Vandal attacks on boat wearing thin

Robert Baldwin and his river boat, Adventurer II, which has been repeatedly vandalised.PHOTOS/STUART MUNRO 070913WCSMADVENTURER1

Vandals nearly scuppered a treat for 60 Wanganui schoolchildren and their parents on Saturday.

A trip on the Whanganui River aboard the Adventurer II was their reward for participating in an art competition organised by the Puriri Neighbourhood Police Team as part of their Safe As Houses programme.

But when boat owner Robert "Baldy" Baldwin arrived at the City Marina on Saturday, he found the oil had been drained from the gearbox.

Fortunately, Mr Baldwin was able to remedy the situation and the riverboat cruise went ahead, but it is only the latest in a series of attacks on the boat.

Mr Baldwin said that "young people" who vandalised his boat must think he's rich.

The problems have been ongoing over the four years Adventurer II has been moored at the marina, downriver from the Whanganui City Bridge.

"It's frustrating because this boat is my life," he said.

"This is one of the reasons I had a stroke - I could not handle what was going on."

Mr Baldwin said vandals had previously cut through a stainless steel railing on the top deck of the boat when they could have just unhooked a chain.

A rope was also tied to another safety railing and then secured to the marina mooring so they could get on to the boat to fish, he said.

"When the tide went out, it snapped the railing."

Fire extinguishers have also been thrown overboard, and he's had two batteries stolen, each worth $1000.

And then there's the graffiti that he has had to cover.

Adventurer II

Anyone who can spare the time and lend a hand can contact Mr Baldwin on 06 3436381. A sausage sizzle is on offer for workers.

Mr Baldwin sailed the tunnel-hulled 19.5-metre riverboat into the history books in June 2010 on an epic 288 nautical miles (533km), seven-day round trip from Wanganui to Taumarunui - the first time the trip had been made in 82 years.