Hull No.39, Mahogany Planking?

by Zachary Rose

Jul 1, 2020

Kia ora all!

My partner and I have just bought Hull No.39, we live in New Zealand.

We're really excited, because her previous owners appear to have taken wonderful care of her bones, but there are a few things in the fit-out that we're planning on modifying and she needs to be re-decked.

We are a bit curious though, because she has a couple of oddities about her. Firstly, she has a centre cockpit, with the addition of a stern cabin. I've only seen this on a couple of examples I found online, do we know how common this was?

Secondly, she hasn't been glassed! What's more, she is planked in mahogany rather than plywood. Can anyone hazard a guess as to weather her skin was replaced by a previous owner, or if she was commissioned with planking?

Lastly we'd love to have a look at her original plans if anyone knows where we should be looking, because she appears to be a bit of an orphan we aren't sure how much to trust the standard info regarding the Newporter's construction.

We look forwards to hearing from you, any help would be really appreciated!

Thanks,

- Zach and Deborah

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  • up

    Zachary Rose

    Thanks Bob, that's great to hear.

    I'll take a look through Photos some time tomorrow, and yeah anything you could show us would be a great help!

    The gentleman we bought her from said something about her aft cabin being a sail-store at one point, so that makes a lot of sense.

    We're planning to steam her from the Marlborough Sounds (where she's moored now) to Wellington (where we live) and lift her out, probably for about 18 months to 2 years. Luckily we'd already accounted for the re-caulking!

    Thanks so much for your help.

    Jul 2, 2020

  • up

    Jim Benbow

    Hi Zachary and welcome,

    Just wondering what the name of your boat is? Is it Shoeless Joe?

    In response to your query about your boats construction, I have a recollection that one of the Newporters that came to New Zealand was redone in carvel planking, I may have got that info from Jim Trefethen's book "The Cruising Life"

    I could check that when I get back home in a few days.

    I bought Sultana from Jim back in 2008 

    Jim

    Jul 4, 2020

  • up

    Zachary Rose

    Hey Jim, yeah that's her!

    Sorry for the late reply, we've been preoccupied trying to buy ourselves a mooring to per her on.

    That'd be wonderful if you could have a check for us; is there enough information in the book for it to be worth us buying it do you think?

    Cheers, Zach.



    Jim Benbow said:

    Hi Zachary and welcome,

    Just wondering what the name of your boat is? Is it Shoeless Joe?

    In response to your query about your boats construction, I have a recollection that one of the Newporters that came to New Zealand was redone in carvel planking, I may have got that info from Jim Trefethen's book "The Cruising Life"

    I could check that when I get back home in a few days.

    I bought Sultana from Jim back in 2008 

    Jim

    Oct 2, 2020