The Oyster Boat sculpture in Bluff’s main street was very tired and in desperate need of a complete overhaul.

The oyster shell part had been absorbing rainwater through its very porous exterior, so the main support structure had collapsed with rust. In addition, the steel masts and sails of the sailing boat had rusted.

Disassembling the sculpture entirely to assess the damage was the first task. Pete then made replica masts and sails from fibreglass. Many hours were spent filling all the holes and cracks in the shell. The final stage was to spray the sculpture with Rhino to seal and protect it.

The result is very eye-catching. The kids love the little dolphins, too.