WATERLINE 09
DECEMBER 2012
Max and Caryl on Double Deal.
Double Deal, a 12 grandchildren boat Max Deal built the frames of his yacht Double Deal beside his Papamoa house in 1992, putting them up in early 1993. “We started with one grandchild, now we have got 12,” says Caryl Deal. The boat was launched at the Bridge Marina late November. Max says their social life took a bit of a dive as friends realised that Max’s weekends were spent on the boat; and his evenings, holidays.... “The kids probably felt it more than anyone. It was a big part of our lives. There were a lot of things that we didn’t do, but now we can make up for that.” The boat started out as a joint venture with Max and his brother, who left for Australia after the first six years. His departure saw the Deals introduce a few changes to the internal layout. The forward head was removed allowing for a larger master cabin forward, a roomier main saloon. The head/shower/vanity was moved starboard side aft. The hull is tweaked a bit too. It started out as a Ganley Stratos 46. Max added 50mm over each frame increasing the length overall by 600ml. “Then we feathered the back further out,” says Max. “The architect said ‘just take it to where you want it and make it look good,’ which is what we did, so we have ended up with 52ft. “We made the keel 80mm deeper just to stiffen it up a little bit, and then we changed
the ballast from punchings and lead, to just lead. That put the weight down a bit lower but also gives us more fuel.” Designer Denis Ganley used his keels for fuel and or water tanks. Replacing ballast with solid lead has about doubled Max’s fuel capacity from 350 to 700 litres. He’s now got a motoring range of about 1000 nautical miles, he thinks. It depends on the fuel consumption of the Mazda truck engine Max and his brother marinised. The interior is painted white, for brightness. The tint is island spice, with half the tint. The squabs are royal blue with the features they like in their lounge furniture incorporated, say Caryl. The head rest, lumbar support, and the depth so people don’t feel they are perching on the edge. Rimu used in the trim is salvaged from floor joists intercepted on their way to the tip. Describing his day job as office boy in the building industry, Max says they came off a Tauranga building site. Cabinet maker and master joiner Will Oats from Te Puke transformed the demolition timber into the cabinetry, light fitting surrounds and other highlights that lift the look of the interior. The mast came off a catamaran. It’s been cleaned up since then and you wouldn’t know it was second hand, as are a couple of the sails. Tony Thornburrow is making the yankee. Max Deal’s pearls of advice to backyard boat builders: “Start early. If you are going to do it, start early. I left it too late in life. But you have to be at a stage in life when you take it on you
can afford it. “It’s a lot of work, don’t underestimate the amount of work involved. I have learned so much, and learned to so many things.” He’s learned never to be afraid to have a go, and a lot about sticktoitiveness. The job was largely financed out of income which was also part of the original plan says Caryl. They did spec rennos and rentals so they could finance the build. “You have to have a plan,” says Caryl. Even so, most of the costs are coming in at the end. Max thinks 15 per cent of the costs were incurred since they have moved the hull to the Tauranga Bridge Marina hard stand to be rigged, anti-fouled and the hundreds of other last minute jobs. Plans so far include cruising the Bay of Islands, exploring the Marlborough Sounds, and a possible circumnavigation. Double Deal’s designer Denis Ganley was a leading yacht designer in New Zealand who specialised in steel yacht design for amateur and professional builder. Denis designed mostly in steel. Many of his designs are intended for offshore and serious coastal cruising and steel is selected for strength and safety. There are more than a thousand Ganleys either sailing or under construction. Denis Ganley received many accolades during his 35 year career, including winning the 1986 Steel Award for best Consumer product with the Pacemaker 40 design. Denis and Philomena Ganley were killed in a car accident in the South Island in 1997. By Andrew Campbell