A Tauranga boat is grounded in Pilot Bay after sinking on the morning of Tuesday, July 4.

The boat owner, who spoke to SunLive on the condition of anonymity, says he found out about his boat sinking after he was contacted by the harbour master.

'We pumped it out and got it ashore on Wednesday. 'We were planning to float it off on high tide today but we found a couple of more holes we needed to plug. And there's been high spring tides and wind.

"We missed the high tide today and will tow it off at high tide tomorrow [Saturday].”

Windows on the boat have been broken.

'That happened when it sank.

'There wasn't any oil or fuel onboard so there's no risk of any oil leak into the harbour.

'I got the boat about 6 months ago and moved it here. It's 130 years old, made of kauri. It's called Hauraki. I've been planning to restore it. I've been living on board, good thing I wasn't on board when it sank.”

Debris from the boat has been pulled ashore in Pilot Bay.

Photo: Rosalie Liddle Crawford/SunLive.

'There's probably a lot still out in the harbour, life jackets and stuff floating around.

'Tomorrow a mate will tow it down to near the marae near the bridge marina and we'll be able to restore it there.”

Deputy Harbour Master, Dan Rapson says the Bay of Plenty Regional Council maritime team "continue to work closely with the owner of the vessel.

"The owner is currently working through the salvage process and we expect it to be re-floated by early next week.

"Our team is monitoring the situation closely to ensure the area in and around the vessel remains safe, this has involved the removal of small amounts of debris by the owner.

"There was no fuel on board at the time of it sinking so there has been no contamination of the water in Pilot Bay as a result of the sinking.”