NEW MULLET BOAT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 129, 2 June 1934, Page 17

NEW MULLET BOAT.

GOOI> TYPE OP 2G-FOOTER

MODERN RIG AND WHEEL STEERING

™^l°, 26ft mullet boat is a good type of cratt, but it has certainly fallen in popular favour lately for no apparent reason, peyond the fact, long recognised, that it is a boat with long overhanging sails and is generally very hard to steer in a breeze. Anything that will create a revival of tho keen racing in this class some years ago will be welcome. Then we had great contests between Omatere, Waitero, Calypso, Celox, Starlight, Starloch, Sadie, Cloud, opray and Awatere, and before this witii Okere, Emerald, Terc, Ronaki, Glady and Why Not and many good 22-footers of the mullet boat class. It is unlikely that we shall see such close racing again, but even the mullet boat is open to improvement, and as the association recently allowed a deadwood boat to be built to the class, it is possible that a new type may originate and help to revive some of their old-time popularity. To this end Messrs. Cox and Kilmer, of Judge's Bay, have just completed tho hull or a rather unusual type of 26-footer for their own use. The boat is a decided departure from the orthodox, both in rig, deck plan and below. The new boat, which will be christened Vigilant, is 26ft overall, 10ft 3in beam and 3ft draught. The centre-board is worked by a small but powerful ratchet winch, which fits inside the case and does away with block and tackle and ropes, only a small handle being on view. She is llush-decked from Die stem to within Sft of the tuck. This does away with long coamings and leaky deckhouse, gives much more head room below, avoiding that kink in the neck that one associates with the average mullet boat when one is forced to sit partly under the side dock. It also gives more stability, and with small coamings, set 2ft Gin in from tne gunwale, the old objection of a big open cockpit liable to fill is avoided.

The other objection to the mullet boat, and all who have steered them in a big sea and hard breeze know as well as "Speedwell" does that they are hard to keep out: of the wind and handle generally, has been overcome by fitting a wheel to steer witli in place of a long tiller. The wheel is placed in the after end of the cockpit and works on a quadrant located under the after deck. Another point rather against the type is the lons overhanging boom aft and bowsprit. When it comes to reef down this is a drawback. In the new boat, this is reduced to Oft overhang aft by the adoption of the modern Bcrmudan rig, which also tends toward easier steering. The mast in Vigilant will be 00ft from heel to truck—some must, surely, on a 26-footer —but a glance at the plan will show that it is in proportion with the sail plan. The boat is designed as an auxiliary cruiser, and below she is very well fitted. The fore cabin is 7ft long, provided with three bunks and a fore hatch. The main cabin is lift long by 10ft wide, with good head room. A galley and sink will be fitted on the starboard side aft in the main cabin and a wireless outfit and numerous lockers on the port side. The centreboard case will have a table built over it and at the after-end a 10 h.p. marine engine is to be fitted partly in the cockpit, which will be covered with a seat, only the starting handle protruding in the cabin. Bunks for six will be provided in the main cabin and a 3ft Cin skylight fitted. The cockpit is sft Gin long and set well in from the sides, with after decking of 2ft Cin.

The hull is very strongly constructed on the semi-moulded principle, with inch planking, ribs 7in centres, and solid floors to the floor level. A special hot water system will be fittea to tnc galley, and fcuo engine will be fresh water cooled. The boat is a decided advance on anything of her class in Auckland, and her performance under canvas will be watched with interest. Vigilant, will bo finished off and put afloat early in September.