Bolger whaler ketch?

[John B]

Waiting for the tide yesterday, I had a chat with the owner of one of these boats.
Charming looking thing that it is.
I've been looking at it for some time and commented on it on the forum before.I didn't know what it was until yesterday apart from "American". Quite an unusual boat here but looks well suited to a bit of coastal work and estuary creeping.
Are they common?. Lovely looking boat.

[john welsford]

Originally posted by John B:
Waiting for the tide yesterday, I had a chat with the owner of one of these boats.
Charming looking thing that it is.
I've been looking at it for some time and commented on it on the forum before.I didn't know what it was until yesterday apart from "American". Quite an unusual boat here but looks well suited to a bit of coastal work and estuary creeping.
Are they common?. Lovely looking boat.Hi John, That boat was built by Hugh Miller of Green Bay Auckland, if you look in "Boats for an open Mind" you will find the "Leeboard Catboat" which was designed by PCB for Hugh. I came across Hugh out sailing her ( friend of long standing) occasionally and once had a really memorable breakfast aboard her with him in Kawau Bay . He reported that the boat was dreadfully tender by Auckland standards and rolled its insides out going downwind if there was any sort of a breeze up.
I would think that a pair of carbon masts would help a lot as the rig with those two big wooden masts is awfully heavy

JohnW
Incredibly pretty though.

[John B]

Thanks for the info John. I had a good crawl all over it in the weekend with the new owners. It sounds like Hugh Miller has sold it to someone who has basically left it parked for a number of years on it's mooring. enough to let the cockpit rot out anyway.This person has modified the booms to goosenecks on tracks. Makes me nervous to see actually.It's setting up for a shearing of track off the mast. not the way these rigs should work at all!! Should be jaws . Mainmast is hollow but the mizzen is solid! I'm not surprised to hear what you say re being tender.

These are nice people who have bought it. Not a great deal of sailing experience. I'll pass on your comments and tell them ( again) to go easy for a while. Does that sound arrogant... I hope not.
One point of concern is the plate. ( whether it works or not) That's going to be critical.

[John B]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid34/p51236a404e0b32735a3e85e9cf887f7e/fd322be9.jpg

Also , for your interest John, photos from mahurangi last year at this album.
http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=4292079223

[john welsford]

Originally posted by John B:
Thanks for the info John. I had a good crawl all over it in the weekend with the new owners. It sounds like Hugh Miller has sold it to someone who has basically left it parked for a number of years on it's mooring. enough to let the cockpit rot out anyway.This person has modified the booms to goosenecks on tracks. Makes me nervous to see actually.It's setting up for a shearing of track off the mast. not the way these rigs should work at all!! Should be jaws . Mainmast is hollow but the mizzen is solid! I'm not surprised to hear what you say re being tender.

These are nice people who have bought it. Not a great deal of sailing experience. I'll pass on your comments and tell them ( again) to go easy for a while. Does that sound arrogant... I hope not.
One point of concern is the plate. ( whether it works or not) That's going to be critical.I wonder if you might have a look in the phonebook for Hughs number, cant be many Hugh Millers in Green Bay, and pass it on. He did put quite a lot more ballast in her which helped. Sad to see his excellent workmanship left to rot!
I Missed Mahurangi last year, but am dead keen to get there this year with Huffboat, Truant and perhaps Brendans Kayak!
Will I see you there?

JohnW

[John B]

Too right.
Dead keen to see your huff boat. That was going to be the next question. Look for the 5 ft long dingies! That'll be me or mine.

[Alexander Shramenko]

According to book "Boats with an open mind",Bolger
"Leeboard Catboat", designed for Hugh Miller of
Auckland, New Zealand is catboat with leeboards.
- she is not double-ender(whaleboat)
- she is not a ketch - she is a cat
- she has leeboards

You may be meant some other PCB design, but
then it is not Hugh Miller boat...
Or may be PCB get it wrong?
Or Hugh Miller have couple of different boats?

[John B]

Hugh Miller, I gather, is a boatbuilder who has built more than one boat.