LADY MARY > HAPPY WANDERER > LADY MARGARET
Woody Mark Jarvis sent me the above 2 photos of one of his families old boats – the top photo, in Auckland, was taken during their ownership c.1964/65. When they owned her, she was called Happy Wanderer, later changed to Lady Margaret. In the bottom photo, taken recently by Mark, we see her in berthed in Picton.
Mark commented that the 38’ boat was a 1948 home build, but to a high standard to a Colin Wild design. Zoom zoom was / is via a Ford 6 cyl. diesel.
Aside for sharing the photos of a beautiful woody – the main reason for todays story is point out how aesthetic trends change the look of boats e.g. the character gets bleached out of them as time passes even if the condition is maintained. Comparing photos you will see that there has been a number of useful additions but still the same cabin albeit minus a few tasteful styling details but in both our eyes still a good looking boat even in nice monochrome condition 🙂
Any woodys able to enlighten us more on LM’s past?
Input from Bob Deacon – “My father built this beautiful craft inMt Albert Auckland. Launched in 1955 at Okahu Bay then named Lady Mary unfortunateatly father passed away 1956 The Lady Mary was sold to Mr John Senior senior of aboat building company. the name was changed by Mr J Senior to the Happy Wanderer. When launched it was powered by a 6 cylinder Perkins later changed as stated.If further info is required I am more than happy to oblige as I was with my father thru the whole build. I am sure photos will be found of and during the build even of the timber for the keel {which was 42ft long} arriving.”
26-11-2019 Update – LM has been sold and is on her way back to the northern waters. Currently at Mana after an uneventful trip from Picton, and scheduled to be trucked to Auckland approx. 30th November. Once in Auckland her new owner, Alistair McRae will point her northwards to call Whangarei home (bugger).
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New photo & details added. Alan H
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I owned the Happy Wanderer for a number of years in the late 1990’s early 2000’s, I purchased her from Sandspit and while in my ownership was kept in the Weiti river. I repowered her 90hp ford with a 120hp which increased cruising speed from 7knts to 9knts, She was an awesome cruising boat mainly in the Hauraki gulf but also the Bay of Islands
, Mercury Islands and many a weekend at Great Barrier, John Seniors Daughter came on board one day and had a few good stories to tell, someone had installed a fly bridge before my ownership which was practicle but spoiled her lines, she was regrettably sold to a vineyard owner in Blenheim who I heard completed an extensive refit.
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Hi Terry. I have sent you a couple of emails with my phone number.
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when i worked on Lady Margaret the then owner was All Johnson, Auckland Gynaecologist.i did all the mechanical and engine servicing, we used to go to great barrier island, we would go after his surgery closed in Shortland st on a Friday night,we would head to whangaporpor habour on great barrier island, Allan was the medical officer for the gulf island’s and used Lady Margaret as his surgery,we used to tie up to the waling station wharf, i was the helms man going across at night so the doc could get some sleep, also transported his friend and work staff who was a scrap dealer to the wharf they had a contract to dismantle the old waling station, Lady Margaret has had many trips around the gulf on medical work, she was a traveling surgery, i accompnied Allan on his trips as his engineer, Lady Margaret has had a very intresting life, i have a lot of memory’s of her, a bit more history Mark. email tekaye2305@gmail.com
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hi yes, i was the person who worked on lady margaret when allan johnson owned it at akau bay. i also worked and serviced his bentley also lennie’s car in Epsom oppersite the lavington haspital. i would like to here from you, my email is tekaye2305@gmail.com. cheers.
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Hi Terry. You are correct. You would have worked on Lady Margaret while my father Alan, general surgeon, one it until a year or to after he bought Athena so that would have been late sixties early seventies.Terry were you the one who worked on Dad’s MarkV1 Bentley?
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Sorry to disapoint,but The Lady Mary/The Happy Wanderer/Lady Margaret was in fact a Col Wild design I can personally gaurantee that as a fact. The plan was 36ft and L Deacon builder and my father added 2ft to that plan which allowed area aft for a wet weather locker and toilet. Hope this clears the air.
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Probably because it isn’t Sam Ford?
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Hull doesn’t look Sam ford at all
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I think we’ve been through all this before, complete with the false Colin Wild connection. I think she is pure Deacon. The APYMBA registration in 1958 when first owned by John Senior said she was built by L. Deacon in 1955 with no attribution of designer. She’s more Sam Ford than Colin Wild for a start. I knew John Senior very well. If Wild had been the designer John would have ensured that was in her APYMBA spec.
The German song “Happy Wanderer” was a hit in 1954. It was a jolly hiking song but pretty cringeworthy for musicians like me who had to play it at dances over and over again. I later bought a DH94 Moth Minor called “Happy Wanderer” and had considerable pleasure in painting the name out and reverting to plain ZK-AKM.
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how many lady margaret’s ,bridge decks are there, i worked on one a few years ago , it belonged to Alan Johnston,Gynaecologist auckland, lived in epsom. i was on holiday in monganui and there was a bridgedecker there in hell of a state. then read of it been sold and worked on, i think it was shown on WW not sure. it is now so confusing the amount of Lady Margaret’s around. cheers Terry
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Hi Bob
If you have any more info on the boat or photos, email to the address below some can share with the WW readers. Many thanks Alan H
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What would you like to know? My father built this beautiful craft inMt Albert Auckland. Launched in 1955 at Okahu Bay then named Lady Mary unfortunateatly father passed away 1956 The Lady Mary was sold to Mr John Senior senior of aboat building company. the name was changed by Mr J Senior to the Happy Wanderer. When launched it was powered by a 6 cylinder Perkins later changed as stated.If further info is required I am more than happy to oblige as I was with my father thru the whole build. I am sure photos will be found of and during the build even of the timber for the keel {which was 42ft long} arriving. Look forward to hearing from you. Kind regards Bob Deacon
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