Classic 26 ft Cruiser with canoe sterned gaff cutter Built in 1925 and fitted with a Volvo inboard diesel. She has raised top sides forward combined with a generous beam of 8 foot 6 this gives her a lot of interior accommodation. She has a generous cockpit that makes her excellent for day sailing. She has very fair lines beneath the waterline and a generous cast iron keel. With additional trimming ballast under the cabin sole

History

Rona was designed by John A McCallum a well respected clyde designer perhaps best known for his involvement with the Silvers yard.

She was built by smith brothers in 1926 and Launched as an Auxiliary Bermudian cutter with an Weather brooks 4 cylinder petrol engine. Named Pervaneh. A year later she appears in Lloyd's register with the name of Rona( which she has stuck with for the following 99 years) owned by a doctor RC Scott of portray. By the 50s she was Now based in Liverpool where she was converted to gaff rig as it was felt as it was felt this was more suited to her sea kindly hull. Around 1955 she was purchased by an Edward Robinson who described himself as a newspaper man he was also an author who wrote of his yachting exploits in his book cheerfully at sea he describes the purchase of Rona and indeed how he intended to finance her along with sketches of her interior and photographs of her at this time. At this time she was kept on the Conway river. The 1968 Lloyd's register show her now at Holyhead, Now with three owners W S Robinson C S farmer and Dr AL. Morris still with her original petrol engine. Day 1976 register shows her still at Holyhead but with no owners listed and the engine had been changed to a two cylinder yanmar engine. Since this point she has had various owners but has always been based around the North Wales coast or the Isle of Man. The owner previous to me owned her for 30 years.

Construction

Rona was clearly well built by the Smith brothers the vast majority of her full length planking and frames appear to be original, the planking is all pitch pine beneath and below the water line she has sawn grown oak frames with steamed rock helm ribs between she is all copper fastened, bulkheads and the majority of the cockpit are of teak. She has never been restored , but maintained and kept in use.

Interior

Rona has a simple but functional interior that has changed little over the last 70 years. The main saloon has two full length bunks with lee boards that double as back rests with stowage under. A small galley area with a sink , fresh water tap and an origo alcohol stove. With a drawer and lockers under.

On the port side there is a hanging locker , this has the fuse boards in it and it is not really practical to use it for anything else. Outboard of this is further storage, with a hinged door that folds down to form a chart table.

There is a good sized saloon table that folds to allow access to the forepeak.

The saloon is well lit with four port holes and a traditional skylight, the skylight and companion way provide 6ft head room along the centre line of the bulk of the saloon.

Blown air heats both the saloon and forepeak.

The forepeak has been recently refitted to provide a very generous single berth, possibly suitable for two children. It is designed that a simple flap over the heads could convert it to a full sized double.

Beneath the bunk is a very generous locker that is big enough to store all sails , inflatable etc.

The WC is a new Lavac discharging overboard.

Sails & Rig

Rona is rigged as a gaff cutter , with a recent keel stepped pole mast , the boom is hollow spruce and retains roller reefing perhaps from her Bermudan rig. The main has two slab reefs . The staysail can be reefed down to a storm jib the jib is set flying from the bowsprit that was replaced at the same time as the mast.

All line handling is by block and tackle .

Engine

Ronas engine is a Volvo 2000 series , it has always been reliable and is free of leaks etc. It drives a three bladed prop via conventional stern gear. Last Service 2025

Electrical

The electrical system is simple and appears to have been replaced when she was redecked , marine grade tinned cable has been used.

The engine start and domestic batteries are both 110amp hr, the alternator charges the start battery that can then be parallel to the domestic battery . In addition a roaming solar panel is used to keep the domestic battery topped up.

Port and starboard nav lights are mounted on the standing rigging with a steaming and anchor lights on the mast. The stern light requires refitting.

There is a NASA depth sounder discreetly positioned in the corner of the cockpit and a DSC radio in the companion way.

Deck Equipment

• Anchor Chain & Warp


• Cockpit Cover


• Solor Panel


• Warps & Fenders

Navigation Equipment

• Nasa Echosounder New 2022


• Radar Reflector


• Radio


• Navigation Lights

Maintenance in this ownership

Rona appears to have largely yard maintained with a folder of receipts going back to the mid 80.s

In recent years significant work carried out:

• 2015 new mast by waterftont marine

• 2015 new fore deck by waterfront marine

• 2016 new oak floor, mast step rigging etc. waterfront marine

• 2023 burnt off all paint above and below the waterline, caulking and stoppings as require, hood ends refastened, new rudder shaft and tube,

• 2024 aft deck replaced , along with damaged beams and section of sheer clamp. As per fore deck two layers of jubert gaboon ply and epoxy sheathed.

• 2025 completely stripped fore cabin , new joinery teak sole, upholstery ,lavac wc and pipe work.