Silver Leaf TSMY

Full specification

Wooden ships comments on this Silver Leaf TSMY

James Silver’s was one of the great Clyde boatyards and have become best known for their classic motor yachts.

John Bain was the resident marine architect and subsequently took over the yard as MD until its demise in the early 1970’s.

The Silver Leaf design was one of the yard’s popular motor yachts showing all the classic John Bain features. The secret of buying a Silver John Bain motor yacht is to find one which has not been altered too much over the years and that still has all the original fittings – and this is just such an example.

She was launched as Hopalong. Sold by Wooden Ships out of London in December 1993 and we lost track of her thereafter until she reappeared on the Clyde and was subsequently sold to the East coast.

The general shape is a long keeled twin engine motor yacht with raised deck, a wheel-house just aft of midships with an entrance each side stepping down into the wheel-house, a drop down in the deck right aft to a small aft cock-pit and aft cabin entrance.

A very slight clipper bow gives her a charming slightly racey look, radiused transom stern with single timber rudder below.

The topsides  from midships to aft are in varnished teak with bronze port holes.

The long clear foredeck has 2 low-level entrance hatches and a traditional sky-light over the midships saloon. She carries 2 small masts capable of setting some steadying canvas.

Recent major refit in present ownership is now nearing completion.  As well as carrying out some structural repair work, she has had a complete cosmetic refit inside and out, the hull was stripped to bare wood and repainted, all varnish has been stripped back and renewed as well as the interior cosmetics.  The engines and electrical systems have all been attended to and repaired or replaced as necessary

Construction

Pitch-pine planking, carvel laid, caulked and payed and fastened with bronze screws to substantial 3 ½” x 2” sawn oak frames at approx 3’c with two steamed oak timbers between fastened with copper nails and roves.

Oak centre-line with grown oak floors.

Long external cast iron keel.

Shallow timber anti-roll bilge keels each side also spread the loads if she is dried out on a beach.

The underwater parts of the hull have had a major refit including complete re-caulking, all new keel bolts and centreline botls, new stem band and a new section of wooden keel forward of the ballast keel replaced with oak.

Deck

The deck is laid in very traditional fashion of T&G pine boards sheathed with epoxy cloth and painted to give a totally water-tight surface.

The cover-boards round the edge of the deck are laid separately and finished varnished to give a very pleasing result.

The join between canvas and coverboard is sealed with a small toe rail to stop tools rolling over the side.

The coverboard on the starboard side was totally removed to gain access to the beamshelf which required some attention along with a few beam ends which were suffering from some soft.  The coverboard was replaced in Iroko.

Galvanised steel stanchion posts bolted through the coverboards carry guard wires.

The wheel-house, sky-lights, hatches and aft cock-pit are all built in varnished teak.

Teak chocks on the aft deck to carry a clinker tender with davits on the port side for launch and retrieval.

Machinery

Twin Seamaster 4-cyl 40hp naturally aspirated, fresh water cooled diesels installed new in 1957.  These engines were originally fitted to the Ferguson T20 tractor and were marinised by Seamaster.  Parts are readily available at sensible prices.  Both engines have been thoroughly serviced with a new timing chainon the stbd engine and new alternator on the port.

Hyland hydraulic gear boxes with twin lever controls.

Conventional shaft drive on A- brackets to 3 blade bronze props.  Props, shafts, stern glands and cutlass bearings have been checked.

She will easily achieve 8 knots cruising at very low fuel consumption on these wonderful engines.

Fuel

150 litres of diesel in 2 engine room copper tanks.

Electrics

4 x 12v heavy duty batteries on 12v circuyits.  Dedicated engine start batteries and domestics.

Charging from engine alternators or 240v charger when connected to shore power.

240v 13 amp socket ring throughout the boat.

Accommodation

The interior has been reconfigured slightly to suit the present owners requirements.  The main saloon is still complete with her original joinery in panelled oak, the aft stateroom cabin is largely original as well in the same panelling, as is the wheelhouse.

Access to the wheelhouse is through sliding doors port and starboard.  There are seats either side with full standing headroom and plenty of storage lockers.

Wheel steering with all controls and navigation gear to port.

Steps down to the saloon on the starboard side.  Centreline dropleaf oak table with Pullman settee berths either side giving 4 sleeping berths if necessary.  Polished bronze portholes set in nicely detailed panelling.  Solid fuel heating stove against the aft bulkhead.

Centreline door through to the galley which has been newly constructed using solid oak.  Port side is a fixed twin gas oven with 4 burner hob and a separate grill, and a large work top.  Starboard side is a double stainless steel sink with pressurised hot and cold running water.  Large amounts of locker and storage space either side in the galley with large work tops, perfect for the keen chefs.   New 12v/240v fridge with freezer compartment.

Forward of the galley is a door to the fwd heads with chain locker and ladder to exit through the forehatch.  Blakes Lavac sea toilet pumps directly overboard.

Going aft from the wheelhouse there is a large aft stateroom cabin spanning the entire breadth of the boat.  Large double berth on the port side requires new mattress and upholstery.  There are drawers/dressing table on the starboard side with wardrobes either side of it. This cabin has been finished with the same simple yet effective panelling as the rest of the boat, with the same detailing around the bronze portholes which gives her a very original yet cosy feel.  Port side in the aft cabin are large storage lockers.

Going aft from here is the main heads compartment which is yet to be finished.  The hull has been stripped and repainted and is ready for the new heads joinery to be fitted as desired by the new owner.  There is an aft companion hatch going out of the heads onto the aft deck.

Aft of the heads is a large lazarette locker with the steering gear, hot water calorifier tank and vast amounts of storage space for fenders and warps.

Inventory to be confirmed.

Disclaimer:

These particulars have been prepared in good faith from information provided by the Vendors and are intended as a guide, Wooden Ships cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. The Purchaser should instruct his agent or surveyor to validate all details as necessary and satisfy himself with the condition of the vessel and its equipment.