A former Queenstowner who built a Polynesian catamaran that’s sat on Lake Whakatipu’s Frankton Arm for 19 years has put it on the market for the first time.
Stu Rolph, who assembled the 20-metre boat over 11 summers on his lakefront property, for a reported $150,000, says it was ‘‘just a madcap sort of crazy idea to do’’.
Built to a design by UK catamaran guru James Wharram, it’s a live-aboard craft with four double and three single berths.
He’d hoped to ‘‘do some adventurous sailing and travelling, but what happened, as with so many building projects like that, things change’’.
After spending so long on his labour of love, he was worn out and facing having to spend another $100,000 to put it on the ocean.
‘‘Also, I wasn’t able to do one of my first loves, which is travel, because I was so disciplined [financially] in that building process.’’
About six years after completing ‘Ruawaka’ (two canoes) in 2004 and enjoying some lake sailing, Rolph started travelling.
He bought another boat in Gibraltar and sailed it to Turkey before selling it to a former Queenstown squash mate, John Foster.
He then travelled through Southeast Asia, settling in Phuket, Thailand, and buying a condo.
Rolph also bought another boat — which he’s still got — in Bali, from where he sailed it to Thailand.
Now 70, he decided to put Ruawaka, ‘‘a brilliant boat … designed to cross oceans’’, up for sale during a recent visit to Queenstown.
‘‘The ideal purchaser is a dreamer who wants to take it offshore and is prepared to do some work.
‘‘Whoever buys it is going to get an unbelievable deal because I’ll never get my investment back.’’
He’ll consider ‘‘all offers’’ via [email protected]
