Whangarei Boat repairs and maintenance one year on

Posted 06 March, 2015

In March 2014 we had a substantial amount of work carried out at Riverside Drive Marina, Whangarei, New Zealand.  There are three principal tests of marine contractors:

1.       How satisfied are you at the time the work was carried out?

2.       How satisfied are you with any follow-up work or service?

3.       How satisfied are you 12 months later?

Here are our ratings on a scale of 1 (Very dissatisfied) to 5 (Very satisfied) for the various contractors:

1.       Riverside Drive Marina – haul out, hardstanding and pontoon – at the time: 5; no follow up required; 12 months later: 5.

2.       Calibre Sails – new main and new Genoa – at the time: 5; follow up: 5; 12 months later: 5.

3.       Ray Roberts Marine – engine service and windlass service – at the time: 5; follow up: 5; 12 months later: 5.

4.       Palmer Canvas – new bimini, cockpit enclosure mods, dinghy cover repair – at the time: 5; no follow up required; 12 months later: 5.

5.       C Spar – new standing rigging, new guard wires, new spinnaker pole – at the time: 5; follow up: not required; 12 months later: 5.

6.       Infracom – install new antenna tuner for SSB (ICOM) and new antenna for satphone – at time: 5; follow up – not required; 12 months later – 5.

7.       Pacific Gloss – bottom paint – at a time: 4 (final touches when boating in travel hoist average); follow up not required; 12 months later: 4.

8.       Brian Oliver Painters – Propspeed applied – at time: 4 (seemed a bit late in the day for painting but assured it would dry quickly_; follow up: 1; 12 months later 1 – the reasons are that after 10 months the prop was covered in large crustaceans (the worst we have experienced in 9 years with the boat), the Propspeed did not work and there has been no reply to our complaints.

Overall, Whangarei is a great place for boat work with superb skills and experience and a ‘can-do’ attitude.

Phil & Norma Heaton

Six months in Whangarei

Posted 22 July, 2014

Opua

I checked in at Opua having been blown there by an easterly gale.  The quarantine pontoon was a challenge as I hit it with 20 knots of tailwind and two knots of current with me – not enough space to turn, but a fin and skeg boat might manage it. Everyone very helpful and friendly but the authorities are strict about what you can and cannot bring in. Cater Marine were particularly helpful in sourcing parts and importing them.

Marsden Cove

On my way to Whangarei, I stopped at Marsden Cove, my original port of entry.  A courtesy car will bring you to the supermarket and back. Manager Karen cannot do enough to help. Clearing out six months later she prepared my Advance Notice of Arrival for Fiji, emailed it to them and then emailed to me when I was on passage their confirmation of receipt.  All for no charge.

Whangarei

There are several choices of the marina in Whangarei.

Town Basin is in town with a major supermarket across the road but there is no haul out and you are limited on the amount of work you can do – no dust, no noise.

Good reports from cruisers for Docklands 5 and Norsand but they are not within walking distance of town.

I went to Riverside Drive, 20 minutes walk from the town centre.  Very much a working boatyard and marina, exceptionally well run, good friendly atmosphere.  Raywyn at the Marina Court Motel adjacent will quote you a price for a long term stay if you do not want to live aboard while hauled out.

Marine Services in Whangarei

All of the following contractors can be found in the Whangarei Marine Guide which you will be given on arrival; you may already have received it at a seminar in either Fiji or Tonga.  New Zealand is one place where you can get everything done.  In Whangarei, you will have a choice of several people in each trade.

Alloy Stainless and Marine not only do high-quality work, but boss Terry is a skilled designer.

Steve at Lighthouse is the best joiner I have ever had on my boat; a fast worker and a man with great ideas.

Tim at Northland Inflatables seemed to do good work, on schedule, on my Avon dinghy. Unfortunately the glueing he did come apart a few months later.  Glue he sold to friends who were doing their own work likewise came apart.

Brian at Northland Spars replaced my guardrails efficiently.  The advice was to be very careful about other riggers in the area.

Metro Glass Tech fixed my portholes, but they do need a bit of chasing.

Ronnie at Undercover Canvas was cheap and quick at good canvas repair work.

Ray Roberts Marine are the Volvo and Yanmar agents and did good work for me.  Friends changed engines and generators – all good reports.

I watched Pacific Gloss repaint boats with high-quality results.  Kevin Boyd, another painter, did good work when he turned up.  Friends had to keep chasing him.  I gave up chasing him and cancelled the job.

Dave Berg is a live aboard at Riverside and he did very high-quality varnish work for me and some boat repair stuff.  He will only work by the hour and you have to take this into consideration as he is painstaking in his work.

Propspeed will turn up to paint your propellor and shaft with their magic formula.

Riverside Boat Worx are shipwrights and carry out all manner of major jobs.  They can be persuaded to work for a fixed price.

Calibre Sails made new sails for friends – they were delighted.  Good reports also of Doyles.

Infracom were good for electronics.  I used Waypoint who was brilliant, especially with my SSB, but they will not always work on yachts.

Conex serviced many laptops.

Medical

Central Family Healthcare is a doctor’s practice accustomed to cruisers – I was in their system as “Miscellaneous Yottie”! They will give you prescriptions for drugs, advise on vaccinations; all the usual stuff.

Visualeyes were helpful opticians.

There is a good choice of Dentists – take local advice.

Transport

Turners Car Auctions for a cheap car.  But shop around the lots – some dealers will give a guaranteed buyback price at the end of your stay.  (Cars for Cruisers in Opua specialise in this).

Anthony Swanston

SV Wild Fox

www.blog.mailasail.com/wildfox

(Editor’s Note: Anthony has contributed many reports to noonsite during his circumnavigation – just do a search under his name to find others you might be interested in.)

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