MEN STUFF - Specs for S/V Malua

This is for the MEN who keep asking me about the specs of the boat, Malua!  Thanks Harry for letting me copying and pasting your blog for the SPECS.  This is Harry's writing on HIS blog - not MINE!  It's a CUSTOM BUILT ADAMS!

Go to Harry's Blog www.malua.com.au for PICTURES!

Construction

I have built a number of boats throughout my life. The first was a canoe with my father when I was a very young boy. Later we built our first sailing boat. From these beginnings I went on to hone my woodworking skills and created pieces of furniture for the house. The largest project was 10 dining room chairs based on a Cape Regency style. The pattern was taken from an antique chair in the Stellenbosch Museum. The chairs now stand as pride of place around our dinner table. In 1990 a purchased a 27 ft Bonbridge which I names Alibi. This got me sailing in Australia. I sailed up and down the east coast as far south as Eden. On returning to Batemans Bay after a trip south I was entering Bermagui Harbour in the middle of the might at the height of a storm and hit a rock… Well that is another story but while creating a new rudder for Alibi I decided that I was enjoying this task so much I would build a bigger boat! The major decision was whether to buy in the hull and deck or build it myself. I had the skills but did not have the time. There are not many ship building yards in Australia that do custom construction to a particular stage so the choice was simple. I commissioned a builder in Newcastle to construct the hull and deck and decided to do the fit-out in my yard in Canberra. We had some trouble lifting the hull over the power lines from the adjoining reserve. Unfortunately a linesman was tragically electrocuted during this operation which put quite a dampener on the start of this project. It took me weeks to come to terms with this event which occurred while I was watching him reconnect the high voltage power lines. The boat took three years to complete. I set about the interior design based on the principle that the major time spent on the boat would be at anchor. Thus the galley and the eating area are open and close together. The saloon is part of the navigation area yet separated so that the skipper can sit at the chart table while others are around the table. The main head doubles as the wet area and is close to the companionway while the second head is off the main cabin. A double cabin in the stern and a separate quarter berth completes the layout. Built into this basic design are the major systems and equipment as described on the next pages.

Hull Construction

The hull and deck were made at Bluewater Yachts.  I undertook some tasks and did extensive design work to ensure that it was constructed to the specifications.  Unfortunately what was written in the contract and specifications was not delivered.  This did not detract from the design nor the strength of the hull and deck, but as to meeting the contracted specifications and fulfilling obligations, the builder was way off the mark.  The major problem was the engine shaft through hull design.  An outback farmer could have built a more elegant job.   It cost David and the project time and money. After some legal intervention I was able to take the vessel from his factory in Cardiff to complete in Canberra.

Bathroom - Head

The bathroom is the largest component within the interior of Malua.  It is made of fibreglass to make it waterproof from the inside and to have a good look and feel.  Because the deck was bonded onto the hull before the vessel left Bluewater Yachts in Cardiff the module had to be made in three pieces to get down the companionway!  I contracted out the construction of the mould and the construction of the three pieces.  The person had never made such a piece before and required significant direction.  Max the cabinet maker who made the wooden mould is one of the most innovative people I have had the pleasure to work alongside.  He built a wonderful three piece mould to a standard not seen on a Bluewater yacht. We sprayed the mould with yellow enamel paint then laid up the fibreglass on to the mould.  When it had gone-off we took the pieces apart.  The joins were near perfect and the three pieces passed through the companionway entrance and assembled in their designed place.

From there came the polishing of the interior surface and the panelling on the outside.  The curved panels to suit the smooth flow of the interior was a challenge but it came out looking well.