BUILDING BOATS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22820, 30 August 1937, Page 6

BUILDING BOATS

(FLOURISHING INDUSTRY

activity in the yardsMARKED LABOUR SHORTAGE VESSELS OF MANY TYPES One of Auckland's oldest industries, boatbuilding, is at present experiencing a marked revival in activity. There was a time when shipbuilding yards on tbe Auckland waterfront were a constant hive of industry, with pohutukawa frames and kauri timber being converted into speedy schooners -and honest, labouring scows. Those days * have gone, seemingly for ever, but the call of the sea remains, and yachts, cruising launches, fishing boats and other craft still create a demand through which the art of the boatbuilder continues to flourish. At the moment, every boatbuilding firm in Auckland is busily occupied, and this state of activity has been in existence for several months. Several individual builders state that they have had to refuse work owing to the difficulty iu obtaining labour. Boatbuilding, of course, is a, highly specialised task, and it is claimed that at present there is not a qualified man in Auckland out of work. Work for Carpenters So great,is the activity in the yards and so keen is the demand for labour that carpenters are even being pressed into shipbuilding work and employed on tasks which they are qualified to perform. There was one case recently when a local firm was called on to carry out extensive alteration work and, almost in desperation, it advertised for carpenters. It so happened that the publication of the advertisement coincided with' a spell of particularly wet weather, and a large party of carpenters from the Orakei housing scheme responded immediately. They had been working broken time at Orakei owing to the rain, but they knew that a boatbuilding job, under cover, would mean continuous work. The majority of the boatbuilding firms in Auckland state that they cannot accept; any further orders for work until after Christmas. They are still receiving inquiries, and one firm recently, within a few days, had to reject orders for a fleet of 12 dinghies, intended for hiring purposes, and a 22ft. runabout launch.

The major jobs in progress at present are the building of the new vehicular ferry for the Devonport Steam Ferry Company by Air. P. Vos, and the construction of a 98ft. power lighter for . Wanganui by W. G. Lowe and Son, Limited. Work on the ferry boat was held up for some time owing to the late arrival of steel from Great Britain and hardwood timber from Australia, but good progress is now being made. Other Utility Vessels The massive power lighter which is being built in the near by yards of W. G. Lowe and Son, Limited, is to be fitted with a 145 Diesel ' engine, and is being built for the New Zealand Refrigerating Company, Limited. A smaller lighter was built by the same firm spme time ago, and another of the same dimensions will be started when the larger craft is completed. Among other utility vessels under construction is a 55ft. cargo launch which is being built by C. Bailey and Son, Limited. It will have a carrying capacity of about 85 tons, and will be powered with a 36 horse-power Diesel engine, and the builders expect to have it "completed in about two months. Another commercial vessel is a 50ft. fishing launch for two Auckland fishermen. It is being built by Lidgard Brothers, and Is practically completed. The popularity of big game fishing and trout fishing represents another profitable avenue of employment for the boatbuilder, especially as there appears to be a definite movement to build ■up the fleet of deep-sea fishing launches at Tauranga. A 40ft. private launch for deep-sea fishing in the vicinity of Tauranga ia being built by W. G. Lowe and Son, Limited, for Mr. W. G. McPherson, of Gosport, England, who has lived for some time in New Zealand. In addition, the iarm of Collings and Bell, of St. Mary's Bay, has altered several Tauranga launches for use on the big game fishing grounds. Plans lor Australia The experience gained by Auckland builders in providing launches for deepsea fishing off Cape Brett and Mayor Island is also being sought by Australian firms. The Russell -launch Avalon used on the Australian big game fishing grounds last summer anu| as . a result, Messrs. Collings and Bell have received an inquiry from Sydney for their plans, which will be used for the building of fishing launches in Australia. Trout fishing at Tanpo will provide a calling for a new 40ft. launch which has been built by Mr. C. Wild, of Stanley Bay, for Mr. J. Blundell, of Wellington. The craft is to be equipped with twin Thornycroft engines, to be Eupplied by Messrs. Collings and Bell, and already she presents a most attractive appearance. Her interior finishings are excellent and she has been designed to provide ample room and comfort for a fishing party to live on board.

New Auxiliary Ketch

Pleasure craft, too, are being built in large numbers. Mr. Wild is making food progress with a obit, auxiliary etch which he is building for Mr. D. Mill, of Hobsonville. It will be a vessel of notable proportions, Bermuda ketch •rigged and powered with an auxiliary Diesel engine of 120 horsepower. The jressel will have commodious and wellfitted living quarters. Other vessels which have either been completed recently or which are in course of construction are two 18ft. M class yachts and a 17ft. runabout launch, built by Collings and Bell, a 35ft. bridge-deck cruising launch which C. Bailey and Son, Limited, are building for Mr. C. Sinel, of Auckland, a 3-lft. streamlined cruising launch which Lidgard Brothers are building for Mr. P. B. White and a 30ft. keel yacht which the same firm has under construction for Mr. R. Judd, of Heme Bay. Several firms arc also building 14ft. T class yachts. A feature of design and construction in all the pleasure craft is the provision of ample living accommodation with a high degree of comfort. Cruising in the magnificent waters of the Hauraki Gulf is losing none of its popularity and Auckland's' fleet of yachts and launches is increasing steadily both in size and in efficiency.