Ep. 12 - PRETTIEST BOAT IN THE FLEET - Welsford Pathfinder

Every now and then you come across a boat that’s too special to pass up an opportunity to sail, let alone buying.
This is the story of how we came across Fair Wind, our new little ship.
Credit to John Welsford for designing ANOTHER great small craft. And credit to the builder for perhaps the best looking ‘Cabined’ Pathfinder we’ve seen. Fair Wind is a pleasure to look at and a joy to sail.
We intentionally haven’t mentioned the builders name in this video out of respect for his privacy, however we would like to thank him for allowing us to purchase Fair Wind.
Mat & Jo

[@martintruran8469]

I'm a gentleman! Now will you two stop finding all the boats that I want? Absolutely stunning craft, the builder deserves the boat version of the Archibald prize.

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Mate...you'd just wrap rubber around her bilge...stay away!!! XX

[@martintruran8469]

@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx well she does need a skirt to finish the look😁

[@setkacagarro-blogspot-com]

Nice nice nice, i have always liked the pathfinder with a lid,

[@juemuri5448]

solltest dir dein traumboot selber bauen...bis 6m kein grosses problem...kleine boote kannst du aus sperrholz auf stringer bauen...

[@simonwhite8092]

What a beauty. You can hear the excitement in your voice. That’s falling in love, that is! You can’t stop giggling. Superb!

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Thanks mate. Appreciate your feedback and glad you enjoyed the episode. Stay salty...Mat & Jo

[@timferguson2682]

A few years back I saw a trailered Pathfinder parked at the grocery store on its way back from sailing Lake Champlain. Before I recognized it and admired it to the builder my impression was "What a beautiful and strongly built boat!" The luck god smiled on you that day.

[@joshsanner3886]

The smile on your faces tells the whole story!

[@til7545]

No way this beauty has been hiding unsailed😮!!!! What a find…. Craftsmanship looks absolutely outstanding. Man I‘m envious - congratulations to you both for becoming her new caretakers 🥂

[@TreeslovemeFishfearme]

Awesome boat! Absolutely mint use of king billy and huon that's for sure.

[@bennierheeder7015]

The birdseye covers are beautiful!!

[@BarefootBoatworks]

What a beautiful boat. Top-notch build and fit-out. Very jelly.

[@SmallSailboatCruising]

That’s a superb little video about a superb little boat. Thanks Mat.

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Thanks mate. Appreciate your support...

[@petercroft9895]

I built one of the first cabin Pathfinders anywhere, definitely the first in NZ, and thought I'd done a nice job, but wow, this is next level! You'll be amazed at what these will cope with on jib and mizzen - it is such a versatile rig when the weather gets a bit feral. If you're planning on overnighting in cooler weather, I'd highly recommend installing a vent of some sort at the front of the cabin, or you'll be mopping up condensation from every surface. And also rigging the anchor so it can be stowed and deployed from the cockpit. I say that, having nearly gone ass over quoit on a couple of occasions, going forward on wet decks. Enjoy.

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Thanks for your comment and advice Peter. Stay salty...Mat & Jo

[@DocksideCurmudgeon]

Very nice! A proper little yacht! Enjoy! ⛵️

[@bviyachtsales]

the verture at the dock is BEAUFITUL!

[@rsb62rsb]

Oh man….. what a beautiful boat, what a beautiful place…. 😢😉😀👍🏽

[@steveearley1]

Absolutely beautiful! Enjoy!

[@jmpersonal2402]

Beyond stunning!!

[@ferry6497]

She’s a true gem!👌

[@JamesSmith-is7co]

Yet another lovely boat that needs sailed every weekend!!!

[@jeffb6131]

A very nice intro Mat she definitely is a stunning example of a cabin top Pathfinder, nicley fitted out as well. Enjoy guys.

[@dunk856]

Loved this, thank you . A great find on KZbin

[@colvingazelle]

I bought one of those bronze roller furling units for my schooner. Used for the foremost jib. Worked well!

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

I had this one in my sock drawer...waiting for the right boat to come along...

[@beazleteats4031]

She's a beauty mate. May you have many safe miles in her and may the wind always be on your back.

[@behonestwithyourself3718]

Wow, amazing that it never got sailed. What a find!

[@johnhowarth8822]

What a lovely boat. It reminds me of a boat I used to drool over called The Drascombe Lugger. A true gentleman’s day boat.

[@davidchambers3196]

Nice video. My Pathfinder with cabin is a gaff rigged sloop. Delightful boat!

[@BigRedNZ1]

That’s a corker of a wee boat. Makes me miss Tasmania and it’s awesome wee boats.

[@dngiles1]

Hi there - I recall seeing your beautiful Pathfinder at the AWBF in 2013 - it was very eye-catching (I have a photo). My recollection was it was built by a Doctor/Surgeon and your good fortune is that he was all about building them. I have myself a Navigator which I built in 2006. Enjoy - a wonderful testament to the amateur boat builder.

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Thank you. Yes, you are correct.

[@dandom71]

What a beauty, you can see the craftsmanship in her.

[@DanielPullen-l6w]

What a beautifully built boat! Great find. We considered a pathfinder when we built the navigator but figured the navigator would be a bit more nimble on the water and at the boat ramp.

[@paulnaylor3301]

A work of art ,, have watched this 3 times so far...

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

ahhh....that's who's watching! ;-D

[@paulnaylor3301]

@@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx Thats because I am building a Pathfinder too .

[@user-eg5rn6nd7e]

Holy cow, that marina is filled with great, unusual boat!

[@commonweakness9060]

She is a work of art. Thanks for the vid.

[@robertdumond6072]

Beautiful boat it looks so new! Happy Sailing!

[@LorenHenriksen]

I'm jealous! Thank you. From Canada

[@rikvandervaart2601]

Congrats with that gorgeous pathfinder.

[@neilhenderson5782]

Think you struck lucky when you found this one - the work of a craftsman :-)

[@jonathanlewis1352]

Simply lovely.

[@TaTa-wv9kl]

You had me at the curve at the forward end of the coaming.

[@n176ldesperanza7]

Happy for you!

[@millarsexcavation6657]

Beautiful boat ❤

[@elvisslo]

Beautiful boat! The construction looks great. The setup on the trailer looked very easy. My 19' catboat has a mast that I can barely raise!

[@kdhwjudson]

This is beyond my imagination. It’s incredibly beautiful.

[@colvingazelle]

My Tartan 34C had an icebox with access from the cockpit - great place for sailing refreshments while under sail - no need to go below!

[@craiganderson8232]

Great find something the ordinary like myself dream about, well done . Incase you didn't get it, I love❤❤❤ it.🤨

[@afloatinawoodenboat]

Oh my… what a boat!

[@nealsandidge3951]

Stunning!

[@JackTaudi]

Great weekender boat, Luv her 👌👌

[@garthtagge3526]

Nice mate!

[@dougfairweather]

Sounds like you've got the wifes' approval.... Thats always important! Doug, FNQ.

[@suzannechance5876]

Very pretty little pocket rocket! She's sweet!

[@tewaewae]

Gorgeous build.

[@aaronsellers1372]

What a beauty! Im not a gentleman, but im hoping i will still like my pathfinder once i get her in the water😂

[@WavingNotDrowning]

Stunning boat.

[@jodixon7984]

Thanks

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

You're the best!!! XXX

[@jodixon7984]

@@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx❤

[@hespie1]

Just found your channel. Great video mate and what a lovely boat. Also Jelly!

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Thanks mate. Appreciate the feedback. Yeah...we got super lucky with Fair Wind...she's a beautiful boat indeed!

[@johnc6809]

Great video! Looks like a real stunner. John’s boats are just so well thought out. Where did the builder come by the port glasses in such a small size? I have a small cabin on our cat ketch. She need a front port hatch, as it gets pretty toasty on a warm day.

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

The best place for classic boat supplies is here: www.toplicht.de/en/

[@armandbarbe1812]

Amazing little cruiser! By the way, during the dogwalk along the docks, slow down and show us some of those beauties left and right too please.

[@captainsleeman9787]

Wow

[@garyandrews8053]

Love your eposides, and you know how to find a bargin don't you. I will be after a trailer boat after i sell my big boat. May have to let you know as you have a lot of contacts. Why do you like those rigs, what are the advantages, and disadvantages ?. They are pretty though. How many boats do you have now ?

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Hey mate. Every rig has their pros and cons, just like every boat. There's always a compromise. I like traditional rigs like the Gaff and Lug, mostly because they just look real salty! How many boats do we have? I'll never tell... ;-D

[@vingreensill]

Great boat!

[@TonyM540]

I might have to move to Tasmania.

[@gillesdufaux5519]

Lovely boat

[@RobWyatt-tp9vy]

What a beautiful boat, you lucky b………

[@ossy57]

What a beaty ❤❤❤

[@ubbeus]

A real beauty! That “aftsprit” is new for me. What’s it called? I cannot seem to find any other references for it online.

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

The 'stick' poking out the stern is called a boomkin or bumkin. Thanks for your comment.

[@robertwebber194]

Beautiful boat. Will she self right? You mentioned there may have had more ballast onboard than standard.

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

The Pathfinder is not a self righting design. Hard to capsize though.

[@q2145]

That is a pretty boat.

[@alistersandow]

gday, I have just started building a pathfinder and was going to build the open version, but your boat has inspired me to build a cabin, fair wind is the only pathfinder ive seen with a cabin that actually adds to her looks and hopefully versatility. having a cabin here in SA would be a great advantage. I was wondering if there was any chance you could give me a few of the measurements so that I could replicate the cabin dimensions? would be very grateful, thanks for the video.

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Hey mate. Thanks for the contact. Fair Wind now has a new custodian (a proper gentleman)

[@alistersandow]

@@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx haha no worries thanks for the reply

[@spencero1906]

Amazing boat. A bit crazy as I have never sailed but I am currently building a pathfinder with cabin. This is great inspiration, any chance I could ask for some pictures of the boat?

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

There's plenty on the Welsford FB page. And more videos to come!

[@monostripezebras]

great boat

[@sailing_tassies_adventures]

Where you out yesterday (Sunday 17th)? If so I was one of the boats out there and we thought we saw this boat floating around and we where impressed by its beauty. If it wasnt you then theres another beauty out there :)

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Yep. That was us. What boat were you in?

[@sailing_tassies_adventures]

@@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sxMy boat is Griffin, I have a swing mooring in Kettering. When the wind picked up, we went past you astern, looks like you where heading back to the jetty.

[@stefanomoretti3664]

she's a beauty... and you a lucky man :-)

[@DanielMoulton]

Wow, was that walnut on the hatch covers?beautfil

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Birdseye Huon Pine. Thanks for you comment.

[@valeriepottier120]

Damn: Huon pine? Sweet

[@DaniloDeguzman-l1k]

Do guys still have the blue navigator?😊

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Yes

[@dmain6735]

"Wanna have a look?" .........F##k yeah

[@papataffy]

Anytime I think I decided my dilemma between Pathfinder and Sweet Pea in favor of Sweet Pea, somebody posts this kind of video. Why are you doing this to me? 😵‍💫

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

We’ve owned a Sweet Pea too and sailed many miles in her. Very different boats.

[@juemuri5448]

so ein schönes boot...aber mal ehrlich...warum werden die kabinen so gebaut, dass man da reinkriechen muss...?

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Because it was designed as an open boat first. The cabin was added later and the low profile is for aesthetic balance.

[@arcboutant]

Will you let US see the boat……..

[@bobeden5027]

How much?

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Priceless.

[@craigleegillings]

Too much mug, not enough boat.. 😂

[@SmallCraftTasmania-ms4sx]

Thanks mate...