Boating Boom

By all accounts, the waters of Gisborne and Poverty Bay should be black with boats this coming summer. Never before have so many keen amateurs been discovered in their sheds and garages sawing, hammering, screwing and glueing together so many different kinds of boats large and small.

In the commercial world, too, the accent is on boating. One big Gisborne concern has non opened a "marine section", another is making craft for sale.

And in a place with such magnificent waterways as Gisborne, with miles of coastline and with good fishing to be had offshore, it is only natural that more people are realising the pleasures which launch and boat trips car offer, and following the lead which yachtsmer have already developed, of finding fun and relaxation on the water.

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The bay in summertime, with yachts taking part in a race, and a "home boat" at anchor. This summer should see big increase in both yachts and motor launches.

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Power boats racing in the harbour channel

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Gisborne has wonderful river reaches for more sedate water travellers

One of the great fascinations of the boating world is the variety of craft which can be used. They range from a big yacht like Mr Ted Otway's Ceciline (above), to a surf ski, a dinghy with an outboard motor, or a motor scooter like Pam McAneney is riding on this month's "Photo News" cover. Any of them can serve to take their owners "down to the sea in ships", as it were, but a word of warning is needed beside the customary one about the weather. Boats are like anything else.....you might start with a dinghy, but soon you'll be wanting something bigger, better, and faster.

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For those who are no good with a hammer or a saw there could be this 16ft. 6in. Seacraft clinker-built pleasure craft at Farm Products.

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McCullough's, in Cobden Street, build this type of 16ft marine plywood day-boat. It is powered with a West Bend 30 h.p. outboard with panel controls.

"Photo News" was not able to visit all the amateur boat-builders at work in Gisborne—there are literally dozens of them. But a few pictures here show some of the complexities of the job of making a boat at home. Most builders have plans which are readily available from magazines. Some are slap-dash, modify designs as they go. Others are capable of turning out really high-class craft which would be a credit to the professional boat-builder.

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Mike Vita and Ray Appleton at work on what they call their "hot-rod job"

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Doug Symes is working to his own plan, but there's nothing slap-dash about it

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Jack McCormack, who is a joiner, has made a first-class job of this 14ft. plywood runabout.

One of the most meticulous amateur craftsmen building boats in Gisborne is Keith Rosie who is currently building a handsome plywood cruiser in his garage. Picture at right shows the control panel taking shape.

Keith has had considerable experience of boating with Gisborne as a base, says that if amateur sailors know the local weather and keep in touch with conditions they can hare a lot of safe sailing in the bay and as far away as Mahia and Tolaga Bay. He is a strong advocate of two-way radio in case of trouble, and to bring in up-to-date weather information.

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Jack Cameron at work on a new plant boat specially designed for crossing rough surf on the bar of the Waipaoa river. It has a fibreglass protective coat

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Workmen at McCulloughs sanding down a plywood day boat

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Some of the selection of boats on show in a city showroom.

Greatest thrill for the amateur boatbuilder is the day when the long hours of work are over and his craft finally takes to the water, These pictures, taken last summer, show this moment as it came to Michael Eade, of Anzac Street, when his Sabrina, an 18ft 6in speed craft, was taken from its home in Awapuni Road and lowered into the harbour. Only then does its builder know exactly how well it will handle in the water.

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As the sun sets over the Poverty Bay hills in a blaze of glory, a boy beaches his home-made surf ski....his first boat, but probably not his last.