LADY FAYE – CAN WE SAVE THIS CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH 

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LADY FAYE – CAN WE SAVE THIS CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH 

WW has been contacted by interests of the Waipuna Boating Club asking for help in regard to the 32’ classic wooden launch – LADY FAYE

LADY FAYE  is a Donovan design and built by 20th Century Boats, Takapuna in 1948. The company was owned by Andy Donovan and Fred Steel (the boats 1st owner)

The launch last made an appearance on WW back in April 2013 – photo below from that story. Since then she has several owners, all with the best intentions of restoring her. These days home has been a pile mooring off the WBC and she is looking very neglected, these things happen so its time to move forward and either find a new home for her or a new owner. The club appreciate her provenance and would like to see her go to a deserving home.  WW understands she is powered by a 4cyl. Ford D-series diesel but requires work to her systems and probably re-caulking. The interior is partially bare.

WW understands the top photo (on pile mooring) is recent.The hauled out photos above are c.Jan 2021. Any woodys looking for a project or know someone that is – initially contact Mark via email waipunaboatingclub@gmail.com  Make life easy of him and put Lady Faye in the subject line 🙂

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3 thoughts on “LADY FAYE – CAN WE SAVE THIS CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH ”

  1. Pingback: WHO’S BRAVE ENOUGH TO PAY $1 FOR THE CLASSIC LAUNCH LADY FAY | waitematawoodys.com #1 for classic wooden boat stories, info, advice & news – updated daily – 14+ million views

  2. Yep, definitely Des Donovan. We must have been over the other side of her from you, Ken. The old man knew both Des and Fred. Watched Des building Athena all those years and were thrilled to see her launch and saddened by her impact hydrography.

    I fear that a hearty soul intent on saving Faye might need to start with a chain saw to remove the more recent wood butchers’ efforts and go back to a bare hull. He’d need a big budget.

    I’m sure we’d cheer him on.

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  3. As per my writings & images in earlier posts I have known her, & the Steel family from when new. As far as I know, Andy Donvan had nothing to do with her, it was Des Donovan who was the other part of the team.

    Also when launched she was named Faye, after Fred’s daughter Faye, who was about 8 or 9 years old. KEN R

    edited by AH

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