WHERE IS SHE TODAY?
Today’s boat, isn’t a mystery boat as we know that it was owned by one of the Allen family (owners of the launch Tiromoana & the C class yacht Tuirangi in the later 1940s-50s) & was probably belonged to Henry Allen’s son in law Joe Coggan.
The photo was taken in front of the family’s business premises at that time in Manukau Rd Epsom opposite Epsom Girls Grammar. Photo emailed in by Ken Ricketts.
Can we put a name to her to & what became of her ?
LADY ELLEN RESTORATION
The plight of Lady Ellen has been documented on ww in the past (link below). We were able to happily report that she had been purchased by Bruce Mitchinson & 6 weeks ago transported north to Russell in the Bay of Islands.
A few days ago Bruce gave me an update on the restoration – read below.
“Restoration work underway with removal of rotten timber around cabin, decks and bulkheads. Much of the interior has gone to the tip. Under the foredeck canvas, near perfect Totara decking, which is drying out ready for a sand and some fibreglass.
Next up, replacing the rotten timbers with old kauri before new side and aft decks go down.
Engine is back together, almost, and Ken Jaspers is sorting out new mounts, gearbox seals and couplings down in Whangaparoa”
Bruce has promised to keep us updated on the project.
27-09-2017 Project Update ex Bruce M
Starting to look like herself again.
Glassed plywood cores for cabin sides ready for timber finish inside and out.Slight adjustment made to the rear windows, which always looked a bit odd, but still trying to retain that McGeady look.Rebuilt coachroof over the aft cockpit to remove the v-shape combing and modified structure so that corner posts are no longer required.Narrower aft deck now provides enough room for continuous seating around 3 sides of the cockpit and storage.Galley has gone, including the floor, to make way for a new under floor water tank, raised floor and new galley fit out.As you can see there is still a lot of work to do.
UPDATE 24-02-2018 More restoration photos here https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/02/23/an-update-on-the-lady-ellen-restoration/
MYSTERY LAUNCH 13-07-2017
Today’s ww post shows an unknown launch anchored in the Warkworth River, date unknown also. Given the location I suspect it could be a Tudor Collins photo. Ken Ricketts who emailed me the photo thought it could possibly be a lost sheep from the Allan Coggan photo collection.
Anyone able to ID her & supply more details?
TAIAROA
The above photos of Taiaroa were taken by boat builder Colin Brown while she was hauled out on the hardstand at Wellington. Colin was in the capital for the re-launching of Little Tasman. Colin & his team undertook the magnificent restoration of Little Tasman at his Omaha yard. photos emailed to me by Ken Ricketts.
What do we know about Talaroa? – certainly looks like a southern boat with a work boat past.
Input From Russell Ward
Rumored to have been a rowing boat carried on one of the RNZN ships whose name I forget. Someone said she had been steam, but never IMHO. Motor boat certainly – a Standard or Union. Most probably a local Dunedin fishing boat –not Miller and Tunnage I don’t think –they wouldn’t have been formed when she was built.
Became an OHB workboat around 1940 and later and later passed to the Sea Cadets in Dunedin and then came to Wellington in the 1970’s?.
Owned by Sam Hunt for a time and kept by his live in boat shed –he probably generated the lively colour scheme.
Fell into indifferent ownership and was slowly going downhill at Evans Bay Marina.
I met her maybe four years back when the owner had just died (on board?) and his brother wanted to sell her. A bit of a mess and bought by a good soul who put her up at the hard stand and doesn’t seem to have progressed much.
Photos below at varying times in her life. Acknowledgements to esteemed members of the Workboat Study Group.
14-07-2017 – Photo of Lonaero – as mentioned in Cameron Pollard’s note in the ww comments section .
Do You Know This Launch?
Have had a request from David Balderston who is publishing a book on ‘ Upper Harbour Ferries’ & would like some help ID’ing the above vessel. David understands it was owned by Ted Price of Herald Island but David would like to put a name to the vessel – can we help?
Mahurangi Regatta Goes Viral
Back in late Jan this year the Mahurangi Regatta had some special visitors from an American boating website named offcenterharbor.com The OCH site is a membership only (i.e. paid) weblog that is based on video content, with over 700 stories on & around wooden boating available to members to view. It is very good – I subscribe.
The latest video is on the Mahurangi Regatta & also profiles Steve Horsley & his Chas Bailey gaffer – Ngatira.
Below is a link to watch the 1:30 preview, the full video is approx. 8:00 minutes in length. Both showcase the event, the vessels & the NZ wooden boating movement very well.
RUMBOTL – Spirit of Tradition – Motor-sailer
Rumbotl is a 42′ motor-sailer, launched in 2002 (hence the SoT tag) but with a very long gestation period (15+ years). She was built/finished off at Warkworth, by & for John Middleton. Her present owner Don Bruce bought her in 2007 off John M. Photos & details ex owner, emailed to me by Ken Ricketts.
She is built of 1″ strip planked kauri, fibreglassed over, the kauri was retrieved from the BNZ building in Queen St Auckland, during its transformation many years ago.
She is powered by a 1980’s 100 hp, 6 cyl., Ford diesel. She has a lead fin keel.
She is fine example of old/new coming together – certainly deserving of a better name than rum bottle, if she was mine I’d be renaming her 😉
10-06-2018 Hauled out at Gulf Harbour (photo ex Ken Ricketts)
Pilothouse Ketch
Today’s post is about an overseas visitor, designed by Alan Buchanan & built with teak carvel plank construction by David Cheng in Hong Kong. A true world cruiser and at 17m she would make an ideal live aboard. The boat underwent a major refit and upgrade 2014/2015. Home is Nelson but if your looking for a cheap waterfront home in Auckland she would be a good buy 😉
KINGFISHER
I uncovered in my ww files the above photos of the 26′ Kingfisher, I checked using the ww search box & found no reference so maybe she slipped between the cracks 😦
The photos were from a trademe listing that Dean Wright tipped me off about back in early 2016. She was built in 1936 in England from NZ kauri and is double layer, one diagonal & one straight. She started life as a lifeboat with an open hull, later working out of Mokau to transport wool bales to waiting vessels. The photos show her in varying degrees to presentation – in the trademe listing it started she was without a motor & needed some work work to the hull & decks, lets hope she sold & the buyer is classic friendly – anyone able to update us?
Dick Hartley – New Escort Run-About
Post my trip to the Lake Rotiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade early this year I was sent the above photos from her new (it) owner. He purchased her last year & is completing a full refit on her. She was built in 1971 & won the best boat at the 1971 Epiglass Boat Show.
The work included wiring & electronics upgrade & full repaint. Hopefully Sam reads ww & he can tell as what powers her.
Harold Kidd Input – She was the subject of a full boat test in Sea Spray of August 1971. She was a Dick Hartley “New Escort” design built by Ray Fink at Tamahere. Her original power was a Chrysler V8 with a Penta outdrive.
Updated photo 02-05-2018
ARIMA
The above photos of Arima were emailed to me by Ken Ricketts & according to info attributed to her owner, she measures 36′ & was built in 1955 of planked kauri by Salthouse to a Colin Wild design.
Arima has a 110 hp. 6 cyl., Ford diesel that sees her cruising at 8.5 knots. with a top speed of 10 knots. Home port is Whangarei.
What else do we know about her & is this provenance correct?
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