LIFE AFTER DEATH… but only just
There is BY KEITH INGRAM O
n a recent trip into the Waikato we came across a bit of New Zealand's maritime history lying in a little backwater, or should I say pond, on Billy Black's most unusual motel at Waitomo on his property,
Woodlyn Park. Billy already has a Fiat rail car, a Bristol Freighter cargo plane, a Hobbit cave and now a small ship. Couple this to his barnyard farm and daily tourist gig, and the property is essentially a theme park and a lot of fun for the young ones.
Being lifted We were most interested in his Fairmile Q406, now known as
the Motunui, so we searched the web and the naval archives for a quick history lesson.
The original design came from the drawing board of a naval architect with The Admiralty during the Second World War. Several hundred boats were built throughout the dominions and colonies for a variety of roles. They were 112ft (34m) long, displaced 85 tons and were usually powered by two Hall-Scott petrol engines running on
Arriving at Waitomo
In Tauranga, still looking like an old ferry
14 Professional Skipper July/August 2011 r
Fairmile Q406
