Wooden Ships Comments on this Fred Parker Twin Screw Motor Yacht
50’ Twin screw motor yacht designed by Fred Parker and built by Port Hamble Ltd in 1965.
Designed and built for the CEO of the Mars Corporation, he later sold her and commissioned and similar but larger yacht, also by Fred Parker and Port Hamble Ltd.
Known to have been seized by HM Revenue and Customs at some stage, she was kept by them and used for training on the river Hamble, including training of sniffer dogs to search vessels.
Sold back into private ownership she has been used for cruising around the West Country and English Channel.
A spacious and comfortable boat with up to 3 separate cabins and heads compartments plus a large deck saloon and ample deck space.
Her hull appears to be in very good condition which is not surprising as she is planked entirely in teak, a distinct advantage over many comparable motor yachts of the time which were built in mahogany.
Current mooring available long term to a new owner.
Length on Deck 49’6”
Beam 13’
Draft 3’9”
Construction
- Carvel planked in teak all copper rivet fastened to steam bent oak timbers.
- Mix of sawn timber and galvanised steel strap floors across the centreline.
- Bronze keel bolts through the centreline.
- Marine plywood subdeck overlaid with a synthetic teak deck covering. Deck has a small step at the forrard end of the superstructure so the foredeck is slightly raised to increase headroom below.
- Teak toe rails all round. Painted galvanised stanchions bolted though the deck with a varnished teak capping rail.
- Varnished teak superstructure with chromed bronze windows. Coachroof and wheelhouse roof is sheathed marine plywood.
- The wheelhouse roof extends to the full width of the hull to cover the side decks and shelter the sliding wheelhouse doors.
- Aft coachroof with teak coamings and chocks to carry the tender. Small seating area at the aft end of the wheelhouse with a central table.
Machinery
- Twin General Motors Detroit SO42-6200 Type SW-VS 4cyl 120hp diesels installed new in 1965.
- These are industrial 2 stroke diesel engines used in a vast array of applications across the world.
- Coupled to Borg Warner Velvet Drive hydraulic gearboxes to 3 blade bronze propellers gives 6 knots cruising speed, 8 knots max speed.
- 2 x large steel fuel tanks either side in the engine room.
- 10 x 95ah Numax batteries connected in parallel to give a 24 volt system.
- Charging from the 24 volt engine alternators or though a shore power system with a Victron Skylla-TG 24 volt 75amp battery charger.
- Kohler 8EO7Z 8Kva installed diesel generator in the lazarette locker.
- 3 x auto electric bilge pumps
- Calorifier tank connected to one main engine for domestic hot water. 240 volt immersion coil in the calorifier.
- 2 x galvanised water tanks, total of 270 gallons in total.
Accommodation
- 5 berths in 2 separate cabins including 1 double berth and 3 single berths.
- Originally there was a single berth cabin aft but this has been opened up to be part of the large aft cabin. It would be simple to reinstate this cabin to create a 3rd totally private and separate cabin.
- 6’3” headroom in aft cabin,, 6’1” headroom in the deck saloon and 6’2” headroom forward.
- Sliding doors both sides into the wheelhouse which has a small seat either side at the aft end and a central companionway going down aft.
- Steps down to the aft cabin with heads compartment to starboard.
- Heads comprises a bath with shower over and hot and cold pressurised water. 24 volt electric sea toilet discharges into a waste tan. Hand basin.
- To port is a single berth under the side decks currently used for storage, this berth was originally in its own single cabin. The bulkheads have been removed to open up the aft cabin space in current ownership but could easily be replaced in plywood to reinstate this comfortable single cabin with a sliding door and its own storage/vanity unit.
- Aft owners cabin is the full width of the hull with a central double berth and large storage lockers outboard.
- From the wheelhouse a starboard side companionway drops down into the deckhouse saloon. L-shaped settee to port with a fold out table to starboard. Original joinery with lockers and storage at the forward end.
- Central steps going forward drop down into the galley area. Galley is to port and is good useable space. Thetford gas cooker with 4 burners, grill and twin ovens, new in 2022. Single stainless sink with draining board and hot running water. 24 volt under counter fridge plus lots of storage space.
- To starboard opposite the galley is a heads compartment with a Jabsco manual sea toilet that discharges directly overboard. Stainless hand basin with hot and cold running water. Whirlpool top loading washing machine in the heads.
- Door into the forecabin which has 2 single V-berths with storage beneath. Full height hanging locker to starboard.
Equipment
- Steering compass from Henry Browning and Sons Ltd
- Raytheon BiData sounder and log
- Sailor VHF radio
- Autohelm 6000 autopilot (not currently working)
- Kent Clearview screens
- 2 x Stock type anchors
- 92’ of chain to port and 180’ chain to starboard
- Double manual anchor windlass
- Mooring warps
- Fenders
- Tannoy Sniffa gas indicator
- 2 x life rings
- Air horn
- Chromed bronze search light
- 3 x auto electric bilge pumps
- Engine room auto fire extinguisher
- Rowing tender on the aft coachroof with fitted cover
- Manual derrick crane to launch/retrieve the tender
- Fitted canvas covers for the whole superstructre to protect the varnish
- Varnished teak boarding ladder
- Ensign and staff
- General Motors Detroit SO42-6200 Type SW-VS 4cyl 120hp diesels installed new in 1965
- Kohler 8EO7Z 8Kva installed diesel generator
- 10 x 95ah Numax batteries
- Victron Skylla-TG 24 volt 75amp battery charger
- Bunk and berth cushions
- Thetford gas cooker with 4 burners, grill and twin ovens, new in 2022
- 24 volt fridge
- 24 volt electric toilet in aft heads with waste tank
- Jabsco manual sea toilet in forward heads
- Whirlpool 6kg top loading washing machine
- Electric wood burner effect cabin heater
- Diesel fired hot air heating system
