Motor Yachts on the Clyde

By on Jan 10, 2015 in Clyde River and Firth, Dumbarton, Gareloch, James Silver, McLaren Brothers, Shipbuilding | 18 comments

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In the 1860s, a boat yard was built at the mouth of the burn at Rosneath on the Gareloch by Archibald McKellar. In May 1909, the yard was purchased by James Silver, a local man who had served his apprenticeship in the yard, and a yacht designer, John McCallum, and they set about building yachts of high quality. The business failed in 1914 and was taken over by Ferguson and Thompson, Ltd., of Glasgow who retained James Silver as manager and continued the business under the name of James A. Silver, Ltd. A new designer, John Bain, arrived at the yard and became the yard manager when James Silver left in 1916. The firm developed a reputation for the production of high quality motor yachts at Rosneath in the 1920s and 1930s. Their designs and their methods are well documented in the publication “Motor Yacht Building” by John Bain that was published in the late 1930s. The firm closed its doors in July 1971.

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Silverette

This 36 ft Silverette was capable of just over 8 knots , driven by two 12 hp Morris engines.  The accommodation consisted of two folding cot berths in the forecastle that adjoined the saloon and galley with two more berths in the aft cabin.

 

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Brisk

The Brisk was built in 1931.  She was a 62 ft wooden construction driven by two 60 hp Gleniffer diesel  engines and capable of 10.6 knots.  There was self-contained accommodation for a crew of three in the forecastle, a forward double berth cabin, a single cabin amidships and the owner’s cabin aft, in addition to a galley, dining saloon, saloon, bathrooms and toilets.

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Baqqa

The firm also built orders for foreign owners.  The state barge Baqqa was ordered by an owner in the Gulf.

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The Sandpoint Yard of Robert McAlister & Son at Dumbarton

The Sandpoint yard at the mouth of the Leven in Dumbarton was another location famous for the construction of sailing yachts and steam yachts.  It was owned by Robert McAlister & Son from 1885 but in 1908, the firm of McLaren Brothers, Ltd., set up as a builder of motor yachts, lasting until 1926.  Latterly they had strong connections with the James Silver at Rosneath on the Gareloch.

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Rosneath Bay (McLaren Brothers, Dumbarton)

The picture of the fine motor yachts with a backdrop of the merchant ships laid up in the Gareloch during and after the trade depression of the late 1920s provides an interesting contrast.  Some better-off working men with an interest in answering the “call of the sea” began purchasing motorized lifeboats available as many of the older merchant ships were scrapped.  These were converted into “cabin cruisers” and saw much use on the Clyde and Leven.

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Ships laid up in the Gareloch around 1929

Yachts were far beyond the reach of the unemployed.  The Renton photographer, William McKim, however, provided some relief to a few men who were laid-off.  Equipped with a camera, they provided an excellent record of the times.

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Looking across the Gareloch to Shandon Hydropathic Hotel (McKim)

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Maudorces

Maudorces was a 42 ft yacht of wooden construction with a 32 hp Morris engine driving two propellors.  She was built in 1925 by McLaren Brothers, Ltd., for Mr. Charles J. Waldie of Glasgow.

Phyllis Irene Motor Yacht McGeachie 684

Phyllis Irene (McGeachie)

The Phyllis Irene came from McLaren Brothers in 1926 for Mr Alexander Watson of Rutherglen.  At just over 39 feet, she was powered by two Bergius paraffin engines.

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Papakura

One of the leading lights in shipbuilding in Dumbarton, Walter Brock, ordered a motor yacht, Papakura, from McLaren Brothers in 1912.  At 60ft long by 11 and a half feet in the beam, she was powered by a Bolinders motor of 80 hp.  It would appear that a new Papakura was built around 1927, and this is the vessel shown here, completed by Silver at Rosneath.

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Seahawk at Caladh Harbour in the Kyles of Bute (Cuthbert Spencer)

Demand for motor yachts was high.  The Seahawk was built in 1929 by the Rigidus Boat Co., of Whiteinch.  She was powered by two Gleniffer motors of 80 hp.

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Seahawk in the Kyles of Bute in 1936

The remaining pictures await more information.  The neat looking Waveney dates from 1927, while the remaining motor yacht, is unidentified.

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Waveney

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unidentified motor yacht in the Kyles of Bute

18 Comments

  1. Bruce

    June 29, 2015

    Post a Reply

    Was looking for The Rigidus Boat Co when up came your delightful site. I have only scratched at it but have had so much pleasure already. Mind you, i spent much time on MAUDORCES. I think there might be a problem. I say “might” because I’m not sure but have her by Silver and have MAUDORCES II from Maclaren Brothers at Sandpoint.

    Please be assured that I will be visiting often and hope you will add to the site as promised.
    Regards
    Bruce

    • valeman

      July 1, 2015

      Post a Reply

      Bruce: Thanks for the comments, I’ll look into the “problem”. Graham

      • Jonathan Hyslop

        July 4, 2017

        Post a Reply

        Came upon your site as a pleasant surprise. I am very interested to see MY Maudorces photograph. This photograph looks like Maudorces 11 which I have owned since 2012. Maudorces 11 is now named MY Shontishar. I am desparately trying to restore her to her original specification or as near. She was requisitioned in 1939 for the Navy and bought back for £100 by the same family that had her built. Maudorces 11 is 46feet long and now powered by a Kelvin J4 petrol/diesel. Let me know if you want some photographs including interior and engine. if you have a large format picture of Maudorces I would be grateful for comparison. Do you know where she is now? The photograph you show is so similar I doubt it was built by Silver but someone will know!

        Best regards.
        Jonathan

        • Andrew D MacLaren

          September 4, 2017

          Post a Reply

          I am fascinated to read this. I am the grand son of Alexander P MacLaren, one of the MacLaren brothers who died in 1926 If the Shontishar is accessible from Preston I would dearly love to have a look at her. I had no idea that any of their yachts was still afloat.
          Regards, Andrew D Maclaren

          • Andrew MacLaren

            September 4, 2017

            Correction- great grandson- sorry.
            Andrew MacLaren

          • Colin

            January 30, 2018

            Can you put me in touch
            Andrew D Mclaren
            I have info for him on
            Shontishar

      • Douglas Archibald Bay

        October 31, 2023

        Post a Reply

        Hello,
        I came upon your delightful website when a fellow blogger friend of mine on The Merchant Navy Website brought it to my attention.
        I am searching for a 1936 built Silver – a ketch rigged 36 feet yacht called the
        JUNE. Mainly plying the waters around the Hebrides and the Clyde, she was last
        heard of c. 2002.
        Motor Vessel JUNE built by James A. Silver Ltd in 1936 for E. F. Warters, Whitby. Yorkshire., Yacht (clydeships.co.uk) Lloyds Registry official No. 161021.
        I would be so grateful if anyone who attends your website could lend a helping hand in locating this wonderful Silver yacht – my late father-in-laws pride and possession.
        I thank you in advance.
        Douglas Bay

  2. Suzy ANNETT-BROWN

    September 27, 2015

    Post a Reply

    Hello, I was over the moon to find this wonderful photo of “Papakura” on your site. We bought her in 1964 and she was our only home for 14 years, travelling intensively all over the Mediterranean. I have many photos of her and our adventures were made even more wonderful by having our lovely “Varina” (which she was named before we bought her) take us safely into port every time. I would love to try and find out what happened to her. The last tie I heard of her she was for sale inthe Lyon area in France in 1985. We all like to think that she is still alive and kicking. So, if you have any news f her we would love to hear about it. If you would like any photos of her (with teak wheelhouse and mizzen mast) I’d be happy to send you some for your archives. All the best, Suzy Annett-Brown

    • valeman

      September 28, 2015

      Post a Reply

      Suzy: Glad you found this of interest. Perhaps more news of Papakura will turn up. Graham

  3. Gav McDonald

    February 18, 2018

    Post a Reply

    Hi …. thanks for setting out a fantastic record.
    My Uncle owned Phyllis Irene (renamed Aralia) for a period in the ’70’s and I have many happy memories of times spent aboard her over a number of years exploring the Clyde and Kyles. She was moored year round offshore from my Uncle’s small hotel in Inellan and only moved to the shelter of Dunoon when a right hoolie was forecast. In the summer we would moor alongside in a wee drying harbour near Toward Point and clean below the waterline.
    When I first got to know her I had to stand on a paint tin at the helm to see over the wheel. The following year I’d grown enough to dispense with the tin!
    When my Uncle bought her (from a chap at Connel near Oban where she was moored) she was already named Aralia and was registered with the Royal Highland Yacht Club (RHYC).
    She seemed to have had quite a varied life and ownership. I understand that she was requisitioned my the Ministry in WW2 and was re-engined at this stage and her foredeck timbers beefed up and reinforced to take some sort of mounted machine gun (to be used on mines?). I remember seeing a pic of her from this period.
    Originally she was either single engined (or single main with a smaller reserve) as the original main prop shaft exited through the centreline of the hull and was later blanked off and two propshafts fitted. By the time I knew her she was definitely past her best and key maintenance had been neglected. There always seemed to be a problem with one system or another. Ultimately my Uncle didn’t have the finance to set her right and she was sold sometime in the late 70’s or very early ’80’s.
    I was driving past a boatyard on Bute in the early 90’s when I spotted her sitting on blocks in an old boatyard along with what I now think were two Silverettes and many other pre war wooden classics. I tracked down the owner in Rothesay (he had a shop) who was prepared to sell but I wasn’t in a position to realistically do anything with her. A few years later I was helping a friend restore his yacht ELK and we went back to Bute to source some period fittings for her …… whilst a few wooden hulks remained Aralia and many others were gone. I tracked down the owner again and he informed me that she had been burnt, with others, as the yard had been sold and was being cleared and she was beyond his means to repair, transport or store.
    The remaining boats were abandoned and due to be burnt within the week, which is what I believe happened. The boatyard is now flats.
    A sad end to a boat that had been a massive part of my childhood and began my love affair with the sea. I’m sure countless others met the same end.
    I’ll look out some pictures.

  4. Colin

    February 18, 2018

    Post a Reply

    We have pictures of your boat also in the boat yard before she was burnt
    Our family owned her sisters ship
    Named
    Silver strand
    Colin barr

  5. Gav McDonald

    February 19, 2018

    Post a Reply

    Hi Colin …. such a sad end to really lovely boats and craftsmanship. Would love to see your pics of Phyllis Irene / Aralia as well as any you have to share of Siver Strand. Cheers Gav

  6. John Blackie

    May 10, 2020

    Post a Reply

    I am very interested to know the date of the photograph which has underneath it “Rosneath Bay (McLaren Brothers, Dumbarton)”. In the background are visible some 7 one-design racing yachts. The only obvious candidates are Gareloch ODs (which were built at McGruers at Clynder in 1924). The photograph looks to me 1920s and earlier than the one showing rows of laid up merchant ships. I am Convenor of the Gareloch Class Association. (All 16 still exist). If this is a 1920s photograph and these are, indeed, Gareloch ODs racing it is, I believe the earliest photograph of them that is known. The little wooden jetty looks earlier than aerial photographs of Silvers taken in 1931 (on the Canmore website). Was there some connection between McLaren’s and Silvers?. The last McLaren motor yachts I have been able to find online are built in the 1920s.
    This is a wonderful collection on the Dalmadan site.

  7. Clare Landsburgh

    September 25, 2020

    Post a Reply

    Hi I am looking for more info on MY Shontisar please. My children are the great-great grandchildren of Frank McLaren, one of the McLaren Brothers. We are doing some family history and would absolutely love to be able to see this boat if it is still around. Any info would be very much appreciated.

  8. Maunsel White

    June 25, 2023

    Post a Reply

    The MY Waveney shown above was built in 1924 by MacLaren Brothers, Dumbarton. She may have been mistaken for Waveney II built in 1927 by Munro’s, Oban which was a larger yacht.

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