Roofliss to retire in distinguished company

Media Release
Embargoed to 9am August 31, 2010

Roofliss to retire in distinguished company

New Zealands world record making amphibious van Roofliss is about to make her final voyage before retiring alongside distinguished company.

The half van half boat built by two young aeronautic machinists Dan Melling and Adam Turnbull, while stationed at Woodbourne, created maritime history by successfully crossing the Cook Strait on Fathers Day last year.

Nearing the anniversary of that feat, Roofliss will make her final voyage on Fathers Day this year in Picton Harbour at 1.30pm before retiring alongside another famous sea going vessel, the Edwin Fox which is the worlds 9th oldest wooden troop ship and is housed on the Picton foreshore in the Edwin Fox Maritime Museum.

Just a few hundred metres away from Rooflisss final launch on Sunday is another historical vessel, the cargo scow Echo which was the main goods ferry between Blenheim and Wellington for 60 years during the first half of the 20th century.

Since buying Roofliss for $9100 on Trade Me last year, the current owners of Roofliss - Mark Stevenson First National Real Estate have used the vehicle for a number of charity and community events.

Company director Mark Stevenson said his company bought Roofliss to ensure the legend remained in Marlborough where it was built, sea trialed and launched for the crossing of the Cook Strait.

Roofliss is New Zealands most unique amphibious craft. We wanted to keep Roofliss as close as possible to where she was created and where she performed her feat so that was one reason we chose the Edwin Fox Museum.

We have sold her to the museum for the princely sum of $1 and retain the right to first option on buying her back should anything happen to the museums ability to keep her on display.

Roofliss is more than a gimmick. She gives hundreds of youngsters inspiration that their heritage of Kiwi ingenuity is alive and well, and hopefully some of them feel maybe they could do something equally impressive someday.

Rooflisss builders and former owners, Dan Melling and Adam Turnbull, will be at the Fathers Day handover to say their goodbyes and to take a lucky Marlborough dad, nominated by his children, on the last jaunt before Roofliss becomes a permanent landlubber.

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