JULIANA > MARJORIE

photos & details ex Ken Ricketts. Edited by AH

Juliana was built in 1930 by Sam Ford & owned by Ralph & Wyn Ricketts from 1946 to 1956. She went to Whangarei for a few years when sold & then to the Algie family at Algies Bay from about 1972 to 1995. She was sold to a fisherman in New Plymouth for several years & ended up back at Tamaki River about 2006 as a bare hull absolutely nothing in her.

Bought by present owner Fraser Wilson as a bare neglected hull, with no bulkheads, engine, underwater gear, mast or anything else. Wilson has just undertaken a major 3 year restoration /rebuild on her by boatbuilder Tony Mitchell in his shed at Lake Rotoiti where she will now reside. Ken’s comment was ‘while unrecognizable as Juliana, in my view stunning in her own right’.

Propulsion History

1930 (Original) — 4cyl Thornycroft “T” head converted petrol truck engine c1925

1948 — 6 cyl Leyland “Cub” Diesel 90 HP (29.4 B.H.P. RAC rating), installed by owner Ralph Ricketts

1956 — 4 cyl Buda Marine Diesel (ex Arcturas — Built by Mc Geady c1952 for John Warren & replaced by Warren with 6 cyl Ford) installed by owner Ralph Ricketts

c1978 — 6 cyl 100 hp Ford Diesel fitted by owner Brian Algie

2013 (October) 3 cyl  brand new Lombardini Diesel approx 60hp installed for Fraser Wilson by Tony Mitchell boat builder

Photos

1. The black & white photo of her hauled out was taken in Judges Bay by the Parnell Baths in 1947, by Ken Ricketts.

2. The sepia photo shows Ken Ricketts on board Juliana c.1947

3. The ‘all white’ photo is the bare hulk prior to the current rebuild.

4. Colour photos are from her relaunch as Marjorie Rosa

AH comment – she is very stunning & will be the belle of the lake, but if was me I would have followed Sam Fords original design a little more closely. But beauty is, as they say ‘in the eyes of the beholder’ 

10-08-2026 UPDATE ex KEN RICKETTS – WIDGEON > JULIANA > MARJORIE ROSA INSIGHT

Ken Ricketts parents bought the 1930 Sam Ford – JULIANA in November 1946 from a Mr. Stewart who may have been her first owner. We have confirmation he did own her in the later 1930s, with WWII number of 77. 

A Thornycroft 4 cyl. petrol engine (photo below) was her original engine.

When built / launched and purchased by the Rickett’s she was named – WIDGEON (a breed of wild duck). Ken’s mother (Win) was not a fan of the name so the launch was re-named – JULIANA 

Fast forward to when Fraser Wilson at Lake Rotoiti purchased her and changed the name to MARJORIE ROSA after his mother. Fraser bought the launch as an empty, bare hull, from which he created an almost  new boat. Featured here on WW  https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/10/22/juliana-marjorie-rosa/

Post meeting Fraser, Ken arranged for her to retain her original 1946 RT call sign of ZMYP for life. She was the second ever pleasure craft in Auckland, to have a marine RT (a war assets ZC1 Mk. II) in 1946, fitted by Ken’s father (Ralph).                                                                                         (edited a LOT by Alan H)