Waitanguru

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WAITANGURU

In the top photo we see Waitanguru in the Milford Creek, just off the AW Williams boatyard* in Omana Road, Milford. Waitanguru was a ‘Banshee’ design built by Williams. At the time of the photo the launch was owned by Gerry Dawson, he purchased her off Peter Peterson.
The November 1965 photos come to us from Lew Redwood’s fb and were taken by Dawn Heathwaite.. In the 2nd photo the kids on the jetty are Bill and Ian Heathwaite. Bill Heathwaite has commented that the photos were taken post a successful game fishing trip to Great Barrier Island. Bill’s father is holding the tail of a record breaking yellow-fin tuna he had caught. From recalls it was 135lb on a 30lb line.
The crew are L>R – skipper Gerry Dawson, Roy Heathwaite, Scotty, Alan Odell, Jim and Bruce Woods.
Do we know what became of Waitanguru?
* yard later became Geoff Bagnall’s and is now The Slipway – Milford. Interesting to view the area on the right of the shed that would be developed at the Milford Crusing Club haul-out yard.
CORRECTION : The yard is John Gladdens yard, the Allan Williams original yard was against the road and slip by the bridge. (thanks readers)
DOUBLE CORRECTION: Thanks to Nathan Herbert we learn the the spelling was wrong, the boat is Waitanguru and has featured on WW b4, link below
FYI – the WW section box only works on perfect spelling, so we did not pick this up 😉

9 thoughts on “Waitanguru”

  1. Pingback: Waitanguru | waitematawoodys.com #1 for classic wooden boat stories, info, advice & news – updated daily

  2. Confirming JG in previous comment, this is the A W & R A Williams boat builder and ship chandlery site previous to it burning down. (witnessed destruction with my father R A “Dick” Williams). Only got one trip out on Banshee when I was knee high to a grasshopper but it looked pretty cool and modern in those days. Ah well…

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  3. Definitely Alan Williams yard. Key points (1) bank on the right leads to Inga road (level land for J Gladden) (2) fuel pumps (none at J Gladden) (3) slip rails curve to the side of the building (J Gladden building right side was on the boundary) (4) building door height are lower. (These points are still visible today)

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  4. those were the good old days when fuel was available at Allens jetty, the photo of waitangaru must be pre 1963 with lattice game poles, when LynGrae was launched there in 1963 waitangaru had single pole outriggers.

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  5. I think this is Allan William’s yard, as when I was an apprentice there the fuel jetting was at Alan’s yard not John Gladdens yard.

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  6. Pretty sure this boat is in Tauranga at the Sulphur Point Marina. It is really well looked after. Brian Worthington could confirm. Think it is or was recently for sale.

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  9. What is now The slipway yard was originally John Gladdens yard, Allen Williams yard was on the other side of the cruising club yard closer to the bridge , there is a more modern building there now

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