1905 “Dragonfly” 45′ Bunn Edwardian Cruising Yacht

• Wood carvel construction
• Redwood pine planking on steamed oak timbers
• White gloss paint finish with red antifouling
• Mahogany cabin sides, cockpit benches, internal panelled bulkheads, bunks, lockers and tables (all original)
• Fixed cabin roof
• Hinged drop keel operated from a bulkhead tackle in the aft cabin. The plate drops through the deadwood and slotted lead keel below
• 2 x cylindrical stainless steel gas lockers in aft deck with bronze lids
• The steamed oak timbers, garboard planks, hog, and the deadwood were renewed in 1982/83 when the hull was extensively overhauled
• 3 x planks replaced 2023 and hull reported to be in good shape
• Last hull survey 2011
• Last surviving Edwardian Cruising Yacht on the Norfolk Broads

• Beta Marine Type 722 three cylinder 20hp diesel engine (2002, total run time below 800 hours)
• 50L stainless steel fuel tank
• Hydraulic drive to a bronze Sonic Saildrive leg with Gori 2-blade folding propeller
• Engine discreetly installed in aft locker under stern deck
• Tiller steering
• Manual double diaphragm bilge pump
• 3 x Engine batteries
• 3 x Domestic batteries

• Gaff rig with topsail and bowsprit
• Traditional wooden boom & gaff, aluminium top sail
• Mast with lead counter weight stepped in tabernacle which raises and lowers with finger-tip control
• 2 x sheet winches fitted in the cockpit coaming
• Mainsheet triple block shackled to shock absorbing deck fitting & through bolted to keel
• Wire rope standing rigging
• Main sail
• 3 x Jibs
• All sails are in good condition
• Total sail area of approximately 1000 square feet

• 6 berths in 3 cabins
• Two wide single berths in forward cabin, two settee/single berths in aft cabin plus single berth and pipe cot in forepeak
• Wash basin in forward cabin
• Galley with fitted with gas oven and gas hob
• Portable gas hob and grill (stored in cockpit locker)
• Double drop leaf mahogany table with cutlery drawers (concealing drop keel)
• Separate heads compartment with sea toilet (electric flush, no holding tank)
• 20 gallon stainless steel fresh water tank
• 12v cabin lights and gas lighting in forward and aft cabins
• Forward cabin hatch lifts for additional headroom
• Maximum headroom approximately 1.68m
• Tiller is portable and a mahogany table can be fitted in its place

• Boat Safety Scheme certificate (expires July 2023)
• Full over cover (good condition)
• Cockpit awning
• Swimming ladder
• Navigation lights
• 2 x Quant poles
• 2 x mast crutches
• Fire extinguishers (not guaranteed in date)
• Boat hook
• 4 x fenders
• Various warps

There are few sights at a Broadland regatta or when she is cruising on the rivers, to match the Edwardian cruising yacht Dragonfly under full sail driving through the water in a brisk wind. Over the years much has been written about the Norfolk Wherry, the single sailed trading barge of the Broads, and the Wherry Yacht which developed from it.
However, little has been written about the large Edwardian Broads cruising yachts which were typically about 40′ LOD and normally sailed by a paid skipper. They were built both for private owners and for various hire fleets and filled the gap between the Wherry Yachts and the smaller cruising yachts sailed by the owners/hirers. Today the only large Edwardian cruising yacht to survive in sailing order on Broadland waters is Dragonfly. Relatively unchanged since her launch in 1905; she was for the first time fitted with a diesel engine in 2002, even then, the engine was tucked away under the aft deck with a hydraulic drive to the folding propeller.

This stunning cruising yacht is gaff rigged with a bowsprit and topsail and has a total sail area of approximately 1000 square feet with the mainsheet being 195 feet in length! The mast with its lead counter weight is stepped in a tabernacle and raises and lowers with finger-tip control.
Her hull is constructed of redwood pine planking on steamed and also sawn oak timbers. The steamed oak timbers, garboard planks, hog, and the deadwood were renewed in 1982/83 when the hull was extensively overhauled. Three Planks have been replaced this year 2023 and the hull is reportedly in good shape.

A beautifully spacious and original full mahogany interior of cabin sides, doors, panelled bulkheads, berths, lockers, doors and tables creates an air of luxury. There is ample living and storage space for extended cruising on the Norfolk Broads where she is sure to turn heads wherever she sails. Now reluctantly for sale with the owner retiring from sailing

FOREPEAK: Fitted with a fixed bunk to port and a pipe cot to starboard. A sliding bulkhead hatch leads to the companion way aft. A fore deck hatch allows the mast foot weights to swing up when the mast is lowered. Situated in the forepeak is a 50 litre capacity stainless steel fuel tank, and three batteries under the bunk for engine, lighting and bilge pump.

COMPANION WAY: Fitted with portable steps and a hatch to the dusk on the starboard side. There is an enclosed toilet to port. A gas oven is fitted below the steps to starboard under the side deck. Alongside the oven is a hand operated double diaphragm bilge pump.
The companionway steps also serve as a boarding ladder when in position over the transom.

FORWARD CABIN: Fitted with two wide bunks with drawers below, also has a side table and wash basin. A 20 gallon stainless steel water tank is built-in under the starboard bunk. In the cabin top there is a large square hatch that can be raised for additional headroom. The forward cabin has both gas and electric lighting. There is a panelled mahogany door the leads to the aft cabin.

AFT CABIN: There are settee/bunks port and starboard with lockers below and behind. In the centre of the cabin is the drop keel casing with two cutlery drawers and a double drop leaf mahogany table mounted on top. In the cabin top there is a glazed butterfly hatch. The aft cabin has a double door with sliding hatch access to the cockpit. The aft cabin has both gas and electric lighting and a fresh water pump just inside the cockpit doors.

COCKPIT: Mahogany benches run full length with spacious lockers behind and below with drawers and further lockers at the aft end. The tiller is portable and in its place a mahogany table can be fitted. A portable gas hob and grill is stored in a locker below. Two sheet winches are positioned on the coamings.

AFT DECK: The mainsheet triple block is shackled to a shock absorbing deck fitting, through bolted to the keel.
Aft of the mainsheet fitting is an engine access hatch with a smaller hatch alongside for the mainsheet hand. Just forward of the transom, two cylindrical stainless steel gas lockers are let into the deck with bronze lids.