Nor West

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NOR WEST Port Side AUGUST 2012 Nor West

NOR WEST
One of 2 identical boats built by Garth Lane at Panmure circa 1948-50 both had 2 x Ford V8s originally. Both were used extensively for game fishing for many years. No info on ownership, but always admired there futuristic, low, sleek, appearance. Both had the engines in the stern, with V drives a la LADY SANDRA.
 Marina photo (ex trademe) was taken in the Sounds where she has been living.

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22 thoughts on “Nor West”

  1. Pingback: Nor’West | waitematawoodys.com #1 for classic wooden boat stories, info, advice & news

  2. Many thanks for the update and insight – probably not the right place to continue the discussion however I am curious as to the untold back story and would be grateful for any information you might have – it could be important – as I ended up with no option but to re-power given the state of the engines, compression, power, starting and ancillary equipment, lack of spares world wide and general consensus on the reliability / life of the engines. I spent about the same in trying to solve all engineering issues as I did on the re-power between Picton and Havelock experts and in the end had to draw a line in the sand and get the Nissans. A great deal of work and been completed internally and looked good – the external fibreglassing on the cabin and some parts of the internal fine paint job unfortunately covered up patches of ummm dry rot / black water disintegration … in the extended coamings – looks as if, while the original coaming materials were kauri and in perfect condition, oregon or similar had been used to do the extension and end grain water ingress did the damage on the very course grain timber. The silastic put into the hull instead of putty no doubt looked good when first completed however turned into a disaster after a season with all planks and joins showing badly and the silastic peeling out while under way. With putty replacing the silastic and professionally painted she is starting to look as she should. However I am really pleased to say that the heavy work is now done and only the cosmetic touch ups on the coamings and interior are left for me to play with this season / winter – which I do get a great deal of pleasure out of pottering around with.

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  3. While the record of Nor’west is being updated, it should be recorded that there should be no inference expressed or implied that Nor’west was in a purportedly “sad condition” on account of the then Picton owner Murray Speirs prior to her sale. Indeed Murray invested very heavily in an allegedly top boat refinishing yard in Waikawa for a complete repairs, preparation and re-finishing job of the hull and topsides. I have spent many hours on Nor’west while Murray had her – I took one of the photos of Nor’west currently shown on WW site, and have attached others – and can attest to the major improvements carried out and no expense spared while in his care. Moreover I have witnessed how easily started (albeit with a knack) and how reliable both engines were. There is an untold backstory as to why the engines were – some say needlessly – replaced with the Nissans.

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  5. Hi there, I am Bill Higgins eldest daughter and we all ‘grew up’ on this boat. Family holidays were spent on her out at Mayor Island and later in the Bay of Islands. Most of the time was spent big game fishing and we all have vivid memories of fish caught……and sometimes lost! We all remember the plaque already shown on this thread. It is the one which was always on it while our dad owned her. We also remember the Sou East which we often saw over at Mayor Island. I am not surprised that the engines have had to be replaced. My dad did a great job of maintaining them but it became harder and harder to get spare parts. My husband was even asked to source a replacement V drive from England but he eventually found one in California. We brought it out in our suitcase in 1990. My father was absolutely meticulous in looking after the boat which I think is the reason it has survived so long. At the end of every season the engines were overhauled and the paint work and varnish were sanded down and refreshed where necessary. It is wonderful to see her still on the water. Good luck with the restoration. I probably have some photos which I can forward to the present owner. I have spoken to Daryl on the phone a couple of years ago and I am happy to meet up with him and swop Nor West stories!

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  6. Thanks a lot Lionel – would love to know more about her history – I do remember it as a child in the Bay of Islands thundering past on its way to the game fishing grounds … more than that and the various paperwork on engines and paint that came with the boat – I know very little.

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  9. Like Harold, I never heard of Morris V8s & agree with him, that she definitely had 2 Ford V8s – KEN R

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  10. Don’t recall any MORRIS V8s being available. She certainly did have twin OSCO-marinised Ford V8s though.

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  11. Many thanks Richard – she is a great old girl and I’ll be looking after her well. Probably a good thing your wife slowed down the process. When I bought her I had both a full hull & superstructure survey and a mechanical survey completed. Both were close to perfect but a little far from reality. The original motors I believe were actually Morris V8’s – when I purchased her she had 2 x 3 litre Ford 6 cylinder diesels – one of a batch of 1,000 brought in by Lees Marine and the very first with overhead cams – however zero spares available world wide as these engines turned out to be problem children. To cut a rather long sad story of previous incompetent mechanical care and some very clever cover ups resulting in a great deal of expense, I have replaced both engines with 4.2 Nissans done by Kaiapoi Repowers and changed out the glued together original English Vee Drives with new units out of the USA. Absolutely thrilled with both …. a great installation – quiet, smooth, and will outlast the boat methinks. Currently dealing with more incompetence in the way of paint finish – somebody in their wisdom has painted her topsides and coamings with what appears to be car paint with an additive to make it flexible …. gone on so thick it never really set, hardly adhered, cracked and looked awful – so a full sand back and fix. Already took all the synthetic silastic stuff out of the hull and replaced with proper putty – been put on over the caulking by someone and a disaster waiting to happen. On the water never the less and loving having the old girl. Handles like a dream, extremely comfortable and once I get my reproduction tuna poles back on – will look the part once again.

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  12. Beautiful boat. Congratulations. I was very keen on her when she was up for sale 2 or 3 years ago but couldn’t quite convince my wife that it was the right thing for us at the time! It is a fine looking vessel and I’m very envious. I hope you enjoy many years of happy cruising and if the time ever comes around to sell let me know…

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  13. I now own Nor’West and indeed it has the original makers plate above the companionway as shower in the photograph. When I bought her in Picton she was a little sad with very tired Ford diesels (two of the 1,000 units imported by Lees Marine ex Germany – and apparently the very first of the overhead cam diesels – now with no parts available world wide so magnificent anchor projects) I have recently replaced the engines with Nissans and at the same time replaced the vee drives that were well past use by date with decent American units. The rest of the vessel is absolutely solid and as good as the day she was built. Based in Havelock now she is still a very pretty and well founded much treasured vessel. I remembered her as a child sailing in the Bay of Islands watching her thunder past with her nose in the air and stern well tucked down. Still a long way to go to finish getting her back to the condition she should be in but a fabulous vessel, handles magnificently and very comfortable. Any details from past owners would be well received.

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  14. Pingback: Sou’East | waitematawoodys.com #1 for classic wooden boat stories, info, advice & news

  15. One last theory before I sit back and wait for somebody else to solve it… would it be possible that the 32ft Nor West was already under construction when Bill Higgins decided to have a copy of Sou East built and despite the fact that the 32ft boat was already named Nor West, the only name planned for his new boat was to be the same. The finishings and galley layout are similar to other Lanes of that era. I will be turning the boat inside out to find something identifying and if not, We will just enjoy the 32ft Nor West none the less.

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  16. Harold – note from Brian W below + photo of plate. Alan H

    Photo of the builders Plaque on the Fred Wilkins designed Nor West.

    Ownership of Nor West – Bill Higgins > Johnny Dennis Tauranga (related to
    Bill Higgins ) > Murray Spiers Picton > and current owner.

    The builders plate was this one when Johnny Dennis took over the Nor West.

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  17. I think it’s pretty clear that the builder’s plate on your boat is the original from the 1951 Lane Motor Boat Co boat in Picton.
    Now the elephant in the room is the provenance of your boat.
    If I were to make a guess, and Heaven forbid that I would do such a thing, I would say that there’s a Bob Salthouse look to her.

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  18. There is a photo of the build plate on Brian’s site and it does appear to be a newer reproduction than the plate that is mounted in my boat. Maybe the plate was changed to credit Fred as the designer and the plate that is mounted in my Nor West was acquired at that time. but why?

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  19. Brian, are you talking about the builder’s plate on the Picton NOR WEST or the one on the faux NOR WEST? If the Picton one, it would be instructive to see a photo of it and see if it’s in the same style as the one now borne by the 32 footer and whether it’s possibly a later replacement.

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  20. The builders plate says Nor West was launched on the 12 th April 1951. built for Bill Higgins by Lane Motor Boat Company Panmure and designed by Fred Wilkins.
    The story goes that Bill fished on the sister ship Sou East and loved the vessel very much.
    He tried to buy the vessel but Fred wouldn’t sell her so Bill went to Lane Motor Boat Company and had Nor West built.
    I have a photo of both vessels with similar paint jobs on moorings off 1 st ave where there was a boat shed/slipway custom built for the Sou East in Tauranga.

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  21. That’s quite right (for a change). NOR WEST was pretty much a clone of SOU EAST designed by Fred Wilkins for himself (no doubt with a nod to the current US yachting magazines) and built for him by Lane Motor Boat Co in 1947 with twin Oscos. Brian Worthington’s fine site has several images of her and details of her history. Since she is/was a British Registered Ship, full details are a matter of public record.

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  22. Have just been checking with my game fishing boat spies, & have confirmed that this NOR WEST was designed by Fred Wilkins, built by Lane Motor Boat Co for Bill Higgins & Launched in 1951. — my source is hugely knowledgeable in these matters, & am confident this is totally accurate – KEN R

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