SURF-BOAT BOUGHT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22185, 12 August 1935, Page 10

SURF-BOAT BOUGHT

RESCUE WORK AT PIHA LOCAL CLUB'S ENTERPRISE SPECIAL CRAFT FROM SYDNEY With the object of increasing the safety of the beach at Piha for the thousands of bathers who frequent it during the summer, the Piha Surf LiteSaving Club has decided to purchase a standard surf boat from the Bronte Club, of Sydney. "The safety of bathers must be the first consideration, and a proper surf boat seems essential if rescues are to be made when bathers aro carried out beyond the breakers," said the president of the Piha Club, Mr. F. do Guerricr, yesterday. The decision to puichaso a suitable boat has been made as a result of tho difficulty that has been experienced in tho past in effecting rescues from the beach. On more than one occasion, it is stated, rescues have been performed by the beltman towing two lines, each approximately 400 yards in length, to the person in danger. It is considered by some members that had tho club possessed a boat when tho call was received last summer to Knrekare, Miss H. Benthnm would have been rescued within half an hour, instead of after nearly four hours' immersion in tho water. On that occasion Miss Bentham was rescued by a scaplano after repeated attempts to reach her with a life-line had failed. A Boat from Sydney The secretary of the club, Mr. O. R. Holt, it is stated, had made inquiries among Auckland boatbuilders with the object of having a boat built locally. The only quotation received was one if £llO for tho construction of a hull alono. This was considered to be beyond the means of tho club. It was then decided to accept the Sydney offer of a second-hand boat for £6O, subject to an inspection. The boat under offer is 22ft. in length, with a beam of oft. 3in. It has been specially designed for the surf, and is comparatively light, being capable of being handled readily by a crew of five. Buoyancy tanks are fitted fore and aft, while a standard surfbelt and 200 yards of line are placed in a forward position. The boat is equipped with four 13ft. oatß, with a sweep oar at the stern to give control. The two centre seats are removable, so that a patient can be placed on the floorboards if necessary and resuscitation carried out immediately. Dominion's •' Foremost Club '' "The enterprise of the Piha Club in purchasing this boat places it in the position of the foremost club in the Dominion," said Mr. H. C. Sidfordj secretary of the Auckland Surf LifeSaving Association, yesterday. "The only other club to possess a surf boat is at New Plymouth, this craft being formerly owned by the Marunui Club, Wellingl on. "The Piha Club has been in operation only two seasons and in that time it has built a commodious clubhouse, which is as yet only partly paid for, and has taken part ih some of the most meritorious rescues in the history of New Zealand." Mr. Sidford added that there were few people who realised that life-saving clubs, of which there were 17 in the Auckland province, received no financial support from the Government.