BOAT-BUILDING AT PORT CHALMERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13589, 10 May 1906, Page 8

BOAT-BUILDING AT PORT CHALMERS.

Messrs Knowstubb Bros, liavo just completed a hansome oil launch, built to tho order of Mr 11. Tolmio. Tho new vessel has a length of 34ft, with 7ft beam, ami 4ft depth of hull. She is clinker built, of Jin kauri, and has a 6in x sin jarrah keel, broadleaf stem and knees, and steam-bent kowhai timbors 2in by ljin. A neat cabin has been fitted forward. It is 10ft 6in in length, carried tho full width of tho vessel, and is 6ft from floor to ceiling, lighted by six brass-mounted portholes. A cockpit 9ft long will accommodate tho engines and steering wheel, together with plenty of locker room. A small cabin has been fitted aft, and has two berths fitted in, making tho launch an ideal one for an. extended cruise on any of our inland lakes. A couple of short polo roasts will bo fitted in, which will give the new vessel a decidedly smart and raidsh appearance, whilst for an easilj handled, comfortable cruiser the new boat would bo hard to beat. The best material > and workmanship aro embodied in her construction.

Another boat nearing completion is i pleasuro launch now being built by the samo firm for Mr Brailson. It has a length of 26ft, with a breadth of 6ft and a depth of 2ft 7in. Tho whole of tho planking is of kauri, wittf kowhai timbers, jarrali keel and stern, and knees of broadleaf. She will bo lined throughout with kauri, and is to bo dcckcd fore and aft. Tho deck coamings will bo 6in high, rounded at both ends, and tho whole of tho intorior, exccpt tho spaco required for tho engines, will be available for seating accommodation. This boat lias very graceful lines, and should develop a good turn for speed, and make a decided acquistion to the rapidly increasing motor launch flotilla. As soon as these aro launched the same firm will start work upon three Hew whal.eboats, their length being 30ft, 31ft and 32ft respectively, having a beam of about 7ft and a depth of 2ft lOin. A Standard oil engine will bo installed in one, and the Mitcham typo o[ engine will bo placed in each of the others. One boat goes to Oamarti, a second ono t« Waikouaiti, and tho third is being built for a local resident. A boat from Moeraki is now lwintf fitted up with a fouv-horso power Standard oil engine. In addition to the above, Messrs Knowstubb have launched five other boats during the past four months, ranging in length from 22ft to 38ft. In conscquenco of the steadilv increasing demand for boats of this class the firm find it necessary to cnlargo • their nromises to nearly double their present size, and a boiler and engine aro being installed to operate circular and band saws, electric light, and steam-bending plant. These facts speak well for tho class ot

work turned out from Messrs Knewstubb's yard, and bear amplo testimony to tho ever-increasing popularity of tho petrol motor as a means of propulsion for small craft suitable for tho requirements of the Otago Harbour ami the various fishipg •Stations' adjacent,