Death of a Cray Boat

[RFNK]

SWMBO and self were in Bicheno, Tasmania last week following a wild storm that hit the coast the previous weekend. Sadly one of the consequences was the sinking of one of Tasmania's prettiest crayfishing boats which dragged its mooring, smashing the stern on nearby rocks. The owner, a highly respected resident of many years and regarded by all as a fastidious owner and keen woodworker, sadly, had no say in the fate of his boat once the insurance company took control. A local plant operating company was immediately hired by the insurance company to `salvage' the boat rather than wait for a proper salvage company to arrive from Hobart. We were hopeful of a good outcome when we saw the boat afloat with tanks and airbags but the next morning we saw her heading for the beach where dump trucks and backhoes were waiting for the feeding frenzy. The boat could so easily have been towed to a nearby slipway and lifted out for reasonably straightforward repairs - but, even in Tasmania, it seems that respect for tradition and craftsmanship is granted little priority nowadays. We didn't hang around for the death.

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[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

Something not right there.

If the owner wanted his boat back, to repair himself, his broker could easily have arranged matters with the insurance company by tendering Notice of Abandonment as a Constructive Total Loss rather than claiming an actual total loss.

The Notice of Abandonment is routinely declined, leaving the hull with the owner and saving the insurer the cost of disposal. The owner collects the insured value, remains responsible for the vessel and does what he likes with the money.

That is what I did with Mirelle in 1987, in similar circumstances.

I hesitate to pronounce further as there may be facts I am unware of, which exonerate the broker, but the law of insurance is the same in Australia as in Britain.

[RFNK]

Probably right Andrew but the fisherman in question was an older guy and seemed to have little knowledge of his rights etc. in this matter - unfortunately I think. Let me add that although I was there, all information I've put here is anecdotal and third hand, so there may well be much more to it. Certainly the owner seemed distressed and there was apparent dismay among some community members at the hasty disposal of this quite beautiful old boat.

[RFNK]

I never caught the name, unfortunately - Windcrest, I think though (?). I'm pretty sure this hull is celery top or a combination of celery and one of the gums - probably spotted gum down low. Really, salvage would have been pretty easy from what I THINK I could see. The stern seemed intact - I'd guess that she went down when the rudder pinions were punched through the hull or the propellor shaft was wrenched away from pounding on the rocks. There could have been more damage around the stern but it wasn't obvious. The owner had just filled the tank with 1000 litres of fuel too so there was concern about spillage into the bay where there is a fairy penguin colony but, fortunately, there seemed to be little spillage. I was diving only a few metres from the boat and detected only a little fuel - and diesel is pretty smelly stuff!

[RFNK]

It's been a bad week at Bicheno, I hear from Mori Flapan that the long fight to save ENTERPRISE, the last Tasmanian sailing scow (for many years ashore as a staitic outdoor exhibit, and gradually deteriorating as a result) has been lost, her owner has given up the struggle and she is to be broken up (in fact it may have occurred already).


Sad news indeed. Enterprise was certainly still there last week though.

[shamus]

I think her name was 'Wave Crest". There was a note in Saturday's paper about her- or about the salvager who was fined for employing 'an unqualified diver'.
(PS Got your email Rick, but can't get the reply to send from home for some reason. Will send from work tomorrow)

[RFNK]

Right, Rob just sent me a clip from the ABC and it was Wave Crest - guess I should have picked that :(.

Shamus, the reply problem might be that you've left all the attached pictures in. I've done that a few times!

[shamus]

No, not that. I don't know why, but sometimes I can send from home and sometimes I can't. The email address is associated with bigpond provider at work, and at home i'm on iinet. I can always receive new emails at home. Mysterious.

[colin grazules]

Was in Cairns last week and as we passed the reef she struck ..Salvage boats were raising and towing her to shore.

[mflapan]

Dear RFNK

I came across this thread just today. Very sad to hear about the destruction of Wavecrest. I have been compiling a register of Australian and New Zealand Ships and Boats. Further details can be seen at http://www.boatregister.net/RegisterMenu.htm

I have the Wavecrest listed on the register. Apparently she was built in 1968. But I don't know very much about her. I would like to document her history for posterity and I am wondering whether you might be able to contact the last owner of the Wavecrest to see whether he would be happy to tell the boat's story. Even just to find out who the builder was and where she was built would help.

You can download a word template to help organise information if that would help from http://www.boatregister.net/ANZRegisterForm.doc

Any assistance would be much appreciated.

Best regards
Mori

[Larks]

Gidday Mori, nice to see you here mate.
cheers
Greg

[RFNK]

I don't know the owner although I did meet him during the `salvage operation'. I don't remember his name offhand either but I'll see what I can find out for you. Rick

[PeterSibley]

Buggar .