Quick Classic Launch 4sale – Romance II

Its not often you see the words classic and quick in the same sentence when reading about one of our classic launch fleet – there are a few exceptions out there and probably the quickest is the 1919 Bailey & Lowe designed and built launch – Romance II. 

Back in c2012 Romance II  was rescued by Pauline Kidd and taken under Harold Kidd’s wing. I remember Colin Pawson who went with HDK on the post purchase delivery trip to Gulf Harbour, scoping out suitable locations on the eastern shore for a potential beaching, the water ingress was a tad worrying. HDK’s answer was to have the throttle wide open the whole way to keep the bow up 🙂 An old salt told me once that Romance II ran like a skinny hogged i.e. 18+ knots. Check out the video above.

Romance II  sent a few years at Gulf Harbour before the decision was made to transport her to Marco Scuderi’s Helensville yard (MSN Shipwrights) for a major refit – photos of this work above.

HDK and family used the relaunched Romance II at many CYA launch gatherings before making the hard decision (HDK had waited 10+ years to acquire her) to find new owners that would use and enjoy her more. A partnership was formed and the future looked promising. Sadly life things like young children and work got in the way and now the Wooden Boat Bureau has been tasked with finding a new custodian for Romance II.

 As she presents today the hard-to-do structural stuff is complete, leaving work that an average do-it-yourselfer could carry out e.g. clean her out, paint her up and you will have a very fine boat to enjoy. Because Romance II is plainly finished without brightwork (varnish), she’d be easier than most her size to maintain. Her owners have just completed a mechanical service (including diesel tank cleaning), 2x new start batteries, and re-bedded the tram top windows, so as stated her needs now are largely cosmetic.

Romance II’s zoom zoom is via a marinised Hino W-06e 162hp diesel engine, several years ago James Mobberley at Moon Engines fitted these engines to several woodys, including at the time his classic launch Falcon. Falcon and My Girl are probably the only two woody launches that would come close to pipping Romance II in a straight line.

So woodys this is a special opportunity to acquire one of the fleets icon classic lunches for entry level dollars – $35k will buy her – interested? Initially email waitematawoodys@gmail.com.