NEW CRUISER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23156, 30 September 1938, Page 21

NEW CRUISER

ENGLISH CRAFT INTERESTING FEATURES A SINGLE-HANDED VESSEL NOVEL ENGINE INSTALLATION By SPINDRIFT AVERY interesting yacht has been built in England to the order of Mr. Berkley Clarke, late of Wellington and Auckland, and a former owner of the wellknown A class keel yacht Marangi. The new craft is a raised deck cruiser designed by John G. Olden, of Boston, United States. Her principal dimensions are : Length overall, 39ft. Bjin. ; load waterline, 27ft. lOin. ; beam, 10ft. 7in. ; draught, sft. llin. She is of single skin construction with Hi' l - finished planking; Hin. bent frames and Tin. centres. Below decks she is very comfortable. Forward is a double stateroom with Oft. 2in. headroom. Aft., on the port side, is a wash-basin and other conveniences. A locker is provided on the starboard side. The main cabin has sleeping accommodation for four adults on deep pullman berths. This cabin is also provided with a fireplace. Further aft the yacht has a galley on the port side equipped with a gas stove, sink, etc. On the starhoard side a bunk is fitted and there is also a folding chart table. Auxiliary power is furnished by a flat twin diesel engine, the installation of which is most unusual. The drive is fore and aft. but there is no aperture to create drag, as the shaft is set six inches off centre, the propeller functioning above the low cut rudder and to port of the rudder post. Ihe yacht, which lias been called the Hinerangi, is Bermudan sloop-rigged, carrying 6-SO square feet of working

sails. She is a perfect single-handed vessel. The jib is fitted on a boom and the yacht has a standing backstay. A bumkin protects the alter staying of the mast, which is not unusually tall, being only 42 feet from the deck. According to the latest advice from Mr. Clarke, he has recently crossed the English Channel and is now on an extended cruise in Norwegian and surrounding waters. NEWS AND NOTES SALE OF THE NIOBE The fine auxiliary Blue Seas, which recently returned to Nelson after a lengthy cruitie around the South Sea Islands is equipped with a J2 model 22 b.h.p. Kelvin Diesel. A 36ft. by 10ft. bridge cruiser is being built by Mr. C. Wild for Mr. J. ■ R.. Rutland, of Remuera. The vessel will have two cabins and a galloy, and will be equipped with a 6-95 h.p. Gray engine. A. new 14ft. T class boat, designed by Mr. J. Brooke, has been built by Mr. J. Wheeler, for Mr. N. Hankins, of Bayswater. She will be registered as the Snirlene, and will carry 225 ft. of sail. A good type of cruising launch is being built by Mr. S. F. Ford, of Ellersiie, for Mr. V. Salek. The boat is 42ft. overall, and will have a bridge deck. She will he fitted with a 6-105 h.p. Gray motor. A similar engine was installed last season in Mr. W. Naismith's cr-uiser, White Heather. The 26ft. koel yacht Niobe, lately owned by Mr. F. J. Moresby, has been sold by Mr. L. R. Matthews to Mr. C. S. Dent, formerly owner of the 20footer Allies. The latter vessel has been purchased by Mr. J. Fountain. Mr. Matthews also reports the sale of the 30ft. launch Whitiora to Mr. J. Bland, of Herne Bay. The latest addition to the extensive Auckland fishing fleet, the Katoa, owned and operated by Tauranga Fisheries, Limited, has been equipped with a K4 model 88 b.h.p. Kelvin Diesel. The launch Mercury Belle, recentlv built for Mr. F. Mizen, of Mercury Island, lias been fitted with a 6-cylinder 120 h.p. Vivian Diesel, and is proving very satisfactory. Another installation at present in hand is an 105 h.p. Vivian Diesel engine for the Auckland Harbour Board's pilot launch Waitemala, which should be in operation in about two weeks' time. During the past season 27 members of the Royal Aknrana Yncht Club cruised more than 1000 miles offshore. Ocean cruising is now becoming a more popular part of the Club's activities. To perpetuate a record of these cruises, the Club has instituted two new annual contests, —an Ocean Cruising Award open to any New Zealand yacht for the most meritorious cruise in each year, and a New Zealand Coastal Cruising Award for the best record of cruising in coastal waters. The logs of the winners will be published annnally in the Club's journal.