'Little Jim' History 1900 - 2007

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RESTORATION AND REFIT (1995)
Several months af ter being sailed back to Auckland f rom the Bay of Islands, Little Jim was lifted out and transported to The Boatyard at Hobson Wharf Maritime Museum in early April 1995 for a major ref it.

The objectives were to investigate and repair any structural deterioration, restore the exterior as closely as possible to the way she looked when launched in 1934 and to modernise her very basic interior with a galley separate head and new chart table while maintaining her classical character.

Originally, it was intended to service and shift aft a 20 HP Buhk engine but the advantages of a smaller and modern Yanmar diesel giving more power lead to the removal of the Buhk
Following the removal of the deck fittings and the cockpit and cabin top, her hull fittings were inspected and found sound as the day they were installed which speaks highly of Couldrey’s workmanship.
A new cockpit with side seating was built to accommodate the moving aft of the
engine, and the cabin op given a rounded front rather than it’s original square front to give just sufficient room for a small separate head and basin. Apart from these two minor departures from the original design desirable for modern use, she is very close to being identical on the exterior to when she was first launched.

With the removal of the engine from the companionway, more space was opened up to allow a modest modern galley to be installed which included a freezer two burner stove, sink, and associated storage units. On the starboard side a chart table has been installed. Above the chart table following the complete rew wiring of the yacht, a new switchboard was installed. To maintain headroom with a lower cabin top, the cabin sole was lowered several inches.

Forward of the galley and the chart table the original bunks have been retained but the Rimu backs have had the paint stripped off and are now varnished as they were originally. On the forward bulkhead wall a Winkleman photograph of the old Little Jim racing under full canvas provides a nice link with the old schnapper boat. A photograph of Bertha Wilson, the financer of her building, is on the port side, and on the starboard a picture of Jim Mitchelson and the crew at the Off icer’s Club in Alexandria during the war.
To port of the mast a new head is installed in little more than a cupboard but just sufficient to serve as a separate bathroom. The only change in the forward section is the installation of a self draining anchor locker to protect and keep gear stored forw ard dry.
All the original deck fittings including a restored forward hatch have been retained. This includes a porthole salvaged from the w reck of the first Little Jim now installed in the same position on the forward part of the cabin top. Other deck fittings such as the cleats are those salvaged from the first Little Jim.
The rigging designed by Bob Stewart in the 1960’s has not been altered, although this is currently being reviewed with the intention of returning it to a more traditional cutter rig provided there will be no loss of performance.

 

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