Tag Archives: New Plymouth Harbour Board

CLASSIC 1930’S BIG GAME FISHING LAUNCH – 4sale

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CLASSIC 1930’S BIG GAME FISHING LAUNCH – 4sale

Todays woody is named PILOT and has appeared on WW numerous times over the years, each time we have learned more about her provenance.

What we have learnt is that she was built in 1931 by L.C. Coulthard in Onehunga, Auckland for the  New Plymouth Harbour Board.

Back in the early to mid 1990s her current owner, Paul Nattrass, was working for Sea-Tow barging coal into New Plymouth and commented to the senior pilot that he would like to buy the boat. Paul was told he would never get the opportunity as someone from the port would get her.                   Fast forward a couple years and in a tender Paul  bid to in sure that he proved him wrong.

Paul and friend Graeme Wiig steamed her round the top of the North Island to Houhora where she still resides today.At the time of purchase she was powered by a 4 cylinder Ford diesel, later updated to a 6 cylinder .Paul converted PILOT to a recreational game boat and has been landing good sized fish ever since.

After approx. 30 years of ownership Paul has made the call to find a new custodian for PILOT. To quote Paul ‘ she is a wonderful sea boat and seems to be blessed with good luck in terms of landing fish’.Wonderful bones, time spent with a sander and paint brush will be rewarded with a very sharp looking classic woody.

Interested parties to initially contact Paul at paulnat@xtra.co.nz

Ex 1930’s Pilot Boat

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Ex 1930’s PILOT BOAT 

Todays woody was built by L C Coulthard, Onehunga in 1931 for the New Plymouth Harbour Board. Not sure of her name, possibly still called – ‘Pilot’ 36’ in length, these days she resides in Houhora, at the top of the North Island.

Interested to learn more about her and what powers her these days, looks like she could get along with that hull.

Photo below as launched. The photos come to us from John Dawson ex Graeme Kearney fb.

INPUT ex Paul Nattrass –

“Launch Pilot ” was her surveyed name but even more simply “Pilot ^ call sign.
Back in the early to mid 90s I was working for Sea-Tow Ltd barging coal into New Plymouth and said to the senior pilot that I would like to buy her he said that I would never get the opportunity, someone from the port would get her. however couple years later in a tender I made sure that I did just to prove him wrong.
The late Graeme Wigg and I steamed her round the top to Houhora
Had a 4 cylinder ford that I later changed to a 6.
The Capital Gbox 2:1 bolted straight on.
Has been a great predictable little work vessel that has taken on the new role of game boat with distinction that “Sucks up the fish”

A TEASE RE SOME OF SATURDAYS TREASURE SHOWING UP AT THE SLIPWAY MILFORD WOODY BOAT BOOT SALE – 10AM @ 5 OMANA ROAD MILFORD – CASH ONLY