Construction plan for 34 foot rounded stern motor vessel
Designer
Ernest Olney Digby
Date1954
Object numberANMS1543[070]
NamePlan
MediumInk on tracing paper
Dimensions545 x 750
ClassificationsMaps, charts and plans
Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection purchased with USA Bicentennial Gift funds
DescriptionAn Ernest Digby hull construction plan for a 34-foot wooden motor yacht from 1954 for AD Mackenzie.HistoryAs a skilled shipwright, and yacht helmsman, Ernest Digby’s design drawings show his exceptional skill in providing the builder with all the essential information to build his yachts. This construction drawing, made in 1954 for the build of a 34-foot motor yacht for A.D Mackenzie, is a good example of this detail. The work is beautifully made, as if the designer was building the yacht in his mind at the time.
Born in 1882 at Port Fairy, Victoria, Ernest Olney Digby came from family of boat builders, sailors and fisherman. His father, fisherman and boat builder Joseph Digby, designed and built a Couta fishing boat for himself, called ‘ELLISE’ in 1903. Ernest became a boatbuilder/shipwright and later worked as shipwright foreman for the Melbourne Harbour Trust. He studied yacht design and naval architecture from books and was influence by Uffa Fox, and particularly Scotsman William Fife (III), whom he admired. He designed and built several boats at home in his spare time. One of these was, ‘INDEPENDENCE’ which he built in 1932.
Despite having eight children to raise with his wife Mary Anne, and only the wages of a working man, Ernest Digby designed and built DEFIANCE, the first Australian International 8-metre racing yacht in his backyard. A remarkable feat, which took place during the Great Depression when money and work was scarce. Built solely of Australian timber, Ernest Digby selected the best Queensland kauri for the hull planking and built the yacht with the help of three of his sons and a shipwright apprentice called Harry Clark. The International 8mR DEFIANCE, which is still sailing today, is 14.78 meter overall (48.49-feet) with a beam of 2.27 metre (7.44-feet). Launched in 1935 Ernest Digby owned the yacht for ten years, winning many races, including five Sydney to Hobart races.
His 8mR yacht ‘DEFIANCE was particularly well named, as Ernest defied all class barriers at the time with his new racing yacht. Owning and racing a yacht in the 1930s was a sport only enjoyed by the rich and famous, including royalty. It was unheard of for a working shipwright to build and race such a yacht. He later designed and built a second 8mR in 1946 called FRANCIS named after his wife, Mary Ann Frances.
During his long and active career, Ernest Digby designed and built many fine yachts and commercial vessels. His design drawings are often very detailed, works of art compared to most modern equivalents. He is unquestionably one of the unsung heroes of Australian yacht design, building and racing. His passion and determination to design, build and race yachts is an inspiration which lives on, as many of his sons and family have become successful boat builders and yacht skippers. On receiving a new bicycle as a birthday gift, Ernest Digby was on the way to collect a newspaper when he was struck down by a drunk driver and killed at the age of 78 on November 12th 1960.SignificanceThe work shows exceptional detail for the construction of a traditional wooden double ended motor yacht from 1954. Each piece of timber is shown, with detail of the joint and fastening needed to build the yacht. Compared to modern construction design drawings, this is a work of art.
