Changing of the guard
Auckland-based boat transport specialist – Boat Haulage – has just marked a major milestone with a change of ownership.
Boat Haulage was launched in 1974 and after some 42 years at the helm, Bob Wiley has sold at the company to Peter Waters. Peter had been a partial shareholder since 2000, and now owns the company with business partner Luke Pirie. The company specialises in transporting boats between 7m and 35m LOA – mainly around the North Island but also to the South Island – with a maximum weight of 35 tonnes. With a staff complement of 10 drivers/fitters, its tools are a fleet of trucks and low-loader trailers, including a custom-designed, telescopic trailer for carrying masts up to 65m in length.
“About a third of our business,” says Peter, “is delivering/ collecting boats at the Auckland and Tauranga ports for export/import. Supported in cradles they are transported on a ship’s deck. Another third is transporting locallybuilt boats for launching, and the last segment caters to home projects. These are typically owners who want the boat moved from a marina to their home for extensive maintenance projects. Parking the boat at home is cheaper than extended hardstand fees.”
A successful boat move, he adds, is all about planning and coordination. “Legally, we are restricted to operating between 10pm and 6am to minimise traffic disruption. But we also have to work out a route that will accommodate a load’s weight, width and height. We are not, of course, allowed to use the country’s motorways – so large boats often demand creative solutions!”
The trailer for the masts is unusual in that it’s an articulated unit – with a second driver stationed at the rear operating the aft bogey. Without the ability to steer the bogey independently, says Peter, getting a big mast around tight corners would be impossible.
In nearly half a century of moving awkward loads, the company has tackled some challenging projects. One of the most demanding jobs was transporting the “funnel reflector” mounted on top of the ASB building in Auckland’s Wynyard Quarter.
“Getting it to site would involve temporarily disconnecting one overhead tram cable along the route. The power company quoted a $20,000 fee for the privilege – so we opted instead to hire a crane to lift the reflector from the trailer, over the line and back on to the trailer. It was much cheaper.”
And what of Bob? Does retirement from transporting boats now present a life of relaxation and leisure? No such luck.
The man is a besotted Iron Man enthusiast, and will soon be jetting off to Hawaii to participate in the Worlds competition there. He qualified to enter after becoming the New Zealand national champion at the Taupo event earlier this year.
“I’m the national champion in my age group,” he adds hastily, “not overall.” He is 65.
Mmmm… a 3.8km swim, followed by a 180km bike ride and then a 42km marathon?
Moving large boats sounds much easier.