Wooden Ships Comments on this 26′ Gaff Yawl
Designed and built by Gann and Palmer of Teignmouth in 1912.
She has an interesting underwater shape with a pronounced rocker to the keel, an unusual design for the time when most boats had a deep forefoot and a long straight keel. Her design may have been inspired by the Falmouth Quay Punts or other similar West Country work boats of the period.
Subject of a major restoration between 2007 and 2013 in previous ownership which included major hull repairs, new deck, coachroof and cockpit, new rigging and sails plus a complete new interior.
Bought by the current owner in 2018, the boat was adapted for short handed long distance sailing and sailed back and forth to Portugal twice where the owner lived aboard full time. Returning to the UK in 2023.
She has been proven as a very capable sea boat with good sail characteristics, safe in bad weather and very strong. The major rebuild was extensive and has put the boat in good stead for many years to come.
Full photo documentation of the rebuild and 2018 survey available on request.
Detailed article on the boat and owner in April 2023 Classic boat magazine. Huge history file with the boat including information on all owners back to her launch.
Length on Deck 25’6”
Length Overall 32’
Length Waterline 25’
Beam 8’
Draft 4’6”
Thames Tonnage 6TM
Construction
- Carvel planked in ¾” pitch pine all copper fastened to steam bent Canadian Rock elm timbers. 1.25″ x 0.75″ at 7.5″ centres
- New hood end and garboard bronze screw fastenings in the refit. New laminated oak stem in the refit.
- The hull was re-caulked and splined above the waterline during the refit.
- All new timber floors across the centreline during the refit.
- External iron ballast keel of 1.5 tons fastened with stainless steel keel bolts all new in 2014.
- Internal lead trimming ballast.
- Mahogany coachroof coamings with bronze port lights, finished in paint. Coachroof deck in laid T&G pine sheathed in canvas. Varnished skylight and grab rails on the coachroof. Coamings have been painted for ease of maintenance but could be returned to varnish finish if desired.
- Decks of straight laid T&G pine planking overlaid with plywood and sheathed in canvas. Heavy duty non-slip paint finish.
- Non-self draining cockpit with non-slip painted thwarts either side. Lifting hatch in the sole to the bilge below.
- Deck, coachroof and cockpit all new in the refit.
- Tiller steering on a transom hung rudder
Rig
- Gaff yawl rig on keel stepped varnished pine masts and spars.
- Gaff mainsail and Bermudan mizzen.
- Galvanised wire 7×7 standing rigging all new in 2013. Dead eyes and lanyards to external bronze chain plates.
- Running backstays on tackles.
- Roller reefing boom for the mainsail. Boom gallows on the aft deck to carry the boom.
- Roller furling system on the jib.
- Full suit of sails including cruising chute
- Bowsprit reeves in and bumpkin hinges up to reduce overall length for mooring fees.
Machinery
- Beta marine 20hp 3cyl engine installed new in 2013. 1150 hours.
- TMP gearbox to a centreline fixed 3 blade bronze propeller.
- 6 knots cruising speed at 0.5 litre/hour.
- 35 litre plastic fuel tank in the port cockpit locker. Tank cleaned and new fuel lines 2024. Priming bulb for easy bleeding.
- 20 gallon water tank under the starboard settee berth.
- Hot water calorifier heated by the engine or through 240 volt immersion.
- 3 x 12 volt batteries located in the cockpit lockers. NASA battery monitor.
- Shore power with installed 240 volt battery charger.
- 90W solar panel with regulator.
- 2 x auto electric bilge pumps and 1 x Whale Gusher 10 manual bilge pump.
Accommodation
- 4 berths with a double in the forepeak and 2 single settee berths.
- 5’7” headroom in the saloon.
- Companion steps down into the cabin with galley to starboard and chart desk to port.
- Galley has a 2 burner gas hob with integrated stainless sink with hot and cold pressurised water.
- Chart desk faces aft with instruments above.
- Main saloon with a settee berth either side and a centreline dropleaf saloon table.
- Faversham solid fuel stove against forward bulkhead. Diesel fired hot air heating system also installed.
- Storage lockers under the side decks.
- Centreline passage going forward with a Jabsco manual sea toilet to port. Hand basin with shower in the heads area.
- Starboard door into the forepeak which comprises a large double berth with forehatch above.
Equipment
- Plastimo steering compass
- NASA sounder
- NASA log
- ICOM M323G DSC VHF
- Nivico TP10 tiller pilot
- Tablet with Navionics
- Quark AIS transponder and Wifi module connected to the tablet
- Clock and barometer
- Radar reflector
- Spare emergency VHF aerial on mizzen mast
- Horse shoe life buoy
- Jackstays
- 2 x auto electric bilge pumps
- Whale Gusher 10 manual bilge pump
- 25lb CQR anchor (with self stowage system)
- 30m x 8mm chain
- 20kg Danforth anchor
- 10m x 8mm + 20m warp
- Simpson Lawrence manual anchor windlass
- Mooring warps
- Fenders
- Mainsail J. Lawrence 220sqft 2015 Good condition
- Staysail J. Lawrence 40sqft 2015 Good condition
- No.1 jib 70sqft Fair condition
- No.2 Jib 60sqft Good condition
- 2 x mizzens 28sqft Good condition
- Cruising Chute 100sqft Excellent condition
- Mainsail cover
- Mizzen cover
- Various rigging spares
- Boom gallows
- Bunk and berth cushions
- 2 burner gas stove with integrated sink
- Calorifier tank for hot water
- Jabsco sea toilet
- Cabin oil lamp
- Galley equipment
- 3 x 12 volt batteries
- 90W solar panel with regulator
- Shore power system
- 240 volt battery charger
- 2 x spare fuel jerry cans
- Various engine Spares
- Beaching legs
- All over winter cover, custom made by James Lawrence
