Silver-Yachts 36 Ft Ette Motor Yacht for sale in Lowestoft E37 United Kingdom

MERO may well be the best restored, refitted, and outfitted example of John Bain’s highly attractive, 36 ft ‘stretched’ Silverette Type of 1930s twin screw motor yacht. More than 25 years of care in current ownership have included a major restoration followed by structural and detailing refits, and systems upgrades.

MERO may well be the best restored, refitted, and outfitted example of John Bain’s highly attractive, 36 ft ‘stretched’ Silverette Type of 1930s twin screw motor yacht. More than 25 years of care in current ownership have included a major restoration followed by structural and detailing refits, and systems upgrades. MERO benefits from Silvers original semi-open wheelhouse arrangement, offering a fine weather ‘cockpit’ with the covers off, while her easily maintained, low-hours modern Beta diesel engines ensure smooth running and efficient manoeuvers. The whole is the perfect platform for cruising and exploring in classic style, but modern comfort.

BROKER'S COMMENTS

MERO may well be the best restored, refitted, and outfitted example of John Bain’s highly attractive 36 ft ‘stretched’ Silverette Type of 1930s twin screw motor yacht - something akin to a shooting brake of the sea. More than 25 years of care in current ownership have included a major restoration followed by structural and detailing refits, and systems upgrades. MERO benefits from Silvers original semi-open wheelhouse arrangement, offering a fine weather ‘cockpit’ with the covers off, while her easily maintained, low-hours modern Beta diesel engines ensure smooth running and efficient manoeuvers. The whole is the perfect platform for cruising and exploring in classic style, but modern comfort.

OWNER'S COMMENTS

MERO may well be the best restored, refitted, and outfitted example of John Bain’s highly attractive 36 ft ‘stretched’ Silverette Type of 1930s twin screw motor yacht - something akin to a shooting brake of the sea. More than 25 years of care in current ownership have included a major restoration followed by structural and detailing refits, and systems upgrades. MERO benefits from Silvers original semi-open wheelhouse arrangement, offering a fine weather ‘cockpit’ with the covers off, while her easily maintained, low-hours modern Beta diesel engines ensure smooth running and efficient manoeuvers. The whole is the perfect platform for cruising and exploring in classic style, but modern comfort.

RESTORATION

On purchase it was clear that MERO had suffered substantial fresh water damage.
- Initial restoration by Greenway Marine, Chedgrave, Norfolk
- Further works by Harbour Marine Services, Southwold, Suffolk
- Pitch pine planking and oak timbers replaced mainly on the port side.
- Beam shelves, stem, deck, deckbeams and wheelhouse replaced
- Aft cabin sides, stern post and transom replaced
- New electrics, electronics, engines and tanks
- About 2300 lbs/ 1043 kg of ballast added

HISTORY

JAMES A. SILVER LTD. "SILVERETTE" No. 18
UK NATIONAL HISTORIC SHIPS REGISTER No. 3014
By the mid-1930’s, under the leadership of John Bain - a talented naval architect who remarkably married his craft with management and marketing flair - the Firth of Clyde yard James A. Silver Ltd had become the pre-eminent UK designer and builder of high quality, series produced motor yachts. Bain's 30 ft 'Silverette Type' design for a series-built pocket motor cruiser had hit the ground running in 1931, attracting a new demographic to pleasure boat ownership and use, and helping to further establish the desirability of the Silver brand.
The first stretched to 36 ft version 'Silverette' was launched in 1932, and by the time the 36-footers NONIE (MERO's original name) and her sister CAPERCAILLIE were launched at Rosneath in June 1934 - as the original builder's plate in MERO's wheelhouse records - the total number of 30 ft and 36 ft 'Silverettes' built to date was already approaching 20. Good going during what were supposed to be the Great Depression years, and alongside the Silver yard's other output of 'Brown Owl' and 'Silver Leaf' types, and custom builds up to 60 ft.
Dumbarton resident and Royal Clyde Yacht Club member Robert W. Whyte was John Bain's perfect kind of client: free of any business worries having sold his family's highly successful Rutherglen-based wire rope manufacturing business, Allan, Whyte & Co. Ltd., in 1925 to British Ropes. Whyte cruised NONIE on the west coast of Scotland for three seasons before returning to Rosneath for her replacement, the 50 ft 'Silver Leaf' type NONIE [II].
By the time of NONIE [II]'s launch in 1937 it seems that Whyte owned both boats, and that it was he who renamed his first to MERO. By 1938 ownership in MERO had transferred to Royal Scottish Motor Yacht Club member, and master mariner, Captain John M. Crocker of Whitecraigs, Glasgow.
During the Second World War MERO is believed to have been used by the UK Government Ministry for Food in experimental work to find out if plankton could be turned into a food source. Thankfully for the food chain perhaps, it seems this would have been impractical, and for MERO, it kept her out of harm's way.
Post war, MERO moved south to a long period in various ownerships by Little Ship Club members, moored in Sussex, most probably Chichester Harbour, and perhaps also on the Thames.
Hubert J. G. Goodman, Willesden Green, London
- A master butcher
- Member: Little Ship Club; Sussex Motor YC; Upper Thames Motor Boat Club
Mrs. Dorothy (Conway) Arnold, Tunbridge Wells
- Later of Chidham/ Birdham, Chichester Harbour
- Member: Little Ship Club; Bosham SC
Charles Schermuly, Epsom, Surrey
- Member : Little Ship Club
In the late 1890s his father, William Schermuly, invented and patented the Schermuly Pistol Rocket Apparatus (SPRA), a rocket propelled ship-to-shore line throwing device of a type eventually by law fitted to British registered ships of over 500 tons. His company, which became a well-known name in pyrotechnics and maritime life-saving equipment - and during the Second World War employed over 1400 - was subsequently run by Charles and his two brothers, and eventually sold in the early 1970s to Pains Wessex.
W.L. Norman, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
- Member: Little Ship Club; Birdham SC; Sussex Motor YC
1967 - c. 1987
Betty Knott
- Church Island, Staines, Middlesex
- Home port became London
s
Anthony Robert Miller, Buckinghamshire
- Thames
1990s
Jonathan Greenway, Norfolk
1996
Purchased by her present owners
- Initial restoration work undertaken by Greenway Marine
- Subsequently works by Harbour Marine Services, Southwold
2017
Classic Boat (Magazine) Awards
- Nominated in the Powered Vessels Under 40 ft category
©2023 Iain McAllister/ Sandeman Yacht Company Ltd.

CONSTRUCTION

- Carvel pitch pine planking
- Oak Frames
- Rock elm timbers
- Mahogany upper planking
- Sheathed marine plywood deck
- Mahogany covering boards, king planks and deck beams
- Pitch pine spars
- Teak cockpit

DECK LAYOUT, EQUIPMENT, AND GROUND TACKLE

GENERAL
- Painted, sheathed marine plywood decks
- Varnished mahogany covering boards and king plank
- Varnished mahogany and teak superstructure
- Galvanised stanchions and lifelines
FROM AFT
TRANSOM
- Galvanised tender stanchions at transom
- Bronze tackles
- Stern light
- Boarding ladder fittings
AFT DECK
- Gate in stanchions for gangway access
- Hatch to steering flat and lazarette stowage
- Emergency steering fitting
- Padeye for steadying sail sheet tackle
- Chromed bollard mooring cleats port and starboard
AFT CABIN TRUNK
- Raised hatch to aft cabin
- Raw teak handrails port and starboard
- Galvanised tabernacle for mizzen mast
- 2 x Bronze mushroom vents
WHEELHOUSE ROOF
- 2 x Solar panels
- Raw teak handrails port and starboard
- Horns
- Francis searchlight
- Running lights
RAISED FORWARD DECK
- Chromed bollard mid mooring cleats port and starboard
- Butterfly skylight over saloon
- Gas bottles locker to port
- Stowage locker to starboard
- Galvanised main mast tabernacle
- Butterfly skylight over galley
- Raised hatch over WC compartment
FOREDECK
- Chromed bollard mooring cleats port and starboard
- Varnished toerail
- Chromed mooring fairleads port and starboard
- Stainless steel stemhead cap with forestay fitting
- Bow rollers port and starboard
GROUND TACKLE
- Delta anchor stowed in custom launcher
- 30 m chain and warp
- Lewmar Pro-Fish windlass

ACCOMMODATION AND DOMESTIC EQUIPMENT

SEMI OPEN DECKHOUSE
Helm position to port
- Helm seat
- Chromed bronze ship's wheel
- Steering compass in bronze binnacle
- Morse throttle controls
- Engine instrumentation
- 2 x Raymarine repeaters
- Ship's isolator panel
- Locker
- Port windscreen opens
Sideboard to starboard
- Mount for Raymarine plotter
- Plotter can stowed below for security
- Locker
Engine space under
- Acrylic opening side screens
- Acrylic aft screen
- 2 x Period bulkhead lights
- Deckhead downlighter
AFT CABIN
- 2 x Hanging lockers
- Turned fiddled shelves
- 2 x Berths; lockers under
- Centreline chest of drawers aft
- 2 x Bulkhead lights
- 2 x Opening ports
- Raised hatch aft in deckhead w. ladder
- Access to lazarette/ steering flat
FORWARD ACCOMMODATION
SALOON
- Settee berths port and starboard
- Sideboards and lockers port and starboard forward
- Drinks/ glasses to port
- Plates to starboard
- Drop leaf table on centreline
- Butterfly skylight in deckhead
- 4 x Bulkhead lights
- 4 x Deckhead lights
- 4 x Opening ports
GALLEY
- Wood top surfaces
- Isotherm top loading fridge
- Plastimo Neptune 4500 cooker, with:
- 2 x Burner hob
- Grill
- Oven
- Stainless steel sink with mixer tap
- Food lockers
- Shelves port and starboard
- Lighting under
- Butterfly skylight in deckhead
- 2 x Deckhead lights
WC/ SHOWER COMPARTMENT
- Jabsco manual toilet
- Shower; electric sump pump
- Shelving
- Tall mirror
- 2 x Opening ports
- Raised hatch in deckhead
- Access to chain locker and holding tank

MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL, AND TANKAGE

MECHANICAL
- 2 x Beta Marine 38 hp diesel engines (2018)
- PRM gearboxes (2018)
ELECTRICAL
- Mastervolt Mass Sine inverter/ charger
- Shore power system
- 1 x Starter battery
- 4 x 110 Ah Domestic batteries
- 2 x Solar panels on wheelhouse roof
TANKAGE AND ASSOCIATED
- 2 x Stainless steel fuel tanks c. 144 L each
- 1 x Stainless steel water tank c. 250 L
- Hot water tank: port engine calorifier and 240 V supply
- Tek-Tanks black water holding tank forward
- Pump out deck fittings forward
- Shower sump pump
OTHER
- Hydraulic steering to single rudder
- Webasto air heater; outlets to saloon and aft cabin

RIG, SAILS, AND CANVASWORK

RIG
- Main mast, mizzen, and boom of pitch pine
- Stainless steel flag staff on mizzen
SAILS
- Mizzen steadying sail
- Sheet tackle led forward to mizzen mast
CANVASWORK
- Mizzen boom sail cover
- Covers for:
- 2 x hatches
- Skylights
- Deck boxes
- Wheelhouse windows
- Canvas side and rear screens at cockpit

NAVIGATION AND COMMUNICATIONS

NAVIGATION
- Raymarine c95 Chart plotter
- Raymarime i50 Tridata
- Raymarine Autopilot w. Fluxgate Compass
COMMUNICATIONS
- Icom 401 DSC VHF radio
- Digital Yacht iNav Connect w. iNav WL510 router

SAFETY

- UK Inland Waters Boat Safety Certificate (expires 2027)
- Auto fire extinguisher system for engine space
- Fire extinguishers at galley and aft cabin
- Fire blanket at galley
- Carbon Monoxide alarms at galley and aft cabin
- Gas alarm/ isolator at galley
- Gas cylinders drain overboard from deck box
- Gas system solenoid at galley
- 1 x Auto bilge pump with float switch
- 2 x Lifebuoys
- Steaming, anchor and deck lights at main mast

OTHER EQUIPMENT

- Fenders and assorted warps
- Boarding/ swim ladder
- Companionway boarding ladder (stored off boat)
- Associated davit (requires hull fittings)
By Separate Negotiation
- 7 ft 6 in / 2.29 m Clinker ply pram sailing tender - new, unused
- Torqueedo electric long shaft outboard motor - new, unused

IMAGE CREDIT

- Harbour Marine Services: Main image, video, and 'hauled out'
- Graham Lappin/ Dalmadan Blog: Vintage Silvers ad.

Disclaimer

These particulars have been prepared from information provided by the vendors and are intended as general guide. The purchaser should confirm details of concern to them by survey or engineers inspection. The purchaser should also ensure that the purchase contract properly reflects their concerns and specifies details on which they wish to rely.