St George Class sloop

Full specification

Wooden ships comments on this St George Class sloop

The St George class sloop was designed after the War by Roger de Quincey from the Isle of Wight as a light displacement race boat more suited to UK waters than the Dragons and Tumlaren coming over from Scandinavia.

Developed from the 20 square meter class she rates similar to a West Solent and had cabin berths for two.

This is one of only two yachts believed to have survived out of the 6 known to have been built.
The design shows a fairly extreme shape with long overhangs and cut-away fore foot.

The hull is carvel planked in larch on an oak back-bone with steam bent timbers approx 1” x 1 ¼” at 12” centres.

An additional  intermediate steam bent timber has been added at some time between every second timber.

Angle-iron floors on every fourth timbers also carry the keel bolts.

External iron keel secured with bronze keel bolts.

The beam shelf appears to be oak. Deck beams assumed to be oak.

The deck has been more recently laid in marine ply and sheathed in epoxy resin and glass cloth with a fine varnished mahogany toe rail all round the deck edge.

The coach-roof and cock-pit coamings are original in mahogany finished bright.

The cock-pit is sealed with a removable trap in the sole, seat lockers each side and nicely rounded after corners to the coamings. Bridge deck across the cabin entrance at seat level.

A relatively wide sliding hatch and wash-boards give access to the cabin.

Rig.

Fractional bermudian sloop rig on a recent aluminium mast stepped on the deck.

The pair of deck beams below have been reinforced with heavy section steel angle turned round at the ends to meet the beam-shelf.

Stainless steel standing rigging all new in 2004.

Single lowers, single caps round the spreaders to the jumpers.

Jumper struts with stays to the masthead.

Single standing back-stay to the counter

Outer fore stay from the jumper strut to the forward fore deck

Inner fore stay from the spreaders to the fore deck

Swaged terminals and open-bodied stainless steel rigging screws to internal stainless steel chain plates backed by angle-iron frames extended well down the hull in way of the rigging.

Recent Selden alloy boom mounted on a mast track and sheeted with 4-part tackle on modern tufnol blocks, the lower block fitted with a jammer and on a track across the after cock-pit coamings.

Selden Rodkicker telescopic jumper strut.

The boom is fitted with 3 in-boom reefing pennants on clutches and ram’s horns at the goose neck.

Winches

Pair of Andersen bottom action single speed sheet winches on the cock-pit coamings

Single top action Lewmar 2-speed halyard winch mounted on the mast stbd side.

Sails. New 1994

Mainsail

Genoa

Strom jib

Spinnaker

Alloy spinnaker pole

Ground tackle. 10kg plough anchor + chain.

The original design featured two berths in the cabin with sitting head-room and a galley shelf.

Seat berths remain either side running aft under the bridge deck. Otherwise, the hull is completely empty inside with all round ventilation.

The yacht has been in present ownership for 23 years. In 2002 it was decided to give her a major overhaul. As these boats were relatively lightly built it was decided that if she was to continue sailing she needed some extra strength and the decision was made to epoxy-sheath the whole hull.

The hull was prepped and faired and the glass cloth applied from the gunnel and taken down to over-lap the ballast keel. A varnished hardwood rubber was fitted round the deck edge to seal and strengthen that vulnerable corner.

The finished hull is exceptionally fair and painted with a high gloss dark blue paint.

The result has been the preservation of a rare yacht which might otherwise have been considered beyond economic restoration and an eye-catching yacht which continues to give some very entertaining sport.

Of course a new owner will always find things to do and the present owners, like all yacht owners,  have a list of to-do jobs but none of this stopped them sailing regularly last summer and if not sold she will be afloat and sailing as usual next spring.

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.