Resurrection of 2539 Whaam (formerly Team Ecocats)

I had real doubts as to whether to buy 2539 Team Ecocats a few months ago as I really wanted a Bistro. As I’m only going to be a part time helm/crew, and 16 year old Paddy and his equally youthful crew were going to be the main occupants in the end I decided that this older boat with the smaller rig would probably a good starting point.

I know that a lot of you out there have either sailed - or even owned - Team Ecocats (I’m sorry Iain, but your story about the ‘one lady owner, prayer book under the foredeck’ story never did wash!) and everyone had said it was a user friendly boat.

Cherub number 2539 was first measured in 1979, and was then called ‘Mad Man Across The Water’. Built by Jarrett/Cope and first owned by David Cope, 2539 was a Hot Dog design. Then the trail goes cold until the 1990’s when an extensive refurbishment was carried out. A carbon floor was put in and a new Kevlar foredeck added as well as an asymmetric conversion, making it a sort of Halo Jones inside out! Will saw the boat on behalf of Tris Kemp in Cornwall in 2001 (inspecting it on the beach at Cawsand), declared it a good'un, and it was: The timber on this boat is still as solid as a rock. I stripped it of any paint and left it for a few weeks in a boiler room to dry out, so I know every inch intimately. The only rot was in the ply panels and support on the transom, so I very tentatively clamped up the rear end and took a saw to it! Daring stuff, but no problem. This gave me the opportunity to try my hand at some carbon work and the new open transom is the result – not a gantry as such but just a more interesting design. Apart from that, the only thing I’ve done is the Roy Lichtenstein inspired Pop Art paint job done in standard single pack yacht enamels. I know I should have done it in plain white or Velas grey, but well…

The old sails seem fine for the moment although I’ve just procured Norwegian Blue’s old kite and have put the mainsheet back to a block and jammer on the floor to make it easier for Paddy. Other than that the only jobs left are to simplify the rigging finish fitting it out and… get sailing. First outing will hopefully be the Exe Boxing Day Challenge. So it won’t be too lonely amongst the SMODs, Will and Lucy are coming down with NB. Other cherubs welcome!