LADY VEE (Laura May)
Todays woody is the launch Lady Vee, photo ex Peter Loughlin & taken on Peter Xmas / NY cruise on Lady Margaret (Colin Wild).
LV drew a blank with me, but no doubt she will be well known to some of you, so don’t hold back – what do we know about her?
Input from Brian Worthington – She is ‘Laura May’ ( renamed Lady V ) built by Oliver and Gilpin .
Has had a few modifictions on topsides since it was launched.
Photo below of Lady Vee in Chamberlains Bay ex Jason Prew
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to any one interested the boat was owned for a long time by my grandfather ,George McElwee he returned from ww2 a major after serving in the rnz artillery ,he returned to Hamilton N.Z after the war and founded McElwee motors ,now Dallas motors ,the boat was named after his third wife Valmai ,and as child I do remember brass etchings on the lower helm station ,Laura May ,best memories of my life cruising the Hauraki Gulf and Bay of islands on that vessel which actually inspired my life long passion for boats and exploring North and Central America on my own sailing vessel
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Lady Vee was owned by Mr Mcelwee who named it after his wife Velma.
We had the privilege of holidaying in it a lot and was wondering where it is now please and who owns it ?
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Susan do you still have lady vee today ?
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Would anybody know where the lady vee launch now is.
We had many trips on it when it belonged to George mckelwee who renamed it to lady vee.
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Hi Andrew – if you have any details or photos, email them to waitematawoodys@gmail.com
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hello to all-just letting you know that my grandfather owned lady vee in the 70’s and 80’s-contact myself Andrew Neunz-09 4447115(my work number),for more info-cheers
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This is a photo taken before her 6 months out of the water at Geoff Bagnall’s Milford Marine. Geoff did a lovely job on her, inside and out, top to bottom
At last she is a boat to be proud of again
.
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I spoke with the owner of Lady Vee this morning in Te Kouma – told him his boat had turned up on WW. It’s an Oliver Gilbert – maybe he will provide more info
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Re recent post Lady Vee is an Oliver and Gilpin
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We are now the owners of the Lady Vee. She is an Oliver and Gillingham built in 1966 , 48 feet overall and 17 foot beam.She has served us well as a comfortable liveaboard for the last 11 years. Ok she is not fast (9 knots ) but sometimes you got for comfort. If anyone has any idea who ‘Vee’is we would love to know.
We use her often all year round.
Susan and John Bowman.
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We had a look over her this year at Barrier, she has recently had an awesome refit and really is a mint and roomy live-aboard.
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Is this John Bowmans liveaboard ship, sometimes seen on the slip at Milford
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At one time she was owned by John Robinson (JR) who I worked with at Simunovich for quite a while. He used it as a live aboard. He owned it around the early 2000’s (may still own it?!)
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She has been recently repainted and looking good housed on F pier
at hobi marina
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Photo & details added. Alan H
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Laura May ( renamed Lady V ) built by Oliver and Gilpin .
Has had a few modifictions on topsides since it was launched.
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