|
Boat Specifications |
The Miss Silver was a successful design by John Bain of Silvers of Rosneath, Scotland, builders of a wide range of high quality yachts until the eventual demise of the old yard in the 1970's. 31' x 27.8'wl x 10' x 3'6". This 31' motor sailer gave many advantages for the yachstman who wanted comfortable sailing in all conditions. With a powerful engine and 275sq ft of sail she was capable of making good progress in all conditions. The accommodation gives a separate aft cabin with 2 berths and an en suite toilet compartment, a good wheel house with space for 3 or 4 people in comfort and a forward cabin with berth either side, table between and a galley in the after corner. The joinery was particularly attractive in limed oak and the boat was built to the usual Silvers high quality. She has good head-room all through and carries her 10' beam over much of her length making her surprisingly roomy - definitely a carpet slippers boat. Planked in mahogany all copper fastened to heavy oak frames on an oak back-bone with a long external iron ballast keel. The transom is varnished. The steel plate rudder is hung under the transom with cables to the wheel. The deck is laid in solid teak, caulked and payed with a varnished capping rail all round carried on stainless steel stanchions. The superstructure is built in varnished iroko. The wheel-house has a sliding door each side, traditional varnished mahogany sky-lights on the forward and after coach-roofs. Her bermudian ketch rig is carried on varnished spruce masts stepped on the deck with stainless steel rigging. Having sailed a Miss Silver I have personal experience that they sail much better than they look as if they would like so many John Bain motor sailers. That man had a real gift. Perkins 4108 installed in 1985. 4 berths. 2 berths in the aft cabin, 2 berths in the saloon cabin. Full head-room all through. This yacht was sold to the present owner some years ago and has been under-going a very complete refit, more as a therapy for the experienced yachting owner than with any intention of actually going anywhere! He has spent a lot of money, doesn't regret a penny of it and has enjoyed getting this right. Unfortunately advancing years have caught up with him and he really needs a smaller yacht. The list of work is too long to mention but the major points are: Replacement of the stbd aft coach-roof coaming Replacement of the aft coach-roof deck and sheathed. Capping rail off and all stanchions regalvanised and refitted with new guard wires. Replacement of forward coach-roof stbd coaming. Replacement of stbd side deck in solid teak. Fitting a hatch on the wheel house roof over the wheel. All port holes and window frames rechromed. Engine out and steel engine support cradle regalvanised. Thorough engine service. Partly rewired. Replacement of cushions made by the man who used to do MG car seats in the old days - this owner designed them! As these photos show, she is nearly ready for launching and someone is going to get a very fine yacht. It is always best to spend a little more in the first place and buy a boat that someone else has refitted - you get far better value for money |
