KA- IWA
photos ex trademe
Not all classic woody owners are content with sub 10 knot cruising, well if that’s you & your looking for hassle free woody boating at the speed of light today’s post on Ka-iwa the 28′ Mason Clipper will appeal. Built in 1968 she is a true kiwi classic, with a great maritime history being originally owned by the Stevenson Family & possibly the first twin engine Mason. She has some serious off shore racing history, therefore was built very strong & in bad weather, leaves most boats in her wake. Post racing is was then returned to the Mason yard in Auckland & a custom hard top made. Then retired to Stevenson’s bach up north as their holiday launch.
Powered by twin 350hp, Chev’s Ka-iwa will do over 45 knots, but is happy to cruise at 25 knots at low revs. She underwent an extensive bare wood restoration approx 5 yrs ago & as you will see from the photos also received a total refit inside. The Mason Clippers are very family friendly kiwi classics & this one can sleep upwards of 8. At her length she is a perfect dry-stack boat, which helps solve the where do I keep her dilemma.
So woodys if you own an oil (petrol) well & are into retro classics that go like a cut cat – Ka-iwa could be for you
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I own her. The recent (pretty punchy) price increases at Pier 21 have brought home to me that I am not using her nearly enough. So I’m thinking of selling her. Hard to do as she’s an awesome boat and we’ve had a lot of fun with her. Will prob put some photos etc up on Trademe before summer. Happy to consider offers in the meantime.
David
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Any chance of finding who owns Ka-iwa now and if she’s for sale? Cheers Chris
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Hi,I owned Ka Iwa for about 6 years,I brought her out east in a fairly shabby condition,we then took her out and gave her a major do over,she sure was an amazing beast,super grunty and next level in bad weather,also could be thrown up on her side at speed,When I sold her on we sorted 2x new GM 350 and got them put in.Lucky new owner.I now have a haines which is awesome but boring after owning Ka Iwa
John
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She now has two brand new chev v8s
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Many years ago my father, Len Gilbert raced his Rex Henry designed ‘Panic’ (renamed Kitten by Trevor Burnand) against Bill S in Ka Iwa.. Later as a teenager, I went out diving with Jack S when Ka Iwa was kept in their boatshed at Orakawa Bay in the BoI,s . Some years after that the Stevies repowered her with twin Volvo 270s on Volvo legs (350 chev based). I and a partner bought her with 50hrs on these motors some time after that. She carried 600lt of fuel and if run up past 2800rpm , could use that in no time. We kept her for 5 years. As stated, a truly awesome rough weather hull. We sold her to Ozzie James of Hamilton (hydrofoil ferry fame) and he gave her the transom arrangement seen now. Later I spied her on the dry stack at Pine Harbour, then Pier 21
She was a great boat, built likr the proverbial brick outhouse with laminated ring frames at 4 or 6″ centres inside a 28mm planking.. Almost unbreakable.
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Haha that boat is on my watchlist. Perfect for down here. Wooden boat association AGM today and I’ve been nominated for the committee look forward to helping promote next years regatta!
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