SOLD: Lone Gull II  'Mew Gull'

Mew Gull 

Lone Gull 2 

Builder - Robin E. Johnson - Colchester

Constructed - 1984

Hull type - larch planks on oak frames copper riveted

Keel type - long keel with unballasted bilge keels

Length - 8.53m

Beam - 2.75m

Draught - 1.2m

Displacement - 5.75 tons

Berths (- double forecabin, two saloon bunks

Engine - Beta marine 25hp - installed 2007

Fuel type - diesel

Fuel tank - 40lt plus cans

Water tank - 70lt plus cans

Introduction

Mew Gull was built by Robin E Johnson of Colchester, commencing in 1979 and eventually launching in August 1984.

She was launched by Maurice Griffiths’ wife, Marjorie and the designer later wrote about her “I was much impressed with the skill of the builder and the care he took over various details to ensure strength and general water tightness. I think very few boats have been built with such attention to detail; were I twenty years younger, I would very much like to have bought her myself.”

Mew Gull has since featured in Yachting Monthly several times.

Construction

Mew Gull has a softly rounded stem with a slightly raked transom stern and transom hung rudder of mahogany with an Iroko tiller, gudgeons and pintles of bronze.

The displacement hull form features a long ballast keel secured with 6 steel keel boats, and unballasted bilge keels of laminated oak, fastened with steel bolts and having a sacrificial shoe and steel rubbing strips.

The hull is of traditional carvel construction planked with selected larch, copper fastened to oak steam bent timbers and floors. Larch stringers, beam shelf and deck beam, with varnished mahogany coamings which extend the cabin top and side deck to full beam, thereby giving the cabin space equivalent to a much larger yacht.

The deck is of marine ply laid over conventional deck beams with an epoxy resin sheathing finished with a light grey anti-slip surface.

The externally fitted galvanized chain plates are through bolted with galvanized bolts.

The varnished mahogany doors are very convenient for entering inside, there is no need to slide the main hatch open. There is also a washboard that slides in if required.

The cockpit is self draining, with inset engine control panel and shore power socket. The water proof cockpit lockers are substantially made from varnished iroko mini planking and covered with non-slip granules.

All brightwork is covered with 10 coats of Coelan boat coating. I have been using this high end product for nearly 20 years now, and if maintained will last 10 years.

The robust varnished mahogany davits are very convenient for carrying a small dinghy in sheltered waters. (I actually carried a wood clinker dinghy from France to Turkey and back for 5 years on the davits, although when sailing in the Atlantic I lashed it on the deck.)

Galvanized pulpit, stanchions and cockpit guardrail are all at good height.

Spars and rig

Masthead bermudan rig to the original design with black anodised alloy mast and boom by Sailspar.

The boom is secured in an Iroko and bronze boom gallows, so no swaying around in high winds.

Stainless steel rigging, with Sta-lok terminals and chromed bronze bottle screws.

Furling headsail gear,  with continuous line reefing. Slab reefing for the mainsail, with boom mounted winch and cleats. 2 mast halyard winches and 2 Lewmar self tailing cockpit mounted sheet winches.

Forestay 8mm

Lower shrouds 8mm

Upper shrouds 6mm

Back stays 6mm 

An emergency forestay is permanently fixed ready to take the storm jib

Sails

All tan coloured for appearance, good visibility and lack of sun glare:

3 reef main, roller genoa, jib, storm jib and storm trysail all in good condition, genoa has been re-stitched.

Engine

Beta Marine (BD902) 25 hp 3600 rpm indirect injection 4 stroke water cooled diesel engine based on Kubota 3 cylinder for smooth running, low emission and excellent fuel consumption between 1 and 1.3lts per hour, 40 amp alternator, TMC 40M gearbox. 

Complete rear end overhaul from coupling to 3 blade bronze propeller including shaft and stern tube - 2016

Engine installed in 2007, serviced annually.

Accommodation

Mew Gull offers a four berth layout in two separate cabins following the original design. The raised and full width side decks give an unexpected living space with 1.80m headroom, this is a very comfortable yacht.

From forward: 

Forward bulkhead with chain locker and warp stowage. A double berth with an upholstered mattress, headlining insulation of 20mm cork. Clothes locker and bookshelves and two reading lamps.

Above is a waterproof double coaming iroko hatch. When open, perfect for watching the stars.

Nicely varnished cabin sole boards throughout and a warm feel with the varnished mahogany joinery. Large stowage area under the berth.

The sliding door then leads aft to the half size hanging locker with a 12v 35 lt draw fridge under, the danfoss compressor is below in the bottom locker.

Opposite are the heads with a simple, leak/smell free bucket with lid, set in a mahogany box toilet. A cabinet behind with a wash bowl.

The aft varnished mahogany bulkhead has another sliding door leading to the saloon.

The saloon is open plan and very comfortable with a good depth to the port and starboard settees, fitted with deep cushions and backrests. The slats that make up the settees are slightly curved for comfort. There are stowage lockers beneath and behind the settees, there are bookshelves and a leaded glass drinks cabinet. Two lamps and two ceiling lights.

The cast iron Davey's Hot-Pot wood burner makes it very cozy on a cold wet night.

The red Turkish carpet and two oil lamps set it off wonderfully.

A half height bulkhead with pillars and cut out grab holds divides an outward facing chart table on the starboard and galley to port. The chart table has a lifting flap with stowage draw and navigation instruments and switches are mounted adjacently.

The galley is equipped with a two burner gas cooker, the galley work surface is tiled and a cover over the stainless steel sink. Culinary utensils, crockery and cutlery have space in the lockers and on the shelves. 

The deckhead is lined to provide insulation and prevent condensation. There are 7 ceiling lockers for all those tiny items one accumulates.

Four portlights make it bright; they each have a roll blind for covering.

Equipment

Double bow roller, starboard side for the main anchor, a 15kg Rocna and 50m of 8mm galvanized chain. 

Port side for 50m of 18mm warp stored below in the anchor locker.

Lofrans royal hand windlass with warping drum and 8mm chain gypsy.

10kg fisherman grapnel anchor, great for rock and weed.

17kg CQR

15kg plough anchor

2 electric bilge pumps, a big one on an automatic float switch.

Henderson mark V Hand operated bilge pump.

Selden 5m telescopic whisker pole, installed on mast track.

2 autopilots -, Raymarine ST4000+ with built-in display and a Raymarine ST2000 stand alone for backup.

Radar - JRC 1000

GPS - Garmin 128 with repeater in cockpit

Nasa weatherman

Depth sounder - Garmin fishfinder 160

2 VHF radio - IC-M421 (needs an antenna) and IC-M1EURO V handheld vhf radio

Refrigerator - frigoboat 35lt with danfoss compressor BD35, keel cooled.

2 x 100w solar panels mounted on aft gantry and top of davits

Rutland 913 wind generator mounted on a telescopic pole off the aft gantry.

Marlec charge regulator HRDi

2 AGM batteries @ 110ah - 220ah

Shark MSC 2012 20amp battery charger

EcoWorthy 1000w inverter

Nasa battery monitor BM1

Ships compass Plastimo Contest 130

Stainless steel boarding ladder

Steiner Captain binoculars 7x50

Set of bronze caulking irons

2 Bronze seam raking irons

Lignum vitae caulking mallet

Caulking cotton

2 x life jackets

2 x safety harness

Lifering

2 Fire extinguishers

Fire blanket

Set of flares

Various ships books, charts and cruising guides

Winch handles and holder

Boat knife and sheath

Anchor ball

Radar reflector

Motor sailing triangle

Courtesy flags

Mooring lines

Fenders

Boat hook

Grauvell Shark 20/30 Fishing reel

TEK kayak 2.40 Xcess

Remarks

The bilge keel configuration is ideal, she turns and tacks consistently. In light airs she gathers way after a tack without initial leeway and in winds of force 4 or more the leeway angle is very acceptable. The design is legendary for good balance, lightness of helm and the ability to hold a course unattended for long periods. The ability to take the ground is of course of great value. The ports in the raised coaming give plenty of light and the external view can be seen whilst seated in the saloon. The large clear deck space means that the sails and gear can be handled in a simple and practical way. For the past twenty five years she has proved the owner's ideal yacht.

I have sailed from the UK down the French canals to the Med, across to Croatia, Greece and Turkey, back into the French canal system, out into the Atlantic, north Spain, Portugal, isla Canarias, Cabo Verdes, and Senegal, it is quite a capable vessel and sea kindly, also a great liveaboard for the past 25 years.

Mew Gull

The name was changed from ‘Lindisfarne’, by the previous owner. It was a 1930’s racing aeroplane. There were six constructed, in 1939 G-AEXF raced single handed from London to Cape Town and back in record time…it still holds the record today.

MG is also the initials of Maurice Griffiths

Mew Gull has featured in:

Yachting Monthly classic yacht supplement August 1991

Landmark designers and their boats - Maurice Griffiths, champion of the shoal-draught cruiser. 

Includes an interview with the previous owner Colin Newnes by Paul Gelder.

In December 1997, a picture of Mew Gull appeared for Maurice Griffiths 1902-1997 obituary.

“Mew Gull is a fine example of Maurice’s Lone Gull II design”.

Mew Gull has also been reviewed by The Boatman, for future publication.

May 2006 Yachting Monthly, Shoal draughtsmen.

‘Mew Gull, MG’s Lone Gull II design with bilge keels instead of a centreboard.

Location, Algarve, Portugal.

Price for Mew Gull is £17,000  SOLD

Includes a mooring on the river Guadiana, border between Spain and Portugal.

Sold to a lady in Portugal!  April 2025