Boat tour: Norfolk Gypsy - 20' gunter-rigged sailing boat

Here's a look round my Norfolk Gypsy, a 20' gunter-rigged sailing boat. (In the video I say "gaff-rigged", but actually it's a gunter rig).
She's a shoal-draft boat (0.5m draft with centreboard up) - so able to explore shallow rivers and creeks, but also substantial enough for passages along the coast.
I run through all the main elements on deck, in the cockpit and in the cabin.

[@20111111jorg]

Everything you need and nothing more. Perfect layout for a 20'er.

[@jsbhmm8232]

The entire Norfolk line is wonderful. I wish we had boats like them in the States.

[@SCCFORUM]

Fantastic looking boat. Thanks for showing us around👍🏻⛵ Cheers, Paul.

[@seayak]

great use of space in a 20 foot boat!

[@richardgiles2484]

Lovely boat mate 👍

[@theresnobodyhere5778]

love the looks and its all well looked after realy nice wood finish and were they,ve used it real quality boat ,little boats are so unique and all you need they go were big boats cant for exploring shallow waters, less hassle equals more sailing ,

[@mitchellsmith4690]

A really nice boat, without too much crammed in...wish we had more like this here in the States.

[@raytheron]

She's a beauty! Reminds me of a friend's Caprice back in South Africa, another great little sailer (one called Shrimpy even circumnavigated the globe!). I wish I had a Gypsy and lived in the UK! Enjoy every sail, and may you have years of super fun in her.

[@tobygoessailing]

Thanks Ray. Yes, it's amazing how far people can take little boats - love reading those kind of stories.

[@roberteastwood9886]

I have the book about Shrimpy, it's an interesting read: I think he had a lot of luck, but IIRC he was an ex-Para so he was probably quite resourceful.

[@stuartsutherland7664]

Nice boat! Simple layout too.

[@HP-qj4gz]

Beautiful boat and so well designed!

[@Sp3ktral22]

Good luck with your adventures to follow. I'll be following if you keep posting. 👍

[@CapnSchep]

Breathtakingly beautiful boat, lots of bright work to keep up ..! Way to much for me, but that’s just me .. Thanx for the tour ..!

[@joewilliams5396]

Thanks for showing. I have a Leisure 17SL I prefer the look & style of your boat, however it just for starting my first steps into sailing from a dingy.

[@tobygoessailing]

You're welcome. Yup, it's a big step from a dinghy to a bigger, heavier boat. Manoeuvring in the marina was the most nerve-wracking bit for me.

[@luiscandeias1180]

Brilliant design! Amazing what comfort you can get in such a small boat. Perfect for the English east coast too. If I didn’t need a boat that can take rougher conditions I would consider a Norfolk Gipsy…

[@jimmybritt9537]

Great boat for having little adventures in 👍👍🇺🇸

[@phillipphil1615]

Nice little boat you have there. Well laid out and very pretty 😉.

[@brucebrown9604]

Nice design with clever features! 😎

[@rsb62rsb]

Lovely boat ⛵️😀

[@jamestaylor3075]

Nice little boat!

[@johnjb3205]

What a great boat Toby. Good choice for cruising I too was a lone sailor and cruised the Irish sea loved the challenges etc. I built my own Yatching Monthly Senior, in the early days, Could never aford to purchase a finished Boat, But of course the experience was invaluable to heart and Soul.. But I first started in the Boating world by building a wooden canal cruiser....See " Boat on a hot slate roof " 🤣 to read the full account mate. But now I'm a landlubber sadly. But so pleased to be able to share with your videos . Thanks.😀

[@tobygoessailing]

Just read your account of making the cruiser. Very ingenious! And great story. Glad you like the videos, thanks.

[@paullaviolette2610]

I really like your boat - I wish I had one just like it to cruse around Vancouver Island. My 16 foot Danica gets me around but sometimes I wish there was a bit more elbow room. I think I’m going to torture myself by following you around for a bit.

[@tobygoessailing]

!!! Hope it doesn't get too painful.

[@tomc3751]

Looks great, I’ll keep an eye out as have an identical blue Gypsy across the water at mersea called Gypsy Spirit

[@tobygoessailing]

Thanks. Good choice!

[@Kingfisher-jr26]

Thank you. Lovely boat.

[@johnryan2193]

My dream boat !

[@quentinsf]

Lovely! Just a bit too heavy to tow behind my car, or I'd be sorely tempted...

[@daleskidmore1685]

Looks like she has everything you need. The chart table must be handy, and the table works well. One thing I can't find that you have mentioned is her name.

[@tobygoessailing]

She's called Shamrock. (As named by the previous owner, and I'm OK with that, so left it as it is).

[@daleskidmore1685]

@@tobygoessailing Just started watching the latest vid and clocked the name.☘

[@davidhawes7783]

Hello, thanks for your videos. Very enjoyable. Have you sailed a Cornish Shrimper? I have one and I can see a lot of better design features on your boat, but my Shrimper sails so well and so I wonder if you are able to comment on any comparison please? David

[@tobygoessailing]

Thanks David. I haven't sailed a Cornish Shrimper, so can't make any comparison, I'm afraid. Sorry. Seen a lot of them around, though.

[@tetleyk]

I like the black and white plastic stoppers for the reefing lines. That one is going to be added to Naiad this Winter for sure. That's a very nice boat you have there. Are you going to fit the mast lowering/raising modification? You are going to have a bit of work over the off season varnishing your bowsprit and tiller,. it looks like the varnish you have on has cracked and allowed the wood to weather and go grey. But it's not called varnish work for nothing :)

[@tobygoessailing]

Yes, the varnish really deteriorated this summer. And the last time I raised the mast it was a bit of a struggle, so yes, to make life easier I might go for the extra bit of kit.

[@tetleyk]

@@tobygoessailing I must admit that I'll be seeing if I can do the same thing on Naiad as I built her mast a little oversize and as a result it's heavy. I saw the use of an A-frame system many years ago but it took a lot of extra kit and rigging. The idea of getting some extra leverage by putting the pole mount below the tabernacle pivot will help greatly with the mass of the mast and uses minimal extra kit.

[@barryallen9137]

Very nice video. Is that a Flicka moored next to you?

[@tobygoessailing]

Thanks. No, it's a Heard 23. Lovely boat.

[@roberteastwood9886]

Nice looking boat, I always fancied the Lugger but as I want to sleep aboard it was a bit limiting: I have decided I may go for a Drascombe Coaster as it is between the Luger and the Gypsy- I like the idea of the cooking and toilet facilities you have but was worried about the weight of the boat, I would normally be single handed and it would be my first Cruiser (I have sailed for years, but usually with my Father- he's given up as he's 91 and lacks the mobility). I am torn though, are the extra facilities worth it? Be interested in your thoughts!

[@tobygoessailing]

Yes, the Gypsy is quite hefty after sailing a Lugger. There are pluses & minuses of more weight. PLUSES: the feeling of stability & coping with stronger wind/waves. In that sense, sailing her is easier - you don't have to be constantly balancing the boat. The first time I went out in her for a trial sail it was incredibly choppy. Probably 5-6 foot waves. And I was amazed how well she dealt with them. That was one of the things that won me over - feeling that the boat could easily cope in those conditions. MINUSES: more weight & momentum means more care required when docking. In fact docking the Gypsy in the marina was probably the hardest thing I had to get used to. And launching/retrieving & trailering is harder work & requires a stronger car to get up & down slipways. It's nothing unmanageable (I've done it all single-handed), but I wouldn't want to be doing it every time I sail. I keep my Gypsy in a marina berth. As for the Gypsy facilities - I find them great, and very comfortable - for one or two people sleeping aboard. (Not been in a Coaster so can't really compare).

[@kevinmisselbrook1202]

Great video - interesting to see your fuse and switch panel being sensibly located at the back of your chart table - mine is low down with the wiring and connectors exposed to the damp bilge 😮. Out of interest what treatment are you using on your teak seat slats ?

[@tobygoessailing]

Thanks Kevin. Yeah, that doesn't sound ideal. I have to confess that - having owned the boat for a year - I haven't done anything with the seat slats so far. I'll have to ask Neil Thompson what he recommends.

[@richendathompson9386]

Hi Kevin and Toby, we at NTB recommend using Deks Olje D1 on the teak seating slats

[@kl-a1dcaypso945]

Wow! She’s a beauty. Great lines. Any sailor would be proud to own her. Is the center board weighted?

[@tobygoessailing]

Thanks. It’s 75kg.

[@chriscodrington5464]

sweet vessel love your cuddies and detail down below!

[@ianstandingford3463]

What's the little blue dinghy/cruiser next to you in the marina?

[@tobygoessailing]

Finally got an answer for you (the owners have just returned for the new season). It’s called a Rebel, designed by Tom Rebel, one of the founders of the Dinghy Cruising Association. Apparently later in life he got tired of camping in dinghies, so designed this as the next step up. There were only 5 or 6 built, and this is No. 1.

[@ianstandingford3463]

@@tobygoessailing Very interesting. Thanks for such making such wonderful films.

[@tobygoessailing]

@@ianstandingford3463 Thanks v much, glad you like them

[@tcastell5596]

From what I can see of your rig I would say it is a Gunter not a Gaff rig with a yard (the Gunter originates from the Lug rig) rather than a gaff at the top of the sail. I'm going off Roger Barnes description in his book A Dinghy Cruising Companion. Really enjoying your videos as your boat is not unlike my own Finesse 21.

[@tobygoessailing]

You're quite right. Can't change the video now, but I'll amend the description in the title. Thanks

[@PaulAnthonyDuttonUk]

I’m guessing you can’t really fashion a spray hood coz you need to be able to walk forward using the cabin.

[@tobygoessailing]

Yup, that's right.

[@vindolanda6974]

How is the stability with no keel?

[@tobygoessailing]

I've not sailed a similar sized boat with a keel, so afraid I can't make any comparison. But for her size/weight she seems pretty stable to me.

[@manfreddejong]

Hi, what kind of shoes do you wear on board?

[@tobygoessailing]

!!! Usually trainers with soft soles. Or short sailing boots if I think it might get quite wet.

[@rodrigosenra2693]

Hi friend! Do you know where I can buy a mainsheet horse like yours?

[@tobygoessailing]

Hi Rodrigo. Sorry, I've no idea. But you could contact the boatbuilders & ask them where they get them from: Neil Thompson Boats. www.neilthompsonboats.co.uk

[@rodrigosenra2693]

@@tobygoessailing Great, thank you.

[@tetleyk]

I had mine built to order by Classic Marine. They still do this and you can find it here: www.classic-marine.co.uk/product/horses/ It's not cheap so you might want to look around a few boat jumbles.