The future of a historic scow is uncertain after an inspection revealed rotting planks, destroying an owner's dream of sailing her to Auckland, and causing her to be relisted for sale.
Until recently, the 103-year-old Portland was moored at the entrance to Pounawea on the Owaka River, but was shifted a little further downstream two months ago.
The scow was sold to an Auckland man in September and he planned to sail it to Auckland after making it seaworthy.
However, a Catlins resident, who did not want to be named, told the Otago Daily Times the Auckland man sold Portland after a shipwright inspected it.
He said two boats were used to turn and guide it downstream and then a tractor was used to pull it sideways on to the beach at high tide.
''Upon doing so, many of the rotten plankings came unfixed - it now resembles a sieve rather than a ship. After inspection at low tide the distressed representative contacted the Auckland owner who was in the United States on holiday, regarding the lack of seaworthiness.''
Several residents told the ODT that Portland was then sold to a bystander for $5.
Otago Daily Times chief photographer Stephen Jaquiery, who visited Portland last weekend, said sea worms had chewed through many of the planks and it had taken on water.
''It's past a state of repair.''
An Otago Regional Council spokesman said a damaged boat would only cause concern if it was contaminating the water with diesel or oil. If that occurred, the council's environmental incident team would attend to it.
Last week, the 22.86m scow appeared on an auction site, but calls by the Otago Daily Times to the number listed on the site were not returned.
The auction stated: ''I'm selling my dream stable for repair or wrecking as I don't have the time to do ether [sic] so passing on my dream to the winning bidder. This ship wouldn't move anywhere without extensive work on her as it leaks.''
However, by last night, the bidding had reached $2530.
Records at the Owaka Museum state Portland is a sailing hold scow, built of kauri in 1910 by George Nicholl, of Auckland.
Portland traded in and around Auckland until 1932 when it went to Nelson and traded between the Tasman Bay harbours and Wellington for more than 40 years.
It has since been fitted with two 4L3 Gardner diesel engines of 72hp each, for auxiliary power.
Portland is the only surviving hold scow in New Zealand. Most of these ships were taken to the Pacific for war use and never came back.
Former owner Ray Mathieson bought the vessel in 1979, using it when he wanted a break from his home at Katea, near Owaka.
When contacted by the Otago Daily Times last month, he did not wish to comment on the sale, other than to say he did not use Portland as much as he once did.
In April 2011, the historic scow sank in the Owaka River after it was damaged by floating logs and took on water.
It was refloated by members of the Owaka Volunteer Fire Brigade.
