FORMER Wellington rugby player Steve Rea has retired after building boats for 40 years.

But it’s not the end of his boat-building because Steve, 62, is to build two more for his own pleasure and sail at Exmouth.

“I love sailing,” said Steve this week. “And I now have the time to enjoy it.”

Steve, who lives in Holyoake Street, Wellington, first set up business at Tone with Geoff Leonard, who later retired through ill-health.

“My first boat show was at Bristol in 1978 where I sold 50 boats in four days,” he said.

“I developed the special Sea Hopper folding boat and at one stage I was employing five people,” added Steve who came up through the youth ranks at Wellington Rugby Club.

Steve’s boat business has been bought by Steve Birch.

For the full story, see this week’s Wellington Weekly News.