CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – RONGO

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – RONGO

WW was recently contacted by Joan McCracken regarding a classic wooden launch – Joan is helping prepare a 2027 calendar for the Alex Turnbull Library.

During her search for photographs matching the calendar theme ‘Picnics’ she came across the photo above that is dated March 1952 and tagged ‘RONGO in Queen Charlotte Sound’.

The photo was taken by K. V. Bigwood. Joan is hoping WW readers can help with any information on the vessel, the photo, and specifically  who owned the RONGO at this time – and is the owner / captain the person in the cap serving tea in the photo.

Back in May 2013 we a RONGO story that featured RONGO, at the time Harold Kidd provided extensive details on vessels named –  RONGO / RONGO I, RONGO !! – Link below to the 2013 WW story –  https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/05/29/who-can-id-this-launch/

01-07-2026 INPUTS ex IAN FORSYTH – photos below of RONGO towing LINDA up Heliers Creek 1986

Below – Lloyd Mumme with Tobias Forsyth on the bow of AVALON alongside RONGO

Below – RONGO atRambler Crs. wharf, Helliers Creek


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9 thoughts on “CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – RONGO”

  1. My late father Jack Roadley first went on Rongo as skipper around 1954 and drove her for Bill and Sylv till around 1960 when he purchased her off them and contracted her back to Red Funnel. She was a great sea boat and some of the trips I had with dad certainly proved that, although the old lady with her narrow beam could roll. With the 5lW Gardner in her she was very economical to run at her cruising speed of 1.5 gph. In 1969 dad and Bill repowered her. Her best engine would have been the 127hp LX Gardner, but could not get one at the time, so she got the 6LW instead. As mentioned elsewhere she was used for fishing trips and dad did a very large amount of charter work with her, not only new clients but a large base base of repeat clients. It would be interesting if someone could tell me if she still had the two plaques on the back wheelhouse wall by the ladder.

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  2. Pingback: FRIDAY FLASH BACK – CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH RONGO  | waitematawoodys.com #1 for classic wooden boat stories, info, advice & news – updated daily – 15+ million views

  4. Evening well our family cruised on Rongo from about 1985 to 2007 with Ernie Gordon.
    Ernie brought the boat because we all belonged to the Hibiscus Coast dive club and Rongo was a great boat to gear up on.
    I remember Ernie extending the wheel house 11 inches over the 6LW gardner to give more headroom.
    Rongo was kept at Gulf Harbour for many years. We built a great relationship giving Rongo all our time clearing and painting every year. Ernie gave the boat to some diving friends at Whangamata to look after on a swing mooring. Can’t remember when the boat was sold i understand it came north where during a storm she broke free and ended on the rocks sadly that was the end.Ernie loved the boat and all that sailed on her. When Ernie died we took ernie ashes to Catherine Bay,Great Barrier, it was his favorite place to go and rest Ernie forever rest in peace . John and Viviene Steele c/o Margaret Anne

    On Sun, 7 Jun 2026 at 00:19, waitematawoodys.com #1 for classic wooden boat

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  5. Correction to my last post.

    It was about the turn of the century that Rongo left Picton.

    My only trip on her was about that time when she was based out of Endeavour Inlet. And the skipper most certainly did not wear a marine officers cap.

    The photo is most certainly from her Kenny days and the gent serving the tea could well have been Bill Kenny.

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  7. Rongo was part of the Bill and Sylvia Kenny’s Red Funnel launches fleet when I first visited the Sounds in the late 1950’s. But she never sported their red funnels. And not that I am aware of, Red Funnel’s post early 60’s onwards, blue hulls.

    She was normally engaged in add hoc tourist runs and fishing charters rather then “the mail run”. I recall her taking school parties out from Curious Cove into the Sounds in the mid 60’s

    In the late 70’s under different ownership she was based out of Furneaux Lodge, perhaps even under their ownership and was engaged mainly in the service trade in outer Queen Charlotte Sound. It was then I had my only trip on her. She disappeared from Queen Charlotte Sound shortly afterwards.

    She was a handsome boat.

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  8. I certainly remember seeing her many times when we used to holiday at Resolution Bay in the Queen Charlotte Sounds

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  9. I remember her in the 70’s in the Queen Charlotte sound, a commercial tourist boat. Can’t remember which company owned her 😦

    JL.

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