“It’s not always about the boats, it’s sometimes about the personalities and the stories behind them,” organiser Pete Rainey says, as two men wearing Thunderbirds uniforms stroll past, confirming his statement almost to a tee.
As far as entrants go at the New Zealand Antique and Classic Boat Show, the Thunderbirds easily stole the show, even if their 15 foot jet boat wasn’t the oldest, most valuable or necessarily most eye-catching. But what was eye-catching was their theme, which certainly grabbed the attention of the event-goers at the weekend’s 15th annual show at Lake Rotoiti, with many lining up to take photographs and others content just to chuckle away on the shore.
Christchurch man Ed Wicken only finished restoring the 41 year old fully-functioning jet boat a few months ago. Upon it’s completion the name Thunderbird was given to it, and scribed in the same font used in the logo of the 60s television show.
Ed has been a regular at the NZ Antique and Classic Boat Show over the past ten years, previously entering another boat called Miss Isle, named after Isle House which his grand parents used to own. But he decided to do something new in 2014.
“I named it Thunderbird and I thought here was my chance to do something a bit different this year. We just picked up some of the outfits from a costume shop down the road in Christchurch,” he says.
Ed, who attended the show with Nick Slade, ended up taking out the Eventiac Best Themed Display Award – thanks to the duo’s outfit and the fact the theme song rung out every time they took to the water.
About 120 clinkers, steam launches, classic motorboats and sailing dinghies took to the lake over the two day boat show. And while there were half a dozen faultless US-imported Chris Craft boats making most envious, the show is often known for bringing out the weird, whacky and wonderful in classic boating too.
Sam Laidlaw and his water bicycle probably epitomizes all three. The Nelson man created the bicycle four years ago. “The antique part of the show sort of inspired me and I always had this thing about a water bike. I don’t know why but I just had it in my head that I wanted it to be quite victorian,” he says.
“Getting the balance and buoyancy right was the toughest part, and you can tell there must have been a lot of trial and error at every show there are always a few unlucky riders who take a cold splash into the lake when attempting to ride it.
The recently opened Nelson Lakes Classic Boat Museum will house Sam’s water bicycle on a permanent basis from now on, which is a perfect scenario as he usually only takes it out to use for the show anyway. “It’ll probably be hung up somewhere. I let people have a go when the show is on though. I don’t want it to deteriorate. I want to look after it.”
The Jens Hansen trophy for best vessel went to the Christchurch-owned shallow-beamed skiff, Willow. Judges’ spokesman John Harris says this 16 foot plywood skiff stood out as unique. “The owner, Darryl Maffey, bought her from an elderly man last year and has done her up as a ‘blokes boat’’.”
John says the boat show, now in its 15th year, draws a consistently high standard of entrants and is great motivation for people to restore old craft or build new boats on traditional designs.
Pete echoed his statements and was pleased the weekend’s sunny weather drew good crowds on both days, even though the southerly prevented much on-water activity on Sunday. “There’s always a great range of really interesting boats, it’s good, and we’ve got people from around the country.”
