Eros

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EROS

photo & details ex Harold Kidd

The above photo is of the 34ft launch EROS racing in the 1929 Anniversary Regatta in the race for cruisers over 12 knots.
Stan Parker of Parker Engineering bought her in late 1927/early 1928. She was supposedly “well-known on the Manukau” prior to that, but who built her, under what name and when HDK hasn’t yet figured out.
Maybe she was built by Les Coulthard?
Stan Parker re-engined her with a 100hp Hall-Scott (probably an aero-engine) and set about racing her with the NZPBA, Victoria Cruising Club and Devonport Yacht Club. She was an 18 knotter.
Stan sold her to W. Fullerton in June 1935 and took Fullerton’s NOMAD in exchange which he then handed over to Lidgards to completely rebuild, extending her from 35ft to 42ft and renaming her ARAWA. NOMAD had been built in 1919 as IRIHAPETI but is now a bridgedecker known as REHUTAI but supposedly with “Lanes” as her builder and a build date of “1949”.
Fullerton sold EROS off immediately to J. Gresham of Tauranga who had her until at least February 1938.
So, what were EROS’ origins before Stan Parker and what happened to her after 1938 in Tauranga?

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1 thought on “Eros”

  1. A lovely fast & fascinating boat, with multi-faceted special associations for me, — gave me a huge buzz when I saw her, — had no idea she existed, but knew the owner of the day, in his RAKANOA era, (1940s+), & know his son, who is still with us.
    She seems to me, to be very much a part of the future, at that time, with those “massive” aft cabin windows in that style, — beautiful.
    Also the name was given to the 1st 40ft Vindex, (now called LADY KIWI), now at the private berths at Gulf Harbour, which was built in 1972 by Orams in Whangarei for Alf Broadhead, of Auckland, who I feel certain, had no idea she existed, (I think he could well have called his boat EROS II, if he had known,) & also, it was during a visit on EROS (ii?) Labour Weekend 1974 that I took the decision to build TIARRI, which happened 2 years later — so all in all fantastic!!!! – Thank you so much, Harold & Alan, for sharing her with us all. — KEN RICKETTS

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