Rehia Z15

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REHIA
photo ex Scott Taylor & details ex Harold Kidd

Rehia was launched by Colin Wild on 26th January 1939 for Gordon Bartleet but was bought by Frank Pidgeon of the Ace Tyre Co shortly after. She was powered by a single 6 cyl. petrol Buda that was imported by Seabrook Fowlds and installed by Allely Bros. A newspaper report at the time said she had twin Budas, but was wrong. She was fully mobilised with NAPS in 1943 as Z15 with Frank Pidgeon as skipper and Ron Hunt (married Jack Brooke’s sister) as crew. Bill Ryan bought her about 1948 (or possibly straight from the postwar disposal sale). She was loosely referred to as a “shortened Amakura”.

Scott Taylors father Mac, crewed on Rehia during the war when she was on boom patrol at North Head. Below are the navy documents recording Mac’s time aboard. click to enlarge.

More Rehia photos & details here.   https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/04/23/rehia/

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5 thoughts on “Rehia Z15”

  1. I ‘ve known REHIA, & the Ryan family since just after Bill & Phyl Ryan bought her, which was in 1945-46.
    She had a “Bendix” throttle & reverse system with the flat head 6 cyl. Buda, which had 2 spark plugs per cylinder with a single 12 position distributor cap.
    The Bendix system had 2 little levers about 5 inches long in a single twin unit, mounted on the facia in front & slightly to the left, of the helm, & was he first one I had ever seen, with a big standard type reverse lever, of that era, coming through the floor, which could be connected, in case the Bendix system failed at any time, — which as far as I know, I never did. — KEN R

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  2. Hi Sue, — I’ve known your dad since he was 14 years old & your late uncle Bob & I were both 12 — do drop me an email — would love to catch up & share some old days with you. — I remember you as a little girl, when you lived in Blockhouse Bay & your brother Robert as a real little character of 4. My email address is kennetharicketts@gmail.com — KEN R

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  3. So wonderful to see the Rehia looking so well cared for and looking just as I remember her.
    I am Geoff Ryan’s daughter and it was my Grandparents that owed her so I have many happy memories of trips away on her

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  4. Pingback: Rehia – Getting Dressed | waitematawoodys.com #1 for classic wooden boat stories, info, advice & news

  5. Comment from Barry Inglis (Nelson) – I found the article on the launch Rehia very interesting as the Ryan’s took me away on two Christmas cruises 1952/53 . One was to the Bay of Islands when the Queen visited Waitangi. For a young lad recently arrived from Christchurch they were wonderful days.

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