Kamo family finishes dad's boat project 29 years after it started

From left, Foreground. David and Heather Edmeades with Wade Nisbet and their mum Noelene Nisbet. At rear, from left, Katie Collecutt, Holly Edmeades and Mercury Nisbet.

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ALL ON DECK: The Nesbit family, left front, David and Heather Edmeades with Wade Nisbet and mum Noelene; at the back Katie Collecut, Holly Edmeades and Mercury Nisbet.

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SAILING SOON: The Nesbit family, left front, David and Heather Edmeades with Wade Nisbet and mum Noelene; at the back Mercury Nisbet, Katie Collecut and
Holly Edmeades.

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FAMILY SENTIMENT: THe motto, Colin Nisbet engraved offered plenty of intentive to his family.

Colin Nisbet could get sidelined by other tasks at times, even when the metal maestro had a major project of his own.

That's partly why a yacht the late metal work teacher started building in the shed 29 years ago never got finished, despite countless hours of perfectionist, detailed work.

Mr Nisbet had done much of the work on the Terry Wells-designed 41ft sloop when he died in February last year.

This was the second yacht to be built in the big shed behind the Nisbet's Kamo home; the first was when he and wife Noelene's children, Wade and Heather, were young.

"We grew up with boats," his daughter, now Heather Edmeades, said.

"This is the second big boat Dad has built."

Mr Nisbet wanted to improve even further on that first vessel, which was called Kauai Mist in honour of the boat designer's Hawaiian home.

The family have wonderful memories of that boat, which has been sold a couple of times since then and is now based in Thailand.

"I think we should" - an inscription aboard the yacht quoting Colin Nisbet.

After his death, Mr Nisbet's son and daughter picked up the dream and made finishing the elegant sloop a family project.

It is now ready to be hauled out of the shed, trucked out of the backyard and down to the water to have its mast fitted.

That will happen in the next few weeks.

First, however, before the transporter could be booked, the Fordson motor had to be tested.

It is new, already old and never been used - after sitting inside the fibreglass hull for nearly 29 years while the boat was built around it.

The sails have been stuffed in a cupboard for a few years.

The family is happy with the outcome so far - the custom built fibreglass hull, the teak cabin and "quite a bit of kauri".

Ms Edmeades said it had been an honour to see their father's dream realised, "But Dad did most of the work."

Two generations of Kamo Intermediate School pupils were taught metal work by Mr Nisbet, and his wife Noelene taught home economics at the school.

Ms Edmeades said few pupils would have passed through that school over a 40 year period and not been taught by one or the other.

"It's nice to take the skills we learnt from our parents and apply them like this. It's good for our kids, too."

"Dad's grandchildren, there are four of them, have all been quite involved. They always call it Grandad's boat."

The family will keep the 9-berth yacht, and look forward to sailing it.

Among stories about Mr Nisbet's exploits and triumphs is how, when he was a young man, he was very keen on power boats and built a couple of those.

When petrol became expensive and there were threats of shortages or rationing, he believed the future of motor boats was on the rocks, and switched to yachts.

"I don't think he ever regretted it. He loved sailing," Ms Edmeades said.