Whanake is entered
on Part 1 DOT British Ships Register
TYPE/CLASS Auxiliary Bermudan Cutter
DIMENSIONS Loa 12.80m (42’ 0”) Lwl 9.75 (32’0”) Beam 3.66m (12’.0”) Draft 2.29m (7’6”) Displacement 15 tons
BUILDER Brian
Watts, Watts Engineering, Auckland, New Zealand
in 1972
DESIGNER Chris Robertson of Warkworth,
Auckland
CONSTRUCTION
Triple skin Kauri
Pine hull, with diagonal inner skin and conventional fore’ and aft outer
skin, resorcinol glued and bronze screwed, with longitudinal stringers of about 1 ¼”
section at approx. 8” centers or less. The stringers are rebated into laminated framing and flooring. In way of the mast area there are three massive laminated floors about 5” in width, built up with
approx. 5/16 ” thickness laminations. These main floors tie into the Kauri Pine backbone structure, again of solid or
laminated timber. This yacht appears immensely strongly built by virtue of the
construction method, without resulting in an overweight vessel. The hull exterior is epoxy resin and glass cloth sheathed,
finished originally with a two-pot paint system and today, retaining very fair topsides with a cream paint finish.
Blue painted
sheer strake with a rubbing strake above, fitted with a protective brass strip. Above the sheer strake the bulwarks are painted
golden yellow. A substantial laminated deck edge carlin with double thickness plywood bulkheads support the stressed plywood
deck, in addition to beautifully laminated hanging knees forward and again amidships in way of the galley. The deck is double
thickness plywood on beams with a plywood ceiling below and the space between is filled with polystyrene insulation. The deck
is epoxy resin and glass cloth sheathed, the non-slip finish is granite chippings laid in epoxy resin and the finish is two-pot
polyurethane white.
There
is a built-up toe-rail [bulwark] with scrubbed Burma Teak capping with three waterways either side for drainage and at the
deck edge a concave fillet to ensure a watertight join.
The cabin
top superstructure is again of marine ply construction, all epoxy resin and glass cloth- sheathed, with a very smooth surface. The cabin sides are white enamel with bronze side window frames, the finish to the
coach-roof is cream, all polyurethane. There is a very nicely made teak skylight
which incorporates a clever cover for the cabin heating stove chimney and the engine room extract vent. The cabin-top coamings are taken slightly forward to give a protected deck area in way of the mast. Aft of the mast is a ventilated deck box containing
three propane gas cylinders and regulator.
The hull freeboard
is very well proportioned and not at all excessive, giving easy access from a pontoon or dinghy.
The cockpit is
self draining with no cockpit locker openings for security, is finished with double layers of epoxy resin and glass cloth sheathed and painted cream and with scrubbed teak coaming cappings, scrubbed Teak lazarette
hatch and companionway hatch which is slightly offset to starboard.
Lead keel and
fin and skeg hung rudder configuration.
Hardware
on deck includes: a single stemhead roller fitting with twin forestay attachment. Stainless steel pulpit [new 2001
by Hinckley Yachts] with Aqua Signal bi-colour navigation light [new 1998].
S/s stanchions
in bronze bases with twin s/s guardwires. Bronze mooring bollard on the fore’deck with two bronze cleats and four bronze
fairleads. Fore’deck hand and electric anchor windlass. Stainless steel flush-type lashdown eyes and canvas pads for
dinghy stowage. Teak forehatch with smoked acrylic top to give extra light below. Four deck prisms (over heads, corridor and
wardrobe). Anchor chocks beside the mast for a kedge anchor. Beside the mast is a fresh water deck shower and a seawater high
pressure deck and chain wash / fire hose. Teak chocks for liferaft stowage.Teak grabrails on the cabin top and teak stowage
chocks on the side decks for twin spinnaker poles and whisker pole.Very substantial stainless steel and teak boom gallows.
Stainless steel mainsheet track forward of companionway hatch garage. Stainless steel tracks (4) and car travellers (4) on
both side decks for headsail sheeting. Massive tufnol and stainless steel turning blocks aft for headsail sheets. Terylene
tape harness safety lines running full length of vessel (both sides). Stainless steel mooring bollard on aft deck with two
bronze cleats and four bronze fairleads. Stainless steel pushpit with fishing rod holders, outboard mounting bracket and Aqua
Signal navigation light [new 1998]. Pair of stainless steel ‘goal posts’ supporting radar, GPS and Navtex aerials,
automatic riding light, two large solar panels and the outboard crane. Two horseshoe lifebuoys each equipped with automatic
flashing floating light, whistle and parachute drogue. Aries lift-off type self steering gear. Jonbuoy automatic trailing
drogue.
Stainless steel
pedestal wheel steering with brake, clutched wheel for Aries steering, laminated and varnished spoked steering wheel, Suunto binnacle compass and drinks shelf, which also supports a cockpit
table.
The dinghy
is an 8’ Seabird GRP simulated clinker made in Auckland,
with oars and lifting strop and stows upside down ahead of the mast. Dinghy is complete with rudder, leeboard, mast, spars
and balanced lugsail.
Ventilation
- Particular care has been taken with this and ‘Whanake’ has already sailed through some of the hottest
parts of the world [deck insulation has already been mentioned].
One dorade ventilator
right forward above the chain locker. Two dorade ventilators with teak boxes above the forward cabin. The dinghy stows over
and protects the forehatch so this can be left partly open in settled conditions. One dorade ventilator above the heads compartment.
Two dorade ventilators over the forward end of the saloon. Two dorade ventilators with teak boxes above the saloon.
One dorade ventilator
above the galley stove. The present owners stow a sailboard and passarelle above the saloon skylight which enables the skylight
to be left partly open in most conditions.
Below, the yacht
is very attractively fitted out, with a good deal of solid Burma Teak joinery, white enamalled bulkheads and deckhead. The
joinery work is to a high standard, with dovetail joints where appropriate, properly dowelled screw fixings, attractive beadings
etc. Where exposed, the hull sides in the saloon and aft, are vertically strip paneled using a most attractive fleck grained
native timber (REWA-REWA – Honeysuckle wood). Cabin sole boards throughout are of approx. ½” Teak on plywood backing,
with cream colour caulking.
SPARS
AND RIG
Deck stepped
aluminium alloy mast and round section boom. The mast has a secondary track for the trysail. Stainless steel standing rigging
with bronze bottle screws. Twin spreader rig with an additional lower shroud to starboard with Teak ratlines fitted from the
lower spreaders. Two painted aluminium spinnaker poles and silver anodized whisker pole. Boom is rigged for slab reefing with
stainless steel horns (not used) and jamming and aluminium cleats.
Furlex
yankee/genoa furling gear (new 1998). Colour coded multiplait synthetic halyards and running rigging. Three halyard
clutches and two jamming cleats. Track and pair of travellers for spinnaker poles. Radar reflector. Aqua Signal combined steaming
light and deck flood ,new 1998. Aqua signal combined tri-colour and anchor light, new 1998. VHF aerial, new 1998. All electric
cables replaced in 1998. Twin backstays, one of which is insulated for the SSB. Standing inner forestay for the hanked staysail.
Multiplait runners which are only set up in really severe weather.
Note: All the
standing and running rigging was renewed in 1992 in NZ and a number of halyards have been replaced since then.
Winches
include:
On the mast -
Lewmar 40 self-tailing for the main halyard/spinnaker. Barlow 23/26 self-tailing for the yankee/genoa. Wilkie 24 for the staysail/topping
lift.
On the boom -
Lewmar 16 self tailing for slab reefing. Wilkie 16 for ditto.
On the coachroof
- Two Wilkie 26’s with rubber ‘winchers’ for the staysail sheets.
Around the cockpit
- Two Lewmar 52 self tailing primaries for yankee/genoa. Two Wilkie 28 secondaries. One Wilkie 26 self tailing for the mainsheet.
Note: Wilkie
NZ has been taken over by Barlow [Australia]
and Wilkie spare parts are available from Barlow.
SAILS
All in white
terylene except the spinnaker which is blue.
Mainsail, fully
battened with three slab reefs – Gowen Ocean - 2004. Staysail with hanks – Gowen Ocean 2004. No 1 Yankee - North -1998.
No 2 Yankee – 1990. Heavy Genoa -1994. Light Genoa – 1990. Trysail. Spinnaker
Note: Gowen Ocean has all
the details of the sails for rapid replacement.
MECHANICAL
/ ELECTRICAL
Yanmar
3JH3E three cylinder 36/40 hp diesel engine, new 2000 with approx. 1480 hours running to date. Engine is installed
under the galley worktop and drives forward to a V- drive gearbox to the 1 1/4” dia. stainless steel propeller shaft,
new 2000, running in rubber and white metal bearings with
standard gland
packing seal and driving an 18” x 13” bronze three bladed propeller, supported by a P bracket. A 12 volt Vetus
spark protected blower extracts hot air from the engine compartment.
Fuel consumption
at a cruising speed of 5 – 5 ½ knots is three hours per gallon, with a maximum speed of about 8 knots. A full maintenance history of this engine is included, as well as all
manuals. The engine has a 55 amp alternator which charges through a Heart smart charger.
Hot water from
the heat exchanger circulates through the primary circuit of the C Warm 6 gallon hot water cylinder (new 1998), giving adequate
hot water for domestic use. This hot water cylinder also has a 1 ¼ kW electric immersion heater running from shore power.
The engine also drives through an electric clutch an MGC 1000 Tecomech compressor for the fridge and freezer system (new dryer
and modern refrigerant no. R413A installed 2004).
Single lever
engine control close to helmsman. The engine controls including alarms, hour meter and temperature and oil pressure gauges
are situated in the cockpit in full view.
Diesel fuel of
70 gallons in two 35 gallon tanks situated under the fore-cabin bunks gives a potential range in quiet conditions of over 1100 miles. The service batteries are three 120 amp. hr.
lead acid deep cycle (new Nov 2001) wired in parallel, with one 105 amp. hr. lead acid cranking battery for starting. For
emergency purposes both banks can be switched together. The supply to the anchor
winch is separately switched and together with the chain wash pump runs from the starting battery.
Charging from
the alternator to the battery banks is controlled manually. One ammeter and two voltmeters, together with a digital ‘Voltwatch’
meter indicate the state of charge in the batteries constantly. The two 55 watt Solarex solar panels are coupled together
(with a diode) and charge both banks of batteries through a RWS 200 Rutland Charge Regulator, complete with ammeter, digital
readout and ‘overcharging’ lamp (all new 1998). The batteries can also be charged by the Sterling Advanced Switch
Mode 20 amp battery charger (new 2003) running on shore-power.
An exceptional
level of 12 volt lighting is provided throughout the vessel, some of the lights being halogen. There are three dri-plug power
outlets.
The high
quality music system (new 1998) is a Pioneer multi-CD control high power cassette player with FM AM SW tuner with
remote control, a Pioneer 6-disc CD player and a pair of 9” dia. Pioneer
speakers.
The vessel is
wired for 240 volt shorepower with the inlet plug situated in the cockpit. The system is protected by a 30 ma. RCCB and circuit breakers on both live and neutral.
Four double 13
amp socket outlets are installed, together with one outlet for the battery charger and one outlet for the immersion heater.
Four dry powder
fire extinguishers within saloon and galley area, together with a galley fire blanket.
Whale Gusher
25 double acting bilge pump operated from below.
Whale Gusher
Titan bilge pump operated from the cockpit.
12 volt electric
bilge pump.
Note: The solar
panels have usually refilled the service batteries by mid-morning, following a normal evenings use of electricity.
In Northern Europe 30 minutes a day and in the Tropics 45 –60 mins. a day of engine running keeps
the freezer at 25deg to 15deg F [ minus 5deg to minus 10deg C]. The freezer has
a thermometer.
Plumbing
- Freshwater of approx. 120 gallons is carried in two 60 gall. Stainless steel tanks under the saloon settees. All the plumbing
is in Hep 2 o [previously called Acorn – new 1998]. The pressure pump is a Jabsco Par Max 4 [new 1998] with a pressurized
accumulator. The heads comprise a Blakes Lavac with white pump and pipework (new pipework 2004). The stainless steel heads
basin empties with a Henderson ‘Chimp’ pump (new 1998) and has hand pumped freshwater and pressurized hot and
cold from a shower head (all new 1998). The shower tray also empties with a Chimp pump (new 1998). The galley has a Penguin
Engineering stainless steel double sink, both sinks empty with Chimp pumps and have hand-pumped freshwater and pressurized
hot and cold (all new 1998).
The
Power Survivor 35 watermaker is installed under the saloon, providing freshwater to the port water tank or a separate container. This watermaker can operate off the solar
panels in a
sunny climate.
The pressure
pump for the chain wash/fire hose is a Jabsco Par Max 4 (new 2001), a similar pump to the domestic water pump but working
at a higher pressure and draws water from the toilet inlet seacock.
The vessel is
heated by a stainless steel Refleks diesel stove (new 1998) with an insulated flue pipe. The fuel is gravity
fed from a small TekTanks polythene tank (new 1998) situated in the heads.
This heater has
a water coil around the heating chamber which is connected to the secondary coil in the hot water cylinder. The heater provides more than adequate heat to warm the whole
vessel, whilst
at the same time providing hot water.
The gas installation
was all new in 1998, the vessel previously used paraffin. Three British 10 lb propane cylinders are stowed in the ventilated gas locker adjacent to the mast, the pipework to the galley being all in copper, except for a flexible pipe connection
to the cooker.
There are two
shut-off taps in the pipework, one in the heads where the pipework enters the vessel and one in the galley. The gimballed cooker (new 1998) is a stainless steel SMEV with four burners, grill
and thermostatically controlled oven with 12 volt ignition and two sets of pan clamps.
ACCOMODATION
Headroom in galley
- 6’ 2” saloon - 6’ 6”
heads and forecabin - 5’ 9”.
The deckheads
and the bulkheads are painted white gloss and all edges are trimmed in varnished Teak.
The topsides
are lined with vertical battens of Rewa Rewa (honeysuckle) wood, varnished.
All lockers and
bunk fronts are constructed of teak or teak veneered plywood , varnished.
The cabin soles
are ½” teak on plywood backing with cream coloured caulking/splines, with teak
gratings fore and aft for bilge ventilation, all varnished.
Note: with the
exception of the Teak added in the 1998 refit, all the original Burma Teak came from the same log.
From forward:
Forepeak
with chain stowage and room for large warps and surplus fenders. Substantial bulkhead with open cut-out access to the chain
locker. The yacht carries a generous beam forward and her broad shoulders give a spacious forward cabin, with a large sail
stowage area ahead of the berths. There are two wide single berths port and starboard
and an infill with additional cushions converts the port berth to a generous double. Above the berths are book shelves
and stowage pockets. On the bulkhead at the head of each berth are personal lockers.
The passageway
has a good sized toilet compartment to port with a stainless steel wash basin, hot and cold water, a shower head and hand-pumped
cold water, a Blakes Lavac toilet and pump, two mirrors, shower curtain, towel rails
and toiletry lockers. To starboard of the passageway is a large hanging locker for clothing with plenty of shelving
and a further locker under.
The saloon
of ‘Whanake’ gives a very spacious feel with good light, ventilation and headroom.
The settees to port and starboard are full length and deep and provide comfortable seating. The upholstery throughout
is in marine blue hard-wearing dralon fabric with a discreet yellow-gold dot; the curtains are matching yellow-gold (all new
1998).
At the forward
end of the starboard settee is special stowage for glasses and a drinks locker. Behind the settee backs are 4 large lockers
and above, near the music centre, is stowage for up to 200 CD’s and 100 tapes and extensive book shelving. To port are
lockers at each end of the pilot berth and bookshelves behind. Under the pilot berth is an enormous stowage area with specially
constructed storage boxes. The port settee has a small sideboard with drawers aft and shelving forward.
Above the pilot
berth is the main chart locker which holds approx. 250 Admiralty sized charts. The chart table holds 10/12 charts for everyday
use. Additional chart stowage is under the double bunk in the fore-cabin where there is room for a further 500 charts.
At the aft end
of the saloon is the stainless steel heating stove with tiled “hearth” and a neat surround designed to contain
any spilt fuel should this ever occur.
The saloon table
in solid teak has substantial fiddles and opens out to give room for up to eight persons to dine in comfort.
Aft of the saloon,
is the navigation area to starboard which has a full sized chart table which lifts up to give access to the
deep-freeze. Navigation instruments and radar are arranged over and around the chart table. The engine is beneath the central
galley worktop and its casing projects slightly into the passageway. The engine compartment is lined with sound deadening
material.
The galley
(U-shaped for safe use on passage) was rebuilt in 1998 and has marine blue formica worktops with varnished teak fiddles, twin
stainless steel sinks with hot and cold taps and hand pumped cold water, plenty of stowage for crockery, glassware and galley
equipment and two drawers for cutlery and small items. The modern SMEV gas cooker is located outboard and is described under
Mechanical/Electrical. Refrigeration capacity is large, with a 1¼ cubic ft top-opening fridge aft of the
navigation area and a 4¼ cu ft deep-freeze under the chart table. Both are heavily insulated and the freezer is capable of
freezing down a full load from +15 deg C to -15deg C.
The starboard
quarterberth is aft of the fridge and extends under the cockpit seating. The port quarterberth also extends under the cockpit
seating and has been adapted to provide additional food stowage for long passages. Alongside the companionway steps is a large
hanging locker for wet gear. Beneath the cockpit is the steering gear, electric pilot and room for further stowage. Aft of
the cockpit is a large lazarette. ‘Whanake’ does not leak so most of the bilges can be used for stowage.
EQUIPMENT
Ground
tackle: The Anchor winch is a Nillson hand wind [there are two handles and winch is easy to operate]. It has been
modified to accept an electric motor, operated by a deck mounted switch. 45 lb
Plough main anchor with 44 fathoms of 7/16” galvanized chain. 35 lb Danforth
and 35 lb CQR kedge anchors. Various short lengths of chain. Two 30 fathom kedge warps. Varnished laminated emergency tiller.
Instruments:
Suunto binnacle compass. Stowe Micro 210 speed and distance log.
Stowe Micro 220
windangle and windspeed installation [masthead unit new 2002].
Raytheon ST 60
depthsounder [new 2001]. Magellan GPS. Autohelm ST
6000 automatic pilot.
Icom IC –
M 55 VHF. Icom IC – M 700 SSB radiotelephone with ATU which operates on both commercial and Ham bands and which has
been modified to accept ‘Sailmail’ e-mail transmissions.
Nasa Navtex Pro
weather receiver. Furuno 1800 radar.
All instruments
are working well and have been in recent use.
Covers:
Blue UV strips to headsails. Blue canvas cover to anchor winch.
Blue canvas bag
to staysail [stays hanked to inner forestay]. Blue canvas mainsail cover. Blue canvas cover to skylight. Blue cockpit sprayhood.
Blue canvas cover to companionway hatch. Blue cockpit sidescreens with yacht’s name. Blue covers to compass and wheel.
Blue covers to some of the ventilators. Blue canvas cockpit bimini with sidescreens. Green/black netting bimini which can
be kept up whilst sailing. Two large orange canvas sun awnings, one for the foredeck and one for the main cabin. Instrument
covers. Insect screens to fit forehatch, skylight and main companionway.
Stainless steel boarding
ladder.
REMARKS
‘Whanake’
has been a very lucky yacht as she has been owned by three very loving owners who have spent money on purchasing only the
best equipment and have kept her in excellent condition.
She has sailed
approx. 109,000 miles to date. Her maiden voyage was a circumnavigation of New Zealand,
thereafter her first owners sailed regularly to Australia and the Pacific Islands, covering
55,500 mls. in her first 16 years.
Her second owners
purchased in 1988 and sailed several times to the Pacific Islands
before leaving NZ in 1992 and sailing via the Red Sea and the Mediterranean to the UK, a total distance of 26,000 miles,
arriving in 1995, where poor health forced a reluctant sale.
The present owners
purchased in 1997 and gave the vessel a thorough and careful refit of her rig, her plumbing and electrical installations and
a new galley and heads, as well as a complete repaint. Structurally, nothing needed doing, following her survey. They sailed around England before heading for the Med.
and cruising the South of France and Corsica. Their next cruise included a crossing in the
trades to Barbados, the Caribbean, North up the Eastern seaboard of the
States to Maine and back twice, Nova Scotia including the
Bras D’Or Lakes, a return to the Caribbean and re-crossing the Atlantic via the Azores
to return to their Spanish base. Their last cruise was a quick dash to Greece,
Turkey and back, making a total of 28,000
miles. On a number of occasions they have met very severe weather and at all
times ‘Whanake’ coped admirably with no cause for concern.
It is with great
reluctance that the owners are putting ‘Whanake’ on the market.
LYING:
COSTA BRAVA, SPAIN