New Zealand Immigration Officer Making Wild Claims

[seandepagnier]

I am preparing to leave New Zealand and I went to check out.

I have had the immigration officer here tell me that my vessel maybe unsafe because the bolts in the chainplates are stainless and stainless can fail at any time. He explained that racing boats in sydney to hobart race had problems, and somehow that means mine is likely to.

While I believe stainless can fail at any time, I don't think this is a fair claim to make unless there is an xray performed. Almost every boat has stainless steel bolts somewhere, are they all unsafe?

I am also told my boat is unseaworthy because I have potted plants in the cockpit, and bamboo on the deck. Is this really relevant or even true?

Also, this officer informed me he is not a sailor, but does commercial fishing, he knows boats.

Next, they want me to haul out so they can look for cracks in the hull. Obviously I cannot allow it as they may take the boat hostage. Is it common practice to be required to have a fiberglass boat's hull checked with haulout for cracks prior to departure?

I have sailed from california, then all around new zealand and even in 60 knot winds and cook strait. I am a US flagged vessel..

Are these guys pulling my leg because they are bored and have nothing to do, or are they genuinely up to no good? Any experience with customs and immigration in bay of islands new zealand?