Monthly Archives: March 2014

Alan Williams Sedan Cruiser

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Alan Williams Sedan Cruiser

Reputedly designed & built by Alan Williams in 1972 for his own use. Williams built several more of this 34’1″ sedan cruiser to the same design, which were known by the design name ‘Banshee’.

Currently for sale on trademe

Harold Kidd Update

Alan Williams built BANSHEE for himself in 1966. She was built at a time when Williams was fighting the Takapuna City Council to remain in business with his existing use as a boatbuilder in Omana Road, a predominantly residential area. There were allegations at the hearing of noxious noise from “shipbuilding” on the site, with overtones of clanging steel and grinding, when he was in reality producing lovely wooden thoroughbreds like this.
I acted for the local residents and regretting taking that brief!

La Reta (Sayandra – ML410)

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In Fiji

LA RETA (Sayandra – ML410)

details & photos ex Bob McDougall , Russell Ward & Ken Ricketts + the   ‘Workboat Study Group’

La Reta  started life & was launched in December 1942 as “ML 410,” for the Royal New Zealand Navy, & built by P Vos Ltd., at their slipway, at Auckland Harbour’s Western Reclamation.

Miss Fay Vos, the builders daughter, christened her, whilst Lt. Gordon Crisp, the first C.O., looked on proudly.

She was commissioned on January 25th 1943 & immediately sailed for the Wellington region, where she spent much of her wartime service.

After WWII, she was sold to a person by the name of Jarvis, who sold her to the Cook Islands Producer Board.

She was by then named, La Reta.

She left for Rarotonga on 19th May 1949 & stayed there for 2 years, after which she returned to Auckland & undertook excursion work (fishing trips) from 1950 to 1965 & in 1963 was renamed Sayandra.

Russell Ward  recalls she then had a flat / boxy top & vertical oblong screens to the open bridge but the Fairmile wheelhouse. He remembers some brave soul ‘tarting’ up a Fairmile in the early ’60s and running three day gulf excursions. Had male and female heads at the aft end of the deck house, this might account for the big water tank above in the above picture. Russell particularly remembers the toilet arrangements because he tried to talk them into giving him a holiday job as deckhand & had a good look over.  He also commented that in the photo she has a RDF and a loudspeaker on the foredeck which would suggest commercial use.

The most recent photo above was most likely was taken in or around the mid 1960s.

Power was originally 2 x 530HP Hall Scott V12 petrol engines replaced by 2 x 6-71 175 hp GM Detroit diesels after WWII.

To view / read an great Evening Post article on the building of the Fairmailes click the blue link below. (ex Harold Kidd)

SHIP PRODUCTION

10-11-2015 I recently received this great story from Vern Lake, one of the former crew – its a cool read. Enjoy. Alan H

I have been following and reading your very interesting articles., among others in my search for information and possible pics of where the Fairmile LA RETA is and what happened to her. La Reta (Q410) was used as a day fishing excursion vessel operating from the Princes Wharf launch steps on Quay St Auckland, under the command of Captain XXXXXXXXX (deleted by AH), retired ex Royal Naval Captain. ( I was always led to believe that Captain XXXXXXXX owned the LA RETA ) also operating from the same launch steps as a day fishing excursion vessel was the 60ft? Florence Kennedy owned and operated by Len Sowerby, also there was a much smaller vessel Shannondoah  also operating as a day  fishing excursion vessel,  owned and operated by Abe or Alby? my memory of his correct name is a bit hazy.
I worked and lived aboard the LA RETA for a few  years during the 1950s/early60s, the Engineers’ name was Bill Daveny, I was the deckhand/ Coxwain, also doubling as  Second Engineer on almost a daily basis on the homeward voyage as the Engineer had to berth the boat due to the Captain being drunk! ( I had to go to the side door of the Captains’ favourite Hotel every morning with a sugar bag to collect two bottles of square Gin and a dozen tall bottles of beer, the Captain had many habitual drinking mates who went out every day, they stayed in the wheelhouse drinking all day) I went below to operate the throttles and manual gearbox levers as per the ships telegraph signals from the Bridge. Captain XXXXXXXX misjudged the timing to signal the engine room on one occasion and the ship ended up with the bow under the wharf, luckily no one was injured!
 My Dad first took me out fishing on the LA RETA when I was 10 in 1951/52. I was a frequent passenger after that, the Engineer was a friend of my Dad so he took me under his wing and taught me well, I was the youngest on the Auckland waterfront to obtain my proficiency certificate of Radio Telephone Operator in 1959, LA RETA still had the wartime radio, compass and searchlight which was mounted on the Bridge, the Auxilliary engine was a Petters, mounted on the Starboard side of the engine room. We could comfortably carry 120 people with ample room for all to fish, there were regulars who went out 5 days per week, selling their fish on the pub black market!
I came to Australia for a holiday in mid 1962, liked it here so stayed, the Engineer was sent to Queensland early 1963 with explicit instructions to get me to go back to Auckland to crew on LA RETA as she was or had undergone alterations to become a luxury cruise vessel, I declined the offer, choosing instead to Skipper a 40ft Prawn Trawler on Moreton Bay Q’ld. The last I heard she had gone to the Islands then up to Canada. I have tried searching for her on the internet for 10 years, I made enquiries to the Canadian Marine Officials but with no luck,  early this year I got an email from a Lady in Auckland she said LA RETA was renamed Sayandra and was wrecked in the Islands and subsequently blown up as she could not be salvaged. Late last night I was again looking at your site and came across the above article that you posted early this year.

I would be grateful if you could email me any further info/pictures etc of the LA RETA/SAYANDRA. All my photos were lost during one of our big Queensland floods, La Reta was a big part of my younger life, ( I am now 75 ) I actually shed a few tears when I learned that she is now in Davey Jones’ locker…. VERY SAD ENDING to a fine ship!!!!!
My email address: thelakes@outlook.com.au

Jimmy Wrenn

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JIMMY WRENN

Built by Kem McPherson at Wakefield in 1946 from Redwood timber for well known Lake Rotoiti (Sth Island) identity James Wrenn.
She has undergone an extensive restoration & is for sale (trademe) at $9,500, this is a steal. Someone needs to bring Jimmy north, either Lake Rotoiti (Nth Island) or better still Auckland.

Come in James Mobberley –  this ones got your name on it – time you came home, the cult needs you 🙂

Thelma / Vera

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Thelma / Vera

THELMA / VERA

photos & details supplied by Bruce Yarnton. (Russell Ward added)

From the story below you will learn that Thelma has had a fascinating life & now her ‘bones’ sadly reside on the roof of the Lake Ohau Lodge, for protection after numerous backpackers decided kauri made good firewood 🙂 The lodge owners are interested if anyone has any old photos or tales for her past.
The tale of Jock Edgar & his gambling adventures are worth the read alone.

In the b/w photo above Thelma is berthed at Lake Wakatipu (Frankton) with the Remarkables in the background. There is no date to the photograph but sources have confirmed its pre 1920’s.

The History of Thelma (Vera)

The Thelma was built in Auckland in 1903 by Mr C Bailey, and engined by Messrs W A Ryan & Co, also of Auckland. Thirty five feet long with a six foot four inch beam, she was fitted with a 5 horse-power Union oil engine, and could accommodate thirty passengers. She was brought new to Dunedin by Messrs Hayward & Garratt to demonstrate the Union oil engine. She was not christened Thelma but was the Vera for the first few months of her life. The Vera’s maiden voyage was on the Otago Harbour in September 1903, and she was then bought by Mr Searle of Queenstown and by October 1903 was providing tours on Lake Wakatipu.
Six weeks later Vera had been overhauled by Ryan & Co after her bearings gave trouble, and was re-named Thelma at the same time.
Subsequent owners were Jno C McBride who took her over in 1906, and then Jock Edgar.

Quoted from “The Mount Cook Way” by Harry Wigley, first published 1979.

Jock Edgar was one of the characters of the district. A confirmed batchelor, an inveterate gambler, he had no family ties and not many other responsibilities, and would periodically go on a bender for two or three days. Jock who was never known to hurry, had a Southland drawl, and when he told one of his innumerable yarns, often against himself, his eyes and florid face would light up.
In his youth he was once lined up before the local magistrate – who happened to be his father – on a charge of being drunk and disorderly, and in due course he was fined 7s 6d. After listening to the magistrate make his pronouncement, Jock said in a loud voice: ‘You’ll have to pay it, Dad.’ He went off to the South African War and gambled his way round that country with varying degrees of success, finally arriving on board the ship which was to take the contingent home with not a penny in his pocket, and only the clothes he stood up in. He claimed that when he stepped ashore in New Zealand he owned nearly all the loose cash on the ship, as well as a wide range of saddles and bridles, watches and other gear.
Returning to his hometown of Queenstown, he bought a graceful old launch – the Thelma, with a yacht-type counter stern and a slow-revving single-banger engine – and with this he ran trips to the many parts of the lake not serviced by road. The old Thelma was later used on Lake Ohau for a number of years until she went ashore and was damaged beyond repair, and as far as I know she is still lying on the beach below the Lodge.
To cope with the expanding traffic Jock had built a modern passenger launch, the Kelvin, and he also developed walking trips up the Routeburn Valley and down the Greenstone, using a series of mountain huts and packhorses to carry in supplies. He ran the business from a small building on a piece of land he owned on the waterfront across the road from Eichardts, and it was this building which was moved to the Crown Range and later on to Coronet Peat to establish skiing there.
In the mid 1920s the Company bought the whole of Jock Edgar’s business, including the launches, the land on the waterfront, and his huts and horses. A modern building to replace Jock’s hut was erected on the waterfront site to house the branch office and staff. Once a year Dooley Coxhead, who was then Company secretary, did a round of the Routeburn and Greenstone Valleys to check the huts and count the horses, but it was not until some years later we found that the ones that Jock had sold to us actually belonged to the Tourist Department!

In a book called “All Aboard” by RJ Meyer which was about the old cargo boats, firstly yachts then latterly steam, it mentions the Thelma in the winter of 1933 being roped in to help with the mail and service run to Glenorchy. While the Earnslaw was having boiler repairs the Ben Lomond also developed boiler trouble and the Thelma was called on to serve the lakeside stations. The Thelma then had engine trouble and the Kelvin and the Muritai had to carry on the service.

Tamahere

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Tamahere

Sandspit Aug 2014
Sandspit Aug 2014

TAMAHERE

photo & details ex ken ricketts

Tamahere is seen above tied up at the Sandspit wharf. She is currently owned by Chris Metcalf who has had her for about 12 months & bought her off a Mr Rose. She has a small Isuzu engine, which replaced a 135 hp 6 cyl Ford, which had been right in the bow, & he has put the Isuzu more amidships.

The designer / builder is un-know & while there is no concrete proof the talk is she was launched in 1904. She appears to have been low wooded in the bow & has had the bow raised & combings added to, altered, or replaced, through the years, but not for a very long time as Ken recalls her more or less looking like she does now back in the 1950s/60s.

In her past life she was used for years by a number of Kawau Island residents & trades people (builders etc) to tow barges & be a work boat & workers transport, Also for a while was used to tow the fuel barge with big tanks on it, to the KIYC, from Sandspit. She was moored for quite a period in the 1970s & 1980’s in Smelting House Bay.

Currently kept up the Matakana River at Sandspit & is in the process of being, in the owners words, ‘tidied up’. Any help in ID’ing her & her past would be appreciated.

Fidelis + Ranger + Mason Clipper

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Fidelis + Ranger + Mason Clipper

Fidelis + Ranger + Mason Clipper

photos ex mason clipper facebook page

On the day when the CYA’s Classic Yacht Regatta should be being decided on the water, I thought it very approximate to publish the photo of Fidelis & Ranger sitting on the hard along with a Mason Clipper. Photo was taken at the Westhaven main ramp in 1968 when the A Class keeler ‘Fidelis’ was owned by Jim Davern left and on the right ‘Ranger’ owned then by Lou Tercel.

Unfortunately the weather gods have not been kind & the regatta was cancelled. My waterfront spies tell me both yachts + Te Aroa did race in the RNZYS Friday night harbour race with Fidelis pipping Ranger at the finish.

I have also posted a few stunning Clipper photos below.
One of the great mysteries of the classic boating movement is why these wonderful vessels were never really adopted by classic motorboat followers. Any where else in the world you would see groups of them restored to showroom condition. Only in the last few years have we seen the restoration of a few.

Maybe the reason has something to do with a tale told to me by an old yachtie. It went something like this.

In the early days of boating on the Waitemata, yachting was the big thing, interrupted occasionally by (slightly) managed motorboat racing. With the arrival of boats like the Mason Clippers, almost overnight there were scores of boats capable of exceeding 40mph, these boats were able to be purchased almost like a motor car & were as easy to ‘drive’. A whole new group of people entered the boating scene. You only have to look back at the list of the original Clipper owners, to see that to the whos who of Auckland business, owning a Clipper was the thing to do. The quiet bay & anchorages of the past the yachties treasured were now being invaded by a new ‘set’.

Is it possible that back then, the Clipper was ‘tagged’ by yachties like most of us now tag jet ski’s ?, remember this was in the days before big fast outboards were common.

(I read somewhere that it was 5 years before Sea Spray featured a Clipper in the magazine, further proof that they were not openly accepted?)

KORAMA (THETIS)

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Wade River 2014
Mansion House Kawau Is c1950
c1980
c2004
Wade River
2004
2004
Kawau c2000
Off Manly Beach
As original c1920

KORAMA (THETIS)

photos & details ex ken ricketts. edited by alan houghton & supplemented by harold kidd

Some fine detective work by Ken has uncovered that the launch Korama is in fact Ronald William Grant’s (b1897-d1984) launch Thetis. Grant named the launch after his wife Thetis Maud Grant nee Braund (b1896 d 1985), a daughter of famous rugby player and yachtsman Albie Braund who named her after his friend Reg Masefield’s steel 5 rater of 1895. Albie named his first launch MAVIS B, after his daughter Mavis (b1899). To complicate matters the vessel has changed name numerous times across her life. More on this below.

Korama is 34feet overall with a beam of 9 ft 6inches & cruises at 8-1/2 knots with a top speed of 14 knots.

She is presently owned by Leo Comesky, who bought her in October 2012 off Gus & Kelcey Gager who had brought her up from Tauranga c.1999. Comesky & Gager  have provided tech. & historical data & info., to Ken.

According to Comesky she was designed by Logan & built by Fred Mann, in 1922, in St Mary’s Bay. She was built for a Bob Knox of Grey Lynn, who apparently, along with his son, used to walk down to see her during construction, every evening. The Logan claim is questionable as she does not look like a Logan & if Arch Logan had designed her its highly unlikely that he would have allowed Fred Mann to build her. Mann was very much a spare-time builder at his John St., Ponsonby home, and nothing he built attracted much attention. His main job was looking after the horses for the Cashmores’ timber mill in Cox’s Creek and maintaining their craft.

Her original engine was an Ailsa Craig petrol engine & is presently powered by a 120hp Ford diesel.

Knox apparently owned her for 15 to 20 years & other owners include a Mr Dickson of Pakuranga (could be Jim Dickson an ASB manager of Pakuranga, who later had a sedan top 34 footer built by Owen Woolley who Ken knew well in the 60s & 70s), Bill Ridley of Pakuranga, Cyril Parker of Mission Bay (for approx. 6 years in the 1980’s – powered by a 110hp Ford diesel), Gary & Fay Lowe of Whangamata, Reg Hodson of Tauranga, & then she went to Picton. She was owned in Picton by a Mr M Montgomery (refer survey letter) & later returned to Tauranga where she was purchased by the Gagers

Leo Gager says that when Bill Ridley owned her, he changed her name back to Thetis. When Cyril Parker bought her, he discovered ‘Korama’ carved in to the tuck & changed her back again to Korama.

The Gager’s sold her to Comesky in October 2012.

In Grant’s day she had varnished coamings which no doubt were original, perhaps one day, someone may reinstate her to her absolute original concept.

What kindled the discovery:

Ken’s shape eyes & a good memory combined with Harold Kidd’s knowledge & wicked database combined with the following elements confirmed the discovery.
1. Both had Ailsa Craig 24h.p. engines
2. The common position of the their engines & exhaust i.e. well forward
3. The common rounding at the waterline at the tuck
4. The reference to Bill Ridley having owned her

07-01-2016 – photo ex Harold Kidd of Korama (c.1970?)

KORAMA221a

01-05-2017 Update from Leo Comeskey – hauled out at Weti River

Korama @ Weiti April2017

Seaway Fair

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Seaway Fever

SEAWAY FAIR

photo ex Colin Pawson

A bit of a mystery this one, I seem to recall her hauled out at Milford Marina a few years ago & boat builder Geoff Bagnall enclosing the cockpit. I would be very surprized if Mr Bagnall had anything to do with the penthouse addition.
Some good bones here – anyone able to supply further info on Seaway Fair?

opps – based on Ken R’s comment re the name & blowing the photo up, I think she is called Seaway Fair – have amended headings.

Harold Kidd Update

SEAWAY was indeed built by Lanes for Fred Brake in 1956. She was 38′x35′x11′x3′ and had an 85hp Graymarine petrol engine. Brake sold her to A E Hayman in September 1958 when he had Lanes build him SEAWAY FAIR.
Things get very confusing from then onwards.
I think what happened was
1. N T Burrill of Redoubt Road bought SEAWAY from Hayman in 1961 and changed her name to TANGAROA, which she was until at least 2003 when I spoke to her owner, Bill Burrill at Mahurangi. She had had a series of Perkins engines and then had a 100hp Yanmar.
2. I think that SEAWAY FAIR gradually became known as SEAWAY as well as SEAWAY FAIR.
3. If I’m right, then she was sold by Brake to A V Beckett of Castor Bay in 1973 and in 2011 she was for sale on Trade Me with a 120hp Ford.

21-07-2022 Input ex Angus Rogers – below photo from Rakino Island 01-05-2022

CYA Classic Yacht Regatta

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CYA Classic Yacht Regatta

CYA Classic Yacht Regatta

The Southern Trust sponsored 2014 CYA Classic Yacht Regatta was cancelled for safety reasons due to Cyclone Luis.

The (blue) link below is to the official event programme, check out some great photos & the very loyal event sponsors.

Classic Yacht Regatta 2014 E

Percy Vos Dory

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Percy Vos Dory

Waitematawoodys follower Sam Leijen, has asked for some help, In 1964 Vos built an 18ft dory at a cost of 300 pound, that was used in the Waitomo Caves for many years, it was retired in 1990 and now sits at the Waitomo Museum under the lean of the roof. Photos above, including the plans.

Sam is keen to get a better understanding of the plans so that one day he can build a replica. He is looking for a better understanding of some of the plan details & asks for any comments to clarify the meanings in the plans.

Hopefully a ww follower can help Sam. I can email the plans if anyone wants a better ‘view’.