20" Sailing Yacht / Boat - Leisure 20, on Windermere

For Sale! – Much Loved 20” Yacht – ‘Teacup in a Storm’

Built on 26^th November 1979 in the UK by Cobramold Ltd

Our beloved Teacup is up for sale. So called as she is small and round and solves all of life’s problems!  Whilst she has been a great boat and we have had some wonderful adventures with her, we are now coming up with friends every time so are looking for something with an extra couple of bunks.

Currently lying on a marina on Windermere, Lake District.

We had planned to keep her over winter and sell her in the spring when I’d finished a couple of extra jobs I didn’t get done this summer. However my boyfriend had suggested we sell her now for a lower price and look for our new boat over winter. I suspect this is so he can make sure I don’t end up with two! So bag a bargain!

This popular model of boat is best described by the leisure owners association (more info available at: http://www.leisureowners.org.uk/site/contents/leisure20_new.shtml )

“With its long waterline and generous beam the Leisure 20 is a superbly balanced four-berth family cruiser that can be sailed just about anywhere in absolute safety and complete comfort. Designed for both serious offshore cruising and inshore pottering, it's the ideal trailer-sailer giving you a virtually unlimited choice of horizons. Under sail the Leisure 20 is extremely stable, vice-free and fast, performing well under all types of conditions. Under power it will cruise happily and economically with a 5 to 7 horsepower outboard, and is very manoeuvrable whether going ahead or astern.

Built in GRP for strength, rigidity and minimum maintenance, the '20' is surprisingly roomy for its size. Bilge keels are of cast iron. Rudder and skeg are moulded GRP with steel framework and stainless steel fittings. A teak rubbing strake is standard.

Moulded non slip areas on deck are designed to ensure safety. The cockpit is deep and wide, and features an outboard motor well in the stern, the cover providing an additional seat or table.

The spars are in aluminium alloy. Originally gold, the spars of later boats are black or silver. All standing rigging and rigging screws are stainless steel. Halyards are internal.
The Leisure 20 hull was designed by a German designer (name not currently known) and the deck was designed by Brian Meerloo.

Specification Detail

·      Length Overall 6.09m

·      Length Waterline 5.56m

·      Beam 2.31m

·      Draft fin 1.16m (Twin 0.80m, Centreboard 0.56-1.22m)

·      Weight approximately 1300kg

·      Mast 7.32m (Lakerig 7.93m)

·      Mainsail 8.0 sq. m

·      Genoa 13.5 sq. m “

Teacup has had a few improvements over time. The large Genoa is now fitted with roller reefing for ease of use, especially when sailing single handed. All rigging is complete, however I will be taking the sails, cooker, fridge, engine off for the winter this week. The sails are in great condition and have been stored well each winter. In summer sails are stored on the boat but the Genoa has a UV strip so no light gets on it and the main is covered by a lovely new sail cover.

The boat had extensive work done on it this summer – antifoul was taken down to the gel coat and a new coat of navy blue put on – this will last until next winter (or more if you’re lazy!). We also added a white toplac waterline stripe as we thought it looked smart. The teak original rubbing strake was hand sanded and teak oiled and looks beautiful. We also had a new three piece door although this now has a small water mark at the bottom, it could probably do with an extra coat of varnish on the bottom at some point.

The accommodation currently includes three sensible size cushioned berths (my partner is over 6ft and he fits!) and a new full galley comprising of:

·         Silver Coolzone fridge – bigger than a normal boat fridge to fit more beer in! This is powered by mains elec.

·         White and brown Flavel Vanessa Gas Cooker – two hobs, grill and oven. Hobs have been used a couple of times for bacon butty duties but we’ve never used the grill or oven.

·         Sink

·         New Electrics – We had all new this summer – 6 electric sockets and 6 halogen mains elec lights (four in the galley and two in the front berth) plus two LED lights fed by the battery – for light when sailing or at anchor.

·         Ample stowage space – we don’t use the front lockers as we find there is more than enough in the back for all our holiday stuff for a week.

·         New Bulkheads in marine ply and varnished. These were done at the same time as the galley.

·         Two large coachroof windows on each side, and translucent forehatch so it is particularly light and airy. Headroom is 1.62m in the cabin (1.14m sitting).

·         The berths are a good size, there is currently one in midships which is a seating area by day and a double v berth at the front – we picked this boat specifically because I wanted a bed in the front so I could lie with the hatch open above my head and look at the stars and my partner wanted room for his feet! Whilst we have taken the fourth bunk out at the back and replaced it with a big galley area, you could always undo the four bolts holding it in place and put the cushions back – would be an easy 5 minute job and all cushions and back of the sofa are available with the boat.

·         Porta potti – isn’t very private but is better than weeing over the side!

·         LCD HDR and freeview TV DVD and wall bracket available for extra £60. The bracket allows you to turn the TV and watch from the front berth in bed, in the galley or even from outside. We use this to play music as it has a built in DVD player and to watch films on rubbish days.

The engine has been super reliable whilst we’ve had her – has always started, even after winter. Engine was serviced this summer and will be taken out of the boat in the next week and stored indoors over winter.

There are a couple of little jobs I had planned to finish this summer to get her in mint condition but we’ve been too busy enjoying her! Some of these may be finished by the end of the week!

·         The front window frames were replaced this year as they were the originals from 1979 so were leaking slightly, the back ones are cut out but need to be screwed in. This isn’t a big job but does require two people.

·         The tap needs to be screwed back in – it was taken out when we replaced the bulkhead so as not to damage it.

·         A small piece of wood needs to be made for the top of the bulkhead – I haven’t replaced it as I liked to have a curtain up which covered it anyway (and then I can use the toilet without my partner being able to see me!)

·         The electrician drilled three small holes (by accident!) in the side of the boat. I have bought the colourmatch filler and can give it to you but haven’t got around to doing it yet – doesn’t appear to leak so didn’t seem to be an immediate job!

·         Some of teak deck fittings could do with a coat of varnish

As you can see these are all small jobs to get her in totally mint condition and are the reason for the cheap selling price.

This is a great little boat and we have loved being in her – have had many adventures, the two of us, the dog and our cat (yes, she comes too and loves it!) and have always felt like she will look after us well and brave out any storms.

This boat is available to view and possibly test out (but please no time wasters, I don’t want to sail anyone around the lake for the day just for a jolly!) at any point in the next week. Please call me, Nicky on 07724124293 for more details or to view. More photos are available on request.

Boat must be collected and paid for in cash by Sunday the 8^th Nov if bought. Alternatively, you could make arrangements to leave it here or I could help you put it on a mooring.

Good luck and happy bidding!