Fantasia

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FANTASIA 

Earlier in the week I was out east and called into Leader Boats on the Panmure River. Dave Patterson and his team are currently breathing newline into a launch named – Fantasia, previously she was ‘berthed’ near-by.

Fantasia started life as a Crestacraft design and was built by Harry Biddle in a shed in Saleyard Rd, Otahuhu c.1968.

She has had several face lifts over the years and at time been a little un-loved. Now is getting what I’d describe as a sport fisher look, check out the new sheer line – close your eyes and think Oliver & Gilpin. The boat was re-engined in 1978, with what I’m not sure – much to K Ricketts disgust, I’m never that interested in the engines.

Her owner commented to me that he only came in for a new duckboard and paint job 🙂 I said to Dave that he could always get a job at McDonalds i.e. he’s the champion of companion selling – “do you want fries with that” 🙂

Still very much a work in process but you can see from the photos what she will look like.

HAROLD KIDD INPUT – According to the contemporary APYMBA records FANTASIA was built in 1963 By B. Everett of 51 Kiwi Esplanade Mangere. No mention of a designer. Make of that what you will. Did Everett simply pay for her to be built? That’s not the normal way APYMBA recorded information. Did he finish off a hull perhaps?

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9 thoughts on “Fantasia”

  1. Pingback: REVIVING A CLASSIC – INSIDE LEADER BOATBUILDERS AS FANTASIA PREPARES TO LAUNCH | waitematawoodys.com #1 for classic wooden boat stories, info, advice & news – updated daily – 13+ million views

  2. Bruce Everett was a cabinet maker and I believe he designed and built Fantasia himself on the neighbouring section in Kiwi Esplanade. I finished my apprenticeship working for him and remember outings on Fantasia as a young child with both our families.

    Cheers,

    Paul Stewart

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  3. Martinique is the sister ship to Fantasia and was owned by John Timpany a school photographer at the time. He was great friends with Bruce who owned Fantasia and on the strength of that association had Martinique built and yes she had the standard issue turbo Ford.
    John previously owned Adara.

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  5. Engine by what we can see of it, looks as it is fairly probably a 6cyl. Ford Diesel. Very interested in the info. ex Harold & Nath, & the possibility of several identical craft being built. — could well have been more than one the same, as suggested in the comments, say like WAKATERE & TAIPARU by R Lidgard etc. — KEN R(edited . AH)

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  6. According to the contemporary APYMBA records FANTASIA was built in 1963 By B. Everett of 51 Kiwi Esplanade Mangere. No mention of a designer. Make of that what you will. Did Everett simply pay for her to be built? That’s not the normal way APYMBA recorded information. Did he finish off a hull perhaps?

    Like

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