Wakatu

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WAKATU 

On one of his yard visits Ken Ricketts spotted the above launch hauled out at Te Atatu Boating Club.

Other than her name, we know nothing about Wakatu. Any TBC members able to help out with some details / history?

24-08-2017 Update ex Murray McGehan – Wakatu’s Hull was built by Des Scott in Henderson and finished off by by first owners Ron and Mary McGehan of Howick and launched December 1967. The hull was a Graeme Bronlund design, Graeme actually previously worked for Roy Parris. The boat was owned by the McGehan family until Ron’s death in 1991 and sold to Noel Mitchell then. Original engine was a 3 cylinder Lister air cooled but this was change to a 4 cylinder BMC Captain in 1970. A few later changes were made the coamings and cabintop were replaced about 1980 and reduction gear of the Captain was changed from 2:1 to 3:1 about 1984. The Boat was moored in Shelly Park Howick for about 25 years.

 

9 thoughts on “Wakatu”

  1. Really great to hear all about her, — I liked her a lot when I saw her last weekend, & it is very rewarding, for the little bit of time taken to snap her, to read her story as it has developed. — Thank you gentlemen — KEN R

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  2. The old girl is just about to celebrate her 50th birthday soon and looks in pretty good condition, a testament to Des and the skill he had in putting boats together. I last had a close up of her when she briefly returned to the then owners Howick property circa 2000, then moored up the Tamaki River. She does look in better condition now. I noticed her on a swing mooring just below the Whau Creek motorway bridge about four years ago. Four litre’s per hour at seven knots made pretty economical cruising. LOA 23 ft Beam 8ft 6 in and Draft 2 ft 8 in

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  3. Also owned in the 90’s by the late renowned sailmaker sandy Harold who enjoyed many trips to the barrier and around the gulf on her.

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  4. Interesting stuff Murray! I got the story wrong from Noel, obviously. He must have told me she was built in 1965 (not far out) and he owned her later. There was a smidgen of truth in the Roy Parris bit and I note she was advertised on Trade Me in 2015 as being built by Roy Parris, so that fable lingered on.
    Graeme Bronlund worked for Chas Baileys earlier, so her provenance is impeccable..

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  5. Wakatu’s Hull was built by Des Scott in Henderson and finished off by by first owners Ron and Mary McGehan of Howick and launched December 1967. The hull was a Graeme Bronlund design, Graeme actually previously worked for Roy Parris. The boat was owned by the McGehan family until Ron’s death in 1991 and sold to Noel Mitchell then. Original engine was a 3 cylinder Lister air cooled but this was change to a 4 cylinder BMC Captain in 1970. A few later changes were made the coamings and cabintop were replaced about 1980 and reduction gear of the Captain was changed from 2:1 to 3:1 about 1984. The Boat was moored in Shelly Park Howick for about 25 years.

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  6. There is a near Roy Parris sister ship sitting on the hard at Stevensons old yard Silverdale, awaiting a loving owner.

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  8. Shall we say, she is very “individual,” & very large internal volume I would think, & “definitely different.”

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