A life at sea, from hapuka to home
Santa Maria began her career in commercial fishing—built specifically to survive the fierce tides and wild weather of Cook Strait. She targeted hapuka and crayfish, demanding a vessel designed for strength and reliability. Her builders—George Curnow and Maurie Wilton—delivered with a robust, sea-kindly hull crafted in carvel timber.
Classic boat enthusiast Brian Kidson, via Waitemata Woodys, confirms the launch date and her first owner, contributing to the growing online archive of classic New Zealand working boats.
SANTA MARIA IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE
1955 classic Curnow and Wilton 13m trawler
Built by masters, trained by masters
The builders behind Santa Maria were themselves the product of a distinguished lineage. Curnow & Wilton’s Nelson yard, which operated from the mid-1930s until a fire destroyed it in 1966, was known for producing reliable, handsome vessels. But the origin of their craft goes deeper. Both George Curnow and Maurie Wilton apprenticed under the renowned boatbuilder Ernest Richard (E.R.) Lane of Picton.
Lane, born into a family of builders—his father being Thomas Major Lane (T.L.) of Whangaroa—established his own yard in Picton in 1907 after training in naval architecture in San Francisco. Lane’s influence on New Zealand boatbuilding was profound. Alongside Curnow and Wilton, he also mentored Jack Morgan (founding Morgan’s Boatyard at The Wharf in Picton), who became a respected builder in his own right (Waitemata Woodys, and National Library of New Zealand).
The mentorship chain continued. George Curnow later trained Doug Robb (who went on to found D.F. Robb & Co. of Timaru (now Aeromarine)), further cementing the transmission of skills and standards that defined a generation of Kiwi boatbuilders. Lane’s influence even extends into the present day: his grandson Richard Lane ran Phoenix Boats in Whangārei, specialising in aluminium workboats—a modern expression of a century-old legacy (now no-longer in operation).
A Second Life at Sea
About 20 years ago, Santa Maria underwent a full liveaboard conversion. Her rugged workboat interior was transformed into a warm, character-filled floating home—complete with a full galley, saloon, flush toilet, shower, and a private master cabin. The refit was sympathetic to her heritage, retaining key features while making her suitable for long-term living or coastal cruising.
She still retains her practical layout: walkaround decks, ample stern area, and a reliable Gardiner diesel engine that cruises comfortably at 8 knots. That she still powers along reliably today is proof to her build quality and continued care.
Linking the boats and the builders
Curnow & Wilton were prolific and consistent in their output during the golden era of timber boatbuilding. Their known builds include Komutu (44ft, 1951), Kotare (38ft, 1951), and Tainui (52ft, 1960s). Each vessel has its own story—some have been converted to pleasure craft, others still earn their keep. Together they represent the peak of a post-war generation of builders whose skills were passed down through mentorship rather than manuals.
When the Curnow & Wilton yard was lost to fire in 1966, the blaze, covered in Photo News Nelson, sadly marked the end of their workshop but not of their legacy. Boats like Santa Maria continue to draw attention wherever they berth.
Legacy afloat
Santa Maria is currently listed through Vining Marine for NZD $135,000. She’s not a fixer-upper; she’s a well-loved, usable vessel that showcases true craftsmanship. Amidst a sea of fibreglass production boats, she’s the real thing—a boat with a soul, a story, and a past worth preserving.
Most importantly, she’s part of a much longer continuum. She connects the fishermen of Island Bay to the master boatbuilders of Nelson. Those builders were trained in Picton, by a man whose father built schooners in 19th-century Whangaroa. This isn’t just about nostalgia—it’s about honouring a chain of skill, pride, and workmanship that shaped New Zealand’s maritime identity.
Thanks to the efforts of digital archives like Waitemata Woodys and the recollections of people like Brian Kidson, the details don’t fade. They become richer, more accessible, and more appreciated. Santa Maria is more than a boat—she’s a vessel of memory, still carving her wake.
References
- Kidson, Brian. Launch record of Santa Maria (1949), via Waitemata Woodys
- Classic Boats NZ – Lane Family History
- Open Ocean Marine – Komutu
- NZ Boat Sales – Tainui
- Photo News Nelson – Boatbuilding Fire
- Waitemata Woodys – Articles on Ernest Richard Lane and family boatbuilding legacy
