Fife 8 Metre

SULAIRE was designed and built by William Fife III for John and Robert Aspin of Glasgow, whose letterhead reads “Paint manufacturers to the Admiralty”. She was launched in 1929 and raced in Scotland before making her way to Marblehead, Massachusetts. Christened as SULAIRE, she was also known as DECIMA, MARBETTE, WILD GOOSE, POLHO, and TROUBLE. Purchased by her present owner in 1985 and returned to her original name, she has undergone two major refits which have enhanced her structure and brought her back to her 1929 configuration. From new silicon bronze keel bolts and floors to a new cold molded red cedar deck to Fife’s original layout, SULAIRE has been thoroughly restored. Wherever possible, efforts were made to retain her original construction and return her to the way she was when delivered in 1929. An impressive amount of her original structure exists. With the exception of a few planks, her mahogany hull laid with tight seams is the original. Nearly all of her sawn oak frames and all of her bent rock elm frames are original. This is a testament to Fife’s craftsmanship and to the materials selected. SULAIRE is not a new boat that has been built around a ballast and some salvaged hardware - she glows with the patina of age beneath fresh varnish. Interior furniture has been reconstructed with an eye to weight, the same with her cockpit sole and seating, beautifully built to Fife’s scantlings in Spanish cedar and mahogany. No modern vessel compares in beauty or feel. Owning SULAIRE is a chance to own one of the finest yachts available – whether racing in the 8 Metre fleet or enjoying her as an elegant daysailer, SULAIRE will capture the imagination of all who step aboard.

SULAIRE is currently stored ashore in a purpose built shed near Port Townsend, Washington.

Carvel planked mahogany hull with “tight seams”, no caulking

Bent frames in rock elm, all original

Sawn frames in oak for every third frame, estimated 95% original with replacements in locust

Welded floors of 3/16” silicon bronze sheet carrying large keelbolts and bolted to sawn frames (new)

Cast silicon bronze strap floors fitted to bent frames and carrying smaller keel bolts (new)

Silicon bronze keel bolts (new)

Lead ballast

Deck beams in larch and spruce, dovetailed to carlins

Cold molded red cedar deck, lower layer of 1 ¾” beveled cedar strips to match original, upper layer of ¼” by 3 ½” cedar laid at 45 degree angles, set with bronze staples in epoxy and covered in glass (1991)

Deck painted white with varnished mahogany covering boards and king plank

Cabin constructed of laminated cedar and mahogany (1991)

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