10 thoughts on “Motunau”

1. Hi, I was talking to Peter Chamberlin yesterday. He is a nursing home in Takanini. I was commenting on a huge Pohutukawa tree which formed the backdrop for a family photo taken at his farm on Ponui. This prompted him to talk about cutting Pohutukawa knees for the old Motunau farm launch. In turn we talked about the replacement aluminium boat…(I am assuming from the chat on this site, was Motunau II).
   From the general conversation, I took it that Motunau I was built by his father. However, now that I have read this WW article, I will question him more closely next time we visit him. He said in passing that he has a number of photos of the boat. If the current owner likes to make contact, I will be happy to supply more infso.
   Ross Dawson Kawakawa Bay

   LikeLike

2. Hi, Motunau is for sale, Wife and I quite keen, it would mean a move to Waiheke for the ole Girl, but maybe she wants to put her feet up too! I am reasonably practical, but I would be crazy not to have someone with experience in her form of construction have a good look!
   Any suggestions? Regards Tim Ord.

   LikeLike

3. New photo added. Alan H

   LikeLike

4. Another fine Gardner powered vessel.
   Had a direct drive gardner gearbox for years which was recently changed to a 1.5:1 twin disc hydraulic unit. She steams much better even with a bit of foul on the bigger prop. Don often comments on the note of her dry exhaust when under way. (Like a couple of trapped bumble bees in a tin can.)

   LikeLike

5. Hey, that’s pretty persuasive! It’s damned hard trying to follow the bewildering range of the Chamberlin brothers’ boats. In early times they were Logan Bros customers but some of the brothers had an allegiance to Lanes eg George’s PONUI II and Henry’s FALCON.

   LikeLike

6. In chat with Bob Salthouse about the design process of Kotanui, I was told: “…the lines on the Chamberlin’s Ponui work boat, Col had straightened out little and I felt that the boat ran with less of a wave form and ran very sweetly. With “Kotanui” I ventured a wee bit straighter…”

   LikeLike

7. Fred CHAMBERLIN (not Chamberlain) had two MOTUNAUs, the first c1950 and MOTUNAU II c1980, I’m guessing this boat is MOTUNAU I. In the Chamberlins’ history there is no mention of builders of either. I’m guessing Lidgards for MOTUNAU I because of the Chamberlins’ close friendship with the Lidgards since the days when the Lidgards were in Thames (1870s) and the building of MATIA in 1939.

   LikeLike

8. Hi, Motunau is proudly owned by Don Renwick (of Coates Ave, Orakei ) and has been so for many years.
   regards,
   Bruce T.

   LikeLike

9. She has lived much or all of her life after leaving Ponui, in Okahu Bay.

   LikeLike

10. She was built for Fred Chamberlain who owned & lived around the “back,” (on the southern side of Ponui Island & was his general transport for many years — towed stock barges to the mainland, as well as providing personal transport to Auckland. Never saw here cruising. Fred C., was a devout Christian, & took groups of children for camps on the island on her, as well.
    Recall is, she was built in the early 1950s around the time & not long after the LADY CROSSLEY & just before or after the HAUNUI, & of course was in general terms a copy of that style, but not so “up market,” & well kept being a “work boat.” He had her for many years. & as above may well have been built by Roy or Fred Lidgard or perhaps C. Wild, as the most likely contenders for this title. — Used to know but have forgotten. Superstructure particularly the bridge section, has been modified a little through the years. — KEN R

    LikeLike