G L Watson 41 ft Sloop 1961 - Sold

In 1961 Major MSB Vernon had Moodys of Swanwick build VAREN to an original GL Watson design. The scope and high quality of build enable an interesting comparison; that she cost more than twice as much as an imposing seafront house on the Clyde at that time.

From the late 1950s the design and building of yachts was undergoing great change. On her commissioning VAREN came to the attention of “Yachting World”, who, while in the forefront of reporting on modern developments, noted in her case:

“Scottish yachtsmen and architects have never been influenced by the RORC rule to the extent of those on the south coast and ….have remained faithful to a more conservative type of cruising yacht having greater emphasis on weight and comfort and with less eccentricity in rig. Change does not always betoken improvement. Indeed it was once considered to suggest decay and some years ago the pure cruising yacht had reached a stage of development in design beyond which much more than changes of detail could hardly be expected to occur.”

Approaching her half century VAREN has served her 4 owners well, the first for 30 years and the present owner for 10. While equipping her for the 21st Century, he certainly considers her design to be as near the ideal cruiser as could be devised, a boat capable of moving efficiently in winds both light and strong whether in long deep water seas or the short and steeper waves of estuaries – all of this without putting great demands on her crew. What more could one desire ?

Teak planking on substantial oak frames, American elm timbers, oak stern post, oak laminated stem, teak deck work and laid decks, lead keel, mahogany throughout the interior

There are five berths in two cabins ventilated throughout by opening portholes and the fore hatch. From the open cockpit with wheel and doghouse double door entrance are steps down - and behind which is easy access to the engine, with two lockers, one for oddments and one for lines and spare fuel etc.

To port, there is a quarter berth with locker over for boarding ladder stowage, and rope locker alongside, there is room for a six man inflatable beneath the quarter berth. To starboard is the navigation station with chart table, two chart sized drawers and locker underneath. Instruments are mostly hidden behind doors.

The main saloon has single berths with lee cloths to port and starboard with stowage behind backrests, ample additional locker space, shelving, bookcase to starboard, cocktail cabinet and drawers to port. A beautiful mahogany double dining table has drop leaves with fiddles and a compartment amidships.

The companionway through the saloon forward bulkhead accesses the head to starboard with Baby Blake WC, china sink, mirror and lockers. Opposite to port is the galley with eye level storage, cooker, stainless steel sink, chrome hand pump and pressurised hot and cold water, fridge, with further stowage below.

A doorway leads to the forward cabin with two single berths in V layout and ample stowage below; on the port side via drawers and door and to starboard from the top. Amidships is another locker with upholstered storage box above. There is also a hanging locker to starboard.

Beyond is the anchor locker with stowage for chain and fenders.

- Cockpit, doghouse, quarter berth and fore cabin upholstery / cushions (2000)
- Main saloon upholstery/cushions (2007)
- Pressurised hot and cold water to galley mixer and heads basin
- Fresh water hand pump at galley
- Frigomatic custom built fridge at galley (2000)
- Original Baby Blake marine WC renovated in 2000
- 2 burner gas cooker with separate oven and grill (2001)
- Blaupunkt Stereo (2000)

- Bermudan sloop
- Douglas fir mast and Boom by Freeland Yacht Spars (2005)
- Mast and Boom fittings by Hercules Atlantic (2005)
- Light spinnaker pole by Freeland Yacht Spars (2006)
- Standing rigging (2000/2005)
- Running rigging constantly upgraded as necessary
- Medium weight mainsail by Sanders Sails (2000) cleaned and repaired every year
- Slab reefing with three reefing points
- Lazyjacks
- Medium weight roller genoa by Sanders Sails (2000) cleaned and repaired every year
- Profurl genoa furling (1999)
- Spinnaker and snuffer by Ratsey (1992)

- Lofrans Tigres electric windlass with chain and warping drum (2000)
- 35lb CQR with 3/8” galvanised chain
- Fishermans anchor
- Canvas covers for windlass, fore hatch, gas locker, mainsail, cockpit tonneau, cockpit tent, and winches
- Twin Anderson halyard winches at mast;
- Lewmar reefing winch on coach roof
- Twin mainsheet and twin self-tailing genoa winches at cockpit
- 6 x Clyde cleats at bow, midships and stern
- 3 x chromed cowl/dorade vents
- 2 x chromed engine cowl vents
- 4 x chromed prisms
- 4 x brass dome vents
- Stainless steel boom crutch (2009)
- Stainless steel pulpit, pushpit and guardrails with gates port and starboard
- Boarding Ladder
- Boat hook
- Winch handles

- Whitlock pedestal binnacle compass with compass light
- Furuno GP31 GPS (2000)
- Raytheon ST50 Speed/Depth/Wind (1998)
- Raymarine C70 Chartplotter mounted on binnacle (2006)
- Raymarine VHF (2007)
- Raymarine AIS receiver (2007)
- Furuno Navtex (2007)
- Raymarine Pilot (2008)
- Raymarine VHF Handset (2008)
- Brookes & Gatehouse Echo Sounder (refurbished 2000)
- Port, starboard and stern lights
- Masthead LED tri-colour and anchor light (2008)
- Steaming/Deck light (2000)

- Emergency tiller
- Plastimo 6 man liferaft in stainless steel rapid release frame; serviced to 2010
- Firdell Blipper
- Horseshoe lifebuoy/light linked to danbuoy
- Lifesling
- Fire extinguishers (to be date tested) & fire blanket
- Heavy duty wire cutters
- 2 manual and 1 automatic bilge pumps
- Webbing jackstays

- Clinker 7’6” tender/sailing dinghy stowed on coach roof chocks with oars, centre board and rudder but no mast or sails (circa 1990)
- Sundry warps and fenders
- 2 part winter cover suitable for use afloat/ashore (2008)

The significant refits are itemised below. Where individual equipments have been replaced or renewed, indicated by dates in the foregoing specifications, they are not necessarily referred to again in this section

1984 Changed from original ¾ wooden spar rig to aluminium masthead rig

1991 Major refit at Berthon Lymington including new coachroof and interior alterations

2000 Major refit at John S Hill Renfrew including stem rebuild, hull taken back to bare wood, some splines replaced, keel bolts inspected, metal floors re galvanised, deck re caulked, boarding ladder made, interior varnished, full upholstery; life raft (thereafter serviced every three years), covers, standing & running rigging, gas system, electrics, Aqua Signal navigation lights; bilge pump & float switch.

2001 New engine, calorifier and cooker.

2005 New wooden mast and boom with some new rigging and alterations to mainsheet track

2006 Hull back to bare wood, some splines replaced, interior alterations to create more stowage space; new upholstery in main saloon; pulpit reshaped to make anchoring easier, Lopolight at masthead, new teak cockpit grating, 2 part all over winter cover.

2008 Rope locker added, Boom crutch.

Every year for the last ten years the exterior varnish, waterline and antifouling has been refreshed, the coachroof repainted, deck dowels replaced and general maintenance carried out.