Bill Couldrey And His Boats – Help Wanted

BILL COULDREY AND HIS BOATS – Help Wanted

Book author and publisher – Jenni Mence (she will hate me using that intro, but its true) whose last book was the uber cool – ‘K CLASS – The Hauraki Gulf’s Iconic Racer Cruiser’, has committed to another mammoth publication. This time focusing on the Arnold Francis (Bill) Couldrey design and boat building bloodline.

Currently in the final research phase, Jenni has called out to WW readers for help identifying the boats and discovering / confirming things like –  the boats built and when, the current owner and/or anyone (owner or otherwise) who has a story to tell about the boat. Jenni would also love to talk to anyone who has memories of Bill himself.One has to assume many of the boats won’t have lasted the distance, however there may still be stories or family photos hanging around of them.
To help keep things semi organised we have broken it into loose categories

MULLET BOATS / 18 FOOTERS & SAILING DINGHIES

# Athena # Shamrock # Hawke # Limerick # Mamaru # Surprise 

# Desdemona # Lanai # Freedom # Nancye # Sonoma # Salome 

# Tamarus # Gay # Maui # Nudger # Kea # Mawera. 

YACHTS

# Gayleen # Awatere # Tarawai # Ocean Phoenix

LAUNCHES

# Pirimanu # Kereru # Cleone # Manunui # Reremoana # Tirimoana # Lisa Ann

# Rag Doll # Natalie # Cabaletta (may have previously been called Latitude) # Deborah Ann

Any further information anyone has on any of these boats – or other Couldrey boats we may not yet have identified would be really appreciated. 

As a reward for your input, everyone that helps out will go into the draw for a copy of Jenni’s K CLASS book + the best photograph submitted (judged by Alan H) also goes into a draw for a another copy of the book. Thats 2 Copies To Be Won. Draw Close off date is August 1st – just in time for Father’s Day

Initial Contact To Jenni Mence at jennimence@gmail.com

5 thoughts on “Bill Couldrey And His Boats – Help Wanted

  1. Hi, I am the previous owner restorer of several older boats, firstly “Van” a 40′ Halverson built V class tug originally used to tow barges ashore during Normandy invasion WW2.
    Later I purchased Erewon, an A class sloop raced against Ranger 67′ LOA.

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  2. I owned a 41 foot yacht called Torea. Designed by Bill Couldrey and built by Aitkinson in 1966. Three skin kauri (double diag, then edge glued planks), displacement 10.5 tonne. Width 9 ft 6inch. A beautiful sailing boat, very comfortable in heavy weather.

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  3. We’re working on Kotare at the moment, which Jenni has already been in contact about. Looks like the 5th photo down is it. It had been on the lake for a few years then taken out for restoration in Tepuke by the current owner Alf Mundt. He has done an great job of it himself and we are helping with paint and a few odd jobs! up to exterior paint now so hopefully not to much longer to go….

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