Cruiser To Be Launched After Nine Years’ Work

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29726, 20 January 1962, Page 12

Cruiser To Be Launched After Nine Years’ Work

“The Press" Special Service

WELLINGTON, January 19. After nine years of construction. ths 40ft steel cruiser. Pelagian, will be launched on January 30. Her builder and - owner, Mr D. Catley, has booked the floating crane Hikitia to launch the Thorndon quay landmark of nearly: a decade. Managing director of his own firm, Enterprise Engineering, Ltd., on Thorndon quay, Mr Catley built the boat immediately below his steel manufacturing plant on the quay. Nine years’ loving labour has gone into her steel hull and her marine ply lining and wooden fittings. Now 57, he said that the completion of the task of building the 13-ton cruiser and completely fitting her out, would leave a real gap in his life when she was launched on January 30. "It has been my hobby and my pleasure for the last nine years. I’ll have to find something to do. I have to keep active," he said.

The name Pelagian means inhabitant of the ocean sea.

Ocean cruising would be the aim to be worked for during the next year or so, said Mr Catley. The boat, with a 10ft Bin beam at the waterline. was designed to be safe in any sea. However, she had to be worked up to ocean cruising with voyages about Wellington and to the Sounds for a start.

Designed to sleep seven or eight persons in her three cabins, the cruiser would make about eight knots on her 60 h.p. diesel motor, and would weigh 13 tons fully laden for long cruises. She has a forward cabin, a big saloon, an 5 after cabin, plus a wheelhouse and incorporates ingenious devices for comfort and seaworthiness.