Arohanui

Posted on by

AROHANUI
photo & details ex Ross Farrant

Arohanui was built by Roy Parris in 1974 & is 30′ long. Owner Ross purchased her a couple of years ago from a gent by the name of Doug Wood. Ross understands Doug runs (perhaps ‘ran’ now) a diesel servicing business out of Westhaven.

Milford boatbuilder Geoff Bagnall was an apprentice under Roy Parris at the time Arohanui was built, Ross spoke to Geoff recently and he told Ross that he remembers there were 4 of these 30′ launches built, he also recalls that Arohanui was built for a Dick Milburn who is now deceased. Geoff knows nothing of her history after that.

You will notice in the above photo a small cabin top on the foredeck. Geoff Bagnall did that job for previous owner Doug wood at his Milford shed a few years ago, it appears that most of Roy’s boats had a flush foredeck but Doug wanted headroom, and it does work, brings more light into the boat and doesn’t detract from the overall look of the boat.

Arohanui is powered by a Lees Marine conversion, six cylinder Ford truck engine, Ross was amazed at how much oil the sump took when he did my first oil change.

Anything anybody can tell ww about her history would be great as Ross & Sue Farrant are a bit light on details relating to her past.

(sorry about the photo quality, as supplied)

5 thoughts on “Arohanui”

  1. Arohanui was purchased by my father Doug Wood in 2007 from Graeme Hawkins and was in need of some TLC. We moved her from OBC to Westhaven where she was completely refurbished. This included full exterior stip and repaint, all interior paint and varnish, interior furnishings and re-design of the fore deck to allow for full head room foreward with the work being done by Geoff Bagnall. The family enjoyed many holidays around the Hauraki Gulf until sold in 2012 to Ross & Sue Farrant, and they moved her to Whangarei. Doug was was a Marine Engineer by trade and ran his own business from the back of his van in Westhaven for over 35 years. Doug was a personal friend of Roy Parris who designed and built Arohanui. Doug grew up hanging out in Roy’s shed and had a great appreciation of the distinctive Parris designs.

    Like

  2. She may have been owned by a Graeme Hawkins of St Heliers in the late eighties kept at the OBC marina? Or was that a sister ship.

    Like

Leave a comment