Sailing yachts
Harrison Butler Z4 Tonner
(REF: 29134)£10500
Full specification
Wooden Ships Comments on this Harrison Butler Z4 Tonner
Harrison butler Z4 tonner, designed by T. Harrison butler and built by Alfred Lockhart (Marine) Ltd of Brentford in 1938.
Thorough refit carried out in 2023 with further works by Simon Wood & Sons, Lymington in 2024 and 2026, full list of works below.
The Z4 is one of the well known designs of T. Harrison Butler, an amateur yacht designer and Opthalmic surgeon by profession, who produced some very fine, well mannered and capable yachts. The name is derived from the Thames Tonnage of the design, a measure of useable interior volume.
The boat has a comfortable cabin with 2 good sized single berths and ample sitting headroom. The compact galley with a Taylors stove is crisp and practical. The Forepeak has a heads compartment with sitting headroom under the forehatch.
A very smart and well presented example of the class with a detailed recent refit history and seemingly very much ready to go.
Length on deck 22’
Beam 7’
Draft 4’
Thames Tonnage 4TM
2023 refit list
The hull was carefully taken back to bare wood to remove many paint layers and after repairs the hull was primed with three coats of Epifanes Underwater Primer and two coats of Seajet Antifouling.
All the strap bolts were replaced and all the related plank areas were repaired.
Straps were cleaned in situ and cold galvanized and then protected with two coats of Zingatarfree. A system we’ve used elsewhere that seems to work well.
The iron keel was mechanically abraded to bare metal and coated with three coats of red lead paint, then antifouled.
Where the hull opened while drying, or where repairs had been carried out, the seams were cleaned and the areas re-caulked. About 1/3rd of the hull was re-caulked.
New engine beds were made and fitted. The metal engine bed frame was removed, shot blasted, cold galvanized and given three coats of Zingatarfree.
The keel bolt under the engine bed was replaced. This was made and galvanized for us by David Webster at Deep Blue Engineering.
Original beaching legs sockets in the hull were repaired and reinstated.
Tabernacle was removed and re-galvanised and the four holding boats were renewed.
The stem protection strip that runs from deck to keel replaced with stainless 316 and re-fastened. The stemhead fitting was cold galvanized and rebedded.
Pushpit, pulpit and stanchions galvanized and refitted with dyneema lifelines.
David Webster at Deep Blue re-built the boomkin which was found to be weakened by rust, and at the same time he fitted an attachment method for a Pacific Light self-steering.
David Webster at Deep Blue remade and galvanized the upper and middle rudder pintles and these were refitted to strengthened transom mounts.
The lower chain attachments for the boomkin were repaired and all the fastenings and chain replaced.
The fuel tank was removed, cleaned and fitted with an extra shut-off valve and proper breather pipe. The fuel tank was changed from hanging by a few screws to sitting on a new beam and then rigidly fixed. Fuel filler cap improved to stop leaks.
The central Ringframe was found to be weakened at the base by rust. The rusted area was cut out and repaired with a 316 stainless strut – also made by David Webster at Deep Blue.
A reconditioned engine was fitted after complete service to all systems.
The interior of the boat has been repainted from bilge to deck ceiling.
The relatively new Collars mast was stripped of fittings, which were regalvanised, and the mast given 11 coats of varnish. The boom was given the same treatment as the mast with fittings removed, galvanized and with 11 coats of varnish to the wood.
An improved VHF aerial was fitted to the mast with better wiring and stronger mount.
2024
The rudder was removed and the Gudgeon and Lower Pintle fabricated and bushed. The rudder was re-fitted, and coated with Primer, Undercoated and Top coated.
3 Keel bolts forward were removed and replaced.
Topsides partially stripped, re-caulked and painted with 2 coats epoxy Primer, 2 coats Epiphane undercoat and 3 coats Epiphane Topcoat.
Cove line re-established.
Pulpit, Pushpit and Stanchions removed. Deck made good.
Stern light re-mounted.
2 coats of antifoul Primer and 2 coats of Shogun antifouling applied .
2026
Sadolin coating on Toe rail removed and 4 coats of teak oil applied.
Seams re-caulked where needed. 2 coats of Epoxy Primer applied to topsides before 2 coats of Epiphane Undercoat and 3 coats of Hempel gloss.
Underwater surfaces re-caulked where necessary. 2 coats of Primer. 2 coats of Antifoul Primer and 2 coats of Shogun Antifoul applied.
Construction
Hull
Carvel planked in larch all copper clench fastened to steam bent oak timbers.
Large proportion of the hull has been re-caulked.
Hood ends re-fastened in 2016.
Cast iron ballast keel fastened with iron bolts. 1 bolt drawn and replaced with a galvanised steel bolt in 2023. A further 3 bolts drawn and replaced in 2024.
Iron strap floors across the centreline painted in cold galvanise and finished with Zingatarfree. All new stainless steel floor bolts in 2023. Plank repairs done in way of floor bolts where necessary.
Galvanised ring frame in way of the mast, repaired with new stainless steel bottom brackets.
Transom hung rudder with tiller steering. New galvanised rudder pintles in 2023. Lower pintle new in 2024.
Decks and Cockpit
Straight laid T&G pine deck, overlaid with plywood and sheathed in glass cloth.
Small toe rail all round, cleaned and oiled in 2026.
Non-self draining cockpit with varnished teak coamings, thwarts and sole. Lockers either side beneath the thwarts.
Superstructure
Varnished teak coachroof coamings with a sheathed T&G coachroof deck. Varnished teak grab rails.
Varnished teak forehatch.
Rig
Spars
Fractional Bermudan sloop rig on a deck stepped varnished spruce mast.
Mast was new in 2018 from Collars. All fittings removed and mast re-varnished in 2023 with 11 coats of Epifanes. Stepped in a galvanised tabernacle with new fastening bolts.
Slab reefing varnished wooden boom.
Standing and Running Rigging
Stainless steel wire standing rigging new in 2007 to external galvanised chain plates and bronze rigging screws.
Standing backstay to a galvanised bumpkin, refurbished in 2023.
Jumper struts with upper stays to support the mast head.
Sails
Sails from Sanders Sails in fair condition. Jib with Wykeham Martin furling system. Mainsail with battens.
Winches
All winches are non-self tailing Tufnell types. Pair of mast winches, single boom reefing winch and pair of cockpit sheet winches.
Machinery
Engine
Yanmar 1GM10 diesel fitted as a reconditioned engine in 2023. Annually serviced.
New engine beds fitted in 2023 with the associated metal frame shot blasted and galvanised.
Tanks
30 litre stainless steel fuel tank under the aft deck.
50 litre bladder water tank.
Batteries and Electrics
2 x Numax 86ah 12 volt batteries for domestics and engine starting. Charged from the engine alternator or a small regulated solar panel.
Accommodation
Berths and Headroom
2 berths with sitting headroom.
General Description
The interior of the boat has been stripped to bare wood and painted from bilge to deck head giving a crisp and smart feel.
All varnished teak joinery.
Steps down into the cabin with galley to port and chart area to port.
Chart area is a small work station with a lifting lid to a locker beneath and a locker under the deckhead. Electric switch panel on the bulkhead.
2 single settee berths in the cabin, both are over 6’ in length with good width. New cushions in 2024. Original detachable cabin table.
Central passageway going forward with lockers either side in the passage.
Forepeak area used for storage and ablutions.
Galley
Galley has a 2 burner Taylors 028 paraffin stove. Fold down flap to increase galley work surface area. Galley Faucet connect to the bladder water tank.
Heads
The forepeak has joinery for a sea toilet, although the heads has been removed and replaced with a chemical porta potti.
Equipment
Steering compass
B&G focus log and sounder
NASA SX35 DSC VHF
Bulkhead Mounted Barometer and Clock
Simpson Lawrence Horizon Electrical Anchor Windlass
60M Lofrans 8mm Grade 40 Calibrated Hot Dipped Galvanised Anchor Chain
CQR Anchor
Fenders – 2024
Mooring warps
2 x boat hooks
Taylors 028 Stove with Hanse Burner on LH Side
Taylors Pressurised Fuel Tank for Paraffin
Kettle for Taylors Stove
Bunk and berth cushions – new 2024
Cockpit cover – new 2026 by Sanders Sails
Main hatch cover – new 2026 by Sanders Sails
Forehatch cover – new 2026 by Sanders Sails
Anchor windlass cover – new 2026 by Sanders Sails
Boom Tent Cover for cockpit
Mainsail from Sanders Sails
Jib with Wykeham Martin Furling Gear
Mainsail cover
2 x mast winches
1 x boom reefing winch
2 x cockpit sheet winches
Manual vertical action bronze bilge pump
Sahara 480GPH auto electric bilge pump
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Disclaimer:
These particulars have been prepared in good faith from information provided by the Vendors and are intended as a guide, Wooden Ships cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. The Purchaser should instruct his agent or surveyor to validate all details as necessary and satisfy himself with the condition of the vessel and its equipment.
