Workboat 'Polaris' was originally designed and built in the late 1970s by Phillip Heaney who, with his wife Margaret founded the Alkira Boatshed in Toronto, N.S.W., Australia. 'Polaris' was later purchased by Jimmy & Kathy Boyd around 1986 and became the flagship of their fledgling Polaris Marine fleet.

In early 2020, Kathy Boyd kindly permitted me to record her recollections of Polaris Marine Pty Limited. Together, Kathy and her late husband, Jimmy – a former marine engineer and diver, built their iconic business out of Rozelle Bay, Sydney, which operated between 1986-2006. Sadly, Jimmy Boyd, passed away on the 3rd October, 2020.

When the Boyd’s purchased 'Polaris' in 1986, a young deck-hand named Adam Peeters came with the workboat. Adam rose through the ranks to become the Skipper of Polaris and the many adventures he would have with this workboat over a 20-year career would fill a book! In fact, Polaris would feature in the love affair between Adam and his girlfriend, Karen, who later became his wife.

Workboat 'Polaris' is currently in operation with the Polaris Marine Company (under new management), although her original design has been modified. She has had a number of different crane rigs over 40+ years. The crane in this painting is an early Tadano Super-Z made in Japan.