Mystery Lake Rotorua Launch #2

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Input from Janice Rogers – “The house in this photo belonged to my grandparents and I lived in it as a child at Otaramarae. I remember 1 of those boats is called the Kay and I recognised the other smaller one as well. The Kay was tied up down at our jetty in the enclave below my grandmothers house I know because I went for rides on it the rear of the bigger boat now has a ramp and has pretty much progressed from when I was a 12yr old 

I got a fright when I saw those photos online golly bought back many memories 

Judge Simon Moore’s parents had a house right on the lake but it often flooded many years later that land was leased to his parents by my grandfather so there you go a piece of history for you”

MYSTERY LAKE ROTORUA LAUNCH #2

Todays woody again comes to us from Greg Philpott, hopefully we will get a better response than last weeks WW story concerning another of Greg’s mystery boats. I suspect that Greg has exhausted most avenues and people ’switch off’ re his pursuit for answers.

The transporter / truck door reads – E.G. Maurice, Cartage Contractor, Rotorua

But its worth a final try – so woodys anyone able to enlighten us on the above launch.

And while we are in the middle of the North Island – circle 8th July 2023 in the diary for what looks like a cool classic event – details on the website – see poster.

lhttp://lakehop.co.nz

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9 thoughts on “Mystery Lake Rotorua Launch #2”

  1. I served my boat building apprenticeship with Owen Woolley 1964 – 1970 I remember a conversation about a launch that was built before my time ( late 50 to early 60s) that he designed n built that went by truck down to a lake but the flair up frd ,tumble home aft, cabin style window shapes very much of Owen Woolley of that era . Kerry Lilley

    On Tue, 20 Jun 2023 at 12:26 AM, waitematawoodys.com #1 for classic wooden

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  2. My late partner and I had a double skin Kauri launch called Margaret Amne
    Was built about 1952 by Billy Rodgers

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  4. I owned a boat very similar when I lived at Rotoiti.It was moored off the jetty below the reserve by the Okere arm. I bought it Off Leo Meharry around 2015. It had beed repowered with a 90 Yamaha outboard.I was told it used to be homed at Otamarai and was used as coach boat for the NZ rowing eight. I believe it is at Lake Waikaremoana now.

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  6. Hi
    Remember seeing a wooden boat in a shed on the shores of Lake Rotoiti 20plus years ago, it was at the fancy resort on the left as you head over to Kawarau,up past Hells Gate

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  7. Yes Grant, looks like Ōkere/ Stevensons to me as well. Surely Allan or Buzz knows someone in the family to ask

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  8. I think that the launch is a predecessor to Sir William Stevenson’s launch Jan built by Brin Wilson in 1960. Sir William had several launches over the years on Lake Rotoiti. And at a guess, I would say that the launch is moored to a jetty in the Okere Arm which is where the Stevenson holiday home is located.

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