information wanted; Northsea 26 aft cabin trawler

siberian · #1 (**permalink**) 03-16-2008

I can't find any info about a particular boat builder from Richmond B.C. Can.
Company name was Beaver Glass Works. The boat in particular is a long keel pocket cruiser called the 'Northsea 26 aft cabin trawler' built in and around '70-'79. Dimensions; 26'x10'x2'10"Any construction info or prior owner opinions would be appreciated. The hull looks similar the old Albin 25. Thanks!

Faster · #2 (**permalink**) 03-16-2008

This is a rugged, solid little cruiser (but the sail area is a bit low...)
Seriously we've known a couple of people with them and they liked them a lot for what they are, compact, economical to run, seaworthy power cruisers. Of course, one of them upgraded after a few years, and another got back into sailing. It's noteworthy that both boats sold easily and quickly.

Beaver Glass Works also built the NorthSea 34, a pilothouse sailboat and for a time produced the 24' Hinterhoeller Shark under licence.

A member of this board, jrd22, can tell you about his Northsea 34 - presumably building practices and quality should be similar.

siberian · #3 (**permalink**) 03-16-2008

Thanks 'faster'. Even Richmond city archives has no info. Beaver Glass Works appears to have evaporated w/o a trace. I'm also interested in the origin of the hull design. Was it a universal long keel hull plug with established sea keeping characteristics? This particular boat (not to be confused with the flybridge model) has a lot of sheer and looks like it 'could handle' a small rig making it maybe a 60/40 motorsailer... 70/30? Comes with a diesel sippin' 50 hp Nissan. Apart from the wider than normal beam to length, 10' vs. the Albin's 8.5' (performance characteristics?) Albin offered the optional sailing rig. But, how did the 25 sail?
One more thing. Does GRP get brittle and lose strength as it ages? '74 was right about the time of the first energy crunch. I keep hearing about the strength of earlier built fg boats.
I have to admit, a nicely layed out little eco-chugger w/sail assist appeals to my european roots.

Faster · #4 (**permalink**) 03-16-2008

I believe I heard somewhere that the original design (or concept) was based on a European design.

I've never seen any sort of rig on one, but perhaps it's possible.

siberian · #5 (**permalink**) 03-16-2008

What's in a name? Absolutely nothing! But, Northsea does 'sound' capable. I suppose European could imply economy and capability. If it is considered to be a well built seaworthy design, I'm interested. Here's hoping that somebody out there owned one, added a small sail rig, used one or even built them!