KERMATH
I saw the above photo of Kermath on Lew Redwood’s fb & immediately thought of the 2018 Rudder Cup launch race – so todays post is a big nudge / reminder to get your entry in.
What do we know about Kermath, race #182 ? This photo was tagged ‘Winner of the Big Tree Handicap at the Ponsonby Regatta, March 3 1923.
Harold Kidd Input – There were several KERMATHs built for C E Mackie, of 25 London Street, St Mary’s Bay (the house in which I lived as a toddler) just behind Collings & Bell. Mackie was the Auckland agent for Kermath marine engines. The earlier boats were built by Collings & Bell but I think this is the one built by Leon Warne in December 1920 which, by the time of this race, had a Cadillac car engine installed which made her quick. I think she’s the KERMATH that went to the Bay of Islands soon after.
Good analysis Nathan. You might well be right. It’s reasonable to assume that this KERMATH went to the Bay of Islands because of Warne’s excellent reputation when he and his brother shifted there plus the example of ROSEMARY, her near twin.
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Not the well photographed racing Rosemary, but the present day Rosemary discussed some time back as a contender for being her. We weren’t convinced, but now I feel she really matches this Kermath
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Of course she started life with a Kermath. That’s was the whole point. Mackie was the Kermath agent. But he dropped a Cadillac in by the time of this race.
Warne built ROSEMARY too, but they were different boats. They were built together or one after the other as both hit the water in December 1920. ROSEMARY had a Scripps.
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Of course she started life with a Kermath. That’s was the whole point. Mackie was the Kermath agent. But he dropped a Cadillac in by the time of this race.
Warne built ROSEMARY too, but they were different boats. They were built together or one after the other as both hit the water in December 1920. ROSEMARY had a Scripps.
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Could it be that she had a Kermath engine??
Wiki says – ” ‘Kermath Marine Engines’ produced engines from sometime in 1910 until sometime in the 1950s in models from single cylinders to V-12’s. The Kermath slogan was “a Kermath always runs”. Many engines were ahead of their time, with various models having one or more of the following features: Overhead camshafts, 4 valves per cylinder, and dual magnetos.
Kermath Marine engines were commonly used by Garwood, Chris Craft, and Matthews as well as many other boat builders of the period. During World War II the Army Air Corps used the Kermath V-12 550 horsepower Sea-Raider to power 104 foot rescue boats out of Sagstad. The Kermath marine engine is highly collectible today. “
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I want to muse that this could be what has become the ‘Rosemary’ ex- Melvin Adams
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Any idea of the number of entries for this years Rudder Cup?
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There were several KERMATHs built for C E Mackie, of 25 London Street, St Mary’s Bay (the house in which I lived as a toddler) just behind Collings & Bell. Mackie was the Auckland agent for Kermath marine engines. The earlier boats were built by Collings & Bell but I think this is the one built by Leon Warne in December 1920 which, by the time of this race, had a Cadillac car engine installed which made her quick. I think she’s the KERMATH that went to the Bay of Islands soon after.
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