Build Date
Unknown
Boat Builder
T Brown & Sons
Length
87 Feet 7 Inches
Beam
Unknown
Everything We Know About Picton
Originally named Koau, Picton was built in Te Kopuru, Northland by T Brown & Sons for Richardson & Co. Ltd. She was built out of timber with a 9 feet 5 inches draft and insulated hold.
In 1952 the Southern Cross Shipping Company purchased Koau and renamed her Picton. Though this company was based in Wellington, Picton worked the trade routes from Wellington, Lyttleton and Tasman Bay for around seven years. In 1959 Picton was moved onto the Wellington to Kaiapoi run.
They replaced Picton’s engines in 1955 and installed twin Gardner diesel engines. No doubt these engines helped make Picton a fast vessel. In 1959 she set the record by berthing in Kaiapoi three times in seven days.
Picton was sold in 1964 to the Chatham Islands cray fishing fleet. She didn’t last here too long though as Picton was wrecked on Raoul Island in July 1978 while chartered to the Ministry of Transport.
This wasn’t the only mishap to befall Picton during ger years though as she was also grounded at Waitapu in January 1959 and at Waimakariri River bar in 1961.
Images Courtesy of Kaiapoi Maritime Heritage Trust
References
To research Picton we used the book info from Motueka Wharf 100 Year by Carol Dawber with the Motueka and Districts Historical association.
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