PITO
Todays woody is the ex workboat – PITO and the photo comes to us from Dave Stanaway. Dave took the photo of PITO on the Mahurangi River (Cement Works) approx. 8 years ago when he was master of the tug – HERENUI.
Dave commented that she may have started life as a workboat for the Whangarei Harbour Board.
At the time of the photo PITO was most likely owned by Conrad Robertson, do we know what became of her and more on her past.
Love the paint scheme , keep it simple and it works 🙂
INPUT EX RAY MELROSE – PITO (belly button) was designed and built in Auckland for the W.H.B. as a workboat and dredge tender. She towed the coal barges to bunker the steam dredge “Thomas McKinnon” and later the fuel barge for both McKinnon and Pikau, the other old dredge. Also did duties with the three side dump rock barges building sea walls to contain the dredge spoil areas where the present day “Port Whangarei'” (Kioriroa) I drove many miles in her towing the harbour board drill rig up all the creeks and ditches drilling for the M.O.W. before they re-aligned the main road at Mata, from Oakleigh south. When handed over from the builder she was brought up by one of the Auckland coastal tug and barges, probably Harry Julian. Power was a 60 hp Ford (Lees) Her build was featured in Sea Spray magazine but it was a long time ago, maybe around 1950. She has good bones and has aged well.
02-05-2024 INPUT ex ALAN SEXTON – Pito is alive and well still owned by Conrad Robertson, picture taken today at Robertsons wharf.
08-05-2024 UPDATE – Photos below ex Alan Sexton
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New photos added. Alan H
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she was at the cement works mooring when I took the photo
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Robinsonn boats . not the cement works
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Hi there Dave, Pito was never intended to be run single handed, the helm and controls were right up front in the cabin and there was a big heavy panting beam spanning the cockpit at deck level carrying the towing bitts. To get into the cockpit/working aft deck I would do a “Boston Roll” over that then get about the job in hand. W.H.B. had at that time a large O & K crawler crane on a barge, the smaller Priestman Wolf grab crane for dredging, the big pile driver as well. I did the new marina at Kissing Point?? heading for Onerahi, we , with Peter Diamond, drove all those piles then dredged out with the Priestman. Yes, Pito was a sweatshop but I was young and keen then. I was on a promise of one of the newbies Marsden or Busby but when I was passed over I pulled the pin and went to Whangarei Towboats , Tangaroa., but that is another story. regards ray
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it is so good to receive your much valued information. Thank you Ray
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PITO (belly button) was designed and built in Auckland for the W.H.B. as a workboat and dredge tender. She towed the coal barges to bunker the steam dredge “Thomas McKinnon” and later the fuel barge for both McKinnon and Pikau, the other old dredge. Also did duties with the three side dump rock barges building sea walls to contain the dredge spoil areas where the present day “Port Whangarei'” (Kioriroa) I drove many miles in her towing the harbour board drill rig up all the creeks and ditches drilling for the M.O.W. before they re-aligned the main road at Mata, from Oakleigh south. When handed over from the builder she was brought up by one of the Auckland coastal tug and barges, probably Harry Julian. Power was a 60 hp Ford (Lees) Her build was featured in Sea Spray magazine but it was a long time ago, maybe around 1950. She has good bones and has aged well.
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