Cheers as builder launches boat at harbour
PORT Alfred residents could hardly believe their eyes when an enormous vessel slowly crept down Albany Road on Saturday before noon.
With some careful manoeuvring and a little bit of patience by the tractor driver, the vessel made it through the entrance of the small boat harbour and through the main parking areas.
The vessel, a 67 foot long and 10m wide catamaran named “Sea Chant” is a dream-come -true for local boat builder Dennis Schultz and his two sons, Clinton and Neil Schultz of Super Cat Marine.
There was a slight delay in the launch as the tide wasn’t high enough for the boat to be safely put in the water. Dennis, who was relieved that Sea Chant finally made it into the small boat harbour, had spent around 11-13 years building and completing the boat.
Sea Chant made history in Kowie as being the biggest vessel built and launched in Port Alfred. The vessel consists of four double rooms and two single rooms all with en-suite bathrooms. The boat has a kitchen, a water maker where seawater can be purified into drinking water, and also has solar panels.
A great influence and contributor to the design and conceptualisation of Sea Chant was aeronautical engineer Merilyn “Mel” Verity, who at the age of 80 years old came to watch the big footer launch in the Kowie harbour.
Verity was a major in the South African Air Force. She holds a Stanford University PhD and worked on the South African presidential jet before she retired. She also worked on various projects and contracts and worked for Boeing for 20 years. She helped design the original concept lines of the boat and helped advise on the design, including the propellers.
“It’s a momentous occasion, a dream come true. I would not miss this for anything,” said Verity.
The boat has a kitchen, a water-maker where seawater can be purified into drinking water, and also has solar panels