Abe Lincoln ready for summer adventures

ON THE WATER: Andrew Pettit's son Benny inside Abraham Lincoln, the boat he fashioned specifically for Henley Lake.

Abraham Lincoln is back, and bringing people together in Wairarapa -- in maritime form.

Hoping to pass on his passion for lake-faring, boat-building and connecting with nature, Masterton boatie Andrew Pettit is offering free sailing and lessons in his boat Abraham Lincoln, on Henley Lake.

Named after the 16th US President, Mr Pettit's 5m plywood dinghy was fashioned especially to navigate the lake's breezy, shallow-water conditions.

In the last few months, Mr Pettit, a boat-builder of 23 years, has been running regular sailing sessions in Abraham Lincoln every weekend for both adults and children.

Eventually, he hopes to run lessons for low-income families and people with disabilities -- and help improve community well-being with some fresh lake air.

"I wanted to reach out to the local kids, and give them something positive to do over summer," Mr Pettit said.

"They'll be sitting around in stifling heat with nothing to do -- but this gives them a chance to get out on the water, in a beautiful setting, and connect with the environment.

"I'm not a sporty person, but I thought I could contribute to kids' health by sharing something dear to me."

Mr Pettit, originally from the Bay of Islands, began dabbling boat-building as a teenager -- saving up $500 he earned mowing lawns to build his first craft. He designed Abraham Lincoln 10 years ago while in Masterton, but finished and launched it while living in Nelson.

He planned to start sailing "Abe" on returning to Masterton in 2010, but was thwarted by outbreaks of toxic algal bloom in Henley Lake.

But, with recent favourable conditions, the boat has generated much interest -- with people walking around the lake asking for a ride.

"Everyone's loved it so far", Mr Pettit said. Abraham Lincoln, made from treated pine plywood, is based on a

children's sailing dinghy and is steered by a short tiller from the stern.

Mr Pettit said the boat can carry up to nine people, and is simple to command.

"I've taken out a couple of adults who'd never been on a boat before -- they were able to steer it themselves by the end. It is also perfectly suited for people with disabilities as the height of the boat makes it easy to get into from the Henley dock."

To help foster a passion for boating, Mr Pettit also plans to host boat-building workshops for children, teaching them how to make their own small dinghies.

"Plywood boats are cheap to make, and only weigh about 9kg so you can carry them on the car roof."

He said he hoped sailing in Abraham Lincoln would help bring different people together, and also encourage more people to make use of Henley Lake.

"It's an enjoyable stretch of water, and a vibrant, dynamic area."

Andrew Pettit sails with Abraham Lincoln on Saturday afternoons, from 1pm to 3.30pm. For more information, call 0220175428.