MERITA
photo ex Pam Cundy at Whangateau Traditional Boat Yard
All I know about today’s launch are 3 things – her name , the photo was taken at Great Barrier Island in 2013 & she is a fine looking vessel. So folks what do we know about Merita?
Photos below ex Brian Worthington & Ken Ricketts
09-11-2015 Input from Murray Morrissey. edited by Alan H
Merita was named after a bay in the Far North.
Merita was built by Murray’s Father in law – James (Jim) Dymock of Takapuna. She was built in his brothers building yard ( Bill Dymock) behind the Waitemata Power Board in Taharoto Rd.
Murray is not sure of the hull design but the cabin top was designed by Brin Wilson. She was launched in 1965 in the Milford Creek where she spend her early years. In those days she sat in a mud berth in front of the Milford Cruising Club. She was powered by an A.E.C. – war surplus tank engine – a beautiful sounding engine that pushed her along at 12-13 knots.
She was sold in 1971 to a Mr. Robertson who lived in Red Bluff Rise in Cambells Bay. From there Murray lost track of her.
Murray can clearly remember standing near the cliff face at Kennedy Park, Castor Bay, watching her heading northwards on the day she changed hands – with a heavy heart. She was a beautiful boat.
Merita was back in the Milford Creek in the late 1980`s or there abouts – crying out for some TLC. Murray then saw her at Gulf Harbour in pristine condition a few years ago & was very happy to see someone was looking after her.
waitematawoodys.com #1 for classic wooden boat stories, info, advice & news - updated daily 
Pingback: Merita – 6 Years Older | waitematawoodys.com #1 for classic wooden boat stories, info, advice & news – updated daily
Pingback: Merita – Launch Day | waitematawoodys.com #1 for classic wooden boat stories, info, advice & news
Information coming out of our ears – most of it “wrong“. As I said in an earlier blog, she was built by my father in law – James (Jim) DYMOCK of Takapuna. She was originally powered by an A.E.C. – beautiful low revving motor. Not sure of the hull design but cabin was designed (not built) by Brin WILSON. All the timber (Kahikatea) came from the NICKS timber yard in Takapuna. She was launched in 1965 at Milford. Russell WARD will soon post some early photos of MERITA – so watch this space. She has undergone considerable alterations since launching – still looking a magnificent boat. Trust this will clear up any misconception Allan.
LikeLike
New info ex son-in-law of original owner added to post. Alan H
LikeLike
Stan Parker’s ‘1960 Lanes’ too haha
LikeLike
And they’re not at all interested in correcting misinformation because they say that they rely on the representations of the owners, many of whom have developed their own mythologies, based on crook information by the ghastly breed of ever-eager “experts” we see on WW, plus a dollop of wishful thinking and an eye to puffing up their provenance.
Look at LEITNER on this site….. and heaps of others. Brian W is one of the very few brokers who know and care but, even so, must inevitably be persuaded by his vendors’ mindsets and convictions.
LikeLike
Thanks for this Ken, but in all due respect to Brian W & other brokers, what they put on a sales listing is normally what they have been told by the vendor & past experience has shown us that vendors & brokers are the worst culprits at embellishing a vessels provenance to help a sale or justify an asking price. Broker listings in terms of designer, builder & year of build can help in the ID process but are not a factual record like a cars registration papers & should only be viewed as hearsay.
LikeLike
Have just received the following from my good friend Brian Worthington form hi company’s sales records, — interesting reading.
Herewith;
Vessel Type: Monohull Registered Ship: No
Power or Sail: Power Cockpit loc —
Launched: 1965 S/D Cockpit: —
Designer: McGeady/Brin Wilson Launch Config: Sedan
Keel Type:
Hull Colour: White
Deck Colour: Cream
A true gentleman’s launch. Timber construction, launched approximately 1965. 6’6″ headroom with 2 double and 4 single berths, rear galley beautifully appointed. Powered by reconditioned 90hp Ford only 420 hours, giving 7 – 10 knots. Electronics include VHF, GPS, chartplotter, depthsounder, fishfinder and stereo. A must for a discerning buyer.
Construction
Builder: McGeady/Wilson
Hull Material: Timber Displacement(kg): 9.5 Tonne
Hull construction: Carvel single skin LOA(m):13.6 LOH(m):11.6
Deck construction: Totara Planks, Cabin top 3 layers 12mm Ply Glassed Beam(m): 3.0
Built to SSM: No Draft(m): 1.0
LikeLike
fair call Alan ;P i was about to star it down if it was.
LikeLike
Hi, ‘Merita’ was bought as our family launch 5 yrs ago in Opua. We were told she was a McGeady hull with a Brin Wilson cabin top. Bob Wilson did her survey for us, & said the cabin top was definitely not done by Wilsons, plus it is also not kaikatea or a kauri planked boat. The wood is similar to iroko not that either. She is definitely a 60’s boat. We have no other info. about her, & would love someone to enlighten us to her history. We are really happy with her. Cheers, Lesley & Gus Gager
LikeLike
Pretty sure she is a McGeady with a Brin Wilson cabin . We have owned her for around 5 years having previously owned Korama a 1920 flush decker. She is powered by a 6cyl Ford trader pretty sure it is the original motor but has been reconditioned. We have also splined the topsides and given the boat a complete repaint. Many people comment on her beautiful lines.
Kelcey Gager
LikeLike
That sounds right – too pretty to be a McGeady………… I know I’m bad 🙂
LikeLike
Built in strip planked kihikatea by Brin Wilson?
LikeLike
Sorta looks like a square Waimiga, or a late classic Brin Wilson or perhaps yeah a Woolley
LikeLike
Karen Moren has been in touch with Ben Hipkins who had taken over Supreme Craft from Mc Geady by then. & confirmed that that MERITA is not a McGeady- Hipkins boat — Ben H., suggests she may an be Owen Woolley, however sounds like speculation to me. –KEN R
LikeLike
New photos added. AH
LikeLike
Have sent loads of pics to Alan, & according to Brian Worthington she was built by McGeady in 1965, but have no authentication of this yet, & have Karen Moren following through on it to see what she can come up with. — KEN R
LikeLike
Hi Justine
Can you tell us more about her?
Alan H
LikeLike
Thankyou for posting these photos of Merita. She is our beautiful boat. We love our boat too.
LikeLike