Monthly Archives: June 2013

NZPBA Championship 1929

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NZPBA championship races of 1929 on the Whau River (upper harbour)

The small speedboat in photo1 is OP-IT. She was built by Jack Brooke in late 1928,.and according to Harold Kidd & the Brooke family, that’s probably Jack racing her in the C Class outboard race)

Update from Harold Kidd

Photo 1 is certainly of Jack Brooke and his C Class (20 cu in) outbioard racer ‘OP IT which he designed and built himself. 
Photo 2 is MISS CLEVEDON (S2) and SPOT II (S15). MISS CLEVEDON was built and raced by T M Roberts and was one of the fastest in the over 20 knots category. I don’t know what power she had. Roberts also raced an outboard MISS CLEVEDON which had a 10hp Dunelt 249cc. Dunelt were upper quality English motorcycle manufacturers of the time who were trying to beat the Depression by getting into the outboard racing craze sweeping the world. SPOT II was a single step hydroplane built and raced by Alf Williams of Ponsonby. She had a “high-speed” Rugby 4 cylinder car engine, a favourite for marine use. The Rugby was built by the Durant Corporation and was the Star car rebadged for British Empire markets as there already was a fine English Star car, built in Wolverhampton and very like the contemporary Sunbeam. 
Photo 3 is HOBO (S3) which was built and raced by R. Mouat. She had a 6 cylinder Buick engine with which she won 2nd place in the Masport Cup in January 1929 at Wanganui. She was a crib of the American MARGARET III type.

Update from Colin Orum 30/03/2014

Photo 2 above is a photo of my grandfather Tom Roberts driving boat Miss Clevedon. I have heard quite a lot about his speedboat escapades from Mum now 88 and it was mentioned today. I thought to inquire if any information photos etc. were available. I was quite friendly with an old bloke at Waiheke named George Rose who(as a boy) new Tom quite well and used to tell me stories about his time with the racing boats. George said the power in Miss Clevedon was a Beardmore aero engine. Today Mum said the last she can remember is that Tom was taking Miss Clevedon on a practise run on the Clevedon river, struck a submerged log and sank, we assumed that it was recovered but unsure what happened after that. My brother has a cup trophy for Tom for Auckland speed boat champion around 1929-30.

Another mystery launch

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Another mystery launch

A nice little launch getting some TLC, the location would have to be Orakei Basin, possibily in front of the boat sheds?. You have to love the attire, jackets even when painting. Now days it would be an old College Rifles rugby jersey.

Any one ID the boat?

Update from Harold Kidd

I don’t think it’s the Orakei Basin, but Beaumont Street. The cabintop obscures the buildings in St Mary’s Bay itself but the characteristic 2 storey house behind it can be seen (Charlie Collings house?). I reckon the slip may be Bailey & Lowe’s or the VCC’s. At left is the discharge end of the AHB suction dredge. The neat little launch could be built by any Auckland builder of course. I would think there’s a good chance she was a flushdecker originally and has had two add-ons.

Naumai

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NAUMAI
Photo & words ex Baden Pascoe 
Built by Ernie Lane at Picton in 1937 for Alf Walling of Tauranga. In later years she was purchased by McCallum Bros Ltd and slowly she changed her identity. She was eventual wrecked on Browns Island one foggy morning. Her normal skipper Lance Cross took a day off. Originally Fairbanks Morse powered (E.R. Lane were agents) then another motor and later a 8L3 .

Lady Kay

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LADY-KAY
Don’t really do ‘for-sales’ on ‘WW’ but this old girl deserves to go to a good home. Currently in survey & set up for commercial use, would make a great conversion.
*Built in 1957 by Ces Watson for Franich Brothers (George and Johnny), 38′, check out the builders quote.
*Built and launched in Tutakaka
*She was named after their first born niece
*Was powered by a 5LW Gardner Diesel which cost 1500 pounds, brought through
   Shorty Sefton
*Now powered by a D11 Scaina 180hp,
*More info call Wayne Eyles  0211865358

UPDATE 28-09-2021 – Photos below ex Bruce Rowe of Lady Kay berthed at the Thanes marina.

Gayella

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Gayella

GAYELLA
photo & details ex Andrew Pollard

Designed by Norm Beetson, 32′ and built/launched by George Roberts in 1953. She is the second of Four sisters built. Acquiesce,Gayella,Naiad,Kakariki in that order i believe.

There was a Sea Spray article on them all in the 50’s titled “the four sisters”. There all still in existence to my knowledge.
Berthed at Panmure on the Tamaki.One family ownership since 1963.

Update from Harold Kidd

The 32 footer ACQUIESCE was built by Norm Beetson for himself in 1948 for himself at 70 Kildaire Ave, St. Heliers followed by the 33 footer GAYELLA in 1952 to the same design, built by George Roberts for himself at St. Heliers (Chrysler Crown), then NAIAD by Stan Blake for himself in 1956 and GEORGELLA in 1959 by George Roberts again for himself with a Fordson. GEORGELLA was sold to the famous petrol-head Les Stericker who renamed her KAKARIKI. GAYELLA has been in Andrews family since his grandfather Shorty Sefton (Mr. Gardner in Auckland) bought her in 1963. Neat boats.

24-05-2017 Photos ex John Wicks – Hauled out at West Harbour Marina

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Meola

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MEOLA
story & photos ex Russell Ward
One of my favorite workboats- was built in 1961 by Miller and Tunnage at Port Chalmers. She was built for the Ministry of Works for servicing of Marine Dept and navy installations around Waitemata Harbour and the Hauraki Gulf. Barney Soljak told me that she was modeled on Clematis but with a transom instead of a ducks ass. He felt that she was a little archaic and that they needed a more modern boat.She is 42’6″ LOA x 12’7″ Beam powered by a 4L3 Gardner. She was taken over by the Navy in 1976. She performed some impact hydrography cutting the corner inside Emu Rock and sank in Islington Bay 8 November 1978. RNZFA Arataki and a barge had her salvaged the next day –The tug Arataki had an interesting life in those days, frequently sorting out the Navy coastal cockups (usually before the media got there).
Meola is now in private ownership and much loved. She comes to all the classic workboat events.

When Did U Last Have The Mooring Surveyed ?

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Paid the insurance?
I’m told that the beautiful launch Rongo, was reduced to this after she went AWOl from her Algies Bay mooring in a piping gale.

Witnesses said it was amazing how quickly she was reduced to matchwood. Sad.
Wreck photos ex Russell Ward, click to enlarge.

Marnine

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MARNINE
Story & photos ex Russell Ward
Another good looker from Lanes. 
I remember Marnine from the early ’60s. Those Fodens that she had were not subdued in the early days!
Fred Porter had her built by Lane Motor Boat Co to (I think) much of his own design. Jim Francis reckoned that Lady Margaret was quite an inspiration in the design. She apparently needed some beefing up in the bow sections and, not long after launching, was virtually opened up from amidships and effectively lengthened.
We were up at Kawau in the very early ’60s and she was very much in evidence for many seasons.
The Porters had a lot of use out of her.
Update ex Ken Ricketts
It is fabulous that at last she has come up in the system, I have been waiting for this, but  until now have done nothing because I have never had any pics of her
I know quite a lot about her early days & was on board several times during construction in Lane’s shed.
As I have said in other blogs, my late father Ralph Ricketts was the machine shop man at Mason & Porter, owned by the Porter family until the later 80s or 90s, for 35 years, & he designed, & him & his staff made virtually all her mechanical & shipchandlery equipment, perhaps like RAKANOA & the Parkers.
Anyway she of course had the 2 x 6cyl Fodens which were the same as L.M.II had, & (which were put in L.M. II at more or less the same time as Marnine was built.
Me dad made a wonderful muffler & exhaust system for both boats, with lovely little short 316 stainless steel stacks, that protruded discretely about 12 inches up, out of each side of the roof of the dodgers of both boats– . Superb & perfect!!
We all know that with GM Detroit, Foden, Graymarine, & Commer TS3, diesels, it was usual that if you were at Kawau, you could hear boats coming round North Head in those days, however with L.M. II & Marnine, you could virtually not hear a sound.
In Schoolhouse Bay, Kawau Island, one still morning, during a Christmas cruise, ins me own boat at that time, FLYING SCUD, with MARNINE next door, & noticed 2 momentary tiny white puffs of smoke, one out of each stack, & then Marnine just glided totally silently out of the bay, — beautiful!!!
Ok, I digress, CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN;
She was originally built 6 or 8 feet shorter than she is today, & when dad saw her for the 1st time under construction, he said she would never go properly as she was much to bluff or full in the bow. This is exactly what happened, & as a result of this Fred P. had Lanes add  6 or 8 feet to the bow — a very difficult expensive & unusual place to add length, however I have another story I will relate later, about the SOBRINE built for the late Gordon Mace, where G. Lane did the same thing, & also later added to SOBRINE’S bow the same way.
Once these additions were made, this has made her a fabulous craft.
Must mention the interior finishing & craftsmanship.
She was built very much in the era of “formica,” & had masses of beautifully crafted natural timber cupboards & storage compartments, as well as the interior itself being virtually all natural timber finish, (the timber was very light in colour & may have been oak), with teak combings of course, & every cupboard was fully lined with formica, & even both sides of the cupboard shelves, were veneered formica, to avoid any possibility of them buckling, with just a single side done this way.
The Porters owned MARNINE for many years, & as Russell said, used her a great deal, eventually replacing her with their 80 foot Alloy motor yacht SIMRAN, built by Mc Mullen & Wing, a company which they later bought.
Porters & the Ted Clarkes were not only friends, but almost certainly “best friends,” for many years, & once Marnine was built, they shared the same shed in Whakatakataka Bay, for maintenance of  the 2 boats.

Update from Ken Ricketts (refer shed photo)

Dec 2013 – she is in Brin Wilsons shed at Gulf Harbour & Ken went aboard & reports that she is in absolutely original in every detail, — the 2 x 6 cyl. Fodens still looking immaculate under the bridgedeck floor & the underwater fittings appear in still perfect condition.

‘John Doe’ – awaiting more info on this vessel

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Story & ‘newer’ photo ex Baden Pascoe

I have just received a heap of scanned photos from Barbara Weatherley (nee
Walling, yes the famous little Barbara W is named after her). In the album
they say this launch is “Virginia” at Mayor Is. Looks a lot like Rongo
before she was lengthened. I have a hunch the Owens Family (Bob Owens the
Tauranga freight mogul had something to do with her).Very nice looking boat.

Update & ‘as launched’ photo from Harold Kidd

Charlie Millett was a boatbuilder and launch skipper in Tauranga in the 1930s. He specialised in “modernising” launches by building up the foredecks on old low hulls. VIRGINIA started life being built by Tyler & Harvey in Auckland in November 1909 as a 35ft cruiser for the well-known sporting shop proprietor W.H. Hazard. Hazard often took her to the Bay of Islands and was one of the pioneers of big game fishing there. VIRGINIA made the headlines when she was attacked by a swordfish in 1918 and had to be beached for temporary repairs.
In 1925 Hazard sold her to U S citizens (Zane Grey & co?). John Mowlem of Tauranga  had her in 1930 and kept her in service taking out game fishing parties, with Charlie Millett as skipper. It was found that the bash out to Mayor Island made her very wet so Charlie was employed to rebuild her. He did the same to many other launches including the Logan Bros SEVERN.

We have have some confusion – 

After reviewing the photos above HK thinks there may have been a mix up in the caption on the photo/s. Harold has sent in a photo of Virginia taken by Charlie Millett on his slip at Tauranga in 1929. All he’s done by then is to extend the decks with hardwood beltings and install washboards to hold 2 swordfish.

Harold thinks she’d grown the tramtop under Hazard’s ownership and possibly the low bulwarks forward. There’s talk in NZY of Ernie Harvey modifying the cabintop in June 1910.

Baden’s image is very much later and shows that there appear to have been truly major changes since the 1929 pic, not the least of which is that her canoe stern has become a transom stern!

Now that’s all entirely possible, but I don’t have the photo I thought I had of her after Charlie raised the foredeck.

Therefore, logically,

  1. Millett very substantially rebuilt VIRGINIA as above or
  2. The caption in the Barbara Weatherley album is wrong and Baden’s image is of another boat.

Can anyone shed some light on this ??

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