Who is Athol Burns?

Discussion in 'Boat Design' started by designnovice, Jun 30, 2011.

  1. Tantalus
    Joined: Mar 2010
    Posts: 66
    Likes: 3, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 46
    Location: Auckland, New Zealand

    Tantalus 1963 kauri cruiser

    Athol Burns - Dolly J

    Dolly J
     

    Attached Files:

    1 person likes this.
  2. rayman
    Joined: Sep 2009
    Posts: 133
    Likes: 6, Points: 18, Legacy Rep: 59
    Location: brisbane

    rayman Senior Member

    well, this is bringing out some real nice boats by AWB, He had a lot of variations in the stern quarters but the designs are still unmistakable. If ASTRID does not appear in the water soon I will bet she is in storage somewhere.
    Maybe Geo. Gould started her down south and finished her off at Kawhia. There was still regular coastal shipping Dunedin-Lyttleton-Raglan-Port Waikato-Onehunga return in the 50's so she may have come up deck cargo.
    "Dawn Lady" is a looker Mark, the stern is just a little nicer than Astrid, not quite so "stumpy" . He always kept the w/l as a d/ender except on his launches.
     
  3. Gunnie
    Joined: Jan 2012
    Posts: 7
    Likes: 0, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: Motueka, New Zealand

    Gunnie Junior Member

    Hi Mark,
    Yes Dawn Lady is currently at Picton, she still looks as good as she did in your photo. I understand she was built by Jack Morgan at Picton and she still has the Volvo MD11.
    I think she is a lovely looking boat.
     
  4. Tantalus
    Joined: Mar 2010
    Posts: 66
    Likes: 3, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 46
    Location: Auckland, New Zealand

    Tantalus 1963 kauri cruiser

    Dolly J is on the market. Now I'm interested..... Anyone have any history on her? I notice evidence she may have been cutter rigged at some stage, and possibly carried a spinnaker, or pole'd the genoa out perhaps? Apparently she was launched as Dervorguilla and had a name change.
     
  5. Gunnie
    Joined: Jan 2012
    Posts: 7
    Likes: 0, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: Motueka, New Zealand

    Gunnie Junior Member

    'Dolly J' is a nice looking boat, mind you I don't think AB was capable of designing an ugly boat I'm sure he would consign any drawing that didn't look right to the bin!
    I see that 'Mahara' is also for sale at Waikawa - she is looking sweet as well. There have been some nice AB boats for sale lately, Turmoil, Vaila, Mahara, Dawn Lady. It is a great thing if you are a fan of AB's designs.
     
  6. MarkNZ
    Joined: Dec 2011
    Posts: 7
    Likes: 3, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 88
    Location: Auckland, New Zealand

    MarkNZ Junior Member

    Nice pic of Dolly J. Gosh, that original name was a bit of a mouthful, I can understand why it was changed!

    I'm almost certain Dolly J was built to the Judith design. The hull lines and sail plan are reproduced in the Classic NZ Yachts article I posted earlier in this thread. There were several boats built to this design; Spree (28ft 6in original version), Judith, Mahara and possibly Dolly J (all 31ft 6in LOD). There may be others as well.

    AB produced a lot of cutter rigs so it would not be surprising if Dolly J was originally cutter rigged too.
     
  7. caroljohn
    Joined: May 2012
    Posts: 1
    Likes: 0, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: tekauwhata

    caroljohn New Member

    athol burns work.
    has any one any details of athol burns 16 mtr double ender motor sailer west wind v regards john.
     
  8. Steamfan
    Joined: Dec 2011
    Posts: 18
    Likes: 4, Points: 3, Legacy Rep: 92
    Location: Auckland

    Steamfan Junior Member

    Regarding my post number 14. I corresponded with Rayman (who knows everything about proper boats on the NZ coast). Athol Burns apparently made this wooden model to check out the design he did for a work boat for Whangarei Harbour Board. C'mon Rayman fill us in!
    BTW that model was on Trademe again some months ago and found a home. They probably don't know anything of its history. Hope it survives.
     
  9. Steamfan
    Joined: Dec 2011
    Posts: 18
    Likes: 4, Points: 3, Legacy Rep: 92
    Location: Auckland

    Steamfan Junior Member

    I'm just filling in a bit of time bimbling round the Nelson marina. Have patted Matahui's bow -she's looking loved, but I'd love to do the chainsaw cosmetics on her coaming up forward!
    Bowed to a couple of Roger Carey's boats too.
    The only Athol Burns boats on Vinings' listings are way out of my league.
     
  10. DACHRST
    Joined: Jan 2012
    Posts: 6
    Likes: 0, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: Seattle WA

    DACHRST Junior Member

    Astrid

    Have not checked here for a while. It was the Stuart Turner when we owned her. George Gould was the builder.

    Ray has since uncovered some more info on Astrid though. It seems her 4hp CLAE was replaced by an 8hp Stuart Turner in 1966, and she was built by a G. Gould in 1954. This is possibly George Gould who was evidently a well known yachting identity in Kawhia.[/QUOTE]
     
  11. Gunnie
    Joined: Jan 2012
    Posts: 7
    Likes: 0, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: Motueka, New Zealand

    Gunnie Junior Member

    Hi designnovice,
    Would you be able to post the drawing of Christina or email a copy to me?
    Thanks,
     
  12. rayman
    Joined: Sep 2009
    Posts: 133
    Likes: 6, Points: 18, Legacy Rep: 59
    Location: brisbane

    rayman Senior Member

    Hi Gunnie, "Christina" herself lived in Whangarei for many years, owned by old Mr Wright, Keith Wright's father, but this was back some time ago now.
     
  13. DavidNZ
    Joined: Feb 2014
    Posts: 2
    Likes: 0, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: Auckland

    DavidNZ DavidNZ

    Athol Burns design in Whangarei

    Hi Rayman
    The Athol Burns design that used to be in Whangarei and owned some time ago by Eric Wright was built by Roydon Thomas and named Almero. She was built from the same design as Christina and launched in Oct 1952. She was bought by Roydon's father Norman Thomas in 1954 who renamed her "Mary Jean.' She was subsequently sold to Eric Wright about 1955. I do'nt know if Eric Wright renamed Mary Jean. At that time she had a distinctive plastic dome on her main hatch which was added by Norman Thomas.
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Feb 26, 2014
  14. DavidNZ
    Joined: Feb 2014
    Posts: 2
    Likes: 0, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: Auckland

    DavidNZ DavidNZ

    Christina History

    Here is a one-page item about the first major cruise of Athol Burns designed Christina after she was built by Bill McQueen. The page is from the RPNYC history titled "One hundred years." Christina was delivered back to Wellington in Aug 1963 by Roydon Thomas when she changed hands.
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Feb 26, 2014

  15. rayman
    Joined: Sep 2009
    Posts: 133
    Likes: 6, Points: 18, Legacy Rep: 59
    Location: brisbane

    rayman Senior Member

    Hiya David, the beauty of the internet. thanks for that info, I knew there was a connection. Athol told me the "Christina" was a developement of his "Astrid" design, drawn out with a transom to give longer waterlines. Astrid was painfully slow but a plodder. I don't recall now if Eric renamed his boat or not, he did not use her very much but spent a lot of time on board just lounging around.I got the plans of Astrid intending to build her in ferro but that was not to be.(resistance from the handbrake mostly)Whangarei was really in the forefront in ferro building then(1960's) I seemed to be helping on everyone elses boats.
     
Forum posts represent the experience, opinion, and view of individual users. Boat Design Net does not necessarily endorse nor share the view of each individual post.
When making potentially dangerous or financial decisions, always employ and consult appropriate professionals. Your circumstances or experience may be different.