Yasawa

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YASAWA

Currently for sale on trademe, this bridgedecker could be a good buy for someone wanting to get into classic boating.

She appears to be very well presented & excellent value for money.

The listing says she is a 1952 Collings & Bell but HDK advised this is incorrect & she was built by Charlie Filmer. She sleeps 6-8, 10m (32.8′) long, with a 2002 90hp motor. While Picton based, thats not a big issue, ‘Boat Haulage’ are not that expensive, if you are prepared to wait for a return trip.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/boats-marine/motorboats/auction-680775450.htm

Harold Kidd Update

Stuart Findlay of Paunui Road, St. Heliers owned her in 1957 and may well have been her first owner. He was followed by Solicitor Arthur Bourke of First Ave, Stanley Point in 1959. Her original engine was a 100hp Scripps-marinised Ford Mercury V8. 

I can’t fathom why she is now claimed to be a Collings & Bell boat. The APYMBA records show her as built by Charlie Filmer. She doesn’t look Collings & Bell to me anyway. 

Probably some oracular shellback advised an owner that she was C&B. That’s the process that has given us today more Logan, Sam Ford and Lane Motor Boat Co launches than they ever built.

Photo below hauled out at Motueka marina, Jan 2018, photo ex John Burland

IMG_9747

Update 26-09-2021 Photos (ex Grant Stone) below when owned by a Tom Wilcox in the late 1950’s

23 thoughts on “Yasawa”

  3. I have just come across this thread by chance after a curious google search. I grew up on this boat in the 90’s so the person mentioned here who’d owned her for 18 years most likely bought her from my parents. I’d be interested to know if she’s now back up in Auckland and if the work you’re discussing was ever done. Many wonderful memories of this boat, and seeing these photos has brought a lot of them back!

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  4. Bruce Stewart of Thames told me recently that he owned her for a period in the 1970s he thinks it was by his recall & kept her at Coromandel — KEN R

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  7. Bruce Stewart of Thames owned her & kept her at Coromandel for a period in the 1970s, his wife told me today, before hey later bought the SOBRINE. KEN R

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  8. Peter was the AWATERE your family owned the bridgedecker that was built by Supreme Craft ( McGeady) in Ponsonby that was built for Bluey Innes? — KEN R

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  9. I am PETER STUART FINDLAY , son of STUART FINDLAY who with my family lived in PAUNUI ST ST HELIERS while he built a new home at 6 Coates Ave Orakei having previously built and lived in no 26 Coates Avenue.
    YASAWA named by us as such was previously named DORALEEN as she was when DAD PURCHASED HER for our family on 3rd August 1957.
    She was purchased from a BILL BRIGHT who I think owned a Skating Rink in Khyber Pass RD AUCKLAND.
    SHE WAS a lovely craft and I at 28 years old was SKIPPER for STUART FINDLAY KNOWN AS BARNEY FINDLAY to most people. She was indeed built by CHAS FILMER and very sound and roomy Bridge Deck. The motor was indeed an ENGLISH SCRIPPS MARINISED MERCURY MOTOR . I Tidied up all ignition to ensure good starting. If batteries flat , put crank handle in , half turn, start first time.
    Dad sold her in April 1959. I fixed toilet put Lino down, installed, driving seat to steer up top and the hinged table.
    She came with a lovely Clinkef dinghy built by ROY PARRISH and this dinghy was retained and became the tender for AWATERE when we purchased her from MR McCracken in February 1962. PETER STUART FINDLAY ( now 86 ) May 2016

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  11. Thanks for the background information Harold, very much appreciated and great to know from where she came.

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  12. BTW Charlie Filmer (1911-1985) built YASAWA at 64 Walls Road, Penrose. I don’t recall him ever being on the North Shore and that’s borne out by the directories. He was in the partnership “Cox & Filmer” or “Speedcraft” from 1933 at Judges Bay and from 1935 at 2 Charlotte Street, Eden Terrace. They built some great yachts including VIGILANT and ASTRAL and launches including WATER GIPSY/CONNIE V(1)/ROBYN GAE, one of the MARISTELLAs, ROYAL FALCON, RONGOTAI (1940) for Whangarei, etc.

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  15. Sorry was going to mention that I would be looking to bring her back up to Auckland so nice to think of her back on home waters.

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  16. Thanks for the details Ken much appreciated. I wonder if there are any photos around of her in her original livery? Looking forward to seeing her tomorrow, no expert so a little nervous of what to look for. Cheers Nicholas

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  17. One thing I forgot, YASAWA’S varnish work was fairly dark in colour, & I think perhaps there may have been a little dark stain added to the varnish. — KEN R

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  18. Hi Ken, thanks so much for the information. Going down to have a look at her tomorrow. Spoke to the owner who has had her for 18 years and she has been back and forth to the Sounds many times over those years. Sounds like she is tired but still solid. Agree with you she would look terrific with the varnish reinstated and that would be the plan. Any thoughts about what I should look for when I see her? I suspect her Lees 90 HP is pretty tired,by now as a 1970’s with some 4500hrs on the clock! Thinks she is just a lovely shape and as you mention, still very original. Thanks Nicholas

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  19. Thank you for the questions Nicholas. Charlie Filmer was a master & much respected boatbuilder in his own right, & was in business on the North Shore as I recall, for many years. YASAWA did indeed have varnished coamings for many years & she looked absolutely lovely with that concept. It was how she was built, & intended to be, & there is no doubt in my mind she would look stunning if the varnish were reinstated. As far as I know, she is till virtually otherwise original, so she could perhaps become an as original, restoration. — KEN RICKETTS

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  20. Hi there, just a couple of questions. Who was Charlie Filmer? Was he a professional boat builder for one of the old Auckland firms? Also would Yasawa have had the varnished top sides originally? Did she have those when you knew her Ken? Was thinking that she would look great if they were reinstated, but may have been painted after the fire?

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  22. As usual Harold is absolutely right, I knew the YASAWA & Arther Bourke well, (Greig Bourke & Kettlewell) & Arther loved his boat & used it very regularly. She did however have a fire many years ago, & whilst not fatal for her, it has,,or had, left scars behind the scenes. As I recall it may have been petrol related in the later 50s or 60s — KEN RICKETTS

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  23. Stuart Findlay of Paunui Road, St. Heliers owned her in 1957 and may well have been her first owner. He was followed by Solicitor Arthur Bourke of First Ave, Stanley Point in 1959. Her original engine was a 100hp Scripps-marinised Ford Mercury V8.
    I can’t fathom why she is now claimed to be a Collings & Bell boat. The APYMBA records show her as built by Charlie Filmer. She doesn’t look Collings & Bell to me anyway.
    Probably some oracular shellback advised an owner that she was C&B. That’s the process that has given us today more Logan, Sam Ford and Lane Motor Boat Co launches than they ever built.

    Like

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