Sailing yachts
Full specification
Wooden ships comments on this Dee 25
Peter Brett is best known nowadays as the designer of the famous Rival range of yachts.
The Dee 25 Class was one of his early successes and subsequently evolved into the Rival 31.
He designed the first boat, Fair Rover for himself, the design was featured in Yachting World magazine in 1951 and she proved very successful in his local Irish Seas races.
10 more Dee 25s followed.
No 2 Rondinella is a name many people will know, winning the Cowes Dinard Race in 1959 and the only boat in Class 111 to finish the 1965 Channel Race – see Adlard Coles, Heavy Weather Sailing.
All the Dee 25s were built by Allansons of Freckleton on the Lancashire coast and the class that followed was named after the River Dee at Freckleton.
Such was the success of Fair Rover, the yard went on to build another 9 boats to the same design.
The design had some interesting features. The Dee 25 has not excessive draft with a long keel for good stability limited over-hangs and a generous beam for the period. It is said that the drying mud berth mooring near where he lived on the Dee Estuary was an influential factor in the design.
The interior rigid ply bulkheads are an integral part of the design and contribute to her strength. She stands up well to her rig and is remarkably fast.
This yacht is in expert and experienced ownership, professionally maintained. She is only for sale because the owner needs a smaller yacht as he ages quicker than the boat, hence the very reasonable price for such a lovely yacht.”
Construction
Planked in pitch-pine all copper fastened to 1 ½” x 1” steamed oak timbers at 8” centres.
The hull has a very fine varnish finish with a white cove line to emphasise the attractive sheer and a transom-hung rudder.
The inside face of the hull is also varnished allowing total inspection.
- 2 cracked timbers under the engine doubled
- 5 steam bent timbers in way of the quarter berth found cracked at the tuck, all replaced with laminated timbers to avoid recurrence..
- 6 through stem bolts replaced.
Ballast. Long external iron ballast keel with iron keel bolts.
Massive oak floors across the centre-line eliminate any too-common strap floor problems.
Deck. Teak laid deck over a ply sub deck. Varnished cover-boards and toe rails, varnished teak king plank and varnished margin boards around the coach-roof.
This is a particularly clean, clear and spacious deck, wide side decks due to the generous beam.
S/s sampson post on the fore deck which doubles a forward vent.
Single stemhead chain roller.
2010 Deck seams repayed
The coach-roof is built in varnished mahogany faced marine ply coamings for extra strength with a varnished mahogany margin board around at deck level, stepped up to a dog-house aft, Painted ply roof with varnished mahogany deck edging, fixed windows and varnished grab rails each side. Varnished fore hatch on the fore end of the coach-roof with vent.
The cock-pit has deep coamings sloped slightly outwards for extra comfort with nicely rounded corner mouldings to meet the dog-house. One really feels one is sitting in this boat, safe and sheltered and not perched on the top. The cock-pit coamings and the cabin bulkhead are painted white on the inside faces with varnished cappings.
Varnished seat lockers each side, teak gratings in the self-draining well. Above seat level step to the cabin entrance keeps the water out.
Varnished mahogany sliding hatch and wash-boards to the cabin entrance. The wash-boards stow neatly under the entrance step.
Stainless steel pulpit and stanchions with twin guard wires.
New guard wires in present ownership.
Rig.
¾ Bermudian sloop rig on original alluminium mast, stepped on the coach-roof in an interesting varnished tabernacle.
Single spreaders with jumper struts above.
New 2011 stainless steel rigging with twin lowers, single stemhead fore stay, single standing back-stay to the masthead and runners on levers to the jumper struts.
S/s rigging screws to internal s/s chain plates.
New 2011 aluminium boom with tackle kicker. Internal reefing pennants on jammers.
Single-tailed mainsheet to a substantial s/s horse across the after deck.
Genoa tracks on the toe rails.
Winches.
Pair of Lewmar 40ST self tail, 2-speed on the cock-pit coamings
Pair of bronze Lewmar 40 top-action 2-speed on the cock-pit coaming.
Pair of Lewmar 16 ST self tail on the mast.
Single Lewmar 7 top-action 2-speed on the mast, armed with clip on rubber self tail cap for reefing.
Sails
Mainsail with 2 deep slab reefs. 314sq’ Arun Sails 2011
Working Jib 180sq’ Arun Sails 2011
No 2 jib 150sq’ Collins 2005
No 3 jib 100sq’ Collins 2005
Storm jib. 50sq’ Arun Sails 2011
Machinery.
Volvo 2-cyl 18hp naturally aspirated, salt water cooled diesel engine. Centre-line installatioin to conventional shaft drive.
- New cutlass bearing, new shaft, new engine mounts
2 x 12v batteries secured under the quarter berth. Switch board on the bulkhead to starboard of the entrance incorporating ex-Spitfire switches.
One battery is 5 years old, the other is 18 months
2011 New battery management system
Tanks
Fuel 9 galls diesel in one steel tank under the after deck.
Water Estimated 15 galls in 2 tanks under the saloon cabin sole.
A 3rd tank under the sole is currently disconnected.
Manual pump at the galley sink, drains overboard.
Accommodation 5 berths
V-berths in the fore peak. Simple mahogany joinery forming 2 berths, exposed hull sides. Forward ply bulkhead with oval opening to stow small items. Stowage under the berths.
Chain locker between under varnished surface.
Large bosun’s locker in the after starboard corner.
Sea toilet in the after port corner, bulkheaded off from the forepeak berths.
Standing space with varnished hardwood sole boards between heads and locker with head-room under the fore hatch above.
Centre-line bulkhead doorway to the saloon cabin. The bulkhead takes the compression forces under the mast with two vertical hardwood posts forming the doorway.
Saloon cabin with port and starboard settee berths. The starboard settee pulls out 4” inches to give 17” when used as a berth.
Stowage under and behind each side.
- New Taylor’s stainless steel cabin heater on the forward bulkhead to starboard.
Shelves on the forward bulkhead to port.
Fold-up varnished drop-leaf mahogany table.
Smart upholstery in piped water-proof vinyl with buttoned back rests.
Varnished coamings, white painted deckhead and bulkheads, varnished cabin sole
A unique feature of the Dee 25 is the keyhole bulkhead dividing the saloon cabin from the galley and chart desk.
Galley in the after port corner with a unit against the after bulkhead incorporating a stainless steel sink and deep surface loaded locker all finished in clean white formica.
Gimballed trays suspended between the unit and the keyhole bulkhead carries an Origo single burner meths cooker, simple and very adequate.
Partitioned lockers under the side deck behind with ready use jars for tea, coffee sugar etc.
Quarter berth to starboard, well open into the cabin to allow easy access.
2 drawers below all in nice quality mahogany joinery.
A loose board sits in the quarter berth as a very satisfactory chart desk mattress.
Nav instruments etc on the bulkhead above.
Steps to the cock-pit between galley and quarter berth lift clear to access the front of the engine.
Varnished cabin sole in separate lift-up panels with non-slip Trackmark surface to access tanks in the bilge.
Head-room: Dog-house entrance 6’
Saloon midships 5’6”
Under fore hatch 5’6”
Bunk lengths Quarter berth 6’10” x 2’6”
Saloon port 6’2” x 20”
Saloon stbd 6’ x 20”
Fore peak port 6’1”
Fore peak stbd 5’9”
Inventory.
Navigation
Sestral Grid Compass
Raymarine chart plotter
Raymarine echo sounder
Sailor VHF radio
Autohelm 2000 auto-pilot on the tiller.
Ground tackle
35lb Manson anchor
30fthms 3/8” chain
Simpson Lawrence Hi-speed manual windlass new 2010
Deck gear.
Mooring warps
Fenders
Manual bilge pump in cock-pit locker
Cock-pit cushions
Safety jack-stays on the side decks.
Legs
Cock-pit tent
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.
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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.