Design and Construction
The Devon Yawl’s distinctive character comes from its clinker-moulded glassfibre hull. This construction allows the modern boat to look and sound much like the wooden Salcombe Yawl it descended from.
The lay-up was robust from the outset. The boat was never intended to be a lightweight flyer, and the clinker mouldings gave the structure stiffness and longevity—qualities that help explain why Devon Yawls hold their value on the second-hand market.
As a strict one-design, the class combined a glassfibre hull and lightweight aluminium spars with the wooden bowsprit of its ancestor. It also retained the heavy cast-iron centreplate used by the Salcombe Yawl. About 144 lb of fixed internal lead ballast works with a substantial 175 lb aerofoil centreplate. At a displacement of 950 lb, that gives the boat a 33 percent ballast ratio and makes it markedly more stable than a 370 lb Wayfarer.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The two-masted yawl rig is genuinely flexible, rather than merely traditional. The sail plan carries 150 sq ft with the jib and 167 sq ft with the genoa. Crews can sail the boat hard under genoa for decent speed or reduce sail to jib and mizzen for gentle pottering.
Owners report that the Devon Yawl sails close to the wind and is particularly good upwind. With the wind on the nose, she points high and “talks” to the helmsman: the steady, positive helm tells the crew when a gust makes her want to point higher.
Writing in Practical Boat Owner, the reviewer was caught off guard by her speed in a breeze that seemed too soft for a boat of this type. Owners likewise report that the class is quicker than similar-looking craft and can hold its own against lighter dinghies in mixed racing.
With the plate raised, draught is 11 inches; with it lowered, draught increases to 4 ft 6 in. The centreplate is operated by a drum winch, and the shallow draught allows the boat to reach almost anywhere a centreboard boat can go.
Cockpit, Stowage, and Cruising
Beneath the small fore and stern decks, the Devon Yawl provides useful stowage. The centreplate case is also shaped to intrude little on the cockpit. There’s enough room for a family crew to spread out without fouling the helmsman, and the boat can be kept safely on a mooring.
Yachting World found that the built-in stowage and sea-kindly behaviour made the Devon Yawl an excellent cruising dinghy. Her stability, along with the option of trolling under power or anchoring off a sandbank, also makes her a versatile companion afloat.
Owners report that she will handle most seas. In bad weather, she still sails excellently under jib and mizzen, helped by the heavy centreplate and internal ballast.
Known Issues and Ownership Notes
The most safety-relevant point concerns the boat’s structure rather than a fault: provided the side tanks are sound, even a flooded Devon Yawl will not sink.
Older examples may need some particular checks. Hull No. 85, for instance, has a traditional wooden floor over a shallow, flat bilge. On early boats, that arrangement is worth inspecting for rot or distortion.
The class has long had active administration. Founded in 1979 and affiliated with the Royal Yachting Association, the Devon Yawl Association runs the National Championships and publishes a newsletter, The Yawl. Active fleets range from Topsham and the Dart to North America.
Production transferred in 2014 to James Gough-Allen of Pennant Yachts. After finding that the original hull mould had become distorted during outdoor storage, he built a new mould and launched his first boat in 2015. At the time of writing, he was modifying the cockpit to make it self-draining and gain a CE mark.
The Verdict
The Devon Yawl is a rare combination: a traditional-looking yawl that behaves like a proper boat. She’s stable enough for a family, quick enough to race, and shallow enough to explore.
Around 400 boats have been built, including about 20 by Andrew Siwik in Connecticut, and the class remains in production in both the UK and USA. For sailors who want heritage without the fragility of timber, the Devon Yawl is easy to recommend.
Pros
- Clinker-moulded glassfibre hull with a robust lay-up and long life
- Very stable for her size; won’t sink if the side tanks are sound
- Flexible yawl rig suited to both racing and pottering
- Active class association and fleets on both sides of the Atlantic
Cons
- Early hulls may have wooden floors needing inspection
- A self-draining cockpit was a recent retrofit goal, not an original feature
