Arthur Robb Lion Class

Full specification

Wooden Ships Comments on this Arthur Robb Lion Class

The Lion Class was a very successful design from the eminent Arthur C. Robb.  Many examples were built by the Cheoy Lee Shipyard in Hong Kong as this boat was and they benefitted from the close proximity of tropical forests from which the best teak could be sourced.

The Lion Class designed altered slightly with deep and shallow draft variants.. This yacht is the deeper type at 5’7″ with a reasonably cut away forefoot making her nimble and quick in the turn.  Elegant stretched ends with a sleek counter and a very sweet sheer line which is helped by the low profile coachroof.

This yacht had a major refit in Bermuda in the 1990’s where much of the interior was altered and the bronze strap floors were fitted to replace the original galvanised steel.  after crossing the Atlantic several times and competing very successfully in the Antigua Classics Regatta in 2004 and 2005 she came back to UK where she has been based ever since.  Her successful racing career continued with  notable results in the Round the Island Race and other Classic Regattas.  In the present ownership she has had a good deal of updating including a new engine, sails, rigging and systems and has been used mainly for summer cruising around Scotland and a circumnavigation of Ireland covering about 5000Nm a season.  She has also been successful in club and classic racing.   The rig has been altered to a yawl giving more flexibility for shorthanded sailing and other smaller more subtle features have been added to make life easier and safer for the lone sailor.  She has stack pack systems on both booms, single line reefing on the main and all the lines from the main mast have been led back to the cockpit.

She has had a thorough cosmetic spruce up in present ownership as well as the more serious structural work and is now in lovely condition and will attract admiring glances wherever she goes.  A true pedigree yacht with a successful history of racing and cruising.

 

Construction

 

Hull

Planked in Teak all copper rivet fastened to closely spaced steamed timbers.  Hood ends and garboards fastened with  No.4 x 1.5″ bronze screws

Two bilge stringers running the length of the yacht plus the beam shelf with a heavy clamp in way of the chainplates and mast and bronze hanging knees.

The original strap floors have been replaced with bronze straps and bolts which is infinitely better than the use of galvanised steel.

External lead ballast keel with bronze keel bolts.

 

 

Decks and Cockpit

Marine plywood deck sheathed externally with epoxy glass cloth and finished with cream deck paint.  The side decks are wide and clear for easy movement.  Varnished teak toe rail all round with profiled scuppers cut out where necessary.

Gas bottle locker on the aft deck.

Self draining cockpit which has been modified by the present owner with the addition of sloping teak boards outboard of the coamings. These serve as bases for the sheet winches but also as comfortable seating when the boat is heeled.  Tiller steering from the rudder stock which protrudes through the cockpit sole at the aft end.  Varnished teak cockpit thwarts are hinged to give access to large storage lockers.  Bridge deck with a locker beneath.

 

Superstructure

Varnished teak coachroof coamings with bronze framed portholes either side.  The low coachroof lifts at the aft end into a small doghouse giving ample headroom around the galley and chart desk area.

There is a hatch in the foredeck allowing access to the anchor locker which is large enough for storing fenders,  warps and sails while underway.

Lewmar hatch on the forward part of the coachroof for access and ventilation.  Varnished teak dorade boxes with screw in bronze dorade vents.  Varnished teak skylight aft of the mast over the saloon.

The doghouse has a garage for the sliding hatch built into it, all in sheathed plywood and a fitted spray hood on a stainless frame giving marvellous protection to the cockpit.

 

 

Rig

Bermudan yawl rig on alloy spars.  Main mast is deck stepped with suitable support underneath including a galvanised steel ring frame.  The mizzen is stepped onto the sternpost.

This yacht was originally sloop rigged and has been converted to a yawl in present ownership (work carried out in 2012) to give more flexibility in the rig for cruising while shorthanded.  Having the mizzen allows for upwind sailing using the headsail and mizzen and negating the need for the large mainsail thus reducing the stress on the boat and the crew.

Stainless steel standing rigging renewed 2012 – 2014 as was all the running rigging with colour coded lines.  All running rigging from the main mast led aft through organisers to the cockpit for ease of use.  All main masthead fittings replaced in 2009.

Selden single line reefing main boom for ease of use fitted in 2013.  New Sailspar headsail roller reefing system fitted in 2015.  Removable inner forestay for storm jib.

Both mizzen and main booms have a stack pack system fitted so the sails can be dropped straight into the bags without having to go on deck.

Alloy spinnaker pole stows securely on deck.

 

Sails

Fully battened mainsail, fully battened mizzen and 150% genoa all new in 2013 by Sketrick Sailmakers.

She also carries a storm jib, spinnaker and a mizzen staysail.

 

 

Winches

1 pair of Lewmar ST40 sheet winches and 1 pair of Lewmar spinnaker winches  on the cockpit coamings.

Lewmar 30ST winch on the coachroof deck to handle the lines running aft.

2 Lewmar halyard winches on the main mast.

1 Lewmar halyard winch on the mizzen mast.

 

 

Machinery

Engine

Beta Marine 3cyl 25hp fresh water cooled diesel installed new in 2013.  Stainless shaft to a centreline fixed 15×13 3 blade bronze propellor gives 7 knots max.

Single lever controls in the cockpit.

Domestic hot water calorifier connected to the engine plus a heating matrix for hot air heating in the saloon.

 

Tanks

18 gallon stainless steel fuel tank under the bridge deck

2 x 40 gallon epoxy lined  fresh water tanks

 

Batteries

2 x 12v heavy duty closed cell batteries for engine starting and domestics.

1 x 12v hevay duty battery for the anchor windlass.

All batteries new in 2013.  Charged from the 80amp engine alternator.

 

Accommodation

 

Berths

4 berths in total.  Twin V-berths forward and two saloon settee berths.

 

Saloon

Steps down over the engine box from the companion hatch into the main saloon.  There is a large varnished teak removable tool box fitted on the engine box lid.  Galley is to port and chart desk to starboard.

Saloon settee berths are staggered and extendable with the starboard side set further aft to allow for the heads compartment further forward.  The starboard settee berth has a trotter box under the chart desk.  All new upholstery throughout.  Large lockers behind the settee berths which are easily accessed.  Some shelving and lockers above the settees including a drinks cabinet each side with glazed doors.

Centreline  saloon table on stainless steel legs folds open to increase in size.

Most internal lighting is LED to save power.  Eberspacher diesel heating system installed new in 2013.

Passageway slightly offset to port through to the forecabin with twin V-berths.  Battery for the anchor windlass located under the port berth.  Full standing headroom throughout the interior.

 

Galley

Force 10 gimballed 3 burner gas stove with oven and grill.  Single bowl stainless sink with pressurised hot and cold running water.

Storage behind the galley as well as dedicated shelves for glasses and mugs on the bulkhead.

 

Heads

Heads compartment forward on the starboard side with a Jabsco sea toilet which pumps directly overboard.

 

Equipment

Steering compass x 2

NASA log and sounder 2013

Raymarine Autohelm 4000 2013

Tactick wind indicator 2013

Standard Horizon CP390 chartplotter 2013

ICOM VHF radio

Television and stereo CD player

 

2 x 12 volt bilge pumps

Manual Whale bilge pump

6 man liferaft

 

35lbs CQR anchor

Danforth anchor

40m of 8mm chain

40m octoplait warp

Lofrans 12 volt anchor windlass new 2013

 

 

Cream canvas sprayhood

Cream canvas enclosed cockpit tent

Cream canvas dodgers

Stainless boarding ladder

Boat hook

Deck brush

Warps Fenders

Disclaimer:

These particulars have been prepared in good faith from information provided by the Vendors and are intended as a guide, Wooden Ships cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. The Purchaser should instruct his agent or surveyor to validate all details as necessary and satisfy himself with the condition of the vessel and its equipment.