CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – KOTANUI

While the launch 44′ KOTANUI has made numerous appearances on WW and her history is well documented, these days she rarely leaves her berth at the Milford marina.

Thanks to Angus Rogers on board CENTAURUS over the weekend we get to see KOTANUI at anchor in Bon Accord, Kawau Island.

Great to see that she is being well cared for by her long-term owner.

KOTUNUI was built at the Salthouse yard c.1964 and while Nathan Herbert will furrow his brows, in my ears she is a mini-me of TRINIDAD (52′)

LINKS BELOW TO SOME PAST WW STORIES – lots of intel and photo from her past.  Sept 2021https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/09/01/kotanui-launch-day-fathers-day-sorted/

July 2013https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/07/29/kotanui-2/

Oct 2013 https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/10/16/kotanui-3/

Photo below of TRINIDAD for comparison 😉

INPUT ex ALAN SEXTON – Kotanui pre-dated Trinidad, being built 1962-63, Trinidad was launched ~1965. Of course there is the Col Wild element in her design. I believe she was John Salthouse’s first new build after he commenced his own yard after the fire at Col Wild’s shed – altho I have an idea John built the replacement for the boat that was under construction in Wild’s shed at the time of the fire.

There must be a story behind her original Lister Petters during those import licensing days, maybe Jack said they were to power the separators in the cow shed 🙂

My father was the Hobb’s family lawyer and he sold Kotanui as part of winding up Jack’s estate, he said she was not an easy boat to sell in that time (late 80’s/early 90’s), not much demand for classic boats.