Save The Sealion.....This Wellington art feature and cultural icon needs your help.....

The good ship M.V.Sealion has been in the Wellington Harbor and in the Wellington eye for over twenty years. Always an eyecatcher, due to its unique artistic paint job ( thanks to the efforts of Wellington artist DSIDE ) ,plus its somewhat incongruous presence in the middle of a nations Capital , to say it is a point of interest is an understatement. It also has a slightly mysterious air to it : everyone is keen to know what it looks like aboard ,and to hear salty tales of its past lives.

It recently came into the headlines again...a conflict arose when the Powers That Be decided it had to be moved from its traditional Berth at Queens Wharf ,to the more industrial and rigidly controlled Glasgow Wharf.

I had bought the Ship in November 2020.The previous owner permitted a small group of Artist/Musicians to live onboard and use the Boat for music events, art happenings and as a general creative space. As a Musician myself, I welcomed and encouraged this use, even performing myself during an on-board series of Concerts earlier this year. Naturally ,we knew that with the moving of the Sealion these events would stop, mainly because of no public access being possible on Glasgow Wharf. Hence, the folk onboard went to the Media and started an on-line Petition to change the collective minds of the Port Authority and the Wellington City Council, the two groups involved in the decision to move the Boat. Long story short, I finally made the call to give in and let the Sealion be moved. This was a decision not taken lightly ,because it meant the on-board folk had to cancel any forthcoming events and move off the Boat immediately .I was very reluctant to do this ,but the pressure and threats from the Powers That Be and the resulting stress were more than I could put up with.

Here is a news item regarding the move: https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018790081/sealion-ship-not-ready-to-sail-along

The Sealion is in a unique and highly unusual position. It was built in Tasmania in 1945 ,using a high standard of workmanship and materials. However ,it has been somewhat neglected in the past few years which has allowed its condition to run down. It is still structurally sound, although there are some leaks in the hull to attend to ,which I have started fixing ,hiring Divers for this work. The engine has had years of rain water coming in on it from leaking steel hatch-covers so, while complete, will need to be returned to running condition .The Propeller and rudder need to be freed up, plus the myriad of marine life and organisms need to be removed from the Hull .Antifouling and re-caulking also need to be done.

Here's the Catch-22.....In order to repair the hull ,the Sealion need to go on a Slip and be hauled out of the water. The nearest Slip that can deal with the Sealions 26 meter length is in Nelson ,where I live. BUT here's the thing: the Wellington Harbormaster has deemed that the Sealion cannot leave the Port without all repairs required to make it seaworthy being completed to the Harbormasters satisfaction. Can you see the seemingly impossible situation?

I am paying berthage fees at this time, but I am not allowed to put rent-paying tenants on board to offset this ,and perhaps provide some funds to undertake repairs.

As a Blues Musician, I planned to run bi-weekly Blues Nights ,as well as other similar events to help raise funds to refurbish the Sealion. Naturally, this now impossible. I am 68 years old and a Pensioner, so funds are limited .I want to restore the Ship with the view to its return to Queens Wharf ,which I am told by the Wellington City Council is possible after refurbishment, and providing space exists, and the creative role it has formerly played.

It is important to note that while my ultimate aim is to anchor the Sealion in a secluded cove in the Marlborough Sounds and retire on it, I want it to be returned to a prominent place in the Wellington Harbour where folk can see it, board it, be entertained on it, perhaps be offended by it !! ( The Penguin Paintjob is not everybody's cup of tea, but it is staying!! It is what attracted me to the Ship in the first place.) Hopefully, the bulk of Restoration Funds will come from the Wellington area, and this will be rewarded by my bringing the Sealion back as a Music and Arts Venue as before. I will be working on the Engine for some time after the hull work is completed, so I foresee the Ship being in the Wellington Harbor for some time. Rewarding donors will be a priority : free entry to Music and Art events, free trips around the Harbor etc. The goal to restore the Sealion to the satisfaction of the Wellington Harbormaster is eminently achievable, it will just happen faster with the help of Sealion Supporters.

O.K. : BUT WHY ARE WE READING THIS ON GIVEALITTLE?

I have always thought that this site should be reserved for causes that are crucial to someone's life or wellbeing, and was reluctant to use this facility for what could be deemed frivolous and unimportant. However, the Sealion has attracted quite a following, as shown by the number of people who responded to the on-line petition, roughly one thousand or so supporters in Wellington.

I am still a bit reticent about posting this ,but here is why.

THE BOTTOM LINE :

If I cannot see the Restoration Project through to completion, then first my option is to sell it on to someone who can complete it. It would be hard to find someone who shares the same dream as me,

so this is not really an option.

The final, and most unpleasant option is as follows .One of the major players in the drama surrounding the move of the Sealion to its present location, has verbally indicated that they would buy it off me ,for a token figure (probably very low ),so then it would become their problem. I have to say that the Ship have been a thorn in the side of Bureaucracy for many years, and this would finally give them total control of the Sealions fate

However, the Final Solution is not acceptable to me.

THE FINAL SOLUTION :

If the Sealion came into the hands of the abovementioned Authority, at a last resort, it would be stripped of all metal, which would be sold for scrap. This includes the engine ,transmission, prop shaft, etc. The stripped hull would then be towed somewhere and sunk.

As I walk around the boat admiring the workmanship that has gone into its construction ,and knowing how long it has survived in this generally uncaring world ,I find it unthinkable to condemn such a wonderful survivor to be destroyed.

I now ask for people who understand how I feel to think about the above ,perhaps re-read it ,then decide whether this is a worthy cause or not.

NOTE: The www.SaveTheSealion.com Webpage is still under construction at this time....will be ready soon.

I thank you for your time.

yours sincerely, Selwyn W, Findley.

Owner / Master.