CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH LADY LUCK

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH LADY LUCK

Recently WW was contacted by Robert Williams concerning the launch – LADY LUCK. I need to take a deep breath when I read the email – why?, well turns out LADY Luck is a 38ft Vindex built by Jim Young, (unknown year). But a quick glance at the attached photos and I was pleasantly surprised with todays top photo – quite a looker in her day.But too sure about the look after someone got tired of sanding and varnishing. 

Some background ex Robert –  LADY LUCK was owned by Bert Hammer in the1970’s to mid 1980’s. Prior to this period Bert owned another launch named LADY LUCK featured on WW (linked here) at Thames. https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/01/17/lady-luck-a-peek-down-below-4sale/

She was part of the Auckland Volunteer Coastguard main rescue ‘Cutter Group’.

The photo showing the varnish sides was as she was leaving the Tamaki River after a thorough clean and repaint. The photos of her in mainly white colours was taken many years later in possibility Half Moon Bay Marina during the 1990’s.

Can we learn where LADY LUCK is these days.

INPUT ex BILL UPFOLD – Up until late last year Lady Luck was sitting outside a panel beater’s on Union St. Howick. it had been sitting there for a few years then disappeared. Not sure if it has been moved into a shed on the property or moved elsewhere.

INPUT ex ALAN SEXTON – Lady Luck is not a Vindex, she was a design from Jim that predated Vindex, he told the story in his self published memoirs

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5 thoughts on “CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH LADY LUCK”

  1. LADY LUCK belongs to Steve Woodward & is at present at a boatbuilders premises having a complete rebuild of the interior & now has an extension to the coamings as well, Steve tells me.

    He has told me. She had a 330HpYanmar diesel which had had salt water inside it & was not repairable, when he bought her, around the end of covid, out of the water & off an insurance company & he is replacing the Yanmar with a 350 HP 6 cyl. Cummins Diesel.

    She had been living at Te Atatu when he bought her, & he proposes to keep her at Pine Harbour when back in the water & intends to live on her & spend time cruising around much of NZ.

    Steve is sending me a number of photos of LADY LUCK which I will copy to Alan, with Steve’s permission. — KEN R

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  2. Alan Sexton is quite right, I knew both the boat & Bert Hammer for many years.

    I meet Jim Young when buying the plans off him for my own 40Ft Vindex TIARRI, & whilst there are one or 2 similarities, by enlarge, the Vindexes had many differences.

    Vindexes had a lower bow profiles & smaller forward deck, there was no provision for portholes in the bow, the flare seemed to be less pronounced, they were not designed with a sweep in the deck, & had totally different symmetry.

    From memory, LADY LUCK also had for & aft planking, whilst all Vindexes, prior to the molded fibreglass Formula 4000 later boats, had 2 or 3 skins of Kauri on opposite diagonals, glued & glassed over.

    The only real common denominator which was obvious was the very high & pronounced chine line in the bow.

    Notwithstanding this however, she is still a very beautiful boat with lovely lines, & had she had enough power put into her, I believe she could have been quite capable of fairly high speeds. — KEN R. (edited AH)

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  3. Lady Luck is not a Vindex, she was a design from Jim that predated Vindex, he told the story in his self published memoirs

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  4. If you look on street view you can see her https://www.google.com/maps/@-36.9047708,174.924965,3a,75y,122.47h,94.36t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1stlAMMpdxqxYjkwtIwRSbMw!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D-4.355331360988103%26panoid%3DtlAMMpdxqxYjkwtIwRSbMw%26yaw%3D122.46555293861609!7i16384!8i8192?authuser=0&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDEyNS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

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  5. Lady Luck

    Up until late last year Lady Luck was sitting outside a panel beater’s on Union St. Howick. it had been sitting there for a few years then disappeared.

    Not sure if it has been moved into a shed on the property or moved elsewhere.

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