Sunken Launch – Invader
A wee quiz to start the week off – the 1st woody to correctly name the launch shown in the above photos, wins 2 tickets to the NZ Premier screening of a very cool movie called ‘Birds of a Feather’.
14-09-2016 Update – The boat is Invader. The details on the photo said “Townsend’s Invader”. The photo came from Ken Jones via Ken Ricketts. And no one guessed it, so the tickets will be offered up again 😉
The film is based on the annual Seagull outboard race on the Waikato River, over the last 18months I have seen numerous drafts & rough cuts, trust me it’s a goodie. See synopsis below & click on the link to view the trailer 😉
Film Synopsis:
For the 30th consecutive year, a modest group of eccentrics assemble at the base of the Karapiro hydro dam, ready to embark on one the world’s longest and most challenging small boat races. The Great Waikato Seagull race draws contestants from all round New Zealand, all vying to conquer the mighty Waikato river but with an unlikely choice of hardware.
The British Seagull once touted as ‘The best outboard motor in the world’ is now famous for all the wrong reasons. With a reputation for being hopelessly unreliable, the British seagull is a relic of modern technology dating back to the second world war.
‘Birds of a Feather’ is the story of seagull racing on the Waikato where competitors from all walks of life, battle 141km downstream subjecting themselves to an arduous two day challenge that will test their patience, tempers and humour! They don’t have to be crazy, but it certainly helps!
If you don’t win – you can book tickets here (only $10) http://www.thevic.co.nz/movies/11992.php
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Pingback: The History of Invader | waitematawoodys.com #1 for classic wooden boat stories, info, advice & news
The evocative hum/thrum/roar/splutter of a well-sorted Seagull under full raw power running down an estuary brings back wonderful childhood memories of an earlier less-complicated age.
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Come on Harold bail us out here 🙂
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The early motors read ‘Best outboard motor in the world’ then someone else built an outboard motor and it was a vast improvement on the seagull. So seagull quietly swapped ‘IN’ for ‘For’ Both phrases are correct!
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It was indeed the manufacturers eternal slogan – “THE BEST OUTBOARD MOTOR IN THE WORLD,” & so very true, I believe it was the surely was best outboard motor in the world & still is one of the best outboard motors ever made. KEN R
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I always believed the phrase was “The best outboard motor FOR the world, But if you look at the top of the flywheel it definitely say “the best outboard motor IN the world.”
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Can’t name the launch, but I spy the ferry PUPUKE in one shot and Blue Boat’s IONOTO on the slipway.
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This is a small thing, but the Seagull catch phrase was ” the best outboard motor for the world”
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