Thomas Lovell: Motueka Commercial Fishing Boat

Thomas Lovell Moves To Motueka

West Coast fishermen Phil McDonald was the original owner of Thomas Lovell but within a few years Bob Brown and his wife Thelma had brought him out. In the book Motueka Wharf 100 Years it is said Phil McDonald and Bob Brown brought the Thomas Lovell to Motueka in 1953 to supply fish for Ivan Talley’s fish shop and processing factory. At the time she was the biggest fishing boat in Motueka and for the next decade she was one of only a few boats fishing out of this port. Its said she had a brake on the shaft to stop her turning in Motueka’s strong tides.

In 1969 Bob and Thelma Brown’s son Murray Brown joined them as a crewman on Thomas Lovell.

Bob Brown was advocate for the fishing industry in NZ and held several important positions in relevant boards and associations during his career. This included becoming president of Nelson Fishermen’s Association in the mid-1960s, being the first president of the Motueka and Golden Bay Fishermen’s Association in 1971, serving for 11 years on the Fishing Industry Board and serving as president of the NZ Federation of Commercial Fishermen in 1974 and 1975.

It wasn’t all plain sailing for the Browns though as the Thomas Lovell hit rocks near Separation Point and was beached at Mutton Cove in the 1960s. This damaged the bow and her Gardner 6L3 engine which took on water. She must have been towed back to port as her bow was later fixed and a new V8 71 GM was installed.