S/V illywhacker
SV ILLYWHACKER
Soon to be covered in this section are the following topics;
- construction history
- Concepts Performance to date
- On deck
- Below the waterline - prop, shaft, electrolysis protection
- Engine room
- Plumbing Electrical Refrigeration
- Navigation/instrumentation
Construction History
Illywhacker was a dream in the early '70s. Lyndall and I drove to Melbourne to speak to the designer, Mal Fairweather and to climb all over and photograph his prototype Seeker which was being constructed in steel. Entranced, we bought the plans and posted them on our bedroom wall, wondering how we could build one for nothing. We soon discovered another under construction in Sydney by Swallow Marine, this time in ferro-cement, a material popular at the time, and cheap. The builder quoted us $9,000 for a hull so by now the idea was unstoppable. Surely we could find the money and finishing it off would be easy! Probably get a new yacht for $20,000!
It was a different story and it will be told.