Ocean Queen

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2014
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2014
2005

OCEAN QUEEN

The Taupo owner (Paul Stewart) of Ocean Queen would like to find out more about the boat he has owned since a 2003.

She is a carvel sedan approx 30′, built he believes in 1937 in Onehunga. Paul knows no more of her lineage than that. She is currently powered by 4 cylinder Fordson through a Paragon box. Paul believes she probably started life as a Flush Decker and has since had the coach-roof raised to accommodate the windows and headroom.

She was bought off a Pukekohe owner who moored her on the Tamaki river, she now trundles happily around Lake Taupo laughing at the worst of what the lake can throw at her.

Above are some photos of her when first in Taupo, around 2004 and a couple in the current state.

Paul would love to know more of Ocean Queen’s history whilst he enjoys her for this part of her life.

Update – Lots of info / chat on Ocean Queen in the comments section. Check out this story ex Harold Kidd ex PapersPast from the Auckland Star 22 July 1935. She must have been well built 🙂

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13 thoughts on “Ocean Queen”

  1. Pingback: Ocean Queen – A Peek Down Below | waitematawoodys.com #1 for classic wooden boat stories, info, advice & news

  2. Thanks very much Guys, Fantastic to have at least some history now. I guess July 20 better be a proper knees up!

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  5. You can research the Blackwells of Great Barrier Island through Google and Papers Past. They were great characters. Jonathan Ralph Blackwell (1884-1941) commissioned OCEAN QUEEN from Joe Slattery at Judges Bay and took delivery in July 1920. Blackwell sailed her back to Tryphena and did the finishing work “very neatly”. She was schooner rigged with two lugsails and a jib and most passages were done under sail with gentle power assistance.
    I haven’t had time to figure out the Blackwell dynasty but in July 1935 an “A. Blackwell” brought a severely injured Kauri Timber Co worker back to Auckland in a terrific gale. Great story in Auckland Star of 22/7/35.
    Nathan’s comment that the present cabin top looks like a Coulthard job may have legs. Les Coulthard was, of course, an excellent boatbuilder at Onehunga and may have done her cabintop. That would match the story you have, but is pure assumption.
    Sorry I can’t fill any gaps between 1935 and Taupo.

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  6. Well Harold, I am delighted!

    I’ve not done any research on “Queenie” before and agree, If there is one thing that abounds, its boating myths.

    I would love to know her full history.

    Cheers PS

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  8. Neat! On a similar theme, was the Slattery Pacific made more hefty for cargo and towing? She has big turned bollards/posts on the stern. Her ribs were cracked in a big smack with the barge at one stage apparently, and she also ran right into a channel bouy and stopped dead suffering no damage

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  9. There have been umpteen WAINUIs. The Slattery one was a 28ish footer built late 1923/early 1924. That’s the boat Val Maxwell bought in 1936 after she’d been impaled on a rock at Rangitoto and pretty much a write off. He fitted her with a 1918 Studebaker engine.
    However I understand OCEAN QUEEN was more Blackwell than Slattery and was an unusual hull form, built for cargo carrying. Blackwell used sails on her and did enormous distances with her. She was an outstanding sea boat.

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  11. If the owner wants her full history and can handle having his myths exploded, he can contact me through WW.

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  12. I’m sure we’ve been here before, or I’ve been asked before and clearly not believed by her owner.
    The 29ft OCEAN QUEEN was built by Joe Slattery at Judges Bay in July 1920 for J.R. Blackwell of Tryphena, Great Barrier Island. Blackwell used her for carrying goods to the Barrier and produce to Auckland.

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