NEW FISHING TRAWLER

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25969, 24 November 1949, Page 6

NEW FISHING TRAWLER

50FT KETCH NEARING COMPLETION

LAUNCHING AT KAIAPOI SOON

A 50-foot ketch, which two brothers have been building in Christchurch during the last two and a half years, is nearing completion, and will probably be launched before Christmas. The ketch, which is being constructed in a large shed in Welles street, was designed by the owner, Mr W. H. Brown. His brother, Mr F. Brown, has done most of the woodwork involved. Mr Brown expects that the ketch, which is at present being painted, will be taken to Kaiapoi for launching. A large trailer, of the type used for transporting houses, is to be used for taking the ketch to Kaiapoi. From there it will be sailed to New Plymouth, where it is to be used as a fishing trawler. The ketch has a beam of 14 feet and a draught of seven feet. She will be rigged with French lugs on the main and mizzen masts ana will have a large jib and staysail. Altogether she will carry 1000 square feet of sail. She will be powered by a 110 h.p. Diesel motor.

Unusual features on a boat of this size are an echo sounding device, - which will be used to locate fishing grounds, and a photo-electric pilot, which the owner says as far as he knows is the only one of its kind in New Zealand. Naturally-bent timbers, subjected to impregnation treatment, have been used for the frames. The boat has a cork-insulated fish hold which will carry four and a halfi tons.

Mr Brown’s main difficulty has been in procuring timber. He and his brother spent six weeks in the bush cutting broadleaf for Ihe frames. Miro logs from the West Coast were milled for the planking, and the ironbark keel was obtained from Port Chalmers, where it was being used as part of the wharf. Many of the castings for the boat were made by Mr Brown. When the ketch is completed and fully equipped, Mr Brown expects that it will be worth more than £BOOO.