WANDA

details & photo ex Ken Ricketts. edited by Alan H

Wanda, known to her original owners, the Porter family as ‘Little Wanda’. She was the Porter families introduction to the world of pleasure boating. Fred Porter got ‘the bug’ while out on Claude Atherton’s Manawai during WW II c1942-43. Claude Atherton was an employee of Mason & Porter at that time.

Her actual build date is unclear, but Fred’s son, David Porter, told Ken Ricketts he had been told he was taken away on her in 1943, when he was 3 weeks old, so she was built pre 1943. Terry Porter, David’s younger brother, feels she was probably built by Garth Lane or his father.

Wanda is approximately 26′ long & was powered by a Ford V8 petrol engine (most likely marinised by M & P) & was very quick for her era.

The above photo was taken at David’s grandfather (founder of the M & P) Reuben Porter, family home, on the water’s edge at Beachlands.

She was later replaced by Wanda II, built new c.1948 by the Lane Motor Boat & Mason & Porter. Then in 1961 with another Lane Motor Boat / M & P built launch, the 58′ Marnine & then again later with the luxury 68′ aluminum motor yacht Simran built by McMullen & Wing, which is now based overseas.

Keen to find out what happened to Wanda post the Porter period of ownership.