Restoration of an Axyl Stenross Built Cray Boat
Well i've done it now. I have just purchased a Cray boat hull built by Axel Stenross of Port Lincoln in 1956. It's a canoe stern 30 footer and was removed from the water in aprox 1980 and sister ribbed for a conversion to a pleasure craft. Since then not much has been done but she has always been stored in a shed out of the weather. Looks like the deck is of oregan and it looks a bit rough so will probably put a new deck on. The wet well has been plugged up and the deck beams cut for a cabin to be built. Looks like the stern post will need replacing towards the top also. The hull has a great shape and to my eye would sail well. My intention is to do the restoration in keeping with the workboat look and as true as practical to the original builders way of doing things so as to preserve her historical heritage. I am hoping to also have a decent sailing rig and have her sail as efficiently as possable for cruising. She comes with a mast and was originally a sloop rig and had a Lister motor. Here are a few pics of how she looks now. I will bring the cabin back one or two deck beams to give a bit more deck space and structural strength.