Custom Saunders Roe Classic Motor Yacht for sale in United Kingdom for £245,000 ($302,477)

GRALIAN’s proud bow seems to depict the ‘chin up’ attitude of her era. Cowes aircraft manufacturer Saunders-Roe’s Medina / Saro Class motor yachts are brave little ships - as brave as their original owners, many of them aviators. Eight were built in the late 1930s and five are believed to survive in commission.

GRALIAN’s proud bow seems to depict the ‘chin up’ attitude of her era. Cowes aircraft manufacturer Saunders-Roe’s Medina / Saro Class motor yachts are brave little ships - as brave as their original owners, many of them aviators. Eight were built in the late 1930s and five are believed to survive in commission. GRALIAN is arguably the most authentic, retaining most of her teak hull, superstructure, and original Art Deco interior, while enjoying a majorrestoration of her vital structural organs at Harbour Marine Services, Southwold, who have so far worked their charms on three of the class survivors. Nominated for Restoration of the Year in 2011 by Classic Boat magazine as, “… the epitome of the gentleman’s motor yacht... immaculately restored…”, GRALIAN has subsequently become perhaps the most travelled classic motor yacht of her type, cruising at sea and inland over 20,000 miles from Greece to the Arctic Circle. She’s very ready for more of the same, or simple, elegant and comfortable family holidays.

GRALIAN’s proud bow seems to depict the ‘chin up’ attitude of her era. Cowes aircraft manufacturer Saunders-Roe’s Medina / Saro Class motor yachts were brave little ships - as brave as their original owners, many of them aviators. Eight were built in the late 1930s and five are believed to survive in commission. GRALIAN is arguably the most authentic, retaining most of her teak hull, superstructure, and original Art Deco interior, while enjoying a majorrestoration of her vital structural organs at Harbour Marine Services, Southwold, who have so far worked their charms on three of the class survivors. Nominated for Restoration of the Year in 2011 by Classic Boat magazine as, “… the epitome of the gentleman’s motor yacht... immaculately restored…”, GRALIAN has subsequently become perhaps the most travelled classic motor yacht of her type, cruising at sea and inland over 20,000 miles from Greece to the Arctic Circle. She’s very ready for more of the same, or simple, elegant and comfortable family holidays.

This is a provisional set of details; additional specs to be added in the coming weeks.

This is a yacht totally set up for long distance cruising and live-aboard, done in style and total comfort. She is a seasoned yacht that is ready to slip lines and head off on a new adventure right away.

2021- Port shaft bearings replaced- Both stern glands re-packed- Ambassador rope cutters serviced2017- Top end rebuild of starboard engine- Both raw water pumps replaced- Engine room hoses renewed- Starboard heat exchanger replaced- Port heat exchanger rebuilt- Both propellers re-pitchedHARBOUR MARINE SERVICES, SOUTHWOLD, SUFFOLKNominated for 'Restoration of the Year' in 2011 by Classic Boat magazine- Replaced many steamed timbers and some planking- Strengthening of the hull with new steel floors and new keel bolts- Deck replaced entirely with teak glued over plywood sub-deck- Gives a stiff and low maintenance deck structure- Many of the original deck beams were retained- Original teak covering boards retained wherever possible- Underside of the ply sub deck was locally veneered in oak- Specially chosen by the owners from trees at the Woburn Estate- Top end rebuild of port engine- New shaft couplings; engine feet; waterlocks; anti-syphons; goosenecks- New bearings on drive train- 'A' brackets refitted and shafts realigned

2013Classic Boat Magazine 300 most beautiful boats in the worldClassic Sailor Magazine- 12 x Issues featuring GRALIAN's voyaging adventures2011Classic Boat wards - nominated for 'Restoration of the Year'

SAUNDERS-ROE LTD., BUILD NO.1803It may be a coincidence that Joyce Sherren (née Tilden-Smith) commissioned this fine motor yacht as a retirement gift for her aviator husband, Wing Commander Percy C. Sherren, in the same year her late father, mercurial coalowner Richard Tilden-Smith’s estate finally sold his vast and apparently profitable Tilmanstone coal mine in Kent. But it’s most probably not by chance that Mrs Sherren came to Saunders-Roe of Cowes for the yacht.Although founded on the Thames as a boatbuilder, by the 1930s the Cowes yard was much better known for aircraft production, and Canadian-born Percy Sherren’s life was aviation: a First World War and beyond air ace living in Felixstowe, Suffolk, most probably by association with the Royal Air Force’s Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment there and in particular the nearby Martlesham Heath Aircraft Experimental Establishment.Tragically, 44-year-old Wing Commander Sherren would enjoy JEAKELARD (as she was first named) only briefly. During the King’s Cup Air Race of 1937 he was killed along with his co-pilot, Wing-Commander Edward G. Hilton, when their plane crashed at Scarborough in turbulence. Not only did Joyce Sherren keep and enjoy JEAKELARD through the remainder of the 1930s; she also entered and flew in the 1938 King’s Cup Air Race in a Percival Vega Gull piloted by record-winning veteran of international air races Ken Waller. Hiring a skipper and crewman for JEAKELARD, Joyce Sherren is believed to have cruised European inland waterways in the years running up to the Second World War.In that war, JEAKELARD was requisitioned by the UK Admiralty and is believed to have served as part of the Marine Patrol on the Solent and the east coast of England. In June 1944 she took part in the D-Day landings as an ambulance boat to carry wounded from the beaches out to hospital ships. After the war, JEAKELARD’s usefulness to the Admiralty continued into 1946, possibly at Chatham as a training vessel under the command of Ted Nelson Danbury. Her ships bell is inscribed: ‘War Service Admiralty’. Joyce Sherren didn’t take GRALIAN back and immersed herself in local politics - becoming Mayor of Felixstowe - and in leading the post-war revival of Felixtowe Ferry Sailing Club.In 1946 JEAKELARD became London perfume importer Arnold W. Munns’s second GRALIAN, replacing his pre-war Powles of Wroxham 36 ft twin screw Norfolk Broads cruiser. The name was a combination of his wife Grace Lilian’s first names, and perhaps also a term of endearment.Just as the first GRALIAN had been both a cruiser and mothership - to his Broads (“Brown Boat”) One Design PINTAIL (sail no. 29) - our GRALIAN acted as mothershipto Munns’s Solent-based McGruer-built International Dragon sloop CLYTIE (sail no. UK 114). Then, in 1956 and 1957, Munns was joint Rear Commodore of the Royal Thames Yacht Club, its Knightsbridge clubhouse being a short walk from his Mayfair home. Favourite English Channel cruising haunts during the Munns’ long ownership included Deauville, France, and the Channel Islands. Grace Lilian died in 1967 and GRALIAN was sold to John F. Baker who based her at Teddington on the Thames and was a member of the local British Motor Yacht Club. It is believed that Arnold Munns then moved to Alicante, Spain.John Baker may have been in the habit of buying and selling motor yachts to his own account, though not as a broker, and it is most probably he who replaced GRALIAN’s original 6-cylinder Chrysler petrol engines with the current 4 cylinder Mercedes diesels, the work perhaps done by Toughs of Teddington, Baker’s ‘c/o’ postal address. In the fourth ownership of Australian-born Mrs Barbara G. Bagshaw of Dulwich Village, London from 1970, GRALIAN is believed to have returned to Europe’s inland waters, cruising extensively for about 20 years - reportedly as far as Switzerland - often based in Amsterdam.GRALIAN’s present owners, and saviours, purchased her from fifth owner David Goose at Brigg, Lincolnshire in 2010. Thanks to the care of all her past custodians, she was the gem of 1930s Art Deco style and originality they been seeking for elegant cruising adventures, but first, some open-heart surgery was required to her structure, undertaken in the skilled and pragmatic hands of John Buckley’s Harbour Marine Services at Southwold, Suffolk. Nominated for Restoration of the Year in 2011 by Classic Boat magazine, GRALIAN was described as, “… the epitome of the gentleman’s motor yacht... immaculately restored.”Since her 2011 re-launch GRALIAN has been arguably the most travelled classic motor yacht of her type. Her owners have cruised over 20,000 miles, including two years in the Mediterranean via the French canals, visiting Italy and Greece, a circumnavigation of the UK, two years in the Baltic, to Sweden, Poland and getting within 80 miles of the Arctic Circle. Latterly she has spent time cruising in the Netherlands, the Frisian Islands and the UK.©2022 Iain McAllister/ Sandeman Yacht Company Ltd.

- Teak carvel planking- Canadian rock elm and oak close spaced timbers- Copper rivet fastened- Timbers extend across centreline acting as floors- Galvanised steel floors added for strength- External iron ballast keel, 2.1 tons- Bronze keel bolts (2010)- Teak laid deck on plywood (2010)- Sheathed plywood aft trunk cabin and wheelhouse roof

GENERAL- Teak laid deck on plywood- Teak superstructure- Original cast stanchions with stainless steel guard wiresFROM AFT- Seating at pushpit- Gate in pushpit aft for pasarelle access- Chromed emergency tiller post- Varnished lazarette/ steering flat hatch- Chromed mushroom vent- Liferaft canister stowage at starboard quarter- Outboard motor bracket at starboard quarter- Chromed mooring bollard cleats port and starboardAFT TRUNK CABIN- Raised varnished hatch over aft cabin- 4 x Chrome-framed windows port and starboard- 2 x Chromed mushroom vents- Passarelle stowed in teak chocks- Tender stowage on teak chocks- CQR anchor stowage on teak chocks- Boarding ladder stowed on teak chocks- Mast in tabernacle; single spreaders- Boom/ derrick- Folding chromed step-ups to port and starboard- 2 x Mushroom ventsWHEELHOUSE/ DECK SALOON- Radar scanner- Mushroom vent- Air horn- 2 x Cowl ventilators- Alloy hatch over helm position- Searchlight- Solar panel- Raw teak handrails port and starboardSIDE DECKS- Galvanised davits to starboard- Small mooring cleats port and starboard- Chromed mushroom vents port & starboard fwd under foredeck stepRAISED FOREDECK- Chromed springlines bollard cleats port and starboard- Stowage boxes port (gas bottle) and starboard- Butterfly skylight hatch over saloon- Stove pipe fitting- Raised forehatch- Chromed mushroom vent to port- 2 x Chromed mooring bollard cleats- 2 x Chromed mooring fairleadsGROUND TACKLE- Simpson-Lawrence Sea Tiger 555 2-speed manual windlass- 1 x Chain gipsy- 1 x Warping drum- Galvanised davit to lift anchor- Manson Supreme 60 lb/ 27kg Rocna anchor in custom stainless steel roller- Spare bow roller to port- Spare Danforth type anchor

OVERVIEW- Entry via sliding wheelhouse doors port and starboard- Art Deco interior restored during the refit; mostly original.- 6 x Berths + child berth: 1 x double, 4 x singles and a childs berthWHEELHOUSE- Helm position to port- Ship's wheel- Helm seat- Foot locker- Morse engine controls- Chromed steering compass binnacle- Navigation displays- Sestrel clock and barometer- Gralian inclination gauge- 2 x Sliding chromed ports in aft bulkhead- Flag locker- Banquets aft to port and starboard of aft companionway- Foot locker to starboard- Ship's bell engraved for wartime serviceAFT ACCOMMODATION- 3 x Steps down to aft corridorWC/ SHOWER COMPARTMENT TO PORT- Sliding door- Jabsco manual toilet- Porcelain hand basin- Hot and cold taps- Shower with teak grating- 2 x Sliding ports- 1 x Deckhead lightSTARBOARD SINGLE GUEST CABINOriginal carpentry- Single berth- Lockers under- Clothing lockers- Hanging locker- 2 x Opening ports- 1 x Deckhead lightAFT OWNER CABINOriginal carpentry- Double berth to starboard- Single berth to port- Lockers under berths- Clothing lockers on centreline- Glass fronted hanging lockers- Book rack to port- 4 x Opening ports- Hatch in deckhead- 1 x Deckhead lightFORWARD ACCOMMODATION3 x Steps down to Saloon soleSALOONOriginal oak panelling in teak surrounds- L-shaped settee to port- Drop leaf table- Book case to port- Lockers/ drinks lockers port and starboard at forward bulkhead- Davey Hotpot red solid fuel cabin heater (2010)- Tiled adjacent bulkhead- 2 x Built-in armchairs within oak starboard sideboard- 5 x Bulkhead lights- 2 x Art Deco bulkhead lights- 4 x Chromed bronze opening ports- Butterfly skylight hatch in deckhead- 2 x Oil lampsFORWARD VIA DOORWAY TO ATHWARTSHIPS GALLEYCarpentry in teak matches the boat's original woodworkPort- Alpes Inox 4 x burner hob and oven to portStarboard- Oiled wood worktop- Top loading Vitrifrigo 95 fridge/ freezing compartment (2020)- (Keel cooler)- 2 x Stainless steel sinks- Mixer tap- Filter tap (drinking water)- Numerous food and utensil lockers and stowage- 2 x Deckhead lights- 2 x Chromed bronze opening portsFORWARD CABIN- 2 x Bunk berths to port- 1 x Child's bunk to starboard- Refrigerator to starboard- 2 x Chromed bronze opening ports- Raised forehatch in deckhead- 2 x Deckhead lights- 1 x Bulkhead light

MECHANICAL- 2 x Daimler-Benz OM314 85hp 4cyl diesel engines (1970/ 2010/ 2017)- Borg-Warner Velvet Drive gearboxes- Stainless steel shafts- Handed 3-blade bronze propellers- Cruising speed of 6.5 knots; 9 knots max speed- Approximately 7 L/ hour total consumptionELECTRICALEngine start- 2 x Batteries of 110 Ah eachDomestic- Bank of 2 x 260 Ah Mastervolt deep cycle batteriesCharging- 65 A Engine alternators- Or through a Sterling 240 V 30 A digital charger when connected to shore powerTANKAGEDiesel:- Total 575 L in 2 x tanks either side in the engine room- Port side is a painted steel tank; starboard side is stainless steel new in 2000Water- Total of 560 L in 2 x galvanised tanksHot water- Hotpot calorifier connected to one engine supplying domestic hot water.Black water- 143 litre Tek Tank 143 L with macerator at WC compartment

NAVIGATION- Reynolds steering compass- Raymarine Tridata- Raymarine ST40 ompass- Raymarine ST40 wind- Raymarine C80 chart plotterCOMMUNICATIONS- Raymarine VHF- ICS Wave Navtex

- Small pine mast in tabernacle just aft of wheelhouse- Pine boom/ derrick- Stainless steel standing rigging to external galvanised chain plates- Small steadying/ at anchor sail- Acrylic covers for all deck/ trunk hatches and boxes

- Radar reflector at mast- 1 x Manual bilge pump- 3 x Electric bilge pumps

- Moody 1954 clinker Stuart-Turner inboard engined tender- Passarelle- Teak boarding/ swim ladder- Fenders- Mooring warps

These particulars have been prepared from information provided by the vendors and are intended as general guide. The purchaser should confirm details of concern to them by survey or engineers inspection. The purchaser should also ensure that the purchase contract properly reflects their concerns and specifies details on which they wish to rely.

The Custom Saunders Roe Classic Motor Yacht is a 46 feet long custom built boat which is perfect for cruising, adventure touring and island hopping. It boasts a 11 feet beam. The Custom Saunders Roe Classic Motor Yacht is made of wood.