Wairau Estuary – Mystery Boats
Ok, maybe I should have said ‘Milford Creek’ in the headline, but you know where I’m talking about. The above photo (c. 1930>39) comes to us ex Andrew Reid, via Maurice Sharp’s fb. The actual location would appear to be near the current ’The Slipway Milford’ railway haul out yard and the Milford Cruising Clubs hard stand area. And just be coincidence I will be sliding up that piece of water at 7am today.
Can we ID the craft? I have included close-up photos below to help.
Input from Graeme Sapwell – The Flush deck launch in bottom photo is Webster’s – Reta W. outside his property .
Input from Harold Kidd – RETA W was built by R Malcolm in the creek for T.G. Webster in November 1925. Linc Wood always thought it amusing that her name is “Water” spelt backwards.
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Please reconsider: Reta W’s exhaust was up through the mast and discharged through the crosstrees, not out of the port side. Also please check the sheer line.
Other Details:
The shed, mid-field to the right (vertical panels) was Eric’s shed and sat on the southern boundary of his section. This shed was the
cruising clubs de-facto clubrooms for a while. Those gathered sat amongst casks of rotting fish, boat parts and nets.
The shed, mid-field far right (corner only, corrugated iron) was the cruising club shed and sat next to the original north-side slipway
The house, far-field to the left (behind the trees) was later to become Eric’s residence.
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RETA W was built by R Malcolm in the creek for T.G. Webster in November 1925. Linc Wood always thought it amusing that her name is “Water” spelt backwards.
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The Flush deck launch in bottom photo is Webster,s Reta W. outside his property .
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