TASMANAIR
The above photo is of the TEAL motorboat – Tasmanair on the Auckland Harbour & is dated January 1948. (photo ex Lew Redwood’s FB)
Do we know what became of the launch e.g. converted to pleasure craft ? renamed?
18-06-2018 Harold Kidd Input
TASMANAIR was built by Colin Wild for Tasman Empire Airways Ltd and launched on 24th July 1941. She was built to carry TEAL personnel at 20knots between Mechanics Bay and Hobsonville where overhaul work was done on TEAL’s Short flying boats. The Scott-Paine boats had been taken over by the RNZAF. TASMANAIR cost 2000 pounds, a small fortune in 1941.
She went to Lauthala Bay to service flying boats there, then to the Chathams to service the traffic there. Donaldson Bros of Owenga, Chatham Is, bought her and covered her in completely and then renamed her TASMANIA. She was 37’6″ x 9’4″ x 4′ and had a single 200hp Kermath. Don’t know what happened to her after the Donaldsons owned her.
photo below ex Ken Rickets
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Hi Alan , i will do that soon.Regards Chris.
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Hi Chris – email the intel/photos to the address below & I will add to the WW story. Cheers Alan
waitematawoodys@gmail.com
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Hi , Chris here from Wellington ( current owner of Tasmania) . It was great to discover this site and learn some of her history , I have decided to part with her and will post some pics and details here soon.
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TASMANAIR was built by Colin Wild for Tasman Empire Airways Ltd and launched on 24th July 1941. She was built to carry TEAL personnel at 20knots between Mechanics Bay and Hobsonville where overhaul work was done on TEAL’s Short flying boats. The Scott-Paine boats had been taken over by the RNZAF. TASMANAIR cost 2000 pounds, a small fortune in 1941.
She went to Lauthala Bay to service flying boats there, then to the Chathams to service the traffic there. Donaldson Bros of Owenga, Chatham Is, bought her and covered her in completely and then renamed her TASMANIA. She was 37’6″ x 9’4″ x 4′ and had a single 200hp Kermath. Don’t know what happened to her after the Donaldsons owned her.
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looks like a boat that was in the tamaki remaned TUFARLAI owned by the deceased Terry waterfield last saw this boat at Milford marina about 12 years ago I may be wrong
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TASMANAIR was one of 3 good size patrol craft operated by T.E.A.L. in the late 40s/50s which were in the charge & under the supervision of Mr Arch Tucket, — ( they may also have had 1 smaller craft, as I recall, as well), — whom we knew well, as he owned a launch previously a post on woodys called OTAZZELL, which he used to do winter maintenance on at Okahu Bay, along with us, on our JULIANA, & a mate & I, were invited out, when they were on patrol, on a number of occasions, on the 3 boats, & as you can imagine, at that age, it was “neat” fun.
They all had twin engines –one with twin Meadows petrol engines, another with 2 Ford V8 flat heads, & the other with 2 x 4-53 GM Detroit diesels. — KEN R
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