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Manutere: a classic motorsailer restored

The classic 1962 Bob Stewart-designed Manutere has been stunningly restored thanks to the skill and enthusiasm of Pine Harbour's Graham
Johnson and AY&B's easy-to-use painting systems. Manutere is a much -loved Stewart 36, built in Tauranga by Oliver and Gilpin, and kept by her original owner for nearly 40 years. When she was purchased by her current owner she still had what he calls "good bones" but was in need of a big of a facelift. "She was in amazing condition for her age," he recalls, "but she was looking a bit tired. " With Graham's help and...

Apprentice Does The Hard Yards

Young boatbuilder Bevan Randell is not afraid of putting in the hard yards to get what he wants. The 23-year-old had always dreamed of owning his own hardtop boat and, while completing his four-year boatbuilding apprenticeship with Spencer Marine, he set about turning that dream into reality. Using a Mike Spencer design created especially for him, young Bevan built the 8.5-metre GRP boat from scratch and in his own time. He not only moulded the hull, he also created the wood panelling and...

Paint Your Boat Online

Curious about how your boat would look with a differently coloured hull, topsides or superstructure? Tried to imagine some different combinations but struggled to really “see” it? Altex has the answer. Using clever technology developed by parent company Resene, AY&B now offers boat owners the chance to try different colours and colour combinations, all with the click of a mouse. Owners simply visit AY&B’s popular...

Refits a Growing Sector for Forumla Cruisers

Like a number of boatbuilders, Hobsonville luxury launch manufacturer, Formula Cruisers Ltd, is expanding into the popular refit business. Specialising in refits and repaints of older Formula vessels, the company currently has two refit projects nearing completion. The first is a Formula 50, which is undergoing

Classic Kupe Still at Work - After 46 Years!

Auckland’s Westhaven Marina has a new patrol boat – the just restored 46-year-old Kupe! Kupe was originally pressed into service for the Auckland Harbour Board after being launched in 1963. A working tow craft for all of her life, she assisted in the addition of the four new lanes (the “Nippon Clip-on”) to the Auckland Harbour Bridge and was regularly used to clear the flotsam from beneath the city’s wharves.

Tips for Better Painting

Ensure the surface to be painted is completely
clean and dry
Insure the paint is warm, preferably at 16-18°
(Warmer paint has a lower viscosity, making it
flow more easily when brush, roller or spray
applied. Placing paint in a hot water cupboard is
a god idea)
Prior to painting, ensure all cans are open and
thoroughly stirred. This is especially important
with older paint that can separate if left standing
for a long time.
If using a two-pot system, ensure.....

AY&B's 321 Helps Restore Pride

is once again a magnificent sight thanks to the skill of some Kiwi boatbuilders and AY&B’s popular Elite 321 Brushing Polyurethane. Gretel II, which proudly represented Australia in the 1970 America’s Cup against Intrepid, was discovered by her current owner, in a tired condition on Sydney Harbour. According to the restoration’s project manager...

Classic One-Tonner Restored to Original Glory

When Young Nick owner Frans de Court decided to restore his newly-bought 1969 One Tonner Young Nick , one of the first people he contacted was AY&B's pleasure boat manager, Ron Brown. Young Nick, a Sparkman & Stephens design built in Auckland by Brin Wilson in 1970, boasted a proud heritage and Frans was keen to keep her in her original colours. These included a hull painted in a 1970's bright tan, a colour not often seen these days.