Not Spindrift (now a mystery launch)

Posted on by

Spindrift -2

Spindrift -7

Spindrift -3

SPINDRIFT   Mystery Launch

I have been sent the above photos of the launch Spindrift by Christoph Hoessly, whose grandfather, Ken McLeod owned her prior to having the launch Marquerite built.
At some stage in the 1940’s she may have been owned by Auckland (North Shore) identity – HT Morton.
The last known where about of Spindrift is a note (Feb 2016) in the WW comments section by Rob Lees, advising that the boat was then owned by Bruce Ashby and moored at Kawakawa Bay. Rob also commented that other than having her varnished coamings painted white, she looks the same, as launched.
Can anyone update us on the current whereabouts of Spindrift and any photos? + details on builder / launching date.
OOPS – IN FACT MAKE THAT A DOUBLE OOPS 😦

Seems woodys we have a wee issue with todays story – numerous people have contacted me and advised that the launch pictured above is not the boat owned by HT Morton.
The big question is – were there two launched named – Spindrift ? Or has Christoph Hoessly got his photos mixed up, it is after all over 70 years ago that his grandfather took these photos. As one woody commented it appears the stories have become ’tangled’.
The photos below, ex the Clevedon Cruising Club 75th Anniversary (2017) commemorative book (by Merle McKenzie), clearly show the Spindrift that was owned by HT Morton. (Thanks to Barrie Abel, Colin McKenzie and Jess McKenzie for photos & input)
So woodys can anyone help us clear up the confusion? Identifying the launch above in the b/w photos would be a big step.
Spindrift CCC Picnic
IMG_1954

Discover more from waitematawoodys.com #1 for classic wooden boat stories, info, advice & news - updated daily - 14+ million views

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

6 thoughts on “Not Spindrift (now a mystery launch)”

  1. Interested to read Paul N’s comment about the similarity to Ngakiwa and therefore a possible Vos connection. My family had Ngakiwa early ’60s and the similarity is certainly there although she is shorter at 25′. A south Auckland farmer bought a boat (Judith comes to mind) and took her into P Vos for some work. She was pretty but a corn husk.The myriads of defects were pointed out to the crestfallen owner and he was advised to build an entirely new boat on the grounds of cost. So they took the lines off, altered the sheer and Ngakiwa was the result. They used the 60 hp Fordson provided by the farmer. It was huge and Father replaced that with a much smaller and neater Perkins. Tracey Nelson did the installation- it was very elegant and expensive in the old man’s estimation.

    Oh BTW Ngakiwa is not a true Maori word. It is a Pakeha concoction and not grammatical one of my close school friends advised. Nga is plural and Kiwa singular if you must know. The farmer’s wife liked the word. Great boat lovely teakwork and the old man sold her when he bought Naiad in ’65.

    Like

  2. Just picked up on this old post which I had somehow missed when first published.

    HT Morton was close friend of mine, from when I was young right into my early/mid 20s, which started in the era of the SPINDRIFT, which I knew well, & the boat in the top images is definitely not her, & the bottom image is definitely her.

    He followed her with the VARLENE, which he bought off Com Hardley in 1948-49.

    I cruised with him on VARENE, & looked after her for a period, in my mid & later teens in the early & mid 1950s – KEN R. edited Alan H

    Like

  6. Another Spindrift – the one previously owned by H T Morton is not this one photoed here.

    Like

Leave a comment