Mahita

MAHITA was always thought to be an 11.6m A G Williams built bridge-deck cruiser from 1939. The 70 year old vessel has retained a significant amount of its original structure and arrangement and illustrates the standard styling found on many Williams style cruisers and as such is a worthy entry in the Australian Historic Vessel Register.

MAHITA has always been a recreational cruiser and no record of any war service has been located by second owner Ron Morley who has contracted us to restore his family cruiser of 40 years back to her former glory. After languishing in a paddock in Bairnsdale for 11 years MAHITA was found to be in a sorry state. So sorry that the first attempt to lift her was almost her demise. Now safely stored in our yard she is undergoing the time consuming but necessary careful dismantling and cataloguing of the interior paneling before the hull undergoes the replanking and reribbing that is much in need. The full length 28mm kauri planking and oregon stringers will be placed with same as required.

The vessel is worthy of restoration because it retains the original three level cabin top profile and square cabin windows, a form of styling that was repeated on many Williams bridge-deck cruisers. The aft saloon is lower than the forward cabin or wheelhouse, but the cabin top is raised again over the aft cockpit. During the dismantling process an official Lloyds number was located and further research indicates that Mahita was designed by AC Barber and built by Campling and Fisher of Lavender Bay in 1928. This will be a long job but what an honour for us to be entrusted to give MAHITA a second chance at another eighty years of boating history. Thank you Ron.