The Beast heads to sea
One of the largest boats built in New Zealand is set to make a long, slow journey towards the sea.
Palmerston North company Profab Engineering has almost finished building a 40-metrelong and 12m-wide catamaran called The Beast. It is the largest boat the company has built.
Previously, the largest boat the company had constructed was 34m long.
‘‘It’s the biggest boat manufactured in New Zealand for years,’’ Profab owner Carl Ferguson said.
The boat will be transported to Foxton in two parts, due to its size. Power disruptions and road closures are expected on the boat’s route, as powerlines will have to be disconnected to allow room for the oversized load to pass under. Ferguson said his company had been working on the boat for almost two years.
The boat’s journey to Foxton will span a couple of days. It departed Palmerston North last night, heading towards Sanson before turning off at State Highway 1.
The boat will spend today on a weighbridge near the Himatangi turn-off. Tomorrow morning, SH1 in Foxton will be closed between Victoria St and Avenue Rd from 4am to 7am while the boat travels to Manawatu¯ Marine Boating Club.
Its two parts will be joined back together on Friday, and it will take another five to six weeks before The Beast is ready to launch.