TAREPO
story & photos ex Simon Manning
Above are 3 old launching photos of Tarepo (might have been Tarepa originally – there was some sort of issue with the signwriting) which was built near Motueka around 1933.
Looks very racey & would have been quite an sight in her day.
Currently owned by my step mother, was refurbished by my father. 2 current photos also featured, she is a lovely ship and the current owners cruised extensively around the outer Marlborough Sounds over the past few years and I think got as far as Kaiteriteri – perhaps also Golden Bay. She is a great cruiser, well appointed and suits a couple well.
Tarepo is berth at Waikawa Marina near Picton and is now for sale as sadly my father Geoff passed away last year.
The story below is reproduced in tact as supplied by Ken Leppein
“A MOTUEKA “BOATIE”, DENNIS BISLEY, TRACKED DOWN THESE PHOTOS FROM A GUY NAMED TERRY BRADLEY WHOSE FATHER HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN THE BUILDING OF “TAREPA”
SHE WAS BUILT IN A SHED BEHIND STILWELLS HOUSE IN LODDER LANE, RIWAKA, & THE DATE ON THE BACK OF ONE OF THE PHOTOS OF HER LAUNCHING DAY IS “1933”
THE HOUSE SHOWN IN FOUR OF THE PHOTOS IS STILL IN LODDER LANE.
TAREPA WAS PLANKED WITH FULL LENGTH PLANKS CUT FROM A 40FT LOG MILLED AT STILWELLS MILL IN MOTUEKA
THE ORIGINAL ENGINE WAS THOUGHT TO BE A LISTER WITH AN OPEN FLYWHEEL AT FRONT OF ENGINE,AND REQUIRING A SPECIAL TECHNIQUE TO START.
APPARENTLY TAREPA BROKE FREE FROM HER ANCHOR OR MOORING AT STILWELLS BAY IN ASTROLAB DURING A STORM AND WAS EVENTUALLY FOUND WASHED UP ON THE FRONT BEACH AT RABBIT ISLAND. THE STORY GOES THAT SHE SUFFERED NIL ILL EFFECTS AND WAS FLOATED OFF ON THE NEXT TIDE AND WAS STEAMED BACK HOME, UNDAMAGED!
SEE THE PHOTO OF “TAREPA” BEING DRAGGED REARWARDS INTO THE CREEK TO SIT AND AWAIT THE TIDE. THIS CREEK IS UPSTREAM FROM THE RIWAKA WHARF, AND THE POST STICKING OUT OF THE MUD IN THE FOREGROUND AND NEAR “TAREPA”S BOW, IS STILL THERE TODAY (2012)
WHILST SHE WAS OWNED BY STILWELLS AND HER NEXT OWNER, WALLY POLDEN, “TAREPA” S HOME WAS RIWAKA. AT SOME STAGE IT IS BELIEVED SHE WAS BASED AT PARAMATA.”
Ken Leppein
waitematawoodys.com #1 for classic wooden boat stories, info, advice & news - updated daily 
Pingback: Tarepo At Waikawa Marina | waitematawoodys.com #1 for classic wooden boat stories, info, advice & news – updated daily
Another great story about my Stilwell family.
LikeLike