PLEASURE CRAFT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23177, 25 October 1938, Page 11

PLEASURE CRAFT

MANY STILL ASHOEE | PREPARING FOR SEASON ACTIVITIES AT WEEK-END RAIN DELAYS PAINTING For many owners and crews of small craft the Labour week-end was one ol toil, tho occasion being the preparing of their boats for the season. lioth before and during tho holidays large numbers of boats made their appearance on the harbour, but a survey ul St. Mary's Bay, Judge's Hay and other places where small craft put up lor repairs and winter overhaul, shows that a largo part of the fleet is still ashore. More would have been launched yesterday, or held ready for launching this week, had it not been for the rain which stopped painting or made ineffective much that bad just been done. "Look at that paint," said one launch-owner at St. Mary's Bay. "i don't mean on the bull —look at it on the ground. It has yli been washed off the hull." On several near by craft, the effort had been made to protect freshly-painted suil. ee.s by sacking and canvas, but these ine;;:;ures seemed only partly successful in their purpose. ,

Well-known Yachts on Land It was noticeable that many of tho larger and cruising craft were still ashore. In ono group were such wellknown yachts as Rainbow, Waitangi, Rawene, Thclma, Ngatira, Ida and Marangi. It was clear that many alterations and renewals had been accomplished on the last-named. Some new craft were in evidence, several well off completion. Tho prospective crews on these were busy, and, against tho lee of one, four men were engaged in shaping, bcraping and sandpapering a mast.

Tho graceful linos of 0110 new craft, built by the Messrs. Tercel brothers, of Ponsonby, for their own use, attracted attention. An A class keel yacht of 60ft. overall, and 44ft. on the waterline, she is the largest and most important that Avill be launched for this season. The hull is painted and complete, the principal job during the week-end being the fixing into position of the lead keel of five tons. Ready in Six Weeks

The lead was not poured in under the wooden section of the keel, but was moulded elsewhere. It is held by six huge bronze bolts, and the fitting is perfect. Several large apertures had been left in the keel, which will be filled by wood blocks. The idea is that, if greater weight is needed, they can then be filled with lead without it being necessary to disturb the shape of the keel. Built for both cruising and racing, the yacht has three cabins, with eight bunks, and a galley with full headroom.

The internal fitting is in its final stages, but work has yet to be started on tho mast of 71ft. 6in. overall. The mast will be a squaro section, hollow spar. The yacht, in which various types of beautiful woods have been effectively utilised—the hull is three-skin kauri—is expected to be ready in about six weeks. It will be Bermudan rigged.