1961 Classic Arthur Robb Lion Class

Wooden Ships Comments on this Arthur Robb Lion Class

Designed by Arthur C. Robb and built by the Cheoy Lee Shipyard, Hong Kong in 1961.

The Lion Class was a very successful design from the eminent Arthur C. Robb. Many examples (including this one) were built by the Cheoy Lee Shipyard in Hong Kong benefitting from the close proximity of tropical forests where the best teak could be sourced.

The Lion Class was built in deep and shallow draft variants, this yacht being 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 has benefited from an incredible amount of diligent refit work by the three most recent owners. Initially in Bermuda during the 90’s where much of the interior was altered and bronze strap floors fitted replacing the original steel. After crossing the Atlantic several times and competing very successfully in the Antigua Classics regatta in 2004 and 2005 she came back to the UK. Her successful racing career continued with notable results in the Round The Island race and other classic regattas.

In the following ownership she had a good deal of updating including a new engine, systems and rig with a thorough cosmetic spruce up but in the current ownership the standard of finish, systems, and structural maintenance were taken to a new level with major work to include dropping of the ballast keel and replacement of all keel bolts, some beefing up of the centreline structure and the yawl rig replaced by a beautiful custom made fractional sloop rig in full length Oregon pine to the original drawings. All work carried out by David Moss Boatbuilders who are well known for their exceptional quality.

Other work carried out during the refit included new timber hatches to replace modern ones, much improved access to the drive and stern gland, a new fuel tank, rudder bearings and a Featherstream four bladed folding prop giving much improved performance under sail.

The work was completed by a back to bare timber repaint and professional varnish work. A new suit of top quality tri-radial sails by Goachers put the finishing touches to what is now a top class yacht in superb order.

A shakedown season in the Irish Sea and Western Approaches during 2022 allowed thorough testing of the new rig and systems. The yacht has been stored under cover since and is in ready to sail condition.

Length on Deck: 35’6”

Length Waterline: 25’

Beam: 8’9”

Draft: 5’7”

Thames Tonnage: 9TM

Construction

Hull

• Planked in teak, splined above the waterline, all copper fastened to closely spaced steamed timbers. Hood ends and garboards fastened with bronze screws.
• Doubled frames in way of the chain plates. Two enormous full length stringers.
• Bronze strap floors across the centreline with bronze bolts.
• External iron ballast keel lowered from the boat in 2022. Epoxy coated and all new mild steel keel bolts in 2022.

Decks and Cockpit

• Marine plywood deck sheathed externally with epoxy glass cloth and finished with cream deck paint. Wide side decks for easy movement.
• Varnished teak toe rail all round with profiled scuppers.
• Gas bottle store on aft deck.
• Stainless steel pulpit and push pit (with teak seating and outboard storage bracket).
• Self draining cockpit with varnished teak thwarts. Sealed sole hatch gives access to stern gland and gearbox.
• Sloping teak capping boards on the coamings serve as bases to sheet winches and provide excellent seating when heeled.
• Tiller steering (all bearings and seals replaced 2022) with rudder stock at aft end of cockpit. Tiller hinged for access.
• Large lockers beneath varnished teak cockpit seats.
• Fuel tank access and small locker under bridge deck.
• Teak grating to cockpit floor.

Superstructure

• Varnished teak coachroof coamings with bronze framed portholes either side.
• The low coachroof lifts at the aft end to a small doghouse giving ample standing headroom to galley and chart table.
• New teak forehatch on coachroof. Hatch to large anchor and fender locker on foredeck.
• Varnished teak dorade boxes with bronze vents give ventilation.
• Varnished teak skylight over saloon.
• The doghouse has a garage for the offset sliding main hatch.
• A fitted spray hood on a stainless frame gives marvellous shelter to the cockpit.

Rig

• Complete new rig to original Arthur Robb design installed in 2022.
• Fractional bermudan sloop rig on new timber spars. Mast is of hollow construction using full lengths of Oregon pine. Deck stepped as designed with a steel ring frame below.
• Stainless steel standing rigging and bespoke fittings all new in 2022. Internal stainless steel chain plates.
• Varnished wooden slab reefing boom new in 2022.
• Running rigging all new in 2022.
• Sailspar headsail roller furling system.

Sails

• Laminate Tri-radial mainsail and genoa by Goachers new in 2022.
• Storm jib and asymmetric spinnaker.

Winches

• Pair of Lewmar ST40 cockpit sheet winches. Pair of smaller spinnaker winches in cockpit.
• Lewmar ST30 on coachroof to handle lines running aft.
• 2 bronze winches on mast. One stainless reefing winch on boom.

Machinery Engine

• Beta Marine 3 cyl. 25hp fresh water cooled diesel installed 2013.
• Stainless shaft (new 2022) to a Featherstream four bladed prop gives 7kts max. Single lever controls in cockpit.
• Domestic hot water calorifier connected to engine.

Tanks

• 15 gallon stainless steel fuel tank under bridge deck.
• 2x 40 gallon epoxy lined fresh water tanks under berths.

Batteries

• 2 x 12v heavy duty AGM batteries for engine starting and domestic (new 2017).
• 1x 12v heavy duty battery for anchor windlass.

Accommodation

Berths

• 4 berths in total. Double or twin V- berth forward and two saloon settee berths.

Saloon

• Steps down over engine box from companion hatch to saloon. Large removable varnished teak box for tools etc on engine box lid.
• Galley to port, chart desk starboard.
• Saloon berths are staggered and extendable outwards. Sbd berth has a trotter box under chart table. Very comfortable saloon cushions and seating area.
• Large lockers behind berths. Bookshelf locker and drinks cabinet with glazed doors to fwd ends.
• Centreline folding teak table on stainless legs.
• Passageway fwd offset slightly to forecabin. 2 berths with infill to make double. Small washbasin with hot and cold water over hanging locker. Storage drawer and lockers under berths.

Galley

• Force 10 gimballed stainless steel three burner cooker with oven and grill. Single bowl sink with pressurised hot and cold water.
• Ample storage behind galley for kitchenware, glasses etc.

Heads

• Heads compartment fwd to starboard with a Jabsco sea toilet pumping directly overboard.

Equipment

• Steering compass x2.
• NASA log and sounder.
• Ray marine autohelm 4000.
• Tacktick wind indicator.
• Standard Horizon CP300i chart plotter.
• ICOM DSC VHF radio (2022).
• Clock and barometer.

• Bunk and berth cushions.
• Force 10 3 burner gas cooker with oven and grill.
• Jabsco manual sea toilet.
• Stereo cd player radio.

• 2 x 12 v automatic bilge pumps.
• Manual Whale bilge pump.
• 4 man canister Crewsaver iso ocean life raft. New 2022.
• Fire extinguisher.
• Fire blanket in galley.

• 35lb genuine Bruce anchor.
• 40m x 10 mm galvanised chain plus 20m heavy anchorplait.
• 30lb danforth type anchor on chain and 40m anchorplait.
• Lofrans 12v manual and electric anchor windlass.
• Mooring warps.
• Fenders.

• Mainsail by Goachers, 2022.
• Genoa by Goachers, 2022.
• Asymmetric spinnaker.
• Storm jib.
• Pair of Lewmar ST40 cockpit sheet winches.
• Pair of secondary non-ST cockpit sheet winches.
• Lewmar 30ST on coachroof.
• Pair of bronze non-ST mast winches.
• Boom reefing winch.
• Sailspar roller furling headsail system.

• Cream canvas spray hood.
• Cream canvas dodgers.
• Cream canvas hatch covers.
• Cream canvas cockpit cover.

• Stainless folding boarding ladder.
• Boat hook.
• Sundry engine spares and manual.