Ngarunui

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NGARUNUI
photo ex Dean Wright

The photo of the above motor-sailer (or maybe its more a launch with a steadying sail) was sent to me by Bay of Islands based professional photographer Dean Wright so I’m assuming the location is ‘North’.

Can anyone ID the vessel & supply more info on her?

Details from Robin Elliott

Its Ngarunui. To my mind she is the best looking boat in the Bay. Could do with a more sympathetic colour scheme, the lolly blue doesn’t appeal to me,  but that’s just being picky.

Jim Young built about 1955, so I assume a Young design as well. Registered with the AYMBA by J.A.K. Spicer and C.R. Pollard in 1957 with dims of 48ft x 46ft x 11ft 8 in x 4ft 3 in and a 165hp diesel of undeclared make.

She was based in Whangarei when I moved up here around 2006 but has lately been moored in Te Uenga Bay (Parekura Bay). Haven’t seen her out much recently but we did sight her a couple of times over the summer.

Harold Kidd Update

According to Lloyds Yacht Register she was designed and built by J.H. Young in 1955 for J.A.K. Spicer and C.R. (Russ) Pollard. She is 48’x46’x11’8″x4’3″ and was originally powered with twin GM 165hp diesels of 1942 vintage (obviously ex-USN) + an 11hp Coventry Cub. Beautiful craft!

25-01-2016 Update

As ID’ed by Russell Ward (3 June 2015) Ngarunui has 2 prop shafts, one above the other. See Ken Ricketts photos below.

NGARUNUI 2 prop 4

27-01-2016 Update

Stewart Lodge (current owner) reports that Ngarunui had a single 165 6-71, and this was replaced with a 210hp version of the same. Always had the aux engine mounted behind the main with shaft above. The current engine is a Doosan (Korean) commercially rated engine at 200hp, solid mounted.

30 thoughts on “Ngarunui”

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  4. She is really quite massive inside & I’ve seen the Doosan, & it almost rattles around with the space available

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  6. Apologies to all concerned.
    I am probably responsible for this confusion over single or twin GMs. I got the wrong idea looking at the Lloyd’s Yachting Register where it recorded twin engines. I assumed it meant twin GMs, but of course one of them was the auxiliary Coventry Cub.

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  8. No problem Alan. You can rest assured my comments are correct as I have the original log book for the boat which has everything recorded in it. I think Ken had some confusion with another boat he was reporting on at the same time. Thanks.

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  10. Hi Guy’s, a couple of small corrections. She has never had twin 165’s. She had a single 165 6-71, and this was replaced with a 210hp version of the same. always had the aux engine mounted behind main with shaft above. The current engine is a Doosan (Korean) commercially rated engine at 200hp, solid mounted. Thanks.

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  11. Stewart tells me she has had 2 x 6-71 Detroits, the original being 175hp, which was the standard spec of the day, when she was built, this was later replaced with a larger hp version c250hp, & ultimately the Iveco she has today. — KEN R

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  13. Comment from Russel Ward (vintagesteamer)
    I knew she had that! Thought it strange at the time.
    She was on the grid at Westhaven (the one out back of AMYC) in ’62 when the old man put Ngakiwa up for a scrub -I did all the scrubbing and awkward stuff and he cut in the waterline. Rehia was alongside and Billy Rogers was doing her bottom too -painted in an old white shirt -not a splash on him. Funny the things that make an impression on a young kid.

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  15. Fantastic Stewart,– Really look forward to it – Will be home all Saturday but not Sunday — Cheers
    Ken

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  16. No problem Ken, I will give you a call next time I’m down. Probably either Saturday or Sunday.
    Cheers, Stewart

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  17. Hi Stewart, I would love to have a look aboard — have known her since ’79 but never been aboard. I live very close, ring if you wish when it’s convenient on 09 424 5505. Ken R

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  19. Could have been the same NGARUNUI, en route to her new home. — She arrived yesterday. — Will watch out for the owners & try & get an update KEN R

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  20. Hi Guy’s,

    Nice to read your comments. We bought the boat off Tom Harold who has done a fantastic job on keeping her in great condition. We bought her down the coast last Friday night arriving in Bonaccord at about 11.30pm and yes stayed Saturday night in Pukapuka inlet and back to GH Sunday midday. We are looking forward to many adventures aboard this summer. You are more than welcome to come and have a look over her if you like, just contact me through e-mail. Regards, Stewart Lodge

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  24. NGARUNUI has now ‘moved house’ & now lives right opposite our front door at Gulf Harbour. — Have sent a pic to Alan — KEN R
    Added below AH

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  25. Only 1 x GM when Mike Croull owned her in the early 2000s then when sold north she turned up for the Rudder Cup with a much quicker new engine Iveco maybe?

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  26. She used to live at Half Moon Bay back in 1979-80. — The day my boat TIARRI was launched on 20th October 1979, we were allocated the use of a berth there for the weekend, & she was in the next door berth. — KEN R

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  27. According to Lloyds Yacht Register she was designed and built by J.H. Young in 1955 for J.A.K. Spicer and C.R. (Russ) Pollard. She is 48’x46’x11’8″x4’3″ and was originally powered with twin GM 165hp diesels of 1942 vintage (obviously ex-USN) + an 11hp Coventry Cub. Beautiful craft!

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  28. Simon Smith
    2015-06-02 18:22:42

    This is a jim young launch presently owned by Tom Harold and is anchored in Parekura bay Bay of Islands. At one stage she was owned by Spic Spicer who had her in 1968.Tom has her in very good condition and uses her frequently with family.
    Just can’t remember her name!!!,,

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  29. Yep Ngarunui. To my mind she is the best looking boat in the Bay. Could do with a more sympathetic colour scheme, the lolly blue doesn’t appeal to me, but that’s just being picky.

    Jim Young built about 1955, so I assume a Young design as well. Registered with the AYMBA by J.A.K. Spicer and C.R. Pollard in 1957 with dims of 48ft x 46ft x 11ft 8 in x 4ft 3 in and a 165hp diesel of undeclared make.

    She was based in Whangarei when I moved up here around 2006 but has lately been moored in Te Uenga Bay (Parekura Bay). Haven’t seen her out much recently but we did sight her a couple of times over the summer.

    Like

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