1939 Laurent Giles L Class

Wooden Ships Comments on this Laurent Giles Lymington L Class

Lymington ‘L’ Class designed by Jack Laurent Giles and built by E.F. Elkins of Christchurch in 1939. Sail No. L14.

The L class is often thought of as the forerunner to the Vertue, a design which has become iconic since it’s launch, with many similarities between the 2 designs.

The L Class was intended as a day sailor and weekender with enough space below for a couple of berths, heads and galley, but a large enough cockpit for comfortable day sailing.

This yacht was purchased by the current experienced owner in 2020 and given to a professional local boat builder for a thorough refit. This included stripping the hull to bare wood which found the original pitch pine planking in excellent condition. Aft deadwood and associated bronze bolts were replaced, some cracked frames repaired and corroded strap floors replaced. A rebuilt Vire petrol engine, new upholstery and all new sails topped off the refit period.

This is a very smart and excellent example of the class, professionally cared for in recent years and well equipped.

Specifications

• Length on Deck: 23’3”
• Length Waterline: 19’6”
• Beam: 6’10”
• Draft: 3’8”
• Thames Tonnage: 4TM

Construction

Hull

Carvel planked in pitch pine all copper rivet fastened to steam bent oak timbers.

External lead ballast keel with bronze keel bolts.

Steel strap floors coated with Pemfold thermal spray paint for protection, new in 2021.

Aft deadwood replaced with iroko in 2021 with new bronze bolts.

Decks and Cockpit

Original straight laid T&G deck, overlaid with plywood and sheathed externally. Finished in non-slip deck paint.

Scrubbed teak toe rails and rubbing strakes.

Comfortable cockpit with varnished teak thwarts either side that lift to gain access to lockers. Scrubbed teak sole boards. Cockpit is not self draining.

Superstructure

Small elegant coachroof with varnished teak coachroof coamings and oval bronze portlights.

Coachroof deck of T&G pine overlaid with sheathed plywood.

Sliding varnished teak companion hatch and lifting forehatch. Chromed bronze dorade vent in forehatch.

Rig

Fractional Bermudan sloop rig on a keel stepped varnished wooden mast.

Varnished wooden slab reefing boom with a Stack Pack system.

Standing and Running Rigging

Stainless steel standing rigging to external bronze chain plates. Cap shroud, intermediate shroud and a lower set over 2 pairs of spreaders.

Single standing adjustable backstay.

Sails

Mainsail, No.1 jib and No.2 jib all new from Sanders Sails in 2021.

Stack Pack for mainsail new in 2024.

Winches

Pair of bottom action non-self tailing cockpit sheet winches.

Machinery

Engine

Vire single cylinder 7hp petrol engine rebuilt to as new condition in 2021.

New shaft and propeller in 2021.

Single lever control with mechanical gearbox to a fixed 2 blade bronze propeller.

Gives 5 knots cruising speed.

Tanks

Copper fuel tank of approximately 10 litres under the aft deck.

Batteries and Electrics

Single 12 volt battery charged from the engine alternator.

Accommodation

Berths and Headroom

2 single settee berths with sitting headroom.

General Description

Smart interior with plenty of original teak joinery.

Step down from the companion hatch into the cabin with galley space to port and a hanging locker to starboard with a nice teak door.

Salloo settee berths with recent upholstery and storage shelves outboard.

Forepeak with Baby Blake sea toilet under a varnished teak lid.

Chain locker and storage space in the bows.

Galley

Galley space is below an original folding teak work top. Currently fitted with an Origo single burner spirit stove. Manual hand tap for water, not currently connected.

Heads

Baby Blake sea toilet discharges directly overboard.

Equipment

• Steering compass
• Clipper depth sounder, 2021
• Garmin GPS, 2021
• Simrad TP22 tiller pilot, 2021
• Mainsail, Sanders Sails 2021
• No.1 jib, Sanders Sails 2021
• No.2 jib, Sanders Sails 2021
• Stack Pack boom system, 2024
• Pair of non-self tailing cockpit sheet winches
• Spinnaker pole
• Stainless steel boom crutch
• Bunk and berth cushions
• Origo 1500 spirit stove
• Baby Blake sea toilet, plus spares and manual
• Cabin table
• Kettle
• Lewmar Delta 4kg with 15 fathoms of ¼” chain
• Mooring warps
• Fenders
• Boat hook
• Beaching legs
• Spare tiller
• Vire engine manual
• 2 x 5 litre spare fuel cans
• Over boom cockpit cover, 2024
• Manual bilge pump
• Auto electric bilge pump
• MOB ladder
• Fire extinguisher