Page 13 - pākuViews Autumn/Winter 2013
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Re-piling & re-leveling • Houses bought & sold
Houselifting & supporting • Lift & shift all types of buildings
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09 298 2195
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021 950 575
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Over 24 years experience on the move!!
11
“Most people don’t realize the situation I’ve put myself in; I mean, I’m a
dreamer. When I bought the boat, I thought I could cut the work out in two to
three years”. The problem was he didn’t have a plan or deep pockets.
Before moving to Tairua in 1973 Russell ran the workshop of a marine
business and had served his time as a tractor mechanic, always preferring to
fix and build things instead of paying someone to do it.
Russell worked tirelessly to include the practicalities he’d learnt while
commercial fishing with the aesthetics he wanted for comfort, while
maintaining the integrity of the vessel and its eventual safety at sea.
Budget constraints necessitated he first learn, and then put into practice, the
sub-trade skills of joinery, electrical, plumbing and general engineering, in
what was to be a pain-stakingly labour intensive system-by-system fit-out.
“The learning curves were massive, like rogue waves”, he says. “Had I known
the expense and what was involved I wouldn’t do it again. I was so wrong in
my estimate of what was needed to finish it”.
Years of contemplation, and repeated practical trial and error attempts to
find solutions to hundreds of “what if” scenarios, constrained progress.
Russell rarely sat and had a cup of tea at the kitchen table, preferring to take
his cuppa to the boat and continue working.
“Everything had to be thought of – ventilation, basic layout, access to
machinery. I mean if the water intakes aren’t done properly, the boat will
sink, and a mickey mouse exhaust system won’t cut it, unless you want to
burn to the water line”.
Step inside today and it’s instantly obvious where the 12 years have gone
– everything has been designed and meticulously crafted to an exacting
standard, by hand.
The cabinets, counter tops, door handles and wheelhouse trims in beautiful
teak, maple and kauri; the stainless steel window latches, railings, bearings,
belting strips, rocket launches; the five berths, two toilets, two showers,
the galley’s dry exhaust, the rudder and the anchor are all a testament to
Russell’s skill.
Betty G’s hull has nine coats of a specialised paint in addition to the two
base coats, and having sprayed plenty of trucks and tractors in his day, the
old salty assumed he’d be the one to do it.
But he was wrong – he lacked the technical expertise necessary to achieve
a perfect paint finish so reached for the cheque book and then called the
professionals. He’s happy he did; the result? Well worth the money.
Before she hits the water, the carpet, upholstery and blinds will go in, the
anti-fouling will be ninety percent complete, and the radar and sound
equipment installed. Russell estimates she’ll be launched this year.
“But I’m running out of time”, he said grinning. “You betta get going, you’re
delaying the launch”.
“Hey one more thing. Can you say thank you to Athol Avery and George
Lawrence? They both helped me a lot over the years.”
Russell’s dedication to following his dream is infectious, and he hasn’t lost
his sense of humour, yet.
The regret most people have towards the end of their lives is that they
weren’t brave enough to follow their dreams. Exceptions like Tarlton who
died pursuing his
–
and Russell George who’s still chasing his
–
remind us
how important that is.
Russell hopes he and his old fishing buddies live long enough to get the
Betty G
out on the water, and maybe enjoy a cuppa and the sense that it was
all worth it. –RB
07 864 8811 Open from4pm 227Main Rd - TaiRua
RestauRant & BaR
longtime Chef
Nathaniel Blomfield
now new owner
Russell purchased the unfinished boat in 2001. It was a one-off design and
unfortunately came with no plans or ‘instruction’ manual. As Russell says,
“The learning curves were massive, like rogue waves”. This empty hull says it all.
Award winning Master Builders
Designing and building new homes and renovations on the
Coromandel Peninsula
Ph: 8647002 or 021 345109
HAVEN COROMANDEL LTD
