Owners Keith and Heather
at balancing on scaffolding and scaling ladders like a couple of monkeys with a sander or brush with red lead permanently attached to our hands.
Sanding was a huge job, as was replacing the old generator. With help from the boat's first owner and a crane, the old generator was lifted out. It was a very worrying time with thoughts of "Please don't fall off and go through the boat…" Everyone breathed a huge sigh of relief when the task was completed.
Then there were the visitors and those who had heard the boat was there. They would all come for a look and a talk – it's amazing how many people have served on MLs or have known about them. Everyone was impressed at how good the Paea was looking, considering she will be 70 years old next March. We found the interest quite phenomenal. Friends and family visited, and Keith's son, Dave, spent a number of weekends helping. We were so grateful for all the help we received. The weather had been on our side in the "winterless north", despite people in Whangarei laughing when we called it that. While we were covered in sunscreen, baking under blue skies and brilliant sunshine day after day, we would get calls from friends in Auckland saying it was pouring down.
As it was now into the first week of February it was a race against time to get the boat finished and back in the water. With another boat booked for the slipway on the February 10, we worked 14-hour days in the last weekend before she was relaunched. Once the first coat of undercoat went on, what a transformation that was. To see her in one colour, after so long with splotches of red lead and big gaps in the wood. The second undercoat and two topcoats had her just gleaming.
Then the barrier coat went on the antifouling and there was no more red lead to be seen. The antifouling and her numbers were put on the day before she was due to go back in the water and she was tidied and prepared for sea once again.
The morning of February 9 was another beautiful day in paradise, with brilliant sunshine, calm seas and a boatyard full of spectators to witness the big, grey ex-Navy boat going back into the water. The Norsand staff ensured everything went as smoothly as the haulout had gone.
The port motor was started and we saw water coming out. The starboard motor needed a bit of tweaking but after no time there was water there, too, so she was all ready to go. The fuel truck arrived to fill her tanks and we started the journey
back to Auckland. It was another perfect day at sea, with dead calm water and blue sky, and the Paea went well. We picked up an extra two or three knots on the trip back without the extra growth she had had, and we used less fuel as well. Our first stop was Kawau Island for the night, then to Waiheke Island and on to Auckland. New Zealand's only original harbour defence motor launch lives on in good working order and she lives very well. Our warm thanks go to everyone for their support in our journey, including friends, family and the staff at Norsand Boatyard. We'll go back there in a few years when it's time again for a spruce-up.
• Traditional & Composite Boatbuilders • Painters, engineers, general labourers • Marine Rigging • Welding & Sandblasting • Quality marine joinery • Haulout & Hardstand up to 100Tn
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT NORSAND BOATYARD ON:
Phone/Fax: 09 4308 485 or 0274 913 800 Email: info@norsand.co.nz
May/June 2012 Professional Skipper 33
Recognised and recommended by Professional Skipper magazine as one of our leading marine artists.
NORSAND BOATYARD
VIP.S87
VIP.S75
