KOTARE Re-launched
Todays woody is the 28’ launch – Kotare, built and launched in 1961 by Frank Wilkins to a 1960 design of A N (Bill) Couldrey. Kotare first appeared on WW back in 2014. Over time we uncovered an amazing amount of history on the vessel. The 2022 WW story when wooden boat builder Alan Craig gave us a shed tour on restoration / rebuilding of Kotare has all the references, photos and links to her past – link to the 2022 story below https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/10/10/kotare-restoration-boat-shed-tour/
Last week Alan Craig advised they had just relaunched Kotare at Lake Rotoiti. Her owner had just finished the interior refit in his shed inTe Puke since Alan and the team at Craig Marine finished painting Kotare last year. Alan commented that she looked pretty sharp. The work had been done in a pretty confined space and they hadn’t really been able to stand back and look at it till now. A new 35hp Beta diesel has been put in to replace the BMC.
As we have come to expect of anything that slides out of the Craig Marine shed Kotare is a stunner.
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Where is Kotare currently – still on Lake Rotoiti? My husband Dennis Wilkins is the middle son of Frank Wilkins, Kotare’s builder. Dennis and I (now both in our 80s) would love to have a look at her for old times sake and a nostalgic memory. Is anyone able to point us in tne direction of Kotare’s present owner with contact details please. Tyou Lyn and Dennis Wilkins, Feilding. Email: lyn064@gmail.com
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Hi , I think my uncle , frank von Sturmer used to own Kotare .. does that name show in her history ?
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