HISTORY & DESCRIPTION:
Grace, formerly named Grian was built in 1952 for R G Gunter of Achnasheen, Ross-shire by James Miller & Sons of St. Monance to a design by the well known naval architect G L Watson. She was built to fit specifically into Mr Gunter’s boathouse. After his death in 1961 Grace was bought by Dr. & Mrs J M Cowan of Clarkson, Renfrewshire. They immediately replaced the original paraffin engines with Petter diesels. As members of the Royal Scottish Motor Y C they kept the boat at Dumbarton on the Clyde for nearly fifty years, she was sold on the Doctor’s death in 2009 to a new owner on the Clyde who gave her a through refit. The present owner purchased Grace soon after and moved the boat to Devon for a while before changing to her present berth in South Wales in June 2011.
The design shows a long straight keel with long external iron ballast keel allowing her to take the ground without damage, a beautifully flared bow and a transom stern. She has a midships varnished wheel-house with shallow coach-roof forward over the forward cabin and a coach-roof aft over the saloon cabin with a step in the deck each side and a deep cock-pit right aft.
Planked in 1″ mahogany all copper and bronze fastened to 3″ x 2″ sawn oak frames at 12″ centres on an oak back-bone. This is a very heavy construction for the size of the vessel making her a robust sea-boat designed and built for the seas round the north of Scotland.
Much of the internal face of the hull is varnished behind the joinery.
Twin chain roller galvanised steel stemhead fitting. The starboard roller has been extended to carry the anchor and chain away from the hull to avoid damage.
Forward mooring lines made off to the manual windlass.
After mooring lines to teak bar and bronze cleats each side on the aft deck.
Chromed bronze fairleads forward and aft.
Midships bollards to take springs etc.
Otherwise, exceptionally clear and uncluttered decks.
Galvanised steel pulpit and nicely designed cast steel stanchions with twin guard wires.
Varnished teak wheel-house midships with three window windscreen, a sliding door each side, a shallow coach-roof forward over the fore cabin and a coach-roof aft over the after cabin. The wheel-house was originally built with a windscreen and a hard roof over the helm position leaving open back and sides which have since been filled in to make a totally enclosed wheel-house.
The coamings are varnished teak with small oval windows in the forward coach-roof and a modern sky-light on the deck above and teak grab rails in chromed mounts; oval chromed bronze framed fixed windows in the after coach-roof coamings.
The decks on both coach-roofs are laid in 1″ T&G pine boards as was usual, sheathed in either canvas as was traditional or, at this date, possibly glass and resin.
New stainless steel mast tabernacle on the after coach-roof against the wheel-house aft window with a traditional copper vent each side. Varnished teak sliding hatch and twin full length doors to the after cabin/cock-pit entrance. Rectangular windows in chromed bronze frames.
Deep cock-pit aft with varnished teak coamings, teak gratings in a lead-lined draining well. Locker lids to stowage under the side decks and under the scrubbed teak locker seats. T&G varnished teak bulkhead to the cabin with double doors and sliding hatch over.
Twin Perkins P3 31.5hp 3-cylinder diesel engines installed new in 2006 with new shafts and bearings. Fresh water cooled with heat exchanger exhaust manifolds. Oil coolers. Filters on the sea water intakes. Sound deadening around the engines. Single lever controls to conventional stern gear drive and 3-blade bronze props on bronze brackets.
New stainless steel fuel tanks fitted in 2006.
The accommodation is divided into 3 parts – the two berth fore cabin and galley forward, the midships helm position with the engines and the aft cabin/saloon.
V-berths in the fore cabin, coach-roof over. Lockers and drawers under the berths.
Full height lockers each side aft with varnished mahogany panelled doors against the after T&G bulkhead. White painted T&G fwd bulkhead to chain locker in the bows. Varnished mahogany slatts to the ship’s sides, white painted deck-head, original dark varnished mahogany joinery and teak sole boards. Modern ventilation hatch above.
Passage aft past the varnished locker doors each side to twin varnished mahogany doors and 2 steps up to the wheel-house. A bench each side over the engines forms full length seating with full access under to the engines. Helm forward to port with teak spoked wheel, chains and cables to a single rudder.
Modern engine and electrical panels.
Sliding door each side to deck. Midships steps down aft.
Port galley with modern stainless steel sink/drainer, mixer tap, original manual fresh water tap and mahogany joinery.
Heads compartment opposite with modern Jabsco sea toilet and porcelain hand basin.
Aft through to the after cabin with port and stbd settee berths, lockers behind and under all in original mahogany joinery.
Double doors aft and step up to the cock-pit.
Eberspacher hot air heating.
BROKERS NOTE:
A nice quality motor yacht, good pedigree, very convenient size with almost new engines. Having been laid-up ashore for a number of years Grace now requires a complete refit.
Lying: South Wales
Guide: SOLD
Viewing: Through the brokers. Tel: 01905-356482 / 07949-095075
