McKenzie Bay – Rangitoto Island
The above photo show a collection of woodys anchored in McKenzie Bay, the photo is ex an old photo album that Steve Horsley uncovered. The owner of which is unknown.
Can we ID any of the vessels? Steve has sent me a high-res copy of the image & have taken close-ups of the boats (see below).
I’m pretty sure the ‘big’ launch closest to the camera in the 1st photo is Romance II , as to the others, what do you think?
MV GLENLEE
Glenlee is one of the historic Marlborough Sounds Launches, she was built around 1908 by Claude Wells for the McNabbs to service their Crail Bay guest house Glenlee.
In her time Glenlee has also been used as a mail boat and commercial fishing boat. Last two owners (approx 60 years) are both relations of the original builder
She is made from double skin kauri & measures 39’, with a beam of 9’. The zoom zoom comes from a 6 cyl. Ford diesel with pumps out approx. 120hp.
Currently moored at the Okiwi Bay South, Grove Arm, Queen Charlotte Sound, she is for sale on trademe. Thanks to Ian McDonald for the listing heads up.
Input & photos from Cameron Pollard– Glenlee had a Regal engine (see below) originally, followed by a Lister Blackstone, then a Detroit & a Ford
WAI-ITI
I have been contacted by Simon Manning on-behalf of a friend of his who is trying to track down a Marlborough Sounds launch named Wai-iti.
Wai-iti was possibly built c.1950’s by Swanson. Simon’s thinking around Swanson is based on her sheer and the location near Blackwood Bay and Picton. Although Simon commented that the chine forward is a bit unusual for a Swanson.
Back in her day, Wai-iti was based at Mistletoe Farm, in Onahau Bay (Queen Charlotte Sound) and was owned by Jim and Jo Vogel. They apparently had 2 boats; ‘Aqua Lady’ which was a speed machine used for waterskiing and “Wai-iti” which was used for picking up guests and supplies in Picton and for fishing trips – which were legendary. Wai-iti was white and quite elegant but unassuming. Simon’s mother and others he has spoken to, do remember the boat but don’t know what happened to her, or where she is now.
The people trying to locate Wai-iti have a genuine and special reason for doing so and will be visiting NZ, so woodys – it will be a very cool thing to be able to find out what became of her.
11-06-2018 Update from Simon Manning –
08-06-2018 Update – photos below of Wai iti / Sea Shanty that Chris’s brother, Chris, took during last weekend at Mana Marina.
MAHANA
Mahana being built in c.1975 by Atkinson falls into the ‘Spirit of Tradition’ category. She is a biggish girl – 46’ LOA & is pushed along by a 315hp Yanmar.
Ian McDonald commented that he was on board Mahana up Kawau Island some years ago. She was then powered by a big old 6 cyl Foden and was owned at the time by two brothers connected with Rinnai NZ. She is strip planked. Ian next saw her in Picton marina about 2008.
Home these days is the Marlborough Sounds & she is for sale on trademe.
Do we know any more about her past life?
16-01-2023 Update – new photos ex tme listing
PHOTINA – Sailing Sunday
On Friday as part of the post on the launch Luanda, there was a photo of Luanda with a yacht alongside, I ran a wee quiz to find out the name of the yacht, won by Martin Howson (does that man sleep?) – the yacht was the 39’ Photina built by Trevor Managh and Ces Watson for her owner Trevor Managh. In the photo below she’s still to have her mast stepped.
Tracing the history of Photina on the web is a little ‘misty’ as after Trevor sold her, a future owner took her to Mururoa in 1995 & certain ‘people/country’ have clouded (excuse the pun) the on-line media coverage of what happened up there. You can read more in the book ‘Mururoa Blues’ by John Simpson page 149.
Trevor also did a Noumea race in her before selling her. The boat went on to do 4 circumnavigations, so Ces Watson knew how to build a good boat.
Thanks to Mike Elliott for the photos & details.
Mystery Launch 02-06-2018
The photo above (ex Lew Redwood fb) was tagged 1962, New Lynn, preparing for boating club picnic, but someone commented that it was more likely to be the Te Atatu Boating Club, either way can we ID the double ender closest to the camera?
Kayla Marie – A Woody Lake Boat Looking For A New Home
I have been contact by the owners of the launch below who inherited this boat with the purchase of their house at Okere Falls, Lake Rotoiti.
The owners have never used the boat, but last time they tried (a couple years ago), the motor went fine.
I’m told that overall the boat is in better condition than the photos show – an engine tune up and maybe a new spark plug and what nots, plus the exterior is in need of a good clean up & paint, But it’s a project.
The thinking is she probably made from kauri, its 7m long. has a Toyota diesel engine in it, bilge pump was going fine last time had going. It does not have a trailer, and is sitting at a jetty on Lake Rotoiti, Rotorua.
The owners are not asking a lot for her – the contact is Juliet 0211810402, or email julietboo@gmail.com
Hero Photos of Luanda
Following from yesterday’s story on Luanda, Mike Elliott sent in the above photos that show her in her finest, before her ‘enhancements’. These photos were too good to just add to the existing story. She was a quite a looker in her day.
Mike has promised to send us more photos on the Managh family boats.
I’ll give a WW t-shirt to the first correct reply in the WW comments section, as to the ID of the yacht alongside Luanda in one of the photos
Update 02-06-2018 – interior photo below ex Nigel Brown via Ken Ricketts.
LUANDA
The photos of Luanda above are from Lew Redwood’s FB page, sent in by Ken Ricketts. They show Luanda on launch day, year unknown.
We do know that she was designed & built by T.C. Watson of Whangarei for Trevor & Norman Managh. She measures 50’ with a beam of 13’. As launched her engines were x2 100hp diesels.
The lady doing the honors is Mrs Managh snr.
Do we know more about Luanda & where she is today?
Update from Mike (surname unknown) “Luanda was built by T C (Ces) Watson of Whangarei in a shed at Kauri behind Trevor’s house.
Trevor and Norm worked with Ces on the build and must have picked up few skills as they built many more boats including Photina which escorted the Mururoa fleet, a 58′ Ketch, a Vindex, a steel Ketch and several trailer boats.
Currently she is used as a party boat in Wakatipu and has some ugly poem handles fitted.
Luanda was launched December (3rd?)1962
Length 50’ Beam 12’9” 12,500lb
Sold about 1968 to one of the Subtriztkys
Powered by 2 recon. 100hp Perkins”
Update – 2018 Photos below ex Ken Ricketts
HELENA
Helena was built by Shipbuilders c.1960. 28’ in length & kauri planked. The zoom zoom is via a 150hp Ford diesel giving a cruise speed of 7 knots.
Her trademe listing states that she is ‘priced to sell’ but at $35k she might hang around for a while + you have to wonder at people’s desire to actually sell a boat when you see how they present them in the photos.
Do we know any more about Helena?
Harold Kidd Input – In 1966 she was registered with APYMBA and owned by A.R. Martin of Palmerston North but kept at Auckland.
SPRAY
The above photos of Spray come to us from Lew Redwood’s facebook.
The only info we have is they were tagged Nelson Harbour. Her name board appears to have more than just ‘Spray’ on it, but its too hard to read
Can anyone supply more info on her?
Harold Kidd Update – This SPRAY was built c1903 by Robert Logan Sr for G.W. Kinzett of Nelson. Her dimensions were 32′ oa, 6ft 6ins beam and she had a 7hp White engine. Probably Kinzett was the local agent for Whites which were also popular in Wellington.She came ashore and was badly damaged in March 1904. Fortunately her engine was out being overhauled at Anchor Foundry. She was sold by auction where she lay at Tahuna Beach. After repair she was used for pleasure purposes but went fishing in the area after 1911.
That’s probably her NN fishing boat number.
19-06-2018 Update ex Dick Hall – Built by Ernie Lane. Altered with foc’sle head and re-named Minetta-K by Andrew Hope who owned & fished her from Nelson in the 1960′ & 1970’s. Sold to Napier later and re-named Sarah-M. Trawled from there but understand she fell into dis-repair in later years and was broken up.
AH – Confusion around builder – Logan or Lane ??
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