CHURCH TIMBERS IN SLOOP

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29910, 25 August 1962, Page 9

CHURCH TIMBERS IN SLOOP

HIGH upon a hill overlooking Clifton Bay, Sumner, and right beside the roadway at the top of Kinsey terrace the hull of a 27ft yacht is taking shape. A naval chine auxiliary sloop, it is to be a fine addition to the sailing fleet of the Banks Peninsula Cruising Club.

It is being built by a 20-

year-old insurance clerk, Mr M. Gray, who has been

saving up lead for the oneton keel of the sloop since he was a boy at school. Despite the authentic appearance of the craft the builder has shown unusual ingenuity in sources of material for the sloop. All the excellent kauri planking for the craft was formerly part of a church floor. Mr Gray thinks it was from St. John’s. ’Woolston, and the keel is from wellseasoned Australian hardwood salvaged from part of the breastwork at the port of Lyttelton. Mr Gray is building the boat mainly single-handed but with the consultative

advice of a boat builder. The project has earned the interest and approval of neighbours in the Kinsey terrace area who have watched with interest the steady progress of construction. Mr Gray says that none of them seemed to mind the occasional hammering audible in the neighbourhood during week-ends, and householders often come to inquire about and admire the hull now taking shape. The craft will be of the

‘Daydream" design with length of 27ft 6in, beam Bft, and drart 4ft 3in. Of hard chine design it will be nearly all kauri with deadwood of Australian hardwood. The dis-

placement to weight will be about three tons. The craft will carry about 325 sq. ft of sail with a 35ft mast. She will be powered with a six horsepower Swedish diesel engine and will have berths for four persons. A member of the Christchurch Yacht Club. Mr Gray has been interested in small craft from earliest boyhood when he used to go sailing with friends who live in the Redcliffs area.

He has built pne other craft, a pram dinghy, and has a 14ft seamew, but says he has always wanted a keeler. Now the main concern of neighbours and well-wishers

is how the owner will get his three tons of s'.urdy sloop down the Kinsey terrace hill, which is one of the steepest residential roadways in Canterbury, with some sharp bends. •