Kereru

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KERERU

Info & photos ex Sea Spray magazine ex Neil Chalmers

Following on from yesterdays post on the mystery Brin Wilson’s motorsailer – today we have Kereru (maori for pidgeon) another Brin Wilson designed & built 30′ motor-sailer. Originally built for Frank Pidgeon (……..Kereru).
She was the cover / lead story on the June 1960 edition of Sea Spray.
With a 86hp Ford diesel engine she would have had a good turn of speed when the wind dropped. These boats were very practical & attractive solutions to the power/sail dilemma , the only other that has come close is the fiberglass replica Logan 33’s, which unfortunately are no longer in production.

Anyone know where Kereru is today?

Update from Mark McLaughlin (article from NZ Herald 29 Jan 2011)
Kereru is now on Lake Rotoiti & since arriving she has had her saloon windows enlarged but is otherwise fairly original, and kept in great condition. There are also some photos of her on WW under the 2014 Wooden Boat Parade post.

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7 thoughts on “Kereru”

  1. I sold Kereru from her second owner to a Gary Joess, Glendowie Plumber in my early days as a broker..she was still a full on motorsailer. I then sold her 20 odd years later to Brian Marbeck, another glendowie plumber, from Gary who had health issues. Brian refitted her twice, once at Wilsons where they removed the rotten mast etc, then at Okahu sheds for a deck restore etc. I then helped Brian sell her to Gus Gardner and Buzz, helped on the delivery to Tga, where she was then trucked to Rotoiti. Now for sale, sadly they modified the windows which gives her a droopy eyed look. I also sold her smaller sister Pirimanu from the original owners, The MacIndoe Family, to her current owners, Dennis Craig, late of ‘The Engine Room’. She now resides in Matiatia , still a treat. She was actually a Gladden I think, built by Wilsons..

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  4. hi Alan I think it’s Buzz’s boat (on our committee). was in our parade this year, here is the bit from our website

    thanks Rachel

    40.“Kereru” Owned by Buzz Rathbone and Gus Gardner since 2009. Kereru is a 30 ft. Kauri Launch built by Brin Wilson in 1959 for Frank Pidgeon hence the name Kereru. As well as being a family cruising boat she was alsoused for deliveries around Kawau Island . 40.“Kereru” Owned by Buzz Rathbone and Gus Gardner since 2009. Kereru is a 30 ft. Kauri Launch built by Brin Wilson in 1959 for Frank Pidgeon hence the name Kereru. As well as being a family cruising boat she was alsoused for deliveries around Kawau Island .

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  7. Spoke her in North Harbour, Ponui, a couple of years ago. Folks who had her seemed aware of her history, including being “cover girl” in Seaspray.

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