Memorial message in a bottle for Blake

An artist's impression of Carrick Hill's yacht-in-a-bottle proposal.

An Auckland mast designer wants to build a giant ship-in-a-bottle memorial to Sir Peter Blake as an alternative to the $8 million memorial at the National Maritime Museum on the Auckland waterfront.

Carrick Hill unveiled plans on a website this week for a 45m-tall leaning bottle to hold the America's Cup winning yacht, NZL32.

Mr Hill acknowledged it was a radical idea, but believed it could become a symbol at the tip of the Tank Farm waterfront development.

He was concerned that the joint Maritime Museum-Te Papa project did not have a lot of public backing, and that New Zealand needed to recognise Sir Peter with an internationally "visible salute".

Why a bottle? Mr Hill said the bottle was a traditional display case for vessels and a fabled carrier of sailors' message.

Mr Hill has no backers yet, but he is running a poll on his website, to gauge reactions.

So far, he has 93 per cent support for the bottle from 165 respondents.

Te Papa spokesman Paul Brewer said the Maritime Museum and Te Papa were excited by the Pete Bossley design for the Maritime Museum.

The project was more than a memorial - it was an interactive and inspirational exhibition.

Construction was due to start next year.