New deep-sea fishing boat

Press, 9 August 1976, Page 7

New deep-sea fishing boat

A local fisherman, Mr W. Hokianga, has become so concerned about the reduction in the sizes of catches from the inshore fishing grounds that he has invested $45,000 in a new boat to take him further out. The vessel, the Miss Fleur, is shown readv for her launching at Redcliffs Mr Hokianga said that the Russian and Japanese fishermen had so depleted the inshore areas of fish that the only way to make larger catches was to have a boat that would go further out, for longer periods.

Because his new boat incorporates ideas that are considered to be revolutionary in fishing-boat design, the Fishing Industry Board refused to grant him a loan. “And that’s after paying them levies for 23 years,” said Mr Hokianga. The new boat is suitable for trawling, line fishing, and crayfishing, has a high speed, an uncluttered working area, and living accommodation that permits it to remain at sea for long periods. It is 40 ft long and made of laminated plywood, with an outer skin of fibreglass. The watertight flush deck is selfdraining, and isolated from the wheelhouse and other parts of the boat. Tire 250 h.p. diesel engine is coupled to a stern drive and it is this which has left the working area free from machinery. “That was what the board objected to most.”

said Mr Hokianga. “They think that the boat is too big for a stem drive.” With a cruising speed of 20 knots, the boat will be able to travel quickly to and from to 10 knots. the deep-sea areas; most fishing boats have speeds of 8 It is also equipped with radar with a 30-mile range, for navigation in poor visibility. Fish will be stored in a freezer under the deck. Mr T. M. Starkey, a director of Star-Key Pleasure Craft, Ltd, said that his firm had designed and built the boat to Mr Hokianga’s specifications in five months and a half. It was the biggest that had been built in the workshop. The boat will fish out of Lyttelton, and Mr Hokianga expects to employ one fisherman to assist him.