WILDERNESS BEAVER 23 1999 - bespoke 2 berth
"Zanele" 

This two-berth Beaver was created for its original owner by a coach-building firm in
Somerset to a bespoke specification over a two-year period from one of our shells. The
Vendors are effectively the second owners but have owned and used it since first launching in 2001.
The interior is a good quality fit-out, almost entirely from UK hardwoods and considerable
joinery skills are in evidence throughout; the overall effect in the accommodation spaces
is that of a luxury Pullman railway carriage.

The layout provides, at the forward end, a large open saloon area with all-around seating
and a demountable drop-leaf table. At night this arrangement offers either two good-sized
single berths, or vast double.

As with all Wilderness Boats, this saloon area has good natural lighting from large
windows enabling panoramic views of the waterway scenery and without having, as with
most canal boats, to crane necks to see out.

The headroom in the saloon is 6ft and both the saloon and the galley benefit from a good
quality tinted automotive, openable sunroof above. The central galley, with generous

work-tops on both sides, offers a 4-burner cream enamel hob and grill and a separate

oven below (all burners have FFD safety shut-off), a large composite molded sink and

drainer (complete with mixer taps), sizeable food preparation areas and a 98L under-counter

electric fridge. There is extensive under-counter storage for food, cooking utensils, and crockery, etc. all stowed away behind well-made hardwood cupboard doors.

The “Shoreline” fridge, which is a replacement for the original gas-fired model, was fitted in
2009 and is powered by 3no.100A/hr deep-cycle leisure batteries by “Elecsol” which are
supported by a 50watt roof-top solar panel. There is scope to improve the electrical
supply to the fridge, for a new owner wishing to use as a liveaboard.

The stern end of the cabin is devoted to a good-sized step-in toilet/shower compartment
complete with a permanent vanity unit which has a small stainless steel washbasin and
storage cupboard below. The toilet is a Thetford 365 twin tank porta-potty with a 21-litre
waste tank. Water heating for shower and sink is from a Whale 10L gas-fired room-sealed
water heater, fitted about 3 years ago, which is situated in one of the cockpit outside-entry
storage lockers; this will also run on mains 240v when available.

The boat is well provided with storage throughout and there is also a very large
wardrobe in the port side rear corner of the cabin. As a Wilderness trailboat, is it also intended

to be used ashore in caravan mode and it has a 240V input socket and the necessary electrical

distribution box and RCD safety trip at the rear of the boat; a 16Amp site hook-up cable is included.

There is also a low output mains inverter, (max. 300watt) wired in for charging laptops, etc., and running

the portable vacuum cleaner. A stereo radio/CD player is fitted into one of the small storage

cabinets in the saloon within easy reach of the bed. All lighting onboard has been converted to LED bulbs.

​

There is currently no space heater on board due to the failure of an original blown-air
heater but the boat is generally well insulated and there is space to fit either a compact
gas-fired blown-air heater or if preferred, a small (3-4 kW) modern wood burner which
could be accommodated amidships between galley and saloon.

The upholstery in the saloon is in a good quality commercial Draylon and although original
is in very good condition. The floral curtains are 100% cotton and also in good condition.
Externally the outside GRP surfaces of the craft are all original gel coat and are capable of
being buffed up to a good finish. The metalwork of the cockpit safety rails is in

maintenance-free of stainless steel but, most of the hardwood external capping's, grab-
rails and rubbing strakes are in need of repainting.

​

The external cockpit storage lockers contain outboard fuel, 3 gas bottles, and batteries.
The tiller-steered YAMAHA 9.9hp electric-start outboard starts easily, runs wells, and
efficiently re-charges both the starter and domestics batteries. It was last professionally
serviced by ourselves in 2016 and despite limited use and later Covid restrictions has had
oils changed by the Vendor every year since. A full Yamaha workshop manual is included
in the sale. The swan-necked tiller is also in good quality stainless steel. Both of the
batteries were new this year.

The twin-axle trailer, built by the Somerset coach-builders at the time of the original fit-out,
is fully galvanized is generally in good order, and will be serviced before sale. It comes
with a spare wheel, a lighting board, the necessary load security straps, and a wheel clamp.
Also included in the sale is a good spread of loose navigation equipment (fenders, ropes,
mooring pins, river anchor, etc) as well as a front deck tonneau cover.

The craft is in overall good condition for its age; some minor external repaintings are
currently necessary and selected areas of the interior would benefit from re-varnishing.
There are a number of minor leakages on windows and these are currently being
addressed.