A slipper launch is a traditional River Thames

River Thames

The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...

 pleasure boat normally of wooden construction to seat between 4 and 8 passengers. These popular launches

Launch (boat)

A launch in contemporary usage refers to a large motorboat. The name originally referred to the largest boat carried by a warship. The etymology of the word is given as Portuguese lancha "barge", from Malay lancha, lancharan, "boat," from lanchar "velocity without effort," "action of gliding...

 were originally introduced in the 1930s with classical designs from Meakes of Marlow and later from Andrews of Bourne End during the 1950s. Launches were also built by Alf Parrott at Henley-on-Thames

Henley-on-Thames

Henley-on-Thames is a town and civil parish on the River Thames in South Oxfordshire, England, about 10 miles downstream and north-east from Reading, 10 miles upstream and west from Maidenhead...

 in 1960s & 1970s. Alf Parrott Slipper Launches were initially built in marine ply then later in glass fibre, launches were 20 feet (6.1 m) in length with Stuart Turner single cylinder petrol engines. Alf Parrott Launches can still be seen on the River Thames.

Construction and Hull Architecture

During a renovation project the hull shape and construction can be viewed along with the rarely seen framing of the slipper stern.

The hull boards and stringers sealing the gap between covering each plank are made from mahogany

Mahogany

The name mahogany is used when referring to numerous varieties of dark-colored hardwood. It is a native American word originally used for the wood of the species Swietenia mahagoni, known as West Indian or Cuban mahogany....

. Lateral frames spaced at approximately 1 metre centres are formed from oak

Oak

An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...

. The deck over is constructed of afromosia with multiple layers of varnish

Varnish

Varnish is a transparent, hard, protective finish or film primarily used in wood finishing but also for other materials. Varnish is traditionally a combination of a drying oil, a resin, and a thinner or solvent. Varnish finishes are usually glossy but may be designed to produce satin or semi-gloss...

providing a furniture like finish.