Love at first sight in Brittany
As a child, I spent my two-month summer vacations at my family's seaside home in Kerlouan, in North Finistère. At the age of 10, I became captain of my first boat. My grandfather gave me a Zodiac dinghy with a 3.3 hp Yamaha Malta. A priceless gift, it was to enable me to make my first steps on the water in complete autonomy.
With this frail skiff, I explore all the nooks and crannies of the bay above which we're based. It was during a stroll around an anchorage that I fell in admiration of a small motorboat.
Laid back on the white sands of Brittany, this little 14-footer has taut lines and very little freeboard. Owned by a member of Père Jaouen's large tribe, a local figure, this little Fletcher 14 Arrowflyte is powered by an 85hp Johnson. I've become a groupie of this boat, regularly dropping in to see her, and scrutinizing her every outing.
While my friends put up portraits of footballers in their children's bedrooms, I have a photo of this boat on my bedside table, taken with a disposable Kodak.
The rare pearl among the Chtis
Years later, this photo has followed me through all the different stages of my life. In my thirties, I set out to buy the same boat, identical in every way to the one I had as a child. I scanned all the ad sites, but no model met all the criteria I'd set myself.
Then one fine day in 2019, the rare pearl appeared. Same model, same vintage electric blue interior, same engine.
I don't hesitate. Without even seeing it, I put down a deposit. Living in Marseille, I cross France to acquire this Fletcher, owned by a family of northerners who use it exclusively in fresh water. I then bring it back to Finistère Nord, where I always spend my vacations.
I've finally found MY Fletcher. It dates from 1978, as does its engine, a venerable three-cylinder Johnson two-stroke developing 70 hp, 15 less than the model I'm looking for. But the base is the same.
Fletcher, a British builder of small racing boats
Norman Fletcher was probably the leading producer of runabouts and ski boats between the 1950s and 1980s at his yard in Burntwood, Staffordshire, in the heart of the UK. Offshore racer, his production was designed for sporty driving and water sports, mainly water skiing.
This small, very light hull has a pronounced V-shape, making it a pleasure to drive. She lifts off very quickly, reaching a top speed of 38 knots, which is quite impressive for a small 14-foot hull. The steering feel is truly sporty, with the hull tacking very short, never stalling or cavitating. Nevertheless, on a boat of this size, the slightest chop becomes a storm, and you quickly have to reduce throttle when the sea gets a little rougher.
All handling is very easy. You can squeeze in anywhere, even close to the rocks for fairground anchoring, and the 70 hp allow you to practice towed sports.
A very small budget
Sailing this boat 15 days a year, I didn't want to spend too much on this summer whim.
The purchase with the road trailer was negotiated at ?2,300 (in 2019). Storage in a hangar costs ?150 a year, insurance ?89, and I do all the wintering myself. Apart from the battery and spark plugs, I haven't changed a thing after five years of use. The engine restarts without a hitch every summer, and has never broken down.
The fairly simple design of this old two-stroke engine has a lot to do with it. The absence of trim and hydraulic steering are, in my opinion, a big advantage in terms of maintenance for a unit that doesn't sail much. I consume around fifty liters of petrol every summer, going out almost every day.
I hope my old engine will last as long as possible. Finding parts on a block that's about to turn 50 isn't always easy. In the meantime, we're enjoying this big beach toy for adults and kids alike!
