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“Tinbau all 15m long and 1.5m wide,”
she explains. Half a metre seems to be the
standard measurement – each boat has 27 teak
frames on 500mm centres with a ring frame
or bulkhead at either end. The bottom’s 50mm
planking – all cut from five lengths of teak. The
planking is slightly convex forward to provide
extra buoyancy and to peel back the lake chop
for a drier ride, but flattens out aft.
Topside planking is 25mm full-length
teak, fastened with trunnels (tree nails) –
wooden plugs chiselled to size and driven
into holes drilled in the planking and frames.
Four boatbuilders – a father, two sons and
our hostess’ husband build all the boats on
the lake. “All those thousands of boats?” I
queried, wondering if I’d misinterpreted her.
She nodded proudly, indicating all round with
a broad sweep of her arm.
The only tools in evidence were a wooden
block plane, hammer, brace with auger bit and
hand saw.
Each big boat costs about NZ$3,600
and takes the four men a month to build- all in solid teak. I asked how often they
need refastening. “One boat,” she held up a
forefinger, “25 years.” No refastening needed.
The small boats (lay’) have a platform
forward which is used to fish or scull from
and cost NZ$1,168. They’re often operated
by women and powered by a Honda or similar
petrol engine mounted on a pivot at the stern
and driven by “long tail” driveshaft with a
propeller on the end.
Pitch is smeared on the planking seams
and the full length 25mm x 200mm stringer
is painted but the only finishing touches are a
painted gunwale and grating for the floor. Make
no bones about it – these are workboats. Like
Henry Ford’s Model T, they come in any colour
as long as it’s black. There are no names or
registration numbers.
Most of the engines looked like Yanmar
YSM/YSE 12s. “Great old engines,” I thought.
But then I crouched to look the manufacturer’s
plate: Chang Fa Diesel – 185kg. 16kW @ 2200
rpm. Made in China.
ABOVE Fishing
from the vessel
requires dexterity
and good
balance.
LEFT The hull
frames are at
500mm centres.
BELOW Off to
work with the
breeze in your
face.