Boating New Zealand — February 2018

62 Boating New Zealand

BOATINGNZ.CO.NZ

WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS PROCESS?

Contact Dave Stuart of D&D Boatbuilding at 022-044-7500,

or email [email protected].

the inevitable challenges that often emerge once the build starts.

Because someone like Stuart understands the ‘bones’ of the boat

and what would or would not work, Venter knew that sensible

decisions or design changes could happen without needing lots

of input from him.

So the final design of the support pillars, and re-configuring

the flybridge seating, were all handled by Stuart. For a DIYer

doing this sort of work, a lack of prior experience could result in

decisions based on what seems easiest rather than what will give

the best outcome.

During the three-month build a number of the boat’s other

minor defects were also addressed. Some areas of dry rot (the

bane of every wooden boat owner’s life) were identified and

rectified, and the entire boat was repainted.

A self-draining gutter around the hatches in the boarding

platform, the lack of which caused one area of rot, was designed

and built by Stuart. At the same time the duckboard was

extended to 950mm and re-configured, to make this a very

usable and safe place to stand while fishing. Two humungous

watertight storage lockers were located under the deck to

provide a secure place for dive gear and other wet items.

The final result, says Venter, is glorious. The upstairs hardtop

is now the ‘viewing and sundowner’ location of choice, and the

extended cockpit hardtop provides outdoor patio entertainment

down below, out of the weather. The bigger duckboard, with

staples for bait boards and davits for the dinghy, now keeps the

fishing and water sports outside the cockpit and facilitates clean-

ups. The ingenious kayak rack, designed by Venter’s son-in-law

and added to the extended cockpit roof by Stuart, keeps the

foredeck clean and uncluttered.

The impact of the additional weight and windage is yet to be

determined, but Stuart says it’s unlikely to be significant. The

hardtop is only slightly higher than the original canvas roof,

and the extra weight is negligible compared to her fully-laden

nine tonnes overall weight. Prior to the extension she cruised

at 12 to 14 knots, consuming around 23 litres per hour, with a

maximum speed of 24 knots. She is expected to deliver a similar

performance.

Venter says the cost of the work was roughly comparable to

what he would have spent if he sold Nitro and bought a slightly

larger vessel. In that case, however, he would then possibly have

a whole new raft of unknown issues and future problems, which

could result in cost and reliability issues.

He would also have additional costs in upgrading his

marina berth to fit a larger vessel. Instead he has a boat with

considerably more space, fully repainted and with no known

problems. He knows she is reliable, economical to run and will

be good for many years to come.

A great result! BNZ

The upstairs hardtop

is now the ‘viewing

and sundowner’

location of choice...