stong with solid hand laid fibreglass panels. A very forgiving boat, launched in 1996 with many upgrades in the past 4 years. Feel free to pass this info along if you know anyone who's looking. She's moored on the Gold Coast, QLD. I won't be advertising her until I've done a sand and repaint on the interior. Should be around mid-year. Cheers,
    Karyn
    www.recycledboatbits.com.au
     

  8. Lachie
    Joined: May 2016
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    Location: Airlie Beach & Phuket

    Lachie Junior Member

    RE Vela

    I built her in Tully. I always joke about boats I have built. They look great at 50 metres but when you get close, cosmetically, Lachie built it. Pleased it's still going great. I had a lot of fun in her.If you need more information email me.
     
    Last edited: May 10, 2016
    bajansailor likes this.
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