CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – ROTUI
Todays WW story features the classic wooden launch – ROTUI. The photos above were sent in by Karyn Klarwill and came to her from the McCann family.
A mystery woody to me, so keen to learn more about her.
A search on WW comes up with a couple of stories on a boat named ROTUI, but that one was built in 1938 and according to K Ricketts was a Chris Craft boat. Not sure if it was a genuine CC or a NZ knock-off.
Todays we are mooching up the upper Waitemata Harbour for a Woodys Cruise to the waterfront Riverhead Tavern for a group catch up / lunch. If your attending remember to take lots of photos and email in to waitematawoodys@gmail.com
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My name is Graeme Martin, born and bred here in New Zealand. My Godfather Samual (Sam)Ford was a talented hands on boat builder and I recall this was one of his.
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Photos two and three show OCEAN QUEEN, now at Taupo (thankfully without the windscreen). Photo one shows a different boat.
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Yeah, apropos of the Yank ripoff theme, fearless leader; there was a distinct impact on NZ by American designs (as well as UK designers -I guess our forebears read Rudder Magazine (and Yachting Monthly), saw pictures, and went to local builders who took some of the details to heart. I’m thinking of Colin Wild and his glorious treatment of details. Sam Ford had some great profiles as did Lanes and C&B. Did Fred Lidgard ever build an ugly boat? Great eye.
I particularly remember Tim Windsor who did a design course at Westlawn in the late ’30s and ’40s and the fabulous Shipbuilders Supremecraft (Lady Eileen et al) bridgedeckers and many others. Tim’s Supervisors at Westlawn opined that his designs were too open to the elements -but hey it’s always summer down here…..
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The top image is of the ROTUI as I knew her, when owned by Alec & Linda Walker, in the 1940s to 1960s, & looks as if it could be taken in Matiatia Waiheke Island.
The bottom 2 images may be of a boat called ROTUI also, but it is a totally different boat, which I can’t identify — KEN R.
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