Thread: Restoration of an Axyl Stenross Built Cray Boat

Adria's Story:

Adria has a story to tell, the story of all those who have crossed her path from the day her keel was laid. Well actually her story begins many years before with the person who built her, a boat builder from Finland.


Axel Stenross was born in Finland in 1895. He was the son of a boat builder, and he first visited Port Lincoln in 1924, working as a shipwright on the sailing ship 'Olivebank', when it was engaged in the bagged grain trade. The sailing ships engaged in this trade where among the last of the great sailing ships to work commercially.

On his next visit in 1927, Axel, with a shipmate Frank Laakso, who was a sail maker, decided to settle in Port Lincoln. They were legally paid off and did not 'jump ship', as many Scandinavian seamen did.
Axel was still making boats right up until his death at the age of 84.

Axel Stenross Maritime Museum



Adria's pedigree is directly linked to the glory days of sail. Evident in her construction are details that speak directly about aspects of work boat construction seen in Scandinavian boat building at the beginning of last century.

I am hoping to contact the family's of previous owners of Adria to compile a more complete picture her history. I first visited Port Lincoln in the early 90's and became very interested in Stenross history etc. I met a Mr Quin who had a small sailboat in his shed not unlike the little boat Stranger. It was a restorer but was in good nick and he offered it to me for $1000 complete with motor etc. As I was building my mud brick house at the time i decided not to get the boat.

Here is an extract from Mori Flapan's register of historic fishing boats with all the info I have so far about Adria's working life:


Name: Adria
Later names {also Sail or Rego or Fishing No}: {665} Adrian-b79b09
Material: Wood
Rig: Sloop Rig changes & identification codes: <unknown>
Type:Fishing/Yacht Propulsion: Aux screw
Designer: <unknown>
Year built: 1956 Yard or Job No: <unknown>
Builder: Stenross, A.A. &Co
Where built: Happy Valley, Port Lincoln, SA
Engines: Motor 16bhp Ronaldson Tippet diesel
Boilers/Gearing: <unknown or N/A>
Official Number: <unknown or N/A> IMO Number: <unknown or N/A>
Dimensions (ft)—Length: 28 Breadth: 9.3999996 Depth: <unknown>
Volumetric ‘tonnage’ measurements (1 ton = 100 cubic ft):
Gross: <unknown> Underdeck: <unknown> Net: <unknown>
Decks: 1Dk Deck Erections: Cb
Number of funnels &location: <unknown or N/A> Number of bulkheads: <unknown>
Tanks, etc: <unknown> Freeboard: <unknown>
Stem: Round Figurehead: Nil Stern: Canoe
PORTS and owners: PORT LINCOLN@'56 Mike Poderoski &B.Slater: COFFIN BAY@a56 Dean Warner: ROBE@a56 Jack Clunes: KINGSTON,SEa56 Ian Dowe: ROBE@a56 Bert Atkins: p79 John Bott: HORSHAM,VIC@'79 sold: b09 Chris Hallam
Fate/Status— Year: 2009 Type: Stationary Details: <unknown or N/A>
History and details: Carvel planked. 5' draft. Rudder hung from sternpost. 1957 fishing at American River, Kangaroo Island, SA, looks like vessel fitted with scallop deck aft. Re-engined on a number of occasions, 30bhp Kelvin kerosene, Lister HA3 diesel, 4Cy. BMC diesel, Perkins 4236 diesel. Used for cray fishing (confirm). 1979 transferred to Horsham for use as a private yacht. 1990s-2000s stored in shed for about 20 years, 2009/05 hull in fairly good condition, in need of new deck &cabin.
References (see http://www.boatregister.net/RANZS_References.htm): CHA2 (P) Chris Hallam (P):Ker2
Weblink:
Research notes: Ker2 sys built 1953(check) & owners B.Salter &M.Poderiski(check)

I gather you have been in contact with Mori .
Well done Hallam , if there is a Portland link you want me to chase up , just let me know.
Regards Rob J.

The Info Mori had on Adria was quite amazing. Such a great wealth of info there.
Well work has begun. First up was a good cleanup inside the hull with a vaccume cleaner and I have been poking around to get an idea of the areas that will need attention. Here is a quick list off the top of my head.
*Some planks that have cracked along where the wet well has been plugged will need replacing
*There has been a patch both sides of the garboard as it turns up towards the stern just after the engine beds.
*The hull has been re ribbed with sister ribs except for aft of the engine beds and on the port side the planking will need to be pulled in a bit.
* Replace deck beams, deck planking and other timbers as needed.
* Shape and fit keelson to bottom of the hull.
* Fix floors to hull. There where steel floors ready made up, but i have them set aside as i don't think steel is a great idea fixed to wood in the bottom of a timber hull. What do others think? Get them cold gal or toss em and find some jarrah or maybe laminate extra thick "short ribs" and block the gap next to the keelson under the "short ribb" floors, if you get my drift.
The original keelson was Jarrah and finished at the wet well making it fairly short. The is a new one of some hardwood that is 150 x 150 and extends aft to the engine beds. I'm in two minds as to keep it or go for something heavier like jarrah, turpentine or ironbark. I have some ironbark that was NSW bridge timber left over from when i built my mud brick house. It is 200 wide by aprox 100 thick. I can also get my hands on some terpentine that was used as decking on a pier that is 200 x 150, so i would be interested on others thoughts.
I had a win the other day as i found some nice Kauri that i will use for the cabin, hatches and a few other places. The kauri was from a school science room bench top so is nice and thick, over 2 ft wide and 9ft in length so it's just the ants pants!
Here is a pic of the inside showing it's just about all ribbs, so this should tie both sides of the hull together fairly well. I will bolt the keelson over the ribbs and will need to add a few keel bolts i think. Next will be the floors and I'm not too sure how i will go with them as i want to not add too much height to the floor.
Advise and opinions welcome:

ps: for some bloody annoying reason my attached pics always go upside down even if i invert them to try and correct it. Maybe everyone should just stand on your heads when viewing my pics

Well done Hallam !.
Great to see.
Regards Rob J.