SWALLOW - a rare turtle deck slipper launch
1932
Regina is a smart varnished mahogany slipper stern launch, well known on the Goring reach of the middle Thames. She has been in the current ownership for some years but is now for sale since the owner has moved away from this area. A much loved family boat with seating for five on two lloyd looms with an aft bench seat. Smart blue cushions in Sunbrella fabric match the folding hood.
Here is the entry I wrote in 2015 when the current owner purchased the boat from HSC :
Regina is one of a handful of slipper stern motor launches built on the Norfolk Broads by the famous Brooke Marine yard in the early nineteen thirties when slipper launches were beginning to be popular on the Thames, and every boat yard worth its salt was building its own version. While a little shorter than the standard Andrews 25 footer Regina offers the same amount of seating with two Lloyd loom chairs and an aft bench. She came to the Thames about 20 years ago when she was completely rebuilt by Woottens of Cookham Dean. Since that time she has had just two caring owners and has been maintained latterly by Classic Boatworks of Norfolk; she is one of the oldest slipper launches on the Thames - full of original character. The engine was a reconditioned Morris Vedette Mark 5 overhead valve 4 cylinder 1000cc model which has been totally reliable. Since the current owners have had Regina they have had the following refurbishments completed on her: -Complete new wood keel front, amidship and stern. -New bilge pump with automatic activation when needed -All metal fittings stripped and replated chrome -All decking and hull stripped and revarnished with seven coats of varnish leaving a superb finish -New drive shaft and rudder -New heavy duty battery -Installed weather proof extendable cover in navy blue for those odd occasions when there are showers -New cushions for seats in matching navy blue weather proof fabric -New varnished wooden steering wheel. Was standard metal one before. -New port and starboard lights -New horn
Subsequently Regina was electrified by HSC in 2018 and is in good working order with current BSS and EA licence. As mentioned above she is shorter than an Andrews slipper launch but beamy enough to be comfortable for five people.