28' Walsh Common Sense Sloop (1935) - RED WITCH

Red Witch, Common Sense class sloop #5, was designed by well known West Coast designer Matt Walsh and originally built at Garbutt and Walsh Boatworks in San Pedro, CA, in 1935. Jay Greer later owned and completely rebuilt Red Witch after she was dismasted and a survey found extensive structural dry rot. Jay took on Red Witch’s rebuild on weekends while working as a full time boatbuilder during the week. Her complete rebuild was so involved that the only remaining original parts were her ballast keel and backbone. Jay and his wife raced and cruised Red Witch (without an engine) regularly for many years until she was run down and damaged by a boat under power without a proper lookout. This occurred after a summer haulout, the first day out of the yard and first sail of the summer. Another restoration was difficult to face. She was in the water at the dock in Southern California when the Greers decided to bring her to their Port Townsend home to start her repair and restoration. Time and life intervened. Today she is in their boat shop awaiting a new owner with a passion for wooden boats and a desire to own an amazingly fast classic yacht. She needs a new bowsprit and cosmetic work to prepare her for the next chapter in her sailing history. Sails, spars, hardware all included. She is structurally well built and will make someone an incredible classic boat to own.

Displacement: 10,000 lbs
Lead ballast: 5,500 las
Mast: hollow oval spruce 47′
Rated sail area:453 sq ft
Auxiliary power: 14′ white ash sweep