A recent DCW project at the historic Claystore was the creation of a new Sampson Post for historic NZ sailing yacht Ethel. To read about the history of this boat follow this link https://boatingnz.co.nz/2021/02/saving-ethel/

Ethel, a Logan Brothers designed and built Yacht, is one of several owned by the Classic Yacht Charitable Trust and is berthed in the Auckland Maritime Museum on the waterfront. For more history read here https://www.maritimemuseum.co.nz/a-tribute-to-john-street-mnzm-from-the-new-zealand-maritime-museum

The Samson Post is the name of the post fitted through the foredeck of sailing ships and yachts and extends down to the keel. It is the strongest point of the yacht and is used to carry the load of the bowsprit and to secure her mooring lines, anchor chain or a tow rope

The previous Kauri post, probably dating back to 1896 when Ethel was built, broke at deck level after an altercation with the museum dock when Ethel was berthing recently.

Chris Hancock from the Classic Yacht Charitable Trust, with some help from Martin Ford, treasurer at DCW, made good use of our large band saw to cut a tapered new post from a large post built by laminating two lengths of red cedar.The curved top where the mooring lines are fitted was hand carved by Maori wood carver Natanahira Pona, a regular user of the Clay store.

The post was then sanded smooth with the long run belt sander at DCW. Many hours followed to apply coats of varnish to create a gloss finish before fitting the new post into Ethel..
Ethel is now back to fully functional and can be visited at the Maritime Museum.