Ronaki (MV Manukau)

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RONAKI (MV Manukau)

Classic displacement launch designed and built in triple skin heart kauri by Charles Bailey Jnr in 1914 and known as m.v. Manukau, she plied the Manukau Harbour as a pilot boat and was also used for barge work and buoyage. Rebuilt to survey in 1961, she had a new Gardner LW4 diesel installed and for many years was used sounding work in the Waitemata. She is now in private hands and has been lovingly cared for and used as a pleasure boat by her present owner. For sale now on trademe.

The 56 hp Gardner 4 LW drives her along at 7.5-8.5 knots using only an astonishing 4 litres of diesel per hour
Transmission Details: Inboard
Engine Details: 1961 Gardner 4 LW
Displacement: 9900 kg
Length:12m (39.4Ft)
Beam: 3.16 metres (10 Ft 4 In)
Draft: 1.00 metres (3 Ft 3 In)
Fuel Capacity: 455 litres
Water Capacity: 136 litres

Harold Kidd update 30/03/2014

The info on this launch as set out above is 100% accurate. The first RONAKI was designed and built by Collings & Bell for the Auckland Harbour Board in February 1913 (see “Vintage NZ Launches” for a good image and history). She was converted to a bridgedecker after AHB disposed of her to G Hyauiason and probably got the V8 during RNZN service in WW2.
Since contributors are continually (and drearily) name-dropping on this site, let me join in. It was probably my uncle, Lou Wilson, MD of Watson Steele & Ganley, who allegedly attempted to borrow the set of points, because he owned RONAKI at the time. Quite how, with his huge trade knowledge, Lou Wilson would come to ask such a bloody stupid question beggars belief! Good story……………………….
This boat was, as is accurately detailed above, designed and built by Chas. Bailey Jr. Why should there be a trace of doubt in that? Does olivene2013 consider him incapable of that?
AHB commissioned her for use on the Manukau and called her MANUKAU. When the new MANUKAU was built by Scholten & Brijs to replace her, she was brought back to the Waitemata by AHB in February 1967 and renamed RONAKI (sometimes rendered as RONAKI II).

PS OOPS, If I’m descending to name-drop spraying too, I should get it right!
Lou Wilson was MD of Morris, Black & Matheson, and later a director of Tappenden Motors, not WASGA.
Something deeply wrong with that story! Lou would have been tickled with the absurdity of it.

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5 thoughts on “Ronaki (MV Manukau)”

  1. I am George Hyauiason’s grand daughter, he was a previous owner of the Ronaki. I have a number of photographs including a couple of nice ones of her when he had her. They currently are packed away with my household possessions in storage while we await a house build but if anybody was interested I would be happy to scan or send copies through as soon as I can. Is the Ronaki in the viaduct still? I would like to see her abd say hello. She was a beautiful looking boat in the photos

    Hello Sue – I believe she is ‘berthed’ in the Tamaki River – I’m sure one of the river rats will see this and confirm or deny. When you get a chance, email the photos to the address below and I will add them to the WW story. Then everyone can see them. Thanks in advance for sharing. Kind Regards Alan H
    waitematawoodys@gmail.com

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  2. PS OOPS, If I’m descending to name-drop spraying too, I should get it right!
    Lou Wilson was MD of Morris, Black & Matheson, and later a director of Tappenden Motors, not WASGA.
    Something deeply wrong with that story! Lou would have been tickled with the absurdity of it.

    Like

  3. The info on this launch as set out above is 100% accurate. The first RONAKI was designed and built by Collings & Bell for the Auckland Harbour Board in February 1913 (see “Vintage NZ Launches” for a good image and history). She was converted to a bridgedecker after AHB disposed of her to G Hyauiason and probably got the V8 during RNZN service in WW2.
    Since contributors are continually (and drearily) name-dropping on this site, let me join in. It was probably my uncle, Lou Wilson, MD of Watson Steele & Ganley, who allegedly attempted to borrow the set of points, because he owned RONAKI at the time. Quite how, with his huge trade knowledge, Lou Wilson would come to ask such a bloody stupid question beggars belief! Good story……………………….
    This boat was, as is accurately detailed above, designed and built by Chas. Bailey Jr. Why should there be a trace of doubt in that? Does olivene2013 consider him incapable of that?
    AHB commissioned her for use on the Manukau and called her MANUKAU. When the new MANUKAU was built by Scholten & Brijs to replace her, she was brought back to the Waitemata by AHB in February 1967 and renamed RONAKI (sometimes rendered as RONAKI II).

    Like

  4. Perhaps the owners could consider adding a “II” to her name, as she appears to have had a name change somewhere along the way, after her oririnal name, MANUKAU, & there is already a bridgedecker circa 36/38ft built in the early to mid 1930s called RONAKI, that has ben RONAKI since new.
    As an aside, I recall the other RONAKI had a Ford V8 petrol engine. in the 1940s50s. which broke down one day at Leigh. at Christmas. circa 1950. with ignition failure,, (points burnt out), when I was there on my parents boat, JULIANA. The owner came over & asked my dad if by chance he had a set of points for one of those engines, on JULIANA, — (which had a Leyand diesel, so no luck for RONAKI) — KEN RICKETTS

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