HOME-BUILT YACHT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21326, 29 October 1932, Page 12

HOME-BUILT YACHT

ATJCKLANDER'S RESOURCE MAKING USE OF FLOTSAM OCEAN CRUISES PLANNED In (he building of a liton sea-going cutter, considerable ingenuity and resource have been shown by a young Auckland engineering student, Mr. J. W. Wray, of 94 Lucerne Road, Remuera. Ihe craft, with dimensions, length 35ft,, beam 12ft. 6in. and depth sft, 6in., is designed after the style, of the Teddy, winner of (he Tasman Yacht Race in 1931, and should be ideally suited for both ocean-going cruises and trading purposes. The vessel is being built of heart of kauri throughout, and in procuring this timber free of charge Mr. Wray has shown an exceptional degree of resource, not usually found in the amateur boat-builder. An enthusiastic yachtsman, Mr. Wray has, when cruising in harbour and gulf, neglected no opportunity to pick up and tow in floating logs or pieces of timber likely to be of use to him in his project. The pine logs and cheaper timbers he traded to an Auckland timber company in exchange for the free milling of those salvaged kauri logs with, which he intended to construct his boat. Mr. Wray, who is only 22 years of age, and is building the cutter without any outside help, hopes to have the vessel ready for launching* in six or seven months' time. The rigging of the craft is yet another story of (he resourcefulness of the builder. Practically all the necessary blocks, tackle, shrouds and sailcloth were obtained from the four-masted barque Kewa, which now lies stranded at Moturekareka Island, 'in exchange for a small boat-load of provisions taken to (lie owner of the island and purchaser of the llewa, Mr. Charles Hanson. For a mast, Mr. Wray expects to find a suitable young kauri rika near one of the wooded coasts of Great Barrier Island. Provision is made for the installation of a 5 h.p. heavy duty marine engine, but the boat will depend mainly on its sails for motive power. Mr. Wray has still to find some more timber in order to complete his task, but is confident of picking this up in the gulf during the present boating season. His plans for the future aro only tentative, but show an adventurous and ambitious'spirit. Within two years he expects to make voyages (o both Norfolk Island and the Kermadecs. He is also planning (o take a small expedition of gold prospectors to the fields in the West Coast sounds of the South Island. Following these voyages Mr. Wriy intends to sail to Lyttelton in order to enable him to study'at Christchurch for the completion of his bachelor of engineering degree; During the nine months which he will have to spend at this southern centre he intends to live aboard his boat, using the same as a study when not attending college. He expects to make the voyage to Lyttelton alone, the boat being specially adapted for single-handed sailing.