TE ARAHI
ww only knows a little about Te Arahi but as they say in the architecture game, she has good bones – being a Percy Vos bridge decker. She was launched in 1965. Her owner Graeme Finch was at the CYA Patio Bay weekend & the photos above are from both mine & Chris Millers camera’s. Photos also ex Brian Worthington & Ken Ricketts.
Graeme’s father built the speed-boat Mystic Miss, pictured below and was a life member of the Manukau Speedboat Club.
Keen to learn more about her past.
Input from owner
Hi – we are the current proud owners of Te Arahi, and thoroughly enjoying the transition from fibreglass yacht to classic wooden bridgedecker. I am only the 5th owner of this vessel, the previous owners shown below.
Owner Name Position
1 Roy V Gibbs South Auckland timber merchant 1965 – 1968
2 Capt Williams Harbour Master at Whangarei 1968 – 1974
3 Colin Armiger Manager at Bendon 1974 – 1999
4 Cpt John Martin Airline captain with Air NZ. 1999 – 2015
5 Graeme Finch University of Auckland 2015 –
As mentioned boat is built from a kauri tree milled at Helensville in 1963, built by Percy Vos and launched in 1965 – it is powered by twin 120HP Ford diesels, and electrical system was upgraded by previous owner John.
I would be interested to learn when the flybridge and walk through transon were added, plus any other history.
Graeme & Maggie Finch
12-01-22 UPDATE – photo below of Te Arahi at anchor at the bottom end of Waiheke Island, xmas/ny 2022
waitematawoodys.com #1 for classic wooden boat stories, info, advice & news - updated daily 
New photo added. Alan H
LikeLike
Hi Graeme
Bill Gibbs here son of Roy Gibbs who had Arahi built in 1965 the hull and motor install was done
by P Vos and Dad finished to inside at the landing in the Clevedon river.He sold her in 1972
and moved to Whangarei,
LikeLike
Sorry….Correction to the year of fly bridge an walk through. Should be around 1976 to 1979….
Renee Armiger…
LikeLike
Hi Graeme and Maggie,
My husband Colin added the fly bridge and and walk through during his ownership. It would have been some time around 2002 to 2004 sorry I can’t give you an exact year. Ken Parris was the boat builder..
She looks beautul ……so nice to see she is being loved. We had many happy years with her…
Best wishes..
Renee Armiger
LikeLike
Hi Graeme, I am doing research on hydroplane Mystic Miss mentioned above for the website http://nzspeedboathistory.co.nz/index.php/en/
Could you ring me on 09 267 0885
Thanks in advance
Merv Sowden
NZPBA Historian
LikeLike
Hi Graeme, I am presently researching information on the hydroplane “Mystic Miss ” which your Dad built. The research is for the website http://www.nzspeedboathistory.co.nz/index.php/en/
Could you call me on 09 267 0885
Kind Regards
Merv Sowden
NZPBA Historian
LikeLike
TE ARAHI belongs to Graeme Finch, a lecturer at Auck University, currently keeps her at Westhaven. I understand he has bought the apartment (& berth) immediately above ours at Gulf Harbour – – KEN R
LikeLike
I am quite sure that this vessel was designed by Ken McCormick the foreman at P Vos Ltd.
Looking at her upper lines she looks like Judith Amie. There are not a set of lines for her in the Vos drawing collection, but there are a set of lines and working drawings for Judith Amie and I would say they are sister ships.
LikeLike
Hi – we are the current proud owners of Te Arahi, and thoroughly enjoying the transition from fibreglass yacht to classic wooden bridgedecker. I am only the 5th owner of this vessel, the previous owners shown below.
Owner Name Position
1 Roy V Gibbs South Auckland timber merchant 1965 – 1968
2 Capt Williams Harbour Master at Whangarei 1968 – 1974
3 Colin Armiger Manager at Bendon 1974 – 1999
4 Cpt John Martin Airline captain with Air NZ. 1999 – 2015
5 Graeme Finch University of Auckland 2015 –
As mentioned boat is built from a kauri tree milled at Helensville in 1963, built by Percy Vos and launched in 1965 – it is powered by twin 120HP Ford diesels, and electrical system was upgraded by previous owner John.
I would be interested to learn when the flybridge and walk through transon were added, plus any other history.
Graeme & Maggie Finch
LikeLike
A lovely vessel built from one substantial kauri log [photo was on board] and owned for many years by Colin Armiger. Sold 3/99 by us to John Martin of Howick who kept her at Pine Harbour till last year. A very strong vessel with a great layout and internal access to the bridge, powered with twin 120 hp? Fords, so a good 9 knotter.
LikeLike
she passed me on the way back from Patio Bay doing 9 knots ish…. very nice vessel.
LikeLike
More photos added. AH
LikeLike