Highland Lass
The launch in the centre of the above photo (by Eric Lee-Johnson & ex Te Papa) appears to be berthed in the Whangarei Basin. Nathan Herbert sent it in to ww & all we know is that the photo is dated c.1950’s.
So woodys – does any one recognize the boat ?
Update 15-05-2015 Thanks to Harold Kidd & Nathan Herbert we now know she was built by Dick Hartley in 1949 & is named ‘Highland Lass’
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I owned this vessel in the early 90 ‘s. She is 30ft with 10ft beam and around 3ft draft. She twin plank kauri hull. Was powered by an old 72hp Ford deisel.
I used her as a commercial long liner fishing the Hauraki gulf for snapper. She was built by Hartley in the 40’s. There was a brass plaque in cockpit with all the relevant information.
Would love an update on Highland Lass.
My email address is
frostrefrigeration@hotmail.co.uk
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I owned Highland Lass for 7 years. We gave her a total refit and used her around Kawau and Great Barrier. Due to family getting bigger, we sold it to a couple in Westhaven Mariner in approx 1998. Would love to see her again! Does anybody know where she is now? Please call me 021 041 7868. Thanks. Martin
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At 1949 she must have been Dick Hartley’s next creation after Florence Dawn. Upon closer inspection I see a number of similar features eg hard chines, mast, main cabin hatch and forward deck hatch.
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Thanks Harold: Dick Hartley 1949 Highland Lass
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I do not know the boat but the tide was like that last Friday when I first tried to get into our boat-shed. I had to wait 90 minutes before I could tuck Florence Dawn in for the winter.
BTW, Falcon now lives in the next boat-shed to us.
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My guess is Hartley, of the quality type, like Florence Dawn
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I don’t know the boat, but it surely looks like a very high tide!
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