Written by Sheelagh Collingwood
When and why did you decide to build Wairiki? Why did you want to build a boat rather than buy a fully built one?
Peter commenced Wairiki in January 2013 beginning with the delivery of a bare hull and coach house. He set about heightening the coach house and lengthening it to provide us with a larger saloon and more headroom to accommodate his 6ft 2ins frame. Sadly in August of that year Peter wrecked his shoulder and work slowed accordingly. In March 2014 Peter had his shoulder rebuilt with appropriate pins and tape and after what seemed like a long rehabilitation period work began again with renewed vigour.
Peter decided to build his own boat to enable us to have exactly what we wanted in terms of saloon space, accommodation and power. Having built yachts in the past it did not seem like toooo big a departure from his previous experience to build a launch. Well it has been a learning curve to say the least.
What type of boat is she and what do you want to use her for? What special design features does she have?
Wairiki is a 10 metre launch which we plan to use for fishing, sightseeing with friends and generally indulging in all the wonderful activities on offer in our beautiful corner of the world.
Wairiki offers a spacious saloon which can accommodate 6 people easily for meals, or 12 for a launch party!!! There are 2 bunks in the forward cabin and a further 2 available in the saloon and she can achieve 28 knots so in case of inclement weather we simply zoom home.
What do you like about her?
The ability to travel around the Sounds quickly if we need to and still have the space for leisurely trips and entertaining. We also think she is quite a pretty boat, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder !!!!
What are your plans for the future with Wairiki? Any big trips planned? Where have you taken her so far?
Since launching Wairiki in the middle of winter we have spent the time setting up the galley and fishing equipment along with a few very successful scalloping expeditions. We hope to see much more of the Sounds and plan a trip to visit friends in Nydia Bay in January. Peter is keen to launch a fishing expedition to D’ Urville Island with other boating friends later in October/November.
We would like to thank all those friends and tradesmen who helped to put Wairiki in the water – David Howell, Bob Doyle, Russell Frew, John Aldridge, Cedric French, Peter Crapper, Ken Thian, the troops from Burnsco, old uncle Tom Cobley, Heath from Sound Upholstery, Beach Road Marine, Signs Now and all.
