OUTBOARDS RUNABOUT CRUISE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 102, 2 May 1930, Page 14

OUTBOARDS RUNABOUT CRUISE.

Mr. and Mrs. L. Palmer, of Parnell, have just returned from a week's cruise in their 15ft by 4ft 6in outboard runabout Pastime. Towing, the boat on a trailer behind the car, she was launched into an arm of the Lower Waikato near Waiuku, going- down the Otau Creek. The Waikato at this spot is little known to Auckland boating men. It is a wonderful cruising ground, in Mr. Palmer's estimation, the basin being some three miles wide by eix miles long, and studded with many islands, with line waterways between, all quite clear of snags,- providing a perfect maze of channels and ideal camping sites. With a store at the Heads wharf, clean, -,andy beaches and fresh water everywhere, there was eo much to see in this big area that no attempt was made to travel up the Waikato as originally intended. Mr. and Mrs. Palmer lived on board their outboard, which is fitted with a canopy top einiilar to a Sedan car, complete with wind-shields and hood.' A portable electric light, cooking stove and other necessary gear was carried, and the possibility of cruising and living aboard an outboard boat amply demonetratetd. This area of water, with a very big coastline and islands everywhere, so easily accessible to the city, deserves. to be better known. Dr. E. Stevenson and'a Waikato outboard enthusiast have also explored the area,' and "are equally enthusiastic about its charms as Mr. Palmer.. To ehow the number of islands open ■ for exploration, Mr. Palmer cruised for three hours without a stop, except to, refill his tank, going through new channels all the time. This was partly due to having lost the entrance to the Otau Creek, which a friendly Maori eventually pointed out, being with a trip across the river and back, which he thoroughly enjoyed. At Easter Mr.