HISTORY & DESCRIPTION:
In 1930 John Bain, a resident naval architect at Silvers Rosneath yard drew the lines for a new class of motor-yacht christened the Silverette. In 1935 SILVER WITCH – Ex: HELEN was launched. The design was a great success and orders soon came into the yard for the standard Silverette a sturdy 30ft vessel with optional centre wheelhouse/aft cabin ideal for exploring the Western Isles. Over the years this proven sturdy and sea-worthy motor-yacht design became highly sought-after and as such ownership of a Silverette is extremely desirable. With the increasing value of the larger John Bain / Silvers designs, the Silverettes have risen in price in the last few years.
SILVER WITCH was built in 1935 for Charles Wimble of London and launched as HELEN. Charles owned the boat for nearly twenty-five years before she was sold to John Emons of Piccadilly, London in 1959. John re-named her SILVER WITCH and lengthened the boat by 1ft in 1960, keeping her on a mooring in Rochester.
In 1965 Kenneth Graham of High Wycombe bought Silver Witch moving her to a mooring at Leigh on Sea. Dorothy Coward of Seer Green, Buckinghamshire became the fourth successive owner in 1968, moving the boat on to the River Thames in London. In later ownership, SILVER WITCH was moved north on to the River Ouse in East Yorkshire.
Traditional carvel planked hull of teak, copper fastened to steam bent oak timbers. Sheathed pine decks, teak wheelhouse and aft cabin. Teak brightwork and mahogany interior joinery.
Principally original interior with good headroom offering fore and aft cabins, central wheelhouse, heads and spacious galley.
PAIR 33hp VETUS M414 DIESEL ENGINES installed new in 1987, last serviced 2017. Two 3 bladed bronze propellers, shaft driven. Four (2015) batteries. 240-volt shore-power. 2 x 140-litre fuel tanks.
Heads
- Thetford cassette toilet with spare cassette
- Stainless steel basin
- Pressurised cold water
- Vanity cabinet
- LED light
- Fire extinguisher
- Anchor locker
- (original Blakes seacocks for Baby Blake toilet & basin still in place)
Saloon
- 2x glass door cabinets both with 2x cupboards beneath (original)
- 2x 6ft 6in settee/berths – base cushions/ bolsters/ large loose cushions to both settees were new 2015
- Under settee storage to both sides, one stores the beaching legs
- 2x brass gimbal oil lamps in good working condition
- 4x LED period style lights
- 12volt Avtex TV/DVD with Omnimax aerial and booster
- Original drop leaf table with 2 drawers
- Bilge access
Galley
- CR50 Waeco 12 volt fridge/freezer
- Large larder cupboard
- Stainless steel sink & drainer
- Pressurised cold water
- Jabsco Aqua water filter
- Taylor paraffin twin burner & oven model 30; serviced by Taylors in 2015
- 12 volt lighter socket & USB ports
- 2 x 240 volt sockets
- Fire blanket & fire extinguisher
- 2 x LED lights
Wheelhouse
- 12 volt distribution panel
- SmartGauge charging display
- Auto/manual bilge pump panel
- Standard Horizon VHS radio GX2200E & aerial/ Furuno GP 33 GPS/ Clipper Duet combined log & echo sounder
- Brass ships bell
- Husan “Dead Beat” compass & brass binnacle (serviced 2015)
- cupboard access to diesel tanks & storage above
- 2 x stainless steel 140 L diesel tanks (new 2015)
- 2 x side-mounted swivel seats
- 2 x bulkhead mounted crew seats ( one original)
- Floor access to 2 x Vetus M414 33hp engines
- Floor access to batteries/ main fuses/ battery charger/ 1.5 L stainless steel pressurised paraffin tank
- 2 x folding wheelhouse doors
- 1 x sliding roof hatch
- 12 volt lighter socket & USB ports
- 1 x LED light
- 2 x removable canvas dodgers
- Fire extinguisher
NB all electrics in the boat were renewed in 2015 S250SE Complete Electrical System supplied by Merlin Power Systems
Aft Cabin
- Fixed double with 2 x 2ft mattresses (new 2015)
- Under bunk storage
- 2 x Sapele bespoke cabinets with Tambour doors
- Access to water tanks 2x90L polythene (new 2015)
- Access to steering mechanism
- 12 volt lighter socket & USB ports
- 2 x LED lighting
- Fire extinguisher
- NB All interior is Mahogany/ Sapele & painted wood
Exterior
- Pulpit
- Manual anchor windlass
- 2 x Anchors
- Approx 30ft anchor chain
- Dog Hatch & cover
- Stanchion rails to both sides
- 6 x mooring cleats + fairleads
- Front deck/ wheelhouse roof/ back cabin roof/ rear deck have all been stripped back to wood re-canvassed & painted 2015/16
- Small mast with full set navigation lights
- Stainless steel electric trumpet horn
- Hand rails
- TV aerial
- Hatch cover
- 2 x stainless steel fender baskets
- Horseshoe life buoy
- Red Ensign mount
- Access for emergency steering
- Hull stripped back & repainted in 2015
- Below waterline anti-fouled 2015
- International Paint used on all exterior paint work
- Le Tonkinois varnish on all brightwork inside & out
The boat under went its restoration in 2015 & included:
- Replacing cracked ribs with steam bent English Oak using copper nails riveted
- Replaced wood round stern tube with Iroko
- Rotten transom planks & brightwork toe rail replaced with Iron
- All other suspect wood replaced
Silver Witch attracts a 10% discount on a CRT Licence due to her historical status.
Silver Witch is on the National Small Boat Register No 3105.
Silver Witch can also be found on Caledonian Maritime Research Trust under her original name “Helen” O.N 302547.
BOAT SAFETY CERTIFICATE valid until 2022
Viewing highly recommended.
GUIDE: Sold – July 2018
LYING: Yorkshire
VIEWING: Through the brokers –
CLASSIC YACHT BROKERAGE – 01905-356482 info@classicyachtbrokerage.co.uk
