Vanessa is a distinctive and highly admired boat, crafted and designed by the renowned artisan boat builder Rob Robson from Bayswater.

Launched in 2005, Vanessa features a robust Carey workboat-inspired design. Her construction includes glass over two layers of 15mm plywood built on 150 x 50 ribs, ensuring exceptional durability.

The coamings are glassed and painted with two-pot paint for low maintenance, resulting in a construction comparable to the proverbial brick outhouse. The aft coaming is the only part that remains in its original state.

Powered by a fully reconditioned Caterpillar 3160 engine with 210hp, Vanessa maintains a classic, reliable setup free of modern turbo or electronic complications. This straightforward approach allows her to achieve over 8 knots while consuming less than 8 litres per hour.

Vanessa is equipped with comprehensive navigation electronics, including a Furuno chart plotter, radar, and fish finder with a 1000kw transducer, alongside a TMQ autopilot.

Vanessa was acquired in December 2009 from a previous owner who had her for just one year. During that time, the owner painted her with a single pot paint of questionable quality and added stainless steel rails and a Genset. Under my care, I glassed all the coamings and repainted the exterior with two-pot paint, utilizing the international system for a thorough and durable finish.

We have extensively cruised with Vanessa, staying away for months. Our voyages included the Marlborough Sounds, the East Coast with stops at White Island and the Ranfurly Banks for fishing, and multiple Cook Strait crossings—two of which were in gale conditions. Vanessa handled these challenges with ease. Our return trip took us up the West Coast with a direct run from Queen Charlotte Sound to the Three Kings.

This summer, we planned to cruise Fiordland with Vanessa. However, another boat better suited to our dream of venturing to the Islands has become available. If not for this opportunity, we would never have considered passing Vanessa on.

Design:

• Rob Robson, Carey workboat inspired with insight from Dave Jackson

Hull:

• Glass over 2 x 15mm BS 1088 plywood
• Fixed to 100x25 laminated kauri stringers at 150 centres
• Mounted on 150 x 50 mahogany ribs

Displacement:

• 20 tonnes

Balance:

• All tankage and engine placed midships
• Diesel tankage: 3200 litres

Glass:

• Wheelhouse: 10mm safety glass
• Saloon: 8mm safety glass

Painting:

• Coamings: Glassed over with 3 x Interprotect, 3 x Perfection Undercoat, 3 x International Perfection
• Top Sides: Sanded back to original sealer coat, 2 x Interprotect, 2 x YRA 500 sprayed, 3 x Spraying International topcoat
• Canopy Deck Head: Stripped back, 1 x Interprotect, 2 x International Perfection Undercoat, 2 x International Perfection
• Underwater: Primacon applied to the whole area in 2018, followed by 2 x Jotun antifoul, renewed annually
• Prop: Propspeed last applied in December 2022 (lasts about 3 years)

Navigation

• Chartplotter and Display Screen: Furuno MFD8
• GPS Receiver: Furuno GP-320B
• Fish Finder: Furuno DFF1
• Transducer: ARC 1,000Kw
• Radar: Furuno DRS2D
• (All the above systems run through the MFD8 screen, with full operator manuals included)

Additional Equipment:

Binnacle: Included

For expression of interest or a full specification list email Brett Lewis [email protected]