Ferry Development
The following was written by Bill Bollard in relation to the development of the design for the First Fleet Ferries for NSW Designed by Alan Payne 1983 (Bill was contracted under him).
After leaving employment with M.J. Doherty in 1979 due to a slow down in work, I started my own design company, designing fishing vessels and yachts including contract drafting. In late 1982 I received a call from Alan Payne to start with him on a design of the First Fleet ferries, also with Howard Peachy who was now a partner with Alan.
Initial Requirements
At the start of the design the overall length of the vessel 30 metres and three different hull shapes were developed.
- A chine shaped hull along the lines of the American Lobster boat in catamaran form with 100% asymmetrical. (Model 'C' )
- A round bilge catamaran hull with no asymmetrical. (Model 'A' )
- A similar round bilge catamaran hull with approx. 25 % asymmetrical shape. (Model 'BB' )
The Test Rig
Alan asked me to build the three models to 1/5 scale and to power them with twin 25 HP outboard motors. Alan also wanted the outboards rotating on a cross beam with a method to measure thrust from the motors.
This was done by mounting the outboards on pipe rotating in outboard bearings, then controlled by a lever arm and wire to a scale balance on a small tripod.
He also wanted to measure wave heights from the wash and this was done with a small diameter alloy pipe driven into the river bed and foam donuts floating up and down on the marked pipe. Alan would video tape the donuts as we went passed at various speed settings.
Model Trials
The model trials were run on the upper reaches of the Lane Cove river north of the Epping Bridge over a measured distance approx 500 metres.
When these tests were completed, Alan then chose the 3rd model 'BB' as the design and the detail construction drawings started and the job went out to tender to build 7 of this design.
Model 'A'
This photo shows Model 'A' before the length was shortened, doing a scale speed run of approximately 19 knots ballasted at full load displacement.
We usually had two crew running the models with a person operating the throttle of each outboard engines aligning the speed with rpm gauges.
Government Interference
Shortly after Carrington Slipways had won the contract to build, NSW Transport notified Alan that the design was to be shortened in length to approximately 25 metres so as to obtain a two man crew on the ferries.
Alan then asked me to build a large model of 1/3 scale of the shorten model powered by twin Chrysler petrol engines mounted in such a way that they would be belt driven to the floating propeller shaft so thrust readings could be taken. See sketch and photos. This model was tested over the measured mile off Greenwich and Drummoyne. The model was also fitted with 4 rudders to improve manoeuvrability, with two per hull.
Construction was underway for 9 ferries at Carrington Slipway and during this period the Union took NSW Transport to court over the two man crew. The Union was successful holding them to three man crews.
When the request came through to shorten the overall length of the design, NSW Transport still wanted the same number of passengers and the same draft.
So the only change that was made as well as length was the increase the beam of each hull to maintain the same displacement.
These changes then altered the predicted performance from 19 knots down to 16 knots operating speed.
Designs A and BB
After the chine model ('C' ) was tested, it was discarded and we then concentrated on the two round bilge models ('A' & 'BB') shown above. The models were built with plywood frames and stringers and double diagonal western red cedar veneers. The outboards were set up with the leg and propeller through the hull to were the full size propeller would be. This compartment was watertight to the rest of the hull and the hulls were ballasted down to the correct draft with 20 litre drums full of water.
Design A
Design BB
Model BB
Model 'BB' with the system for measuring thrust. The drum hanging below the scale balance was full of water to damper the scale measurements when the boat was under way to give a sturdier reading of the thrust.
General Arrangements
During my time with Alan Payne my time was taken up drawing the model lines and building the models. I did get to draw the final General Arrangement plan, but did not have anything to do with the detail construction and engineering drawings used in the final design.
Profile, Main Deck & Below Deck
Front, Stern, Upper Deck & Wheelhouse
Large Model Construction & Trials
After many runs testing the final model on the Lane Cove river, we took the model to Careel Bay in Pittwater where we did a number of runs over shallow water to determine the amount of squat aft and we observed approximately 55 mm, which Alan was happy with as he said the ferries were used to, on inner harbour services.
At this stage Alan wanted to test manoeuvrability of the ferry and he came to me saying we need a bigger model. This time he wanted a 1/3 scale model, which comes out to nearly 9 metres length. This model started construction in the old Morrison & Sinclair yard at Long Nose point, Balmain. Again the model was built by double diagonal planking and glass cloth laid in epoxy resin. I might add that a large drum of epoxy was ordered and delivered to the old shed and was locked away. One morning I went to work there and found the shed broken into and the resin was the only thing taken.
This is the large model under construction.
Each hull was built separately upside down and was joined with cross beams at each bulkhead. The engine beds are fitted at deck level.
There were two of us working on this model and we had it completed in just a couple of months ready for trials.
The thrust sensor was set up both shafts and was similar to what we used on the outboard versions of the earlier trials, which involved a scale balance set up with a wire pulley system around the forward end of the shaft back to the scale balance.
I do not know what happened to all of these models later.
To determine the power for this size of model, Alan sent me down to Bobbin Head to speak with Trevor Gowland about using twin petrol "Chrysler" Crown engines from the Halvorsen hire fleet, at the time they were replacing with diesel engines.
I picked up both engines with my trailer, engines with 2:1 gearbox and heat exchange cooling. Propellers were 4 blade and shafting was 32 mm dia. K-Monel supplied by D.H Porter at Parramatta. Rudders were timber aerofoil on S.S. Shafts with hydraulic steering.
When we launched the vessel at Balmain we conducted speed trials over the measured distance, recording the data, which Alan went over and found it reasonable close to the smaller models.
The manoeuvring trials were then conducted with the Sydney Ferry Masters handling the model with Alan Payne present. With everyone happy with the results, detail construction drawings were finished and Carrington Slips started construction of 7 ferries in aluminium.
Display Model
At the end of the design development, Alan Payne asked me make a small display model of the ferry for a political launch by the then Premier, Neville Wran.
The Nine Ferries
The nine ferries, and their completion years, were as follows;
- HMS Supply (1984)
- HMS Sirius (1984)
- Alexander (1985)
- Borrowdale (1985)
- Charlotte (1985)
- Fishburn (1985)
- Friendship (1986)
- Golden Grove (1986)
- Scarborough (1986)