DJ,

It appears you've been trying very hard for a long time to find these plans and it would seem that no-one knows of the yacht or the designer else surely they would have replied by now.

The late '70's was a boom-time in backyard boat-building in Australia and many budding designers appeared - inspired by the "rags-to-riches" stories and books of yacht plans produced by famous Aussie and Kiwi designers like Alan Payne, Joe Adams, Bob Miller, Bruce Farr and Richard Hartley (to name a few) - and hoping to follow in the footsteps of their heroes. It seems likely that Dennis Knight was one of the many who tried, and failed.

To continue the search, I'd suggest you contact the Australian National Maritime Museum and ask them to check their archives.. If this guy was better than most, you might be lucky.

 

Are you saying that I should no longer post threads on this site regarding the yacht in question?. There is no harm in this in my opinion. Even re-posting the same info should be acceptable as after a while, and many new threads, our post's slowly go down the list. Most people don't read or reply to threads that are more than a couple of weeks old as the assumption is that the thread starter has aquired the information they seek. In other forums I have actually been wrapped on the proverbial knuckles for bumping old theads to the top again. You say 'no-one knows' of the plans or the yacht I seek, so what if someone should happen to sign up for the first time and read my thread and have the info' I'm looking for? Are you a moderator on this site? As I would expect a suggestion such as yours to come from a person in such a position. I have my reasons for being here as I'm sure you do too. So do me the courtesy of not peering over my fence if you don't like whats being said over here. I will also inquire with the ANMM so thankyou.

 

Well that's one way to endear yourself to someone who may have put some serious effort into solving your problem. Not a good move, but thats just my opinion,

 

DJ, that boat looks like it is made of plywood, which is not very durable even when fiberglassed over. After 40 years it is most likely gone. I do not want to dampen your spirit, but a chance of finding it is slim to none. You might be able to find the plans and build a new one.
Best of luck to you, my friend.

 

If well maintained, timber can outlast just about any man made product. Boat owners of all people should know that!

 

Looks like your getting scolded pretty well over in Wooden Boat Forum DJ.
OLD YACHT PLANS.What are they worth, can I sell copies to the public?

 

That thread was closed weeks ago!

 

It looks like there's nothing more for me to say that hasn't been said already many times by many people.

A sad case indeed..

 

Here's my point...if you've nothing to add, why leave another comment????

 

I'm suprised by all the negativity here. I'm simply trying to seek answers. Isn't that what people sign up on forums for? Your all so busy jumping in to add your opinions that you havn't stopped to consider wether you actually should should. As I said, someone new could sign up here any time and have the answers I seek. The yacht existed so someone must know about it. Just keep your opinions to yourselves and leave me and my threads be. If I break any rules on this forum I'm sure the mod's will let me know. So far i've not heard from them.

 

Without breaking rules that trigger responses from the moderators there is a web etiquette that goes beyond just trying to sell copyrighted materials. Attacking longtime residents of a board is certainly not going to get you results or win you popularity from the other members of this board.

 

For your information... I at no point have tried to sell copyrighted material. -Watch you don't slander someone now!- I have merely asked if it may be possible under certain circumstances. As it stands 'FYI', the designer of this yacht passed away many years ago and to my limited (but growing) knowledge left few or no living relatives to carry on his legacy. I have since spoken to an intellectual property lawyer at a very reputable firm to gain valuable insight. Anyone can copy and sell any copyrighted material but they do so at their own risk, the risk of having legal action taken against them in one form or another. Also I haven't "attacked" any members on this site. I simply retorted in a manner befitting of the respondent. I can post any information on a thread as I see fit to. If I should break any forum rules I'm positive a goody little two shoes/non sinner would soon cast my details to the moderators lion pit. So again I will state that I have good reason to be on this site posting the information that I have. I'm always keen to discuss this yacht and anything that is related. As it is I have just gotten off the phone with a King isl' local and I'm being referred around to more of them. So my search is not in vain.

 

I have contacted the ANMM and they're looking into it for me. For that I thank you. I have already contacted the aus' and NZ ship register but it's exactly that, a register for 'ships' not small yachts. I have contacted M.A.S.T but they found no yachts 'currently' registered matching what I'm looking for. My search also includes contacting the tas' library service to find dennis' death notice in a tas' newspaper archives (in the hope of finding/contacting relatives, I'll be doing that this week sometime) and the Gosford city council to see what info they had on dennis ( I can now tell you where he lived in the 70's!). I've searched aus and UK websites that list yacht designers of the 60's & 70's suffice to say theres quite a few designers out there both old and new and my search included looking for the designers name and the relative design I'm seeking. I have also, just in the last couple of days, spent some time on the phone with King isl' residents. One of which suprised me by saying he may well have seen the ORION 3 in someones front yard about 20 years ago, he said what he saw looked like a hartley but it's gone now. He gave me contact info of a mate who's been on the island since '77 so I've sent pics to them and so far there's a small but visible light at the end of the tunnel. My efforts have also involved spending many late nights (into the early hours of morning) surfing the web to cover as many bases as I can. I'm about to surf the white pages online listings to call those with the same surname as dennis, but there's only so many hours in a day!

 

I have contacted the ANMM and they're looking into it for me. For that I thank you. I have already contacted the aus' and NZ ship register but it's exactly that, a register for 'ships' not small yachts.
....

I'm glad to hear you are making progress, DJ.

FYI, "boatregister.net" (in my post above) is not the official ANZ Ship Register (as much as Mr Flapan might like to think it is!) and if anyone knows anything about an obscure yacht designer in Gosford it will be he.

 

Now as for the reproduction of the Waratah plans, this can easily be done with the permission of the current copyright holder, but as stated by the intellectual property lawyer I contacted, the person that inherited dennis' estate may not even know they own the rights, if indeed dennis left a living heir to his estate/property. A copyright last's for 70 years form the date the copyright holder dies. So for me to reproduce these plans I first need to try my damndest to find any descendant's of dennis and seek permission, at the same time I need to complete my set of plans . As I said I am missing 3 of the 7 sheets 'cause my 'then' dog chewed them to bits 20 years ago :-( . My reason to reproduce these plans is not so much motivated by money but the fact I have an intimate connection to the design thanks to my grandfather. As a family of dutch heratige we were all so proud of my opa's achievement in building the yacht, and still are. Plus I am the only relative with the skills to build boats (models at least). Using what plans I possess I have built several models of the ORION 3 over the last 19 years and I have a profound love for the design. If ever I should be successful In my wanting to reproduce these plans they would be offered for sale at a minimal cost being enough to cover the cost of copying them and posting them to a buyer. I am also hesitant to do this as I havn't built a full size yacht and I'm not the designer so Potential buyers of the plans possibly wouldn't be able to rely on me alone to aid with any questions that arise during construction. Dennis built several Waratah's in order to do exactly that. I am confident that I can build a quality model but don't have the expertise to offer to a builder. I would however love the oppurtunity to help someone build a Waratah and perhaps help me complete the plans I have. I am also considering building a small 9 or 10 ft replica for my own pleasure, something I can sit on a box trailer and go lake sailing on. So let it be known that I do appreciate the response from others on this forum, even if my stubborn dutch attitude escapes now and then. I tend to take some replies the wrong way sometimes so my humble apology is offered. Sincerely, Dirk

 

.... So let it be known that I do appreciate the response from others on this forum, even if my stubborn dutch attitude escapes now and then. I tend to take some replies the wrong way sometimes so my humble apology is offered. Sincerely, Dirk

In that case, apology accepted.

..and good luck with your search, Dirk.