Tasman / Little Tasman (Mystery Launch 01/07)
Time for a little quiz – who can ID this launch.
The answer is Little Tasman
To quote Harold Kidd – it’s the first TASMAN, a 26 footer built by Colin Wild for Albert Spencer in December 1925.
She was later known as “Little Tasman” . In the photo she is honking along in 1927 with her Stearns bellowing.
An update on Little Tasman
CYA member Bruce Pullan (MV Ann Michelle) have sent me a later photo of Little Tasman, Bruce received this from the then owner when she was for sale a few years ago on trademe. She was at Kawau at time and not running. The owner advised that he was going to take it out of the water back at the mainland if it did not sell.
Bruce first came across Little Tasman on the Manukau during the 1970s (late he thinks) she was owned by Don Garner who was the Commodore of the Manukau Cruising Club at the time. The Manukau Cruising Club was still racing launches during the 1970s.
Here she is in Feb 2012 hauled out at Pt Wells. Photo by CYA member Mark Edmonds
Photo below from Ken Ricketts – Mansion House Bay, Kawau Island – Xmas 1948. Showing Little Tasman.
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2012 photo added
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Let’s get Jase interested. She’s pure class!
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Hi there. She was at Point Wells on the hard in a guys back yard about a year ago. John Pryor sent me there to see if I could fall in love with her. I did, but I had huge commitment issues. She’s probably still there. John Pryor will know the contact.
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2007 photo added
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Can’t believe I typed LITTLE JIM,
I had felt she was LITTLE TASMAN, not LITTLE JIM, & I still infuriatingly typed LITTLE JIM — talk about stupid — old age must really be setting in — too many “senior moments” sometimes–KEN R
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I’m sure Moon engines could find Jason a suitable substitute for that hot Stearns so that he could plane all over the Gulf. He’s just a hotrodder at heart.
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Project for Jase if My Girl isnt procurable….
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The last I knew was that back in 2011 John Pryor commented on the CYAF that she was at Kawau & looking a little neglected 😦
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Beaut. Where is she now?
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Yes Mr Pullan – you are correct – details now on the post.
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Alan, give this man the cigar!
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Is this boat Little Tasman originally Tasman.
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Which LITTLE JIM are you thinking about, the Curtiss V8 powered hydroplane or the Leigh-based fishing launch owned by Knaggs?
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No
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Could it be LITTLE JIM? — KEN R
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