The Vertue is one the most iconic British yacht designs of all time, examples of which have voyaged the world and proved themselves as incredible sea boats with capabilities far beyond their size. This particular boat, Laurent Giles Vertue V40, is a very nice example, that has benefited from a regime of continuous maintenance and light use.
Designed by Laurent Giles and built by Stebbings of Burnham on Crouch in 1951. She was built for the Festival of Britain exhibition in 1951 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festival_of_Britain) as an example of top class British boat building and craftsmanship, there are black and white photos of her being exhibited with her original varnished hull. She was named 'Festival Vertue' when launched.
After this she remained in the same family for over 50 years, based in Essex, where she was very well maintained and had a major professional refit in 2005. She then moved to Devon where she is now based and has been kept up to a very good standard by her diligent owner with professional help where required. She has had only 3 fastidious owners since 1951
This is the short doghouse model giving a slightly larger cockpit and a bridge deck, ideal for weekend and day sailing. The interior offers 2 comfortable berths and 6' headroom plus a heads and galley, everything you need for local cruising and long weekends aboard.
Annual refits have been carried out each year for the current owner by a professional shipwright keeping her in good overall order. (Schedule is available)
Benefitting from a Nov 2022 Survey, the Surveyor concluded “Virtue Fidelis was generally found to be in very good order, particularly in view of the fact that the vessel is more than 70 years old.” and valued her at the current marketing price.
This is a very smart example of the Vertue in ready to go condition with a nice pedigree and history.
November 2022 survey available.
Vessel type: | Sloop |
Designer: | Laurent Giles |
Builder: | Laurent Giles |
Make: | Laurent Giles |
Model: | Vertue |
Constructed: | 1951 |
Berths: | 2 |
No. of engines: | 1 |
Engine model: | Yanmar 1GM10 |
Fuel type: | Diesel |
Drive type: | Shaft drive |
Length over all: | 25' 3" |
Beam: | 7' 2" |
Maximum draft: | 4' 6" |
Hull material: | Wood |
Hull type: | Displacement |
Hull colour: | Cream |
Keel type: | Full Keel |
Displacement: | 4 metric tons |
Fuel capacity: | 5 Gallons |
Water capacity: | 5 Gallons |
Simple layout below decks with 2 berths, heads and galley.
Steps down from the entrance hatch with galley to port and chart desk to starboard.
Galley has an Origo spirit stove, storage cupboards and a single stainless sink with manually pumped fresh water.
Typical Vertue half height curved bulkheads separating off the main saloon.
Settee berth either side with lee cloths and trotter boxes at the forward end.
Centreline door into the forepeak with an aft facing Baby Blake sea toilet which was stripped and refurbished in 2020. Space for stowage of sails, fenders etc
Planked in Honduras mahogany all copper rivet fastened to steam bent oak timbers. Hull splined from new as she was originally varnished.
Mainly grown oak floors across the centreline with a few galvanised straps in the ends of the hull.
External iron ballast keel of just over 2 tons. 11 new keel bolts were drawn in November 2022, 3No bronze bolts to the false timber keel were in perfect condition and replaced with new bronze nuts.
8 No Ballast Keel Bolts have been professionally replaced with Galvanised EN8 (high tensile strength) steel.
Sheathed T&G Red Cedar decks, finished in deck paint. Decks sheathed in original canvas, the canvas is in excellent condition and deck maintenance is a simple task of occasional deck repainting.
Bulwark taken back to bare wood in 2021 repainted with 9 coats of primer, pre-kote and top coat.
King Plank, Sampson Post and Bow Stem fitting removed new king plank fitted, finished with 2 Coats Bonda Seal, prime, undercoat, top coat of Hempel
Stainless steel pulpit and stanchions with the usual Vertue bulwark all round, this was removed and refitted in 2021. All deck pads, cleats and grab rails removed taken back to bare wood and revarnished in 2021.
Very smart cockpit with varnished mahogany slatted thwarts and scrubbed teak sole boards.
Varnished mahogany coamings with bronze framed windows. Coamings and doghouse overhauled in 2018 and 2019, stripped to bare wood, new beading fitted and re-varnished.
Transom hung rudder with varnished tiller.
Laurent Giles Vertue built in 1951 for the Festival of Britain and exhibited there as an example of British craftsmanship. Only 3 owners since new and has always been well maintained. Honduras mahogany hull on oak, short doghouse with large cockpit and 2 berth accommodation. Yanmar 10hp diesel. A very smart example in sound condition with a long list of refit work carried out professionally in the last 4 years. Very well equipped and absolutely ready for her next owner. Thorough refit in November 2022 including all new keel bolts, hull repairs and an overhaul of rig and mast. November 2022 insurance survey available.
Plastimo steering compass
Hand bearing compass
Husun VHF
Garmin GPS 72
NASA clipper sounder, new 2021
Walker trailing log
Raymarine ST2000 tiller pilot new 2020 plus remote controller
Clock and barometer
Engine space fire extinguisher
Plastimo safety ladder
Kim MOB sling
Horse shoe life buoy with light
Electric bilge pump
Manual bilge pump
Radar reflector
20lbs CQR anchor
45m 5/16" galvanised chain
10lbs CQR with 90' of chain and warp
Gowan mainsail
Gowan Yankee
Gowan No.1 staysail
Cruising chute
Large genoa
1972 Mainsail
1972 No.2 staysail
Original sails from 1952, storm jib and No.2 staysail in Egyptian cotton.
Mainsail cover + spare
Cockpit summer canvas cover
Forehatch cover
5 large fenders
Selection of warps and lines
Bunk and berth cushions
Laurent Giles gimballed saloon table
2 cabin oil lamps
Yanmar 1GM 10 diesel engine
2 x 12 volt batteries, new 2020
Yanmar 1GM10 single cylinder 10hp diesel installed new approximately 1997. Regularly serviced and well maintained.
New Stainless Exhaust Elbow fitted 2020
Vetus Water Strainer added 2020. New Water Pump 2021.
Vetus water exhaust lock checked and serviced 2021
Single lever controls with a centreline fixed 3 blade bronze propeller.
Shaft log and stern tube rebuilt in 2021. New Blakes engine sea cock fitted 2018, all other Sea Cocks serviced 2021.
5 gallon stainless fuel tank under the aft deck
5 gallon plastic water tank.
2 x 12 volt batteries charged from the engine alternator. Batteries new in 2020.
Full Winter cover £3500 new in 2021, can be purchased over and above the Yacht price.
Note: Indicated location is approximate general area only.