William Denny 74 ft TSDY 1938 - Sold

THE SECOND SNARK is a remarkable vessel with some significant provenance; one of many including quite famous vessels from the yard of William Denny and Company. Built as a working boat to assist the working of this shipyard she doubled up for the recreational use of the family. Thus while retaining her workboat fit out she is readily adaptable to pleasure cruising and over many years has been doing just that; largely on day charters on and around the Clyde – set up with facilities for dining and parties; she has given much pleasure in this role. Notably her engines are Gardners, fitted in 1972 and renowned for their reliability and frugal fuel consumption with the added benefit of having been maintained and serviced by Gardner specialists to this day. In our view she is an exciting prospect to fulfil her role as a classic day charter vessel – or as a mother ship for a classic racing crew. Perhaps she could be fitted out to become a miniature explorer vessel.

VAT is unpaid on this vessel

THE SECOND SNARK was designed and built in 1938 by Wm Denny and Company at their shipyard on the River Clyde and launched by Patricia; younger daughter of Sir Maurice and Lady Denny for use by the shipyard as a tug / tender. She was also used by the Denny family for summer family outings. Working for the shipyard summer and winter from 1938 to 1963, she was a well regarded vessel on the River Clyde. Ownership transferred to Denny-Brown in 1963 and the vessel became a test platform for the development of ship’s stabilisers. Later; purchased by Clyde Marine in 1969 she has been operated as a day passenger vessel summer and winter until now on the Clyde and along the west coast of Scotland. She has been laid up ashore undercover for the past 5 winters to enable a major refit and restoration to take place. The Vessel is now restored to her original as-built layout.

The shipping interests of the Denny family date back to William Denny born 1779, for whom, ships are recorded being built in Dumbarton from 1811. By 1823 the company name had changed to William Denny & Son; their first ship the Paddle-Steamer SUPERB. From 1845 the company became Denny Brothers (William jnr, Alexander and Peter) then in 1849 the firm was reconstituted as William Denny & Brothers, this being William, James and Peter Denny.

The founder developed the company's interests in ship owning and operation with interests in the British & Burmese Steam Navigation Company, the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company and La Platense Flotilla. When it came to shipbuilding; the yard was situated on the river Leven near its junction with the Clyde.

The Company built all types of ships but were particularly well known as producers of fine cross-channel steamships and ferries. It was a pioneer in the development of the ship's stabiliser in conjunction with Edinburgh based Brown Brothers & Company. In 1913 the Channel steamer PARIS was one of the first ships to use geared turbine engines. It also undertook experimental work in hovercraft and helicopter-type aircraft.

A marine engineering company, also based in Dumbarton, was formed by Peter Denny, John Tulloch and John McAusland in 1850 as Tulloch & Denny. In 1862 the company was renamed Denny & Co. The company manufactured a wide range of types of marine engines and was absorbed into William Denny & Brothers in 1918.

Dennys were always innovators and were one of the first commercial shipyards in the world to have their own experimental testing tank: this is now open to the public as a museum. William Denny & Company went into voluntary liquidation in 1963.

THE SECOND SNARK is among some significant – if not famous Denny-built vessels, a few of which are detailed here:

CUTTY SARK 1869 completed by Denny's after the liquidation of her contracted builders, Scott & Linton; preserved in a dry dock at Greenwich, London
SS COYA 1892 a Lake Titicaca steamer and now a floating restaurant
SS SIR WALTER SCOTT 1899 excursion steamer on Loch Katrine, Scotland
TS KING EDWARD 1901 excursion steamer and the first commercial steam turbine vessel
SS PARTHIA 1870 an ocean liner built for the Cunard Line. Served under multiple roles and ownerships for over 80 years before finally being scrapped in Japan
DELTA QUEEN 1924–26 currently an hotel at Chattanooga, Tennessee
TS QUEEN MARY 1933 formerly a Clyde turbine steamer, now a floating restaurant
PS RYDE 1937 built for the Southern Railway, and the World's last coal-fired sea-going paddle steamer when withdrawn from service in 1969
MV THE SECOND SNARK 1938 a former Denny owned tug and tender on the Clyde
MV LYMINGTON 1938 an IoW ferry that in 1974 became the Clyde ferry MV SOUND OF SANDA
MV ROYAL IRIS 1950 a former Mersey ferry berthed at Woolwich, London
HMS JAGUAR F37 1957Leopard class frigate now BNS ALI HAIDER in Bangladesh Navy
Denny D2 Hoverbus an early attempt to build a hovercraft as a passenger vehicle
GMV ARAMOANA 1961 a Ro-Ro ferry for New Zealand Railways; the last vessel they built

- Steel hull
- Steel decks
- Steel superstructure
- Riveted construction
- Deck of ¾ inch thick Burmese teak planking overlaid on moan deck

- 1 x small deck cabin aft of wheelhouse with seating for 3 persons
- 2 x Lower deck saloons

Main saloon
- Companionway steps down from mid deck abaft wheelhouse
- Substantial space for seating
- Bar facilities aft
- Head compartment with new WC by companionway

Forward saloon
- Companionway steps down by wheelhouse
- Substantial space for seating

From aft
- Sampson post on centreline
- Large Panama eye fairleads port and stbd
- Mooring cleats each side
- 2 x Painted teak Sampson posts
- Flush hatchway access to steering gear
- Up 3 steps to main deck
- Substantial high level supported awning over main and side decks forward
- Raised teak hatch access to engine room
- Raised access and companionway steps down to main saloon
- 4 x Period ventilators; port and stbd

Wheelhouse
- Small captain’s cabin at aft end
- Forward to helm position
- Gardner engine controls
- Steering compass in brass binnacle
- Engine instruments
- Ships isolator panel
- 1st Aid locker
- Stairway on port side to deck head, coach roof and original signalling mast
- Access to port to forward cabin

Forward
- 2 x Teak Sampson posts; port and stbd
- Tall ventilator on centreline
- Original manual anchor windlass and 2 warping drums
- Davit for deploying anchor overboard and lifting
- 2 x Mooring cleats; port and stbd
- 2 x Panama eye fairleads

- 2 x Gardner 6LW Diesel engines 96 BHP each fitted 1972
- 1 x Beta Marine 11 kW genset 2014
- Twin bronze propellers
- Twin steel rudders
- Fuel tank 242 gallons / 1,100 litres
- Holding tank / pump ashore facility installed 2012

- Radar
- Chart plotter
- Icom ICM 421VHF

- All LSA equipment removed from vessel
- Fire detection / extinguishing system in engine room

SNARK has been lifted ashore every winter for the past 10 years and stored undercover. This has allowed a full restoration to have been carried out and the vessel is in very good condition.