CLASSIC WOODEN MOTORSAILER – ASTROLINDA

WW was recently contacted by Matthew Montgomery regarding his 34’6” motor-sailer – ASTROLINDA, and whether she passed the classic woody test – short answer yes.

ASTROLINDA is an Athol Burns design, built for charter at the Morgan yard in Picton in 1966. Matthew has owned her for approx. 8 years.
Matthew commented that he doesn’t know if ASTROLINDA has been north of Wellington, but there are charts of Otago on board , so maybe she’s been south.  Matthew bought her ex Nelson, at the time her exterior was in reasonable condition but a worn interior and an engine bay that was a nasty rusty mess and engine not working.

Current home is Waikawa marina, but there are plans to get to Northland and Auckland later in the year.

Matthew has good woody credentials being a past owner of PIKO in the 1970’s in Auckland , KORAMA in the 1990’s (brought to Picton). He was also a broker at Vinings in Picton and sold THETIS to Paul Harris in the late 1990’s, who asked if Matthew would use her to keep her functioning while he was away flying airplanes for Royal Brunei, before relocating her to Auckland with  Paul.

INPUT ex MARK MCLAUGHLIN – Below is a design article by Athol Burns from Sea Spray for Astrolinda. She was built to the alternative configuration by Jack Morgan:

INPUT ex JOHN GANDER (via Dean Wright) – ASTROLINDA was designed as stated by Athol Burns for Trevor Johnson of Wellington. Built by Jack Morgan and launched as MANUTAI in 1966.

In about 1970 she was purchased by Bill Rutherford and Jack McMath who petitioned parliament for a law change regarding surveyed vessels to enable them to hire her as a sail yourself charter vessel, the first vessel to do so in New Zealand. Her survey certificate was for 15 passengers but reduced to 6 when hired to an uncertificated master.

Wife Bev and I together with Frank Derbyshire,  purchased her in 1973 and along with the yacht ASTROLABE ran our business as ‘Charter Yachts Ltd.’ 

When launched ASTROLINDA was fitted with a Coventry Godiva 4 cylinder 30 hp engine, we changed the engine for a Volvo Penta in about 1975.

There are many boat owners around who’s first boating experience was on ASTROLINDA or ASTROLABE.