Two adverts here, one for H.E. Cox naval architect, and one for specific plans from H.E. Cox.
Eric Cox Sea Spray Adverts
Wednesday 9 August 2017
Tuesday 8 August 2017
Design profile
Fair Maid was built in 1951, and a sister ship was built shortly afterwards, named Santa Maria.
This is from The West Australian newspaper, Tue 16 Feb 1954:
Santa Maria, the Bermudian sloop which won the Fremantle to Bunbury and return yacht race last weekend, was specially designed in New Zealand for fast ocean cruising in moderate to heavy weather.
For handicap purposes in the race her time correction factor was computed at 0.660. T.C.F. is a working rate based on the time the sloop takes to cover a nautical mile.
In addition to the sails shown in the silhouette of Santa Maria (above) the yacht carried a Genoa jib (150 sq. ft.) and a small parachute spinnaker (450 sq. ft). The cabin is roomy and deep, providing full head room.
This is from The West Australian newspaper, Tue 16 Feb 1954:
Santa Maria, the Bermudian sloop which won the Fremantle to Bunbury and return yacht race last weekend, was specially designed in New Zealand for fast ocean cruising in moderate to heavy weather.
For handicap purposes in the race her time correction factor was computed at 0.660. T.C.F. is a working rate based on the time the sloop takes to cover a nautical mile.
In addition to the sails shown in the silhouette of Santa Maria (above) the yacht carried a Genoa jib (150 sq. ft.) and a small parachute spinnaker (450 sq. ft). The cabin is roomy and deep, providing full head room.
Eric Cox, Fair Maid's designer
The following reply arrived this morning from the NZ Maritime Museum:
Hi John,
Thanks for your enquiry. While we don’t have any plans or other collection items relating to Eric Cox’s designs, I have managed to track down what may be the original article, see attached. There was an article by H. E. Cox in an issue from April 1949, but it was for an 18 footer, so I wonder if this article from 1951 is the one you were looking for? Aside from these two, there were no other articles by or about a Cox design in the 1949-50 issues.
Sea Spray 15 June 1951 v. 6 no. 7 pp. 12-15
The fee for answering this request is $NZ15.00. The payment can be made by credit card on the Museum website at:www.maritimemuseum.co.nz/library-research-fee.
Best regards
Danielle
Danielle Carter
Archives & Library Manager
Bill Laxon Maritime Library
New Zealand Maritime Museum
PO Box 3141, Auckland 1140, New Zealand
Corner Quay & Hobson Streets, Viaduct Harbour, Auckland
DDI: +64 9 373 0810
www.maritimemuseum.co.nz
From: John
Sent: Monday, 7 August 2017 3:55 p.m.
To: NZ Maritime Museum Info <info@maritimemuseum.co.nz>
Subject: Information request
Good afternoon,
I am researching the history of my yacht, which was designed by Eric Cox of Christchurch and built in Cottesloe Western Australia in 1951. The original owner's son is now 86, and he recalls that his father saw the design featured in Sea Spray magazine and decided to purchase the plans from Cox. The magazine would have been circa 1949-1950, and the yacht is a 30 footer (perhaps a 32 footer with rig extensions) with a waterline length of 25'. Would you have old issues of Sea Spray magazine, or any of Eric Cox's plans or other paraphernalia in your collection?
I called Sea Spray magazine's current number but it's disconnected.
________________________________________________________
Unfortunately, this is not the design that Fair Maid was built to, so the search continues.
Hi John,
Thanks for your enquiry. While we don’t have any plans or other collection items relating to Eric Cox’s designs, I have managed to track down what may be the original article, see attached. There was an article by H. E. Cox in an issue from April 1949, but it was for an 18 footer, so I wonder if this article from 1951 is the one you were looking for? Aside from these two, there were no other articles by or about a Cox design in the 1949-50 issues.
Sea Spray 15 June 1951 v. 6 no. 7 pp. 12-15
The fee for answering this request is $NZ15.00. The payment can be made by credit card on the Museum website at:www.maritimemuseum.co.nz/library-research-fee.
Best regards
Danielle
Danielle Carter
Archives & Library Manager
Bill Laxon Maritime Library
New Zealand Maritime Museum
PO Box 3141, Auckland 1140, New Zealand
Corner Quay & Hobson Streets, Viaduct Harbour, Auckland
DDI: +64 9 373 0810
www.maritimemuseum.co.nz
From: John
Sent: Monday, 7 August 2017 3:55 p.m.
To: NZ Maritime Museum Info <info@maritimemuseum.co.nz>
Subject: Information request
Good afternoon,
I am researching the history of my yacht, which was designed by Eric Cox of Christchurch and built in Cottesloe Western Australia in 1951. The original owner's son is now 86, and he recalls that his father saw the design featured in Sea Spray magazine and decided to purchase the plans from Cox. The magazine would have been circa 1949-1950, and the yacht is a 30 footer (perhaps a 32 footer with rig extensions) with a waterline length of 25'. Would you have old issues of Sea Spray magazine, or any of Eric Cox's plans or other paraphernalia in your collection?
I called Sea Spray magazine's current number but it's disconnected.
________________________________________________________
Unfortunately, this is not the design that Fair Maid was built to, so the search continues.
Monday 7 August 2017
History
Fair Maid was built by Johansen in Cottesloe, and launched in 1951. The man who commissioned her was David Lesslie, a Scot from Dundee, hence the name Fair Maid, a reference to Sir Walter Scott's Waverley novel, Fair Maid of Perth. I like that, cultured yet subtle. David saw the design featured in Sea Spray magazine, and purchased the plans from Eric Cox of Christchurch NZ. In '52 and '53 she participated in the annual Fremantle-Bunbury and return race. I suspect that winning it was David Lesslie's dream, but sadly not to be fulfilled.
David suffered a heart attack a few years after launching the little lady, remained ill, ceased sailing, and his son John (21 when she was launched, now 86 and going strong, a real gentleman) sailed her in the next Fremantle-Bunbury and return race. David died and the family disposed of the boat. I have yet to discover the next owner, but so far we know the following (this is a State Library summary of a discussion I had with them asking for information):
Confirmation of receipt of Question submitted to WA State Library:
I am looking for photographs on the 30-foot Yacht "Fair Maid", which was launched in 1951 and has been sailed and owned by a number of people since including David Leslie, Governor Sir Wallace Kyle's brother, Dr. Barry Hopkins and the lawyer Peter Kyle. A colour photograph was published on the front page of the Western Mail on 17th December 1953 and I would like to find the original of this image or any others of the yacht that may be available.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/3686516
The Trove link is to the Western mail front page, a magnificent photo!
Peter Kyle is the son of Sir Wallace Kyle, but he sailed Fair Maid with his uncle (his father's brother), who owned her. Dr. Barry Hopkins is a famous cardiologist, who cared for Lang Hancock of Iron Ore fame for many years. Another previous owner is litigation specialist Terry Clavey, and prior to him John Gaunt (and in partnership for a period, Bill Perry), and also Errol Bristow, a retired Police sergeant. Terry told me that if we sail Fair Maid to Rottnest or somewhere where there are lots of boaties, somebody will ask, "Is that Fair Maid?" as she is so well known here. Terry acquired Fair Maid in 2006 and owned her until 2016. The next owner was Johan Grobler, and I acquired her from him.
The ownership history so far, in somewhat doubtful order:
David Lesslie: 1951 - circa 1955
Colin Harry Edwards, of Nedlands, Manager.
Kenneth Joseph Reagon, of Perth, Manager.
Thelma Joy Reagon, of Perth, Widow.
John C Martin, of Cottesloe, Barrister.
Eric W Kyle, of Dalkeith, Surgeon.
Robert Sinclair Ryding, of Perth, Manager.
Anthony John Clarke, of Maylands, Manager.
Dr. Barry Hopkins:
John Gaunt (and Bill Perry): circa 1985 to 1996
David suffered a heart attack a few years after launching the little lady, remained ill, ceased sailing, and his son John (21 when she was launched, now 86 and going strong, a real gentleman) sailed her in the next Fremantle-Bunbury and return race. David died and the family disposed of the boat. I have yet to discover the next owner, but so far we know the following (this is a State Library summary of a discussion I had with them asking for information):
Confirmation of receipt of Question submitted to WA State Library:
I am looking for photographs on the 30-foot Yacht "Fair Maid", which was launched in 1951 and has been sailed and owned by a number of people since including David Leslie, Governor Sir Wallace Kyle's brother, Dr. Barry Hopkins and the lawyer Peter Kyle. A colour photograph was published on the front page of the Western Mail on 17th December 1953 and I would like to find the original of this image or any others of the yacht that may be available.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/3686516
The Trove link is to the Western mail front page, a magnificent photo!
Peter Kyle is the son of Sir Wallace Kyle, but he sailed Fair Maid with his uncle (his father's brother), who owned her. Dr. Barry Hopkins is a famous cardiologist, who cared for Lang Hancock of Iron Ore fame for many years. Another previous owner is litigation specialist Terry Clavey, and prior to him John Gaunt (and in partnership for a period, Bill Perry), and also Errol Bristow, a retired Police sergeant. Terry told me that if we sail Fair Maid to Rottnest or somewhere where there are lots of boaties, somebody will ask, "Is that Fair Maid?" as she is so well known here. Terry acquired Fair Maid in 2006 and owned her until 2016. The next owner was Johan Grobler, and I acquired her from him.
The ownership history so far, in somewhat doubtful order:
David Lesslie: 1951 - circa 1955
Colin Harry Edwards, of Nedlands, Manager.
Kenneth Joseph Reagon, of Perth, Manager.
Thelma Joy Reagon, of Perth, Widow.
John C Martin, of Cottesloe, Barrister.
Eric W Kyle, of Dalkeith, Surgeon.
Robert Sinclair Ryding, of Perth, Manager.
Anthony John Clarke, of Maylands, Manager.
Dr. Barry Hopkins:
John Gaunt (and Bill Perry): circa 1985 to 1996
Cameron Crevola 1996-99
Errol Bristow
Terry Clavey and Allison Wheatley: 2006-Jan. 2016
Johan Grobler: Jan. 2016-July 2017
Errol Bristow
Terry Clavey and Allison Wheatley: 2006-Jan. 2016
Johan Grobler: Jan. 2016-July 2017
Sunday 6 August 2017
Wednesday 2 August 2017
"New" Engine
The new engine has arrived. It doesn't look very new right now!
First we'll give it a service, then run it up on the bench, and test everything. If necessary, we'll overhaul it. This motor is a marinised Kubota tractor engine, and the parts are very available and very inexpensive. The Volvo Penta MD7A parts are made of unobtainium, and plated with gold. An example: Injectors are $400 each. The Kubota injectors are less than $50 each.
Happy days!
First we'll give it a service, then run it up on the bench, and test everything. If necessary, we'll overhaul it. This motor is a marinised Kubota tractor engine, and the parts are very available and very inexpensive. The Volvo Penta MD7A parts are made of unobtainium, and plated with gold. An example: Injectors are $400 each. The Kubota injectors are less than $50 each.
Happy days!
Cleaning...
When a boat with an engine tries to sink, or succeeds in doing so, if the water is pumped out quickly the damage can be minimal. In the case of Fair Maid, the damage was limited to water in the engine (which was not, unfortunately, removed until eight months later, when we pulled the motor out of the boat), some lost electronics, and oil and diesel spread throughout the hull, soiling everything. The previous owner seems to have cleaned a lot of this oily film off the cabin interior, because it's pretty good, but the spare sails (6 or 8 of them in bags) are all brown and oily, and the bilges and harder to reach parts of the hull were filthy.
Here are some photos. This first image is the bilge, with the cabin sole (flooring) removed.
And again:
The oil and diesel in the water and coating the woodwork is evident. One of our first jobs was to get rid of all of this mess. We made a start last Saturday.
This is the same cabin bilge area after cleaning with lots of dishwashing liquid and a banister brush. The limber holes (drain holes allowing water to flow along from section to section, so that it can reach the bilge pumps to be gotten rid of) were blocked, so we cleared those.
Likewise looking to the stern, under the cockpit, behind the engine room.
That grey cloth remains from the near-sinking, and lies where it settled as the water level fell when Fremantle Sea Rescue pumped her dry.
All wooden boats leak to some degree, and require either frequent hand pumping (at least weekly) or an automatic bilge pump to be fitted and working (with a float switch). Fair Maid's automatic bilge pump had failed last week some time, so we replaced it.
We checked Sunday (and went for a sail) and the bilges were dry, so everything is now working and the result is gratifying.
Here are some photos. This first image is the bilge, with the cabin sole (flooring) removed.
And again:
The oil and diesel in the water and coating the woodwork is evident. One of our first jobs was to get rid of all of this mess. We made a start last Saturday.
This is the same cabin bilge area after cleaning with lots of dishwashing liquid and a banister brush. The limber holes (drain holes allowing water to flow along from section to section, so that it can reach the bilge pumps to be gotten rid of) were blocked, so we cleared those.
Likewise looking to the stern, under the cockpit, behind the engine room.
That grey cloth remains from the near-sinking, and lies where it settled as the water level fell when Fremantle Sea Rescue pumped her dry.
All wooden boats leak to some degree, and require either frequent hand pumping (at least weekly) or an automatic bilge pump to be fitted and working (with a float switch). Fair Maid's automatic bilge pump had failed last week some time, so we replaced it.
We checked Sunday (and went for a sail) and the bilges were dry, so everything is now working and the result is gratifying.
Tuesday 1 August 2017
Interesting local feature
The Swan River has two bridges over it near Fremantle, which are too low for yacht masts to fit under, so local boats usually have a tabernacle for the mast, which is hinged, and can be dropped for motoring under the bridges to get to the Indian Ocean.
Before moving Fair Maid the first time, we practiced dropping the mast in the pen to ensure we could do it when in Fremantle Harbour...
The two spinnaker poles create a "triangle" to transfer load in an arc as the mast comes down, enabling a simple two-sheave block and tackle system to exert sufficient force to raise the 40' stick again when necessary. The marina manager came by when we were dropping the mast, and asked how we were going, and I replied "I'm very nervous right now!" It was blowing 30 knots or more from abeam, creating huge side load on the rig. But we didn't have the luxury of waiting for another day, so it was plough on regardless.
Before moving Fair Maid the first time, we practiced dropping the mast in the pen to ensure we could do it when in Fremantle Harbour...
Interior images
Fair Maid is registered on the Australian register of ships (necessary for lawful overseas voyaging) and has her number and tonnage carved into the companionway.
The word for the measure of weight, "ton" is derived from "tun" or wine barrel, and the use of the term for weight originated with tax law relating to customs - a ship was charged customs duties based upon how many barrels she could carry.
Here is the cabin as is it is now. She needs a good deal of cleaning, new upholstery, and one new cushion, as well as a new head (toilet) and cabin lighting. She also needs varnishing and painting!
The "V" berth:
Where the head holding tank used to be, and which we might expand and use for a new head cubicle:
The instrument panel over the chart table. The marine radio is good. Not much else is.
The engine (Volvo Penta MD7A, around 10hp), which has now been removed.
Here is the cabin as is it is now. She needs a good deal of cleaning, new upholstery, and one new cushion, as well as a new head (toilet) and cabin lighting. She also needs varnishing and painting!
The "V" berth:
The engine (Volvo Penta MD7A, around 10hp), which has now been removed.
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