Taieri fisherman not put off by stranding

Allen Eade's fishing boat. Photo by Stephen Jaquiery.
Allen Eade's fishing boat. Photo by Stephen Jaquiery.
Taieri Beach resident Allen Eade is breathing a sigh of relief after his beloved fishing boat was refloated off a sand bar at Taieri Mouth, with minor damage to the hull.

Mr Eade (73) was returning to Taieri Mouth from a day of fishing earlier this month, when a wave hit the boat about 4.30pm and forced it on to a sand bar.

Two commercial fishing boats attempted to tow the boat off the bar at high tide that day, but when it became clear they could not get close enough, Mr Eade and his two dogs were rescued by Marine Search and Rescue.

The boat was refloated several days later, and Mr Eade was pleased it had escaped with ''just a few leaks''.

It is being repaired at the wharf in Taieri Mouth.

He said the 10m triple-planked kauri fishing boat was worth more to him than money, because it was given to him by Sir Clifford Skeggs, for managing his farm for many years.

Mr Eade has come to grief at the mouth several times in the past decade, but he said it would not put him off fishing in the area.

''I've been a fisherman here for years. I fished out of here way back in the 1960s. It will never put me off.''

Mr Eade believed the boat would be ready to take fishing again by the end of this week.

''She'll be as good as gold.''

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