SEA REAPER

Today’s story originated from woody John Wicks – John advised that the West Harbour Marina (now renamed Hobsonville Marina) were having a clear-out of what the locals call “Death Row”, the part of the hardstand where abandoned boats go to die. Either their marina fees haven’t been paid and they were at some point lifted out and impounded, or in the case of Sea Reaper, were already there and the owner has disappeared or just failed to keep up hardstand fees.

John believes that Sea Reaper is a Lidgard built fishing boat, made out of some fair sized chunks of tree-wood. She had been laid up at the marina for several years, and was moved to “Death Row” a few months ago. The hardstand crew had begun to partly dismantle her (removed the superstructure) preparatory to taking to her with a chain saw. Luckily, just a couple of days before the saw began buzzing, someone (a masochist??) bought her for a nominal sum. She’s to be razeed to deck level (the Gardner removed and trucked separately) to get her size and weight down and trucked to – somewhere – where she’ll hopefully be restored.

So woodys – anyone know where she went & what the plans are?

Input from G R Lidgard

Built Lidgards Bayswater 1963/4 to design by Athol Burns for East Coast Fisheries, home port Gisborne. Was heavily specc’d Kauri (I think) on Australian hanrdwoods and was fastened with copper bolts and into grounds with a variety of large cast dumps, it surprises me that such a well built and in survey boat was let go to such an extent. I remember their was little income in this type construction which was quite dated even then.

Input (photo below) from  Cameron Pollard

And more photos from Cameron P.

Engine Removal

The stick comes out

Max height & max load for a 3am move 😉

11-09-2017 – Ian McDonald asks a question – could she be a Saunders build ? see below

National Library of New Zealand – Archives

Interview with Alfred Saunders

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

Date: 14 Dec 1994 By: Saunders, Alfred Carr, 1911-2010

Ref: OHInt-0444-06

Alfred Saunders born at Point Halswell, Wellington 1911. Recalls his father was an artilleryman in the army, stationed at the Point to look after the large gun there. Talks about growing up on the Miramar Peninsula, Fort Ballance and other forts around the harbour. Also talks about period when father left the army and they moved to Whangaroa where his father took up crayfishing.

Recalls leaving school at the age of 15 years and commencing an apprenticeship as a shipwright with B J L Jukes Ltd, a boatbuilder in Balena Bay, Wellington. Describes his duties as an apprentice and explains that many of the boats worked on at the yard belonged to Island Bay and Eastbourne fishermen. Mentions living at Paraparaumu where he built a 40 foot fishing vessel called `May’ for a Mr Buckland at Plimmerton during the Great Depression. Refers to his work during World War II, describing some of the vessels he worked on which were commandeered by the navy. After the war went fishing from Paremata and details type of fishing and fish caught. Describes location of his boat yard at Paremata foreshore where he built a number of fishing and pleasure craft. Talks about the Sea Reaper, a vessel of 50 feet in length that he built and operated with his sons during the 1960s. Talks about the crayfish boom at the Chathams and the big demand for vessels. Mentions some of the problems encountered with the Marine Department surveyors and the modern fishing regulations. Talks about son, Harold, who has a boatbuilding business in Tory Channel in the Marlborough Sounds.