OTEHEI
Named after Zane Grey’s game fishing base which he set up at Otehei Bay, Urupukapuka Island in the Bay of Islands.
boat photo ex classicgameboatnz
Harold Kidd Update
OTEHEI was a sister-ship to the Collings & Bell-built hard chine launches built for various operators in the Bay of Islands in 1926-7 to service the game-fishing sport which had grown rapidly after an exploratory trip north by Colonel W.H. Hazard in his VIRGINIA in 1918. The other 3 launches to the same pattern were LORNA DOONE, ZANE GREY (later ALMA G II) and MANAAKI (photo below). These launches were all equipped with Redwing engines and were capable of 16 knots. OTEHEI was built for Frank Elliott who painted her red. Like the others, and the later AVALON, she was based at Zane Grey’s camp at Otehei on Urupukapuka Island.
She spent some time on Lake Taupo as GRACE DARLING but is now in Russell/Opua restored for the last 20 years or so as OTEHEI.
Manaaki- Xmas / NY – 201- 4
Manaaki Xmas/NY 2103-4
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Hi Peter – email (see below) the photos in, so we can share them with everyone. Cheers Alan
waitematawoodys@gmail.com
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My Grandpa was Frank Elliott the Original Owner of the OTEHEI I have pictures of her I would like to make contact with Gavin Bradley as I am going to the Bay of Islands in the next few days
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The above photo added to post
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A short from Christmas of Manaaki on her mooring at Urquhart’s Bay
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But more likely she was renamed after Rangatira Point I guess.
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That’s what the Auckland Star said when Renner sold her to Taupo in 1936. I wonder how long she kept that handle until she became RANGATIRA? RANGATIRA is a more appropriate name because she must have been the rangatira of the Lake.
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When Otehei was at Taupo she was called RANGATIRA. and operated for many years as a charter boat. I don’t recall her ever being called GRACE DARLING. She had a stylish wheelhouse in those days. As it was over the engine, it had sitting headroom only.Otherwise it definitely would not have been stylish.
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OTEHEI was a sister-ship to the Collings & Bell-built hard chine launches built for various operators in the Bay of Islands in 1926-7 to service the game-fishing sport which had grown rapidly after an exploratory trip north by Colonel W.H. Hazard in his VIRGINIA in 1918. The other 3 launches to the same pattern were LORNA DOONE, ZANE GREY (later ALMA G II) and MANAAKI. These launches were all equipped with Redwing engines and were capable of 16 knots. OTEHEI was built for Frank Elliott who painted her red. Like the others, and the later AVALON, she was based at Zane Grey’s camp at Otehei on Urupukapuka Island.
She spent some time on Lake Taupo as GRACE DARLING but is now in Russell/Opua restored for the last 20 years or so as OTEHEI.
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