RURU
I have been contacted by Lake Rotoiti boatbuilder – Alan Craig (Craig Marine) regarding a lake boat that he and the owner are looking for more details on. Ruru is 19’ in length, with mahogany hull and kauri top. Alan commented that she is well built with seam battens and ribs, the planks have hardly moved. The build date is thought to be in the 1930’s > 1940’s period and was built for Sir Frank Mappin.
The engine is an Austin Triton, it was removed 20 years ago and was never put back in, as you will note in the photos it got as far as the end of the shed.
The owner – George Joseph has had the boat for 60+ years, the last 20 of which has seen Ruru stored in the shed. The previous owner, owned most of the land between Moose Lodge and the Marae.
Can anyone help ID the designer / builder?
Harold Kidd Input –
1. Lidgards built an unnamed runabout for Mappin in September 1935. The Austin TRITON (not TRIDENT – corrected AH) marine engine, based on the Austin 10 car engine, came out in 1935, so it’s a good match.
2. Got a Herald cross-reference on Mappin’s runabout. She was an 18 footer intended for Lake Rotorua. Rotoiti isn’t a huge step.
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Probably straight from the pages of MotorBoating.
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What a very nice looking hull, cant see the bow shape but the transom is identical to my old little Jo built by Frank Rose, Pearl bay Waiheke Island in the 40’s -also 17’10” long and powered originally by a crusader 6 cylinder engine. I always felt that she was likely to be “after an American design”
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Very impressive, a most generous man.
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If anyone wants an interesting bit of local research, read up on Sir Frank Mappin. A really interesting history.
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Ok, sounds right. 19 was a round up from nearly 6 paces!
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Got a Herald cross-reference on Mappin’s runabout. She was an 18 footer intended for Lake Rotorua. Rotoiti isn’t a huge step.
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Lidgards built an unnamed runabout for Mappin in September 1935. The Austin TRITON (not TRIDENT) marine engine, based on the Austin 10 car engine, came out in 1935, so it’s a good match.
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Have discoved it was built for Sir Frank Mappin, that may help with the builder?
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Looks very similar to the P Vos Ltd built Jado launched in 1958. 18″6′ x 6′. This boat is of seam and batten construction and this method was used at the Vos yard. Any signs of name plate screw holes in her after coaming? Robert Brooke would be the man to talk to.
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Mmmm. I like! Someone knew what he was about. Don’t be too quick to ditch/replace that engine. It would be a good smooth shipmate not too thirsty and a good petrol installation is not dangerous.
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