Vripack Stentor 1300: Steel Trawler Yacht with Range, Refinement and Real-World Practicality
Now Asking £115,000 | Full-displacement steel motor yacht designed by Vripack and built for real cruising
For those in search of a true long-range coastal cruiser with the bones of a small ship and the utility of a liveaboard, the 1999 Vripack Stentor 1300 deserves a serious look. This isn’t a motor boat trying to be everything to everyone. Instead, it delivers something rarer: focused, honest cruising ability in a stout steel package, underpinned by the design pedigree of Vripack and a smart, owner-led fit-out. I recently featured this boat in a full walk-through on my YouTube channel — you can watch the video here.
Design and Exterior: Built for the Work of Cruising
The Stentor 1300 was built in steel by Stentor Yachts and finished by her first owner in 1999, with naval architecture and overall design by Vripack. The result is a full-displacement hull form with a rounded bilge that transitions into a long, flat run aft, culminating in a protected rudder and prop enclosed by a solid skeg. That skeg offers more than grounding protection. It contributes significantly to directional stability, particularly in following seas or river currents.
You get a beam of 14 feet carried well forward, which supports both generous interior volume and low-speed stability. Bilge keels are welded to the hull, acting as passive stabilisers without the complexity of fins or actuators. A flared bow keeps spray down, and full-length rubbing strakes protect the hull when locking through or working commercial quaysides.
At the bow, anchoring gear includes a Lofrans electric windlass and 70 metres of chain. It’s the kind of robust setup that suits the boat’s serious intentions.
Engineering and Performance: Long Legs and Logical Layout
Power comes from a Perkins Sabre M130C — a naturally aspirated 6-cylinder marine diesel that delivers 130 horsepower. It runs quietly, thanks to extensive sound insulation, and is paired with an unusually accessible engine room. At a steady 6 knots she sips just 8 litres per hour, offering a theoretical range of more than 3,000 nautical miles from her 4,250-litre fuel capacity. She’ll reach about 9 knots flat out, but everything about this drivetrain is optimised for long hours at displacement speed.
A stainless steel day tank is fed from four main tanks via a clearly marked multi-valve manifold and Fill-Rite manual pump, with dual Racor-style filters mounted in easy reach. A grey water tank (120 litres) is used to flush the heads, and a stainless black water tank (250 litres) serves both bathrooms, with deck or overboard discharge.
Systems are sensibly distributed and well documented, with raw water strainers, freshwater pumps, electrical distribution and heating controls all mounted accessibly. The boat also carries a 6kVA HFL generator, powering the 240V systems when away from shore.
Interior and Liveaboard Layout: Designed by an Owner Who Understood the Job
Inside, the Stentor 1300 has a purposeful, well-considered layout. Two separate cabins offer four proper berths, with the owner’s cabin aft making full use of the beam. It features an island double berth, ample locker space and en suite heads with separate shower.
Forward, a twin V-berth cabin shares a second heads compartment, while amidships you’ll find an L-shaped galley and opposite dinette that converts to another double. The galley is all-electric, featuring a Neff induction hob and combination oven/microwave, with no gas onboard. A Quooker tap provides instant boiling water.
A few steps up is the wheelhouse saloon, a light-filled space with excellent sightlines, opening windows, and a helm station equipped with Furuno electronics, Kab 411 helm chair, and a large chart table. Aft, the open deck is wide and uncluttered, with proper guardrails, wide side decks and solid stainless fittings. She also carries a Ribeye tender and davits.
This vessel is currently listed for sale with Clarke & Carter Yacht Brokers at an asking price of £115,000. For full specifications, additional photos, and contact details, you can view the listing directly here.
Premium Content for Paid Subscribers
In the premium section below, we’ll dig deeper into the real-world viability of the Vripack Stentor 1300 as a liveaboard cruiser, looking at costs, upgrade paths, and practical considerations beyond the brochure. This is where the technical story continues!
As a premium subscriber, you’ll also get access to the members-only chat area on Substack, where you can speak directly with me and other serious explorer yacht enthusiasts about this vessel or anything else you’re exploring. Whether you’re planning your first steel cruiser or refining your next upgrade, it’s a great place to exchange insight with people who’ve been there.
Premium Content: Real-World Ownership and Upgrades on the Vripack Stentor 1300
Running Costs and Operational Scope
