Shrink-wrapping for superyachts

Shrink Wrap Services' Abbey Whaley says seven yachts are shrink-wrapped for maintenance in the Viaduct. Photo / Paul Estcourt

An Auckland company is providing a novel solution to a chronic shortage of sheds used for superyacht refits on the city's waterfront.

Shrink Wrap Services provides weather-tight shelters made out of virgin resin material.

The highly durable material starts out being about as thick as five sheets of paper, but when heat is applied, as it is wrapped around an object, the material shrinks to around 30 per cent of its original surface area.

The shelters can be wrapped around the boats on the water, or constructed, using PVC piping as a frame structure, as a stand-alone tent for haul-out jobs. The shelters are also used in the construction industry - particularly for weather-proofing leaky homes.

Gary and Abbey Whaley set up Shrink Wrap Services, which will be franchised this year, about 18 months ago.

Abbey Whaley said the lack of shed space had reached such an extent that several superyachts were turned away from Auckland this summer for their lucrative refits.

But on a more positive note, she said her company's solution was enabling the marine refit industry in the Viaduct Harbour to keep ticking along.

"Essentially, we are allowing many other businesses to get a piece of the superyacht pie, and allowing international superyachts to still consider New Zealand as a refit destination," said Gary Whaley.

Last year, Oracle founder Larry Ellison's "floating palace" - the 56m Zenji - was hauled out of the water at Titan Marine, in the Viaduct Harbour, and placed under a gigantic weather-tight tent constructed by Shrink Wrap Services.

Abbey Whaley said the work on Zenji, which took about three months, provided the Auckland marine refit industry with around $14 million.

"People are saying to us that what we are doing is awesome, because there can be a massive wait for the sheds," she said.

Phil Tomlinson, director of superyacht agent 37 South, said the company "gave up" doing outdoor refits until Shrink Wrap Services arrived.

"The [shrink-wrap] seems to be pretty robust," he said.

Tomlinson said New Zealand was "sadly lacking" in refit facilities for superyachts. "It's holding us back something terrible."

Tomlinson said having the shrink wrap available meant a lot of work could continue, despite the lack of shed space.

Abbey Whaley said seven yachts were shrink-wrapped and undergoing maintenance in the Viaduct.

"The more we can make it appealing, the better," she said. "People love the idea of New Zealand - New Zealand has got a fabulous reputation worldwide, it's just we are severely lacking in facilities."

She said there was a severe lack of berths available for superyachts, as well as sheds.

It would be much better for Queens Wharf to be developed for use by the marine refit industry - rather than a cruise ship terminal.

Last month Mayor John Banks said there was a lack of superyacht facilities in Auckland, and the new Super City should live up to its name by building a superyacht marina by the Bledisloe container terminal.

He said it was unacceptable that Auckland should miss out on this business simply because facilities were lacking.

"It's all about how we can accommodate these floating American Express Gold Cards."