Silverdale boatbuilder goes traditional for own boat

The Northcote Birkenhead Yacht Club's new building will be a hub for its extended educational programme. Photo / Supplied

It is always interesting when a boatbuilder chooses to build a vessel for their own use. Their many years (often decades) of experience are on show and there is no longer the need to compromise to the (often completely unreasonable) demands of their owners.

Most boatbuilders are also rather opinionated. They know what works and what doesn't and, if only those pesky owners (clients) would leave them alone, they could get on and build boats the way they should be.

There are few boatbuilders who better epitomise this "positive attitude" than Silverdale timber maestro Wayne Olsen. Olsen is possibly best known for his Horizon series for the legendary Ken Lusty. These included the innovative quad stern driven powered cruiser that would prove to be Lusty's final flagship.

For his own craft, the 13.5m sportsfisher Shigari, Olsen has reverted to his favoured traditional plywood construction. Marine Design provided the hull drawings although Olsen then incorporated a rather dominant Carolina sheer in the topsides.

Shigari is a traditional Kiwi family launch with two cabins (a 4-berther in the foc'sle and a main further aft), just the single head and shower and plenty of room in the cockpit for its owner's love of fishing.

There is nothing radically modern in the saloon layout, either: there is a dinette to port, a 2m long settee to starboard and the U-shaped gallery aft.

Power is a single Caterpillar C9 and there is a bow thruster for low speed manoeuvring.

Unlike many "own boats", Olsen's Shigari has not been built on spec, for sale later. It is very much his own boat, for his own use, although it has been built to survey.

However, for those who wish to do more than merely admire it, Olsen is generously prepared to build a sistership.