Registration number 91
Status Archived
a12admin

Details

Function Service Vessel
Subfunction Pilot Vessel
Location Spain
Vessel type Pilot Cutter
Archive reason Overseas Watch List
Current use Private use
Available to hire No
Available for excursions No
Info required Yes

Construction

Builder Davis & Plain, Cardiff
Built in 1875
Rig Gaff Cutter
Number of decks 1
Propulsion Sail
Number of engines 1
Primary engine type Diesel
Boiler type None
Boilermaker None

Dimensions

Breadth: Beam
12.30 feet (3.75m)
Depth
6.00 feet (1.83m)
Length: Overall
39.77 feet (12.13m)
Tonnage: Gross
16.00

History

Oldest surviving example of pilot cutter, 124 years old and built by Davis & Plain of Cardiff. She was regsitered at Cardiff - 17 in 1878. rt 15.65. Re-registered as number 13 in 1936 on change of propulsion (engine added). 1st certificate of registry desrcribes vessel as built in 1875 by David and Plain, Cardiff. Had one deck, one mast cutter rigged, eliiptical stern, carvel built of hull. LOA 39ft 8in, MB 12ft 3in, depth hold 6ft 4in.

MADCAP'S first owner was William Jenkins, Pilot of Cardiff. 18 June 1878 Ernest James Tuck, 59 Paget Street, Cardiff becomes managing owner. In 18 June 1887 William Henry Howe, Cardiff - licensed pilot - becomes owner. William Howe died on 1 September 1913 and title passes to his wife Elizabeth Howe. On 19th January 1914, Secretary (Thomas Evans) of The Steam Pilot Boat Company (Cardiff and Bristol Channel) Ltd. registers all 64 shares and James Abdrew Burgan becomes the vessel's manager. 19 July 1932 - Flight Lt. Geoffrey Francis, Wilkinthroop, Templecombe, Somerset acquires title. Geoffrey Francis sold the vessel to Fischer Burges Watson, Four Winds, Bosham, Sussex, who was a Rear Admiral (retired) on 28 August 1936.

15 June 1939 she was chartered from Burgess to the Royal Naval Sailing Association. Watson sold the yacht on to Frank Briggs, Hoe Cottage, Bosham, West Sussex on 31 August 1944. 5 March 1945 sold to Edwin Cecil Martin of E M Motors, Main Road, Chidham, West Sussex who took out mortgage wirh Lloyd's Bank. Mortguage discharged in 1951. Vessel was sold 24 September 1951 to Frank Edwin Mathews c/o Chichester Yacht Club, Birdham, West Sussex - a radio engineer. When he died on 1 February 1954, the vessel passed to his wife Doris Eileen Mathews and was later sold to John Blackmore Burfield, Forge House, Sutton Culborough, Sussex, a Commander in Royal Navy. Sold in 1993 and to her curret owner in 2014.

2022 - Madcap is currently in the Mediterrean.

 Although this vessel is on the Overseas Watch List, we are currently lacking information on this particular vessel. If you have any information on this vessel past or present, please contact us.

Sources

Debretts Register of Yachts, Debretts, 1982
Old Gaffer's Association Member's Handbook and Boat Archive, 1993
Stuckey, Peter, The Sailing Pilots of the Bristol Channel, David and Charles, 1977
Classic Boat: The Carrick Criac, September 1995
Classic Boat: The final few, June 1999
Classic Boat: Mapcap Memories, July 1999
Classic Boat: Madcap - Last unrestored Bristol Pilot Cutter, August 2012

Own this vessel?

If you are the owner of this vessel and would like to provide more details or updated information, please contact info@nationalhistoricships.org.uk

More like this

MV Landward starboard side

Archived, built 1960 by Philip & Sons, Dartmouth

DOLPHIN alongside Gloucester, port quarter view

Archived, built 1909 by Bowden, J, Porthleven

Olga undersail, after her restoration

National Historic Fleet, built 1909 by Bowden, J, Porthleven

under restoration, port side

Registered, built 1905 by Rowles, E C, Pill, near Bristol