Professional Skipper - Free Sample issue (July/Aug 2011)

Now high and dry, with only rising damp to worry about The honeymoon spa Inside the captain's cabin from the Devonport Naval Base to the Navy training establishment HMNZS Tamaki on Motuihe Island, which later closed. Following a subsequent move to Fort Cautley at Narrow Neck, there was no further requirement to retain her. She was decommissioned in 1965 and sold into private ownership, when her name reverted to the Kahu. She was owned and operated by North Shore Ferries for a while and later spent some time laid up at Bailey's Shipyard at St Mary's Bay, where she gradually decayed into a somewhat derelict condition. The Kahu was subsequently bought by a private buyer for conversion to a pleasure boat, and the former Fairmile B class vessel can now be seen upstream of the Greenhithe Bridge on Auckland's Upper Harbour Motorway. Meanwhile, the Motunui saw service as a Waiheke ferry for i many years as one of Leo Dromgoole's fleet of former Fairmiles and MLs, including the Ngaroma, Colville, Iris Moana, La Reta and Florence Kennedy. After a chequered history, the Motunui languished in various backwaters from Auckland to Coromandel until Billy Black finally bought her in 2006. In July that year her topsides were removed and she was lifted and trucked to Black's Waitomo property, where she will end her days as a motel, with five units. Purists will suffer an initial shock over how anyone could build such boxy topsides, which bear little resemblance to her former self. These boats had a reputation for rolling on wet grass in their sleek, former livery, so it is just as well she is now firmly ensconced high and dry in the limestone cave capital of New Zealand. In saying this, the Motonui is a comfortable, themed motel and her units are fully equipped with all the mod-cons. The wind may blow and the seas may build, but she is unlikely to drag her chain or anchor. However, as a word of warning to the old salts, it is not a good look to get up and check the dinghy in the middle of the night or when wanting to pump the bilges. NEW ZEALAND'S LEADING SAFE SHIP MANAGEMENT COMPANY Safe Ship Management Surveys, Audits and Systems Inclining Experiments and Stability Books Load Line and Tonnage Surveys PHONE US NOW ON 0800 103 433 New Build, Modification, & Repair Design Approvals Marine Product Certification Marine Consultancy Ships Pre Load & Cargo Surveys NDT & Coatings Inspection Vibration & Oil Analysis, IR Thermography 16 Professional Skipper July/August 2011 r V VIP.S80

• Cover