28-Ton Pleasure Boat Built At Home By Engineer

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28793, 14 January 1959, Page 14

28-Ton Pleasure Boat Built At Home By Engineer

“The Press” Special Service

DUNEDIN, January 13. tana of quarter-inch steel, coated

Home-raade boats are easy for do-it-yourself New Zealanders. But a Hamilton engineer, Mr A. W. Gallagher, has struck a different note with a pleasurd craft he set out to build 20 months ago. The result of his work is a sleek 88ft, 28-ton vessel, with twin screws and accommodation for 15 people—a ship which has drawiK many admiring glances Item Dunedin people visiting the wharves. On holiday at the present time, Mr Gallagher with his family and friends sailed out of Auckland Harbour on Christmas Day. He piloted. the Hamutana out of Otago Harbour last week after a short, stop, for Stewart Island. The lines of the vessel were drawn up by an American, and Mr Gallagher himself planned the

cabins, engineroom, messroom, wheelhouse and galley. In case he wants to take along the family car, he has set aside an area aft. which this time is being used as additional sleeping quarters for the 11 people making the holiday trip. He built the hull of the Hamu-

r with zinc to prevent corosion. ,< Double-bottom construction provides fuel tanks with a 2000-gallon j capacity. 1 Nothing was forgotten in its des sign. Among the vessel’s appointments are electric light, a rej frigerator, water heaters, and an electric stove. 5 The two 150 horsepower motors * were resurrected from a 110 ft j wooden-hulled Fairmile, and 5 from the same source came portholes and fittings. The main cabin it fitted out for j Mr Gallagher and his wife. Far- □ then forward are two larger a cabins each containing four bunks. ' Nearer the stern is the galley, k Only the messroom and wheelJi°use are above deck level, and a the latter has been planned so j the boat can be completely con2 trolled without entering the engineroom. 2 Mr Gallagher’s son said that j the present trip would take about , four weeks. With its huge fuel 5 tanks, the Hamutana had a range a of about 2700 miles, so it was , possible a Pacific island cruise - might eventuate.