A Navigator down in Wellington New Zealand

Navigator Tardis received her first wetting from underneath on Christmas Day. She is a sloop-rigged version with daggerboard, and was built in Seatoun, Wellington during 2001.
Why Tardis? Like the Doctor's time machine, she is a traditional design constructed using modern technology, and she does look much bigger inside than out. I have learned that a boat is never really finished, but with a few adjustments we expect her to be seaworthy and fast.
Stuart Mason, Wellington, New Zealand

Wellington is New Zealand's capital city and is located at the bottom of the North Island. Renowned for its 'brisk' winds the entrance to this harbour is also well known 'ship breaker'. Cook Strait beyond is world famous for its fierce tides and extremes of weather. A serious place to own a small yacht but there are now at least two Navigators calling this home.
Stuart Mason's collection of photographs is the best I have seen for prospective builders who will be left in no doubt that to achieve ownership of this wonderful design they have a little work ahead of them.
Stuart is also one of the few who have built a Navigator true to plan and as I have already said to him, it takes a brave man to paint a boat in a dark high gloss colour. It looks like his workmanship is superb and from the pictures the work done on some of the internal components before assembling indicates he had a full understanding of where he was going with this project. I speak there as one who did not have such an understanding.
Dave Robertson Editor

It was a brisk Northerly and chief crew Sonya held Tardis down on Seatoun beach for an official launch photo. We had put a reef in the main and put up the jib, which did not quite behave (my fault). It was Sonya's first time crewing and she did very well as Tardis powered through the lumpy water in the harbour. The Jet-Skier in the background was suitably cursed, as was the sudden arrival of the wake from the interisland ferry just as we were about to launch.

Back to the early stages of the project. The stem, centrecase and three bulkheads have been glued to the bottom.
My expression clearly indicates that I have no idea what I'm in for.

The bulkheads and knees always reminded me of a dinosaur skeleton -
they cast menacing shadows out onto the driveway at night.

Planked up, looking forwards...

and transomwards.

Tardis on her side, the bottom ready for a layer of glass and the skeg. The scarph join under the centrecase slot is of the zigzag variety - I just could not get the facing edges even doing it the other way.

The seats and deck are nearly ready for varnishing and painting, respectively. The daggerboard strips were pre-cut to thickness before laminating, saving a lot of shaping and planing later.

Tardis' colour scheme was decided after watching too many episodes of "Changing Rooms" on TV, but we do like it.



Still some stain and varnish needed on that rubbing strake. The only significant modification of John Welsford's design is the minimalist coamings, flush with the deck aft of the stays.

A moment of truth! Tardis is test-fitted with her race rig by Swanson
Rigging and sails organised for us by John Welsford.

Regards and happy sailing in 2002,
Stuart Mason