Cleopatra History

[rinus]

(02-27-2009 01:14 AM)SteveB Wrote:  On the old forum, after looking around my boat, I found the numbers 2300/01 stamped into the port side of the transom on the outside of the hull, having now determined that she is indeed a FOX, formally known as Cleopatra, I assume that she is indeed the first 700 super weekender built by FOX, I now wonder if anybody else has one of these models as I know of only 3, mine, one I saw in Normandy and 1 other called ROCAU something, how rare are these boats? Steve

Hi Steve,

I can remember we had a discussion about yourboat, And I agreed that you must have one of these rare Super Week-enders. By the way you can find the Racu Mauro ( or something like that) in the Gallery. He had the same question. What kind of boat do I have. And in the Galler you can find Wanderer( I believe by head). That is also a Super week-ender, but now the owners put a cabin onto it. Does not look bad at all.
Finding i.d. numbers on a Cleo is very difficult. You are lucky when you find one. It looks that the guys at Cleo did not care that much about it.

Rinus

[sandbank]

I found this interesting background info on the YBW website - copied from a book - snag is, it doesn't what the book was called but it seems quite authoritative:-

"Built by Essex Yacht Builders in Wallingsea (sic) on the Crouch, launched 67. Two versions, the Blue Nile and Express Fisherman, latter having larger cockpit and smaller cabin and a hard top. Blue Nile has 4 berths, Fisherman 2.

In '71 boat was modified (replacement of vulnerable perspex window round front cabin with 2 glass panels) and renamed Cleopatra 700. Three versions of this were built; the Family and Fisherman (equiv to old Blue Nile and Fisherman) and the Weekender which had a large open cockpit and small 2 berth cabin. Altogether 400 23's and 700's were built up to '75. The Fox 700, built by Fox of Ipswich was based on the same mouldings and sold in the same 3 versions.

Hull shape is medium vee. Single or twin outdrive petrol engines were installed, commonly a 50HP Perkins diesel, single 115 or 130 petrol volvo's or twin 115 volvo's, latter giving 30knots.

LOA 22ft 9inches, beam 8ft 6, draught 2ft 9."

[rinus]

Hi Sandbank,

Nice work, please keep on digging into old edition of no matter what boat magazine. All this small bits and pieces are important to me.
Thanks,

Rinus