The Evolution of a Whale Chaser
The photo ex Paul Drake (others ex Chris Miller)
Yesterday was one of those days when ww turns up a gem. There are a few photos from the early days c.1960 of the Jack Morgan designed & built Perano whale chaser Rorqual & there are also lots of present days photos but to the best of my knowledge there were none of her in the ‘between years’.
Then whamo out of the blue Paul Drake sends me the above photo of Rorqual hauled out at Mana, just north of Wellington, in about 1986. This would be just before she was rebuilt /re-powered in 1988.
As Paul commented looking at her lying over on her chine, one could be forgiven for fearing for her future, but of course she survived.
Searching ‘Rorqual’ in the ww Search Box will show you a lot more detail, or if your tight on time, this link will taken to a great story on her past https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/03/21/the-launching-of-rorqual/
Now the question for her owners Andrew & Alex Millers (sons of Chris Miller) – when is she booked into the time-machine for a trip back to 1986? 😉
Evolution Gallery Below
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good to see balaena on Counrty Calendar , beautiful little girl , still gets along well https://www.tvnz.co.nz/shows/country-calendar/episodes/s2022-e24
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Just the one at Pauatahanui – SURPRISE. The Collings and Bell FLEETWING is also there, painted whale chaser green, but she wasn’t a whale chaser.
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Are any of the Great Barrier whale boats still alive?
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There’s still a couple at the Pauatahanui inlet near Mana, including the Collings & Bell Surprise
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Don’t be lazy, click the link & read 😦
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I had no idea that the Peranos had rebuilt her top sides to that extent post whaling. Great pic.
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What is she powered with these days?
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That must have been how she was left when Gil Perano died and before Tom Birsdall (then son in law of Gil) rescued her and had her trucked up to Geoff Bagnall for the rebuild.
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