The Gipsy Cutter was designed by the late Denis Ganley in May 1979 and is his designated design 7902.

Denis said about his plans " Regardless of how advanced yacht designs become with the continuous development of exotic building materials and computer aided design there will always be a demand for the older style classic shapes.
Unfortunately not everybody has the ability, patience or the finance to construct these old designs in the time honoured way, but there ais no reason why a compromise cannot be reached. These few designs offer the amateur builder with a limited budget the chance to construct a classic style yacht." Those designs are listed on the Ganley section of this website.

Regulars to the site will know that I found the only Gipsy Cutter ever built in a storage yard in Tauranga back in 2002. Three sets of plans had been sold; Wayne Larson, Mt Maunganui, Chris Fletcher, Mt Maunganui and John Welsford, Rotorua. BlueJacket was built by Wayne Larson but never named or launched. Some years later Grant Fitzpatrick of Te Puna purchased her finished her off influenced from Woodenboat [USA] magazine. He named her Lily of Te Puna.

Coincidentally after several years of searching I have just made contact with Wayne and look forward to getting some more information about the early days.

Grant passed away a year or so after finishing the boat and she was stored on hard standing for up for 4 years before I found her. I was asked to help sell the boat for Maralyn [Grant's widow] and I immediately saw the potential as the sort of boat I wanted to upgrade to from the Navigator dinghy I had built. In fact had the plans come along first I probably would have built a GC myself.

The upgrade was more a matter of finding more space for my aging body and of course getting a boat that was more versatile when it came to spending nights away in an area where legal campsites are becoming a rarity.

Note this for along the way. GC = Gipsy Cutter • BJ = BlueJacket • MR = Moonraker

	The pile of pieces of faded plan on my desk as I prepare to try and extract some building information for you.

Telling the tale.

Finding the right plan to fit your needs and skills is not easy. I worked up to a full wooden boat by buying fibreglass hulls and finishing them off with wood. I then played around with some designs of my own [small stuff] and then made the decision to build a Navigator. That boat is not difficult to built but sure is time consuming.

I have a pet theory that you could build a much bigger boat of simpler construction in the same or less time.

That's what I like about the Gipsy Cutter and because it has such potential I want to tell the world about. A GC would even make a nice little launch if it came to it. I have been getting lots of enquiries about the design as a result of the site carrying pictures and stories of adventures under sail,motor and also doing modifications on the hardstand.

This boat design is a cracker and there are a lot of wooden boat nuts out there who could benefit from getting out the tools and getting on with building one. If you sense some frustrations along the way here is why.

I generally receive no financial benefit or comission from the sale of plans or boats resulting from their appearance this website. That's not because I would be ungrateful if I received a contribution for use of the facility. In the euphoria of getting the cash in their hot little hand the sellers almost without exception have a memory loss about the contribution this website made to their successful transaction. [Mike and Judy spotted me 6 very nice bottles of red wine when Waita sold and I got something decent from the the new owner as well]. I suppose it does not cost me much and I do appreciate the many compliments that arrive by email and phone.

BUT!

I asked Ganley Yachts to provide me copies of the relevant sheets for the Gipys Cutter so I could work on this story. I received back an offer of a discount on any sheet I PURCHASED. But hang on! I already have the boat, I already drawn artwork for my own use but the exercise is about a promoting the sale of Gipsy Cutter plans. I was interested to know what you get for your money. Talking with Wayne I now know you have to loft it up yourself but that in itself should not be a challenge. They are big simple numbers.

I have to had to use the fragments of the original plans which are now so faded and ripped almost beyond use plus a couple of sheets of a later purchase by Grant which were not fixed properly by the plan printer and are also pretty far gone. My ablility to do a decent job of this is therefore severely compromised.

To find out plan prices or purchase arrangements you need to write to:
Denise Ganley, Denis Ganley Yacht Designs Ltd, PO Box 23 Greenhithe, Auckland, New Zealand
or email denise.ganley@clear.net.nz. It won't hurt to tell them who sent you!!!!!!!!

I DO NOT SELL THESE PLANS.

BlueJacket must be considered a modified Gipsy Cutter but that does not imply that the original design is suitable for the intended use. My predecessors and I have simply exercised out right to build our OWN boat.

But I do qualify that by saying I believe the centercase needs some modifications to make it bomb proof. Ganley Yachts may choose to disagree with my thoughts on this matter. So be it, I have the practical experiences to back up what I say and you are free to make up your own minds.

28th April 2003.
It has been a big job to drop the plate out, remove the ballast plates and one side of the centrecase (single handed). A lot more work than I had planned but I have found the solution to the case nipping up on the centreboard and exacted a cure. Boy do I feel good about that.
As promised I have manufactured and fitted a full set of beltings/rubbing strakes and the boat looks better for that. Took a bit of work to fit them up over the chain plates.
Our green bottom has gone and in its place a good coating of hard black antifoul which will help cope with the brackish waters of our marina in the Wairau Estuary.

It turns out that the rig, rudder, tiller, bowsprit, portholes and some of the rigging have been here before. I had been told that they were originally in a 22ft mullet boat (local form of inshore fishing boat) named Moonraker which had been wrecked down the coast.
Seems Moonraker was built not a mile from where my boat now stands. A couple of the club identities worked on her and helped roll her down Shakespeare Road behind the Series E Morris to launch her down the same slip which awaits our launching in a few weeks time. They figure that was about 1973 but a few rums might sharpen their memories.

One major job has been to replace the outboard bracket with an outboard well. This will keep the Yamaha 9.9 4 stroke [replacing the Chrysler10hp) nice and snug almost inside the boat. The well itself was quite easy to design and fit but somehow or other I did not mix up the last batch of resin properly and have had to indulge in a bit of the elbow with a scraper. Always use the measuring pumps boys, the eyes don't always tell the truth.

17th March 2003.
You'll have read it elsewhere the contract for services in town has come to an end and I am once again wondering why on earth I would ever want to work away from my own studio. Creativity is not something you turn on and off like a light switch and the woodenboat site is one that you work on when the juices are flowing strongest.
I know I have promised before that we are back on the straight and narrow but this time the gods seem to have all the forces of nature in line.

Had a weak moment there for one day. Decided I didn't need two boats and put the Navigator on the market for a few hours..... Copped a stern talking to over that and pulled it down before any damage was done to my earholes.
One of the little tasks ahead is to turn the Lily of Te Puna report into a diary. This is not just for my own enjoyment but will also serve as a set of signposts for others contemplating a 'doer upper'.
For the record Lily, hereafter referred to as Bluejacket is up here in Auckland. I had her lifted onto a flatbed truck and trailer unit and then craned off onto hardstanding not too far from here.
Just to prove I am going senile or am too used to digital cameras. I have been shooting off with my 35mm film camera of late. Out in the pouring rain I had all sorts of piccys of the boat being lifted by crane in Tauranga, Trucks with boats and all the trimmings. Sentimental shot of the boat disapearing out the gate of the compound that has been her home these past years. Only problem is I forgot to put a film in the camera.
Oh and one more problem. I carefully recorded the position of all the stays and which one was which before I took the mast out. Guess what?
The next part of the process was to join the local cruising club which has a slipway and hardstanding yard. I also had to join the local society which owns the head lease on the marina. It has been a few weeks now but it has all started to happen. Firstly a position on the hardstanding came available, and on the same day my marina was allocated. Tomorrow a tow truck will haul the tandem trailer with boat a couple of hundred metres around and across a bridge and into the yard. By tomorrow night I hope to have my work platforms set up and my power leads sorted and the five week process of getting her ready for the water starts. (move now completed)
Joan and I have given the boat a good clean up and she is in very good condition considering. The spars have been taken home and all the old varnish which did not survive the three year sojourn on the hard at all well has been cleaned off. I have been oiling and sanding the sticks every couple of days since.
Our sails are virtually brand new and apart from some airing they more or less went straight into storage. Grant never had the reefing points set up so I have been getting ready for that.
All of the lead bolted to the keel is off the boat. I am not sure if it was really needed so it will be a matter of sailing her with just the steel ballast plates to see what happens.
I always knew the centreplate was binding and currently have one side out of the centrecase to add some spacers and improve the uphaul pulley system. If I can do it without too much drama I will drop the plate out and have it straightened and regalvanised.
There is now a 9.9 Yamaha 4 stroke with extra long shaft, remotes and a key start to bolt on the back. That should satisfy all our needs for a year or two or at least until an inboard that pleases my eye and my wallet comes on the scene. Our marina is in a tidal estuary and a good motor is essential to get in and out and manouvere into our berth.

Boy there is a quantum increase in the depth your hands need to go into your pocket when you get a boat that is in the water permanently. Its enough to make somebody of Scots descent take up dominos.
Good to be back at the website.
Regards
Dave

Launching Day.
Well it dawned fine and sunny and I have to admit while I went about the final chores getting Wairua II ready to go down the rails it stayed that way. Joan and I cleaned out all of the tools and non boating stuff, bolted on the little boarding ladder, washed all the boatyard grime off and checked all bolts and skin fittings. It was also time to do the final fitting and testing of the batteries and the outboard electrical and control system.
I guess it was about an hour before the top of the tide when Les the slipmaster called for us to make ready. Bodies seemed to come from all directions and gave us the final heave before we rolled gently down into the water. As the end of the jetty slid past I stepped off the boat with the bowline and made fast. Les set the winch going and the cradle was whisked back up the rails. By the time I had tied off all hands were rolling the cradle off the cars and to one side of the yard. A big 40 footer launch was coming in behind me.
No need for my presence there and soon it was back on board to start the motor and head for our first bit of boating.
The Yamaha was mumbling quietly to itself as I called Joan to let go for'd. Almost at the same instant a pair of huge raindrops hit me in the back of the neck, the engine faltered and started running ahead and the torrent from the stream flooding into the estuary caught the stern of the boat. Something had gone wrong with the ahead/reverse setup. I was getting ahead on both ends of the re motes. Cover off the outboard and the drops had turned into a deluge as we frantically tried to sort out the problem. Somehow Wairua knew something was up and gently carried us across the stream to nudge gently up on the concrete boat ramp opposite.
Joan trusty soul earned the undying respect of the gathered onlookers by leaping over the side into muddy water up to her armpits to hold the bow off. A bit of tooing and froing as I tried to correct the gearbox problem before we managed to get the bow round and pointed back towards the slip finger wharf. A quick burst on the throttle gave us enough headway to breast the stream and slide quietly alongside again.
A few minutes work with the spanner in the pouring rain convinced us that this problem was for fixing another day. I could reach in and change gear with my finger (safely) and it was not long before we sprung the bow around, slipped the spring and were motoring off down the brown waters of the estuary.
Time for a quick exit out of the estuary in a symbolic gesture to Tangaroa that we were once again subjects of his domain. Bit of a swell running but Bluejacket soon indicated that she wants to be a dry boat and soon we made our sweeping turn back through the narrow entrance to the estuary.
Still pissing down with rain and we are both cold from being in the water sorting out our motor problems. I know the marina we have been allocated could be difficult to get onto.
A gentle approach up past the rows of boats and I cut the engine early as Bluejacket has shown she carries her way quite well but also with her long keel is not going to accept fast turns thank you very much.
I opted to get the boat beam on across our berth and haul her stern in by hand. There is no room to back and fill even if we did have astern power. As it turned out the final act was a piece of cake. I simply took hold of the top of the pile and walked the boat around until I could take up the line running into the wharf which was already set up. A bit of a pull and we were snug as a bug in a rug.
Andy and Chris arrived out of the downpour for a look see and in no time flat we had the boat secure and all of our gear in Andy's wagon for the short drive back around to our parked cars.

Hot shower, bite to eat and down the Cruising Club for a celebration pint (or two) of stout to celebrate a successful afternoon in the rain. As for the boat...... Think she is going to be a goodie....... and today I have to start putting the ballast in to bring her down to her marks