1966
INVADER
The launch Invader appeared on ww in early Sept 2016, looking a tad sad, being partially submerged (link below). This story prompted her owner for the last 30 years, (sadly the late) Morrie Dunwoodie to contact ww. Morrie’s uncle bought the boat in 1966. Morrie included the above photos & well documented details on her past. Ken Ricketts & myself have edited this into the story below.
Sunken Invader Link https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/09/13/sunken-launch/
The History of Invader (as told by Morrie Dunwoodie)
Invader measures 36′ with a 10′ 2″ beam & is a single skin hard chine, kauri hull & originally had a 6 or 8 cyl petrol engine, with an auxiliary wing motor, with a port side shaft. The wing motor was removed some time before the present owner bought her.
She had been bought by Peter Harrison, in 1957, who owned her until 1959, at which time he sold her, because she as too slow, & had a 40′, 22 knotter built, to replace her, by Owen Woolley.
Between the Laidlaw & Harrison ownership (later 1940s &/or early 1950s) she belonged to the Townsend family. It was during their ownership that she sank, as seen in the perivous ww story.
She was bought in 1959, by Jim Ansell of Hamilton & moved to Whangamata. He owned her until 1966. During his stewardship he repowered her with 75 Hp TS3 Commer diesel.
In 1966 she passed to George H Morrison & remained moored at Whangamata Harbour. He did some upgrading adding sponsons, ‘Tauranga’ deck & new rails.
George M. sold her in 1986 to Morrie J Dunwoodie of Thames, the boat is kept at Whangamata. He has replaced the 75hp Commer TS3 with a newer larger 117 hp TS3.
In 1988 she underwent a refit with new windows, stainless rails, re-glassing of cabin tops. Then in 1995 replaced decks with ply, & glassed them. She was extended at the stern in 1998, by .9 of a metre to 42 feet. In 2004 Morrie added 3′ to her stern & a 3′ duck board. 2008 saw her get a major out of boat, engine overhaul.
Interested to uncover details on her builder & launch year?
07-05-2018 Update from Mark Dunwoodie
“Invader moved a couple of weeks ago from Whangamata to Hobsonville marina. Her new owners are fantastic people, an experienced sea family and passionate about her. Mum, my sisters and I are very chuffed.
Mark Erskine, Tom Hunt….thank you for your wise counsel in all matters since Dad’s death….and even more so, thank you from Dad for your long friendship and shared passion.
Dad was out on Invader with Uncle George as often as he could from the day George purchased her. From that time he only missed 1 or 2 of the annual end of February trips to Great Barrier….around 50 trips. As soon as we were old enough my sisters and I (and then our children) were regular crew on the daily summer and overnight excursions from Whangamata. Speed mightn’t have been her forte but her seaworthiness, easy layout and the steadiness given by hull shape made her a fantastic vessel.
With the contact from this website Dad had been reinvigorated to research Invader’s history and was enjoying it immensely. Ken, thank you for your kind comments, Dad was enjoying talking to you as well. In the past he had said that it was hard to get to the right people and records from Thames…but had recently been making progress.
I’m not sure where he got to researching her construction date.Uncle George had always said she was built by Lanes in 1936. When Dad lengthened Invader’s hull, he removed the original copper fish tank. The tank had a 1936 coin soldered into the side of the tank. With no hole behind the coin there seemed to be no other reason to put the coin there other than to mark the construction year. From the comments above it looks like this might not be the case.
Anyway, thank you to all.”
08-05-2018 – Update ex Ken Ricketts – overhauled 2008 Roots T23 engine being installe
11-05-2018 New photos ex Mark Dunwoodie
In the gallery below the b/w photo of her high & dry is on the reef, south side Whangaporoa Peninsula. Invader has had her share of oops – in another WW post she is seen submerged https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/09/13/sunken-launch/
Update from John Wicks – Invader hauled out at Hobsonville Marina Nov. 2020 for some TLC
waitematawoodys.com #1 for classic wooden boat stories, info, advice & news - updated daily 
The black and white photo above of Invader on a reef off the Whangaparaoa Peninsula was taken not long after George Morrison purchased her. While I’m hazy on the story I know that it involved a trip with his best mate Jack Bennett and rum…
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I don’t know the boat Carma, but I recondition Rootes TS3 engines with new original Rootes spares here in Auckland.
These engines are exceptionally well made, reliable and fuel efficient, with high power density (power to weight) and a unique low height above and below the crankshaft center line, which in boats means you can have a lower, flat floor.
Have a look at http://www.commer.co.nz and click on “Marine” and also “Contact” if you’d like to get in touch to discuss.
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Steel…….
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hi , just looking at a burnt out steel boat in bay of islands with twin ts3 knocker engines in it, boats name was carma, anyone know any history on her, how are the ts3 engines for finding parts nowadays? are they worth keeping in the boat or ditch them? any help and thoughts appreciated
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Additional photos added. Alan H
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New photos added. Alan H
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On top of the boating, fishing and diving, Invader was always a social boat around the Coromandel and at the Barrier….I’m sure that some of the tales told were tall or confused. I’m certainly no expert myself!
From a sentimental perspective I hope that more of her real story comes to light.
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Mark, the plain facts are that the earliest build date for INVADER is 1949, well after WW2.
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Thank you.
I remembered just after posting that Uncle George had been told that Invader was commandeered during WW2 as a patrol boat.
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Thanks for the update Mark – I have added this to the main ww story. Alan H
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Invader moved a couple of weeks ago from Whangamata to Hobsonville marina. Her new owners are fantastic people, an experienced sea family and passionate about her. Mum, my sisters and I are very chuffed.
Mark Erskine, Tom Hunt….thank you for your wise counsel in all matters since Dad’s death….and even more so, thank you from Dad for your long friendship and shared passion.
Dad was out on Invader with Uncle George as often as he could from the day George purchased her. From that time he only missed 1 or 2 of the annual end of February trips to Great Barrier….around 50 trips. As soon as we were old enough my sisters and I (and then our children) were regular crew on the daily summer and overnight excursions from Whangamata. Speed mightn’t have been her forte but her seaworthiness, easy layout and the steadiness given by hull shape made her a fantastic vessel.
With the contact from this website Dad had been reinvigorated to research Invader’s history and was enjoying it immensely. Ken, thank you for your kind comments, Dad was enjoying talking to you as well. In the past he had said that it was hard to get to the right people and records from Thames…but had recently been making progress.
I’m not sure where he got to researching her construction date.Uncle George had always said she was built by Lanes in 1936. When Dad lengthened Invader’s hull, he removed the original copper fish tank. The tank had a 1936 coin soldered into the side of the tank. With no hole behind the coin there seemed to be no other reason to put the coin there other than to mark the construction year. From the comments above it looks like this might not be the case.
Anyway, thank you to all.
Mark Dunwoodie
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I reconditioned Invader’s Rootes TS3 engine for (the late) Morrie Dunwoodie in 2008.
I totally agree with Ken Rickett’s November 2016 comments and was equally affected by Morrie’s sudden passing.
There are photos on my website (www.commer.co.nz) of the engine being fitted back into Invader after being reconditioned.
Kopu Boat builder, Tom Hunt installed the engine at his yard and was responsible for the annual repairs and maintenance to Invader, which was in immaculate condition when Morrie passed away.
The family advise the launch has been sold to careful owners who have Invader moored in the Clevedon River.
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I think that all make great sense Harold & Concur completely, — I had been surprised at the 1930s bit myself, when Morrie told me, & must say, had not bothered to seize myself, of the time frame of Laidlaw’s life.
As a result of your input, it seems she was damaged twice –Whangaparaoa & Freemans Bay. What happened at Freemans Bay?
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As for build date, George Townshend registered her first with APYMBA in 1949. He was a stickler for protocol so I imagine she was built 1948-9 which is borne out by her appearance. She sure looked a treat with varnished coamings. Even a contrasting dark paint on them would lift her appearance (and a bit of aft rake on the dodger supports).
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I think Lanes is likely. Townshend had owned the flagship Lanes DEFENDER, ex-SCRIPPS III for some years and sold her to Sam Leyland about 1946 after skippering her in NAPS during WW2. Very likely he went to Lanes for her postwar replacement and called her INVADER. I see Lincoln Laidlaw still lingers as an earlier owner in the heading. That’s just myth but de mortuis nil nisi bonum.
Nathan’s view on this will be worth listening to. He has studied DEFENDER very closely.
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OK Harold & Nathan – I hear you. I have deleted the reference to her builder, year of launch & first owner. Keen to uncover who did build her etc . Alan H
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I rang Morrie D. today, to have the latest of the on-going chats we have had over the last few weeks, about INVADER, in which we had developed a really great rapport, & “boating telephone friendship,” to discuss the latest info., as at today, on his lovely boat, only to be told by his youngest daughter Erica, who answered the phone, that her dad had passed away on Monday this week (31.10.16), having contracted a deadly virus at the end of last week. I did not know, but he had had a low immunity to viruses– He had been playing golf & tennis earlier in that week. To say I have been deeply shocked & saddened, is a gross understatement. —
He was the most lovely, gentlemanly person, & even though we had never met personally, I felt I knew him really well, & we were new, but firm friends.
My life now has a gap that he had filled so delightfully.
He was 74, & is survived by a very loving close knit family, consisting of his wife of 49 years, Geraldine, & Linda his youngest daughter, with whom I spoke, as above , who has an older brother & sister.
There is no doubt he will be greatly missed, not only by his family, but also by a great many people in many walks of life.
IN WARMEST MEMORY OF MORRISON JAMES DUNWOODIE
MAY HE REST IN PEACE — ken r
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Agree, that’s not a 1936 boat
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Something’s a bit odd here. When George Townshend stranded her in heavy seas off Whangaparaoa in January 1951 the Herald indicated that he was the first owner and she was nearly new. She was salvaged. The (later?) sinking incident occurred in Freeman’s Bay.
In addition I can find no contemporary reference for Lanes building her in 1936 for Lincoln Laidlaw or anyone else, for that matter. On top of that Lincoln Laidlaw was only 15 in 1936, a bit young to buy a bridgedecker?
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