Maritime Survey Australia completed an out of water inspection on the fishing charter vessel, Plover owned by Bay Fish N Trips.
Built by GM Holden in 1942 at Fishermen’s Bend, Melbourne for the Royal Australian Army, she was one of many assembly line built vessels called Australian Work Boats (AWB) or “wooden war babies” to the defence personnel.
Simple, strong and easy to construct, over 600 of the AWB’s were built around Australia during the 1940’s. A lot of the AWB’s, including the Plover, were made from old growth Douglas Fir (Oregon) imported from the United States.
After WWII, Plover was sold to the Department of Ports and Harbours and her engine was refitted with another Detroit Diesel which came from a fire pump on an oil rig in Bass Strait (exactly the same model as the original). In 1965 the current wheelhouse was built by shipwrights C. Barnard and L. Dilks.
As part of her duties with Ports and Harbours, the Plover spent the first couple of decades at Apollo Bay pushing or pulling larger vessels or transporting fuel to them. This was hard work, but due to her strength she was able to provide the services needed and still maintain their structural integrity. Her last assignment with the department was back at Williamstown, working from the Boyd Jetty.
The Plover had been in service for Ports and Harbours in Victorian waters until 1986 when the department was disbanded. She then went to work for the Port of Melbourne Authority for the next two years. In 1988, ex Ports and Harbours employees purchased the Plover and used her as a transport vessel for their Paterson River Fishing & Charter Cruises business.
Around 2001, the Plover was sold again and transported by land to her new home was to be Paynesville, in Gippsland Victoria. During this time, she underwent another refit with the sheltered area at the stern becoming a more substantial structure. Additional seating was added as well as extra doors, shelving and canvas covers. In her new role for the MV Plover Charter Boat business she carried students from Paynesville to their school camps on various islands scattered throughout the lakes.
In 2010 she was purchased by Bay Fish N Trips and another refit saw the small toilet that was in the wheelhouse converted to a larger room under the aft sheltered area. Improvements to the wheelhouse saw it gaining extra storage cupboards, an attached seat for the skipper and all older technology upgraded including a state-of-the-art fish finder. Extra railing was added on the stern and grab rails under the aft shelter areas plus a rocket launcher for fishing rods added to the roof at the stern of the vessel. Plover was repainted in white and blue which are more conducive colours for this fabulous historic lady of the sea.
She was transported by sea to Mornington where she has become the perfect platform for fishing or cruising on Port Phillip Bay.
Sandra and Stuart do a great job looking after the Plover and are passionate about Port Phillip Bay and their vessel. For more information or to book you next fishing charter, please visit www.bayfishntrips.com.au/.
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Our Marine Surveyors are accredited with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), members of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA) and members of the certifying authority of the International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS).
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