It has been over a week since Te Awamutu man Karl Earwaker (pictured) went missing at sea on a solo fishing trip near Mayor Island.
His 5.6m fibreglass Sea Nymph, named Optimist, was found upturned on Tuesday, March 21.
After our Tuesday edition went to press, the official Coastguard search effort was called off, although family and friends have continued to search by air and sea.
Mr Earwaker's father, Hugh, says the response from people wanting to help was overwhelming.
"Karl's mates, people the family knew and even people we didn't know turned up with their boats to find Karl," says Mr Earwaker.
"There would have been 50 people out on the water at the start.
"Everyone was deflated when we couldn't find him," he says.
"The input from others was mind-blowing.
"We can't thank everyone enough," says Mr Earwaker.
Family and friends are still checking the islands and foreshores on a daily basis - although Mr Earwaker says everyone is realistic about their chances after this amount of time.
He says now it is about closure.
"We want Karl back so we can put this behind us and move on," he says.
Mr Earwaker says it is totally baffling - apart from being upside down there was no damage to the boat.
"There are no clues as to what went wrong," he says.
He says his son was swimming on daily basis and was fit, healthy and competent in the water.
"Karl must have been hurt somehow, maybe flipped by a surfacing whale, or he would still be with us."
The matter has been referred to the coroner.