NOMAD
Nomad is a perfect example of how confusing the issue of ID’ing a classic launches name can be. Harold Kidd has supplied the intel on Nomad below.
This launch started life as an amateur-built 35 footer, partially built by a chap called Elley in Ponsonby who sold her to J.P. Aldred of Ponsonby. He had her finished off (most likely by Collings & Bell) and launched her in December 1919 as IRIHAPETI (maori for “Elizabeth”) powered by a 30hp Doman supplied by Collings & Bell. Aldred sold her to H.F. Butler of Remuera in November 1921 to commute to his property on Browns Island. Butler changed her name to NOMAD and kept her until about 1929, having repowered her with a 56hp Ferro around 1925. He sold her to Nops who sold her to W.E. Fullerton of Remuera in 1931. Fullerton sold her to Stan Parker in 1935 and he had her converted to her present configuration by Lidgards who added 7 feet to her amidships, taking her out to 42ft., renaming her ARAWA and having a 65/90 Deutz diesel installed.
After WW2 she was renamed REHUTAI.
(the photo above, dated 1937, is from the Tudor Collins collection at the Auckland Museum, emailed to me by Ken Ricketts)
I’m so pleased to see these photos of my grandfather’s launch Nomad. I’ve never seen a photo before and didn’t know any existed. I am Mary, daughter of Sheila, grand daughter of Harry (Patsy) Butler. I have the set of silver tankards engraved Nomad and have just given his banjo that he used to have on the boat to my cousin. I believe it was quite a party boat in its time.
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Delighted to finally see an image of NOMAD before she was altered.
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