Refit
of
WAIRAKEI
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Wairakei
The brown owl class is probably the most desirable of all traditional yachts
BOAT NAME: Wairakei II
BOAT TYPE: Brown Owl Class Motor Sailer
BOAT LENGTH: 52ft
BOAT BEAM: 11ft
BOAT DRAFT: 6ft
BOAT DISPLACEMENT: 26.4Tons TM
BOAT CONSTRUCTION: Carvel Pitch Pine on Oak
BOAT DESIGNER: John Bain
BOAT BUILDER: Silvers of Rosneath
BOAT YEAR: 1932
PRESERVATION
Wairakei II after the war had several owners and was always well maintained.
In 2012, after a change of ownership, she came to us for some maintenance and structural repairs. Discussions soon started about re-designing her interior which was cramped for what is a rather large vessel.
NEW CUSTODIAN
Working alongside our interior designer a full refit of her forward end took place in the following winter 2013/14
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From stripping out through to installation and conception see below for a detailed look at Wairakei's make over .
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Refit
WARAKEI'S
MAKE OVER
2013 I 2014
Built-in 1932, she boasts a beautiful canoe stern, which was replaced by us back in 2013, and is somewhat skinny for her length at only 11ft beam this cuts a very streamlined figure when in the water.
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She has been maintained by us for several years, and back in 2014 had a complete refit to her forward end, which had become a mismatch of unusable awkward spaces. The forward section was ripped out and an open plan galley dining area was created with clean lines and useable for modern entertainment without losing her period charm.
Reinvented
WAIRAKEI
2014 I PRESENT DAY
Dunkirk Little Ship Wairakei II designed by John Bain is a stunning example of classic yachts at their absolute finest. During the war, the Ministry of War Transport requisitioned her early on and she was commanded by a Lieut. Leyland. She had a machine gun mounted on her foredeck and rifle racks all around her decks, It is thought that she saved 150 soldiers.
Today Wairakei can be found moored eloquently on the River Thames in London, a shining reminder of the beauty that vintage crafts offer.
