Newspaper Article 1969 – Tony Bone

Hawke’s Bay Sculler, Tony Bone, has bought himself a new $700 boat from America. The sleek, beautifully-finished craft arrived in the province this week.

Bone, who has been the outstanding Hawke’s Bay rower for a number of seasons now, had the craft virtually custom-built for him by the Seattle father and son team of George and Stan Pocock.

Tony Bone spent some time with 80-year-old George Pocock when he was in America in 1965 and a return visit was made to Hawke’s Bay in 1967 by Mr Pocock.

The 30lb craft – slightly lighter than the usual shell – is the very model of functional design and construction.

The boat is constructed of a variety of woods chosen chiefly for their physical characteristics but also for appearance.

The keel is of sugar pine from California. This is a timber which will not rot while the hull is shaped from cinammon[cinnamon]-coloured red cedar.

Each side of the hull has been shaped from the same plank to 11-64ths of an inch and because the sections are from the same plank the sides will contract and expand equally.

Matched Alaskan cedar has been used for the wash boards.

PICTURED: Tony Bone inspects the new craft shortly after it had been packed on its arrival at the Hawke’s Bay Rowing Club’s headquarters at Clive.