Isle of Arran

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Isle of Arran

Now here is a question for you – how many boats did Colin Wild build twice?

Answer = one – the ‘Isle of Arran’.  Roger & Graham Guthrie’s uncle – Douglas, who had a house in Arran Bay, commissioned Wild to build him a launch but unfortunately Wild’s shed burnt down just before completion & Wild had to start again. Photos above show her (#2) on the slip in front of the remains of the shed before launching, c.1951/2. Also one of her c.1953 at Elephant Cove.
Thanks to Roger Guthrie for the photos & background info.
Updated 30/04/13
She is owned by Mike Guthrie (Graham’s cousin) and had a major rebuild about approx. 20 years ago. I think Salthouses did the job. New Volvo engine as well. The cabin was also sympathetically re-styled at the time. Mike still owns the property in Arran Bay and the boat can frequently be seen on the mooring in the bay.
Updated 25/05/13
Photo added of her c.1990 with rebuilt topsides.
Updated 08/01/2015
Copy of May 1989 Sea Spray magazine article on the Salthouse ‘rebirth’ project. Click blue link to view/read.
Isle of Arran

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7 thoughts on “Isle of Arran”

  2. According to my father, the almost complete Isle Of Arran was uninsured when she was destroy in the fire. Col Wild offered to build the second boat for free if Doug Guthrie supplied the materials. Which is what happened.

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  3. I cruised on board the Isle Of Arran in the summer of 1962/3. Doug Guthrie was a friend of my fathers and my grandmother owned a house in Arran Bay also. We set out from Arran Bay and went to Great barrier for about a week. Came back and re-provisioned and headed up the Northland Coast to Kawau, Whangarei, Bay Of Islands, Whangaroa, and finally Houhroa our furthermost north anchorage. A great cruising launch and an unforgettable experience for a sixteen year old.

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  5. Fascinating article! Interesting to see the language used and the thoughts on ‘modernising’ what is now a supreme classic, from when it was a dated large boat in need of making usable for the modern man. A nice job without doubt, but we are lucky to not see this sort of thing now, 25 years on… Imagine hearing that Haunui had just successfully had twin Yanmars and an all glass Bill Upfold Pilothouse cabin installed with hydraulically opening drive-in lazarette

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  7. I think it’s so sad they changed her oroginal beautiful concept, & also painted the varnish — to me she no longer has that wonderful Col Wild symetry externally, that made her so “special”– KEN RIKETTS

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