LADY MARGARET – WHANGAROA
photos ex Dean Wright
There have been numerous Lady Margarets featured on ww, it was a popular name & must have been a good luck charm, as most as still afloat.
The above LM is 42′ in length & was built in Tauranga by Oliver & Gilpin c.1958. Harold would say ‘she has the typical O&G flair for dramatic style’.
She spent a lot of her life chasing game fish. The photos above were taken by Dean Wright in the Whangaroa Harbour.
WAKATERE
photos & details ex Ken Ricketts
Built in 1939 by Roy Lidgard & was based at Mercury Island as the Island managers boat, for a period in the later 1950’s – early 60’s.
The shed photos of Wakatere were taken by Ken when he recently inspected her on the owners property in Te Atatu. She is currently undergoing a protracted major refit, which started in the early 1990’s & it appears work has stalled on her.
She still has her 60hp 4 cyl Ford still in place, having been refitted after an overhaul, as part of her present restoration.
The hull has had a major work over, having been splined & sheathed in fibreglass 😦 . In addition a little rot around the deck lines has been removed & some fairly major refastening work, in respect of the ribs.
She was lengthened to 40 feet a good number of years ago, so she in fact now looks a little different to her sister ship Isa Lei (Taipari), search Isa Lei to view. She still has her special tuck lines.
Harold Kidd Update
WAKATERE was built by Lidgards for Ray Vincent, the well-known truck wrecker and repairer. She was in NAPS as Z27 between 1942 and 1943 with Ray as skipper. P.D. Simmonds of Tauranga owned her in the early 1960s when she had a 90hp Graymarine.
MILFORD CREEK aka WAIRAU COVE BRIDGE
There has been a lot of chat lately about the need to provide pedestrian access across the creek, in the old days there was a bridge, a very tall bridge. It did the trick, but these days a bridge needs to accommodate two mobility scooters side by side & be accessible by the blind. The options that have been tabled are a joke, all we need is another tall bridge. If you are on your scooter or blind or both, I suggest you use the existing footpath, a little longer but a lot safer than any bridge, even a modern one.
The photos in this ww post are from the Milford Cruising Club historical archives & show the area in the good old days. To find out more about the club visit http://www.milfordcruising.co.nz
click image to enlarge
CLASSIC BLING – ONLY $4995…..
Ok, you have restored the boat, built (bought) the kauri clinker tender & the pocket money is burning a hole in your pocket – best get on to trade me & buy this. If you think its too beautiful to use, think of it as a piece of art 🙂
The A-Series outboard was Johnson’s first ‘kicker’ and it placed Johnson & Brothers well & truly ‘on the map’ – the opposed twin platform provided 2hp & proved a fabulous design and one that is just as beautiful today as it was nearly a century ago – the lightweight, easily handled Water Bug revolutionised power boating in the 20’s for the exact same reasons they are to this very day with Johnson’s advertising slogan ‘ – Dependable Outboards – ‘ certainly prophetic!
The 3 brothers (Clarence, Harry & Lou) sold their growing business to investors from Wall Street at the turn of the decade so this vintage Water Bug (or ‘Light Twin’ as it was also coined) was produced while the brothers were at the tiller so to speak – 360 degree swivelling gave high levels of manoeuvrability, tilting enabled easy beaching plus a ‘1 Year Guarantee’ guaranteed the Bug’s success with it eventually paving the way for the SeaHorse badged Johnson’s – heres some basic specs on this delightful machine: Year & model: 1925 Johnson Water Bug Cooling: Mechanical piston water pump
Horsepower: 2hp @ 2400 rpm Cylinders: 2 – opposed twin
Ignition: Johnson magneto Oil/gas mix: 1/2 pt TCW-3
Spark plug: Champion C7 Retail 1925: US$ 142.50
Condition: Restored Serial: 226xx (1925)
Point gap: 0.020 Weight: 35 lbs.
Stroke: 1.5″ Bore: 2″
RATA
Rata was built by Dick Lang in 1926 in St Marys Bay. In todays world she is rather unquie in that her owner is only the 2nd since 1936. Rata has recently completed a lengthly keel up ‘rebuild’.
She is 35′ long with a 3′ draft & powered by a 85hp Lees Ford engine, she cruises at 8knots.
Currently 4 sale on trademe. Hopefully the price of $45k includes a chainsaw to remove the ‘carry handle’ 🙂
Anyone able to provide any more details on Rata?
BONDI BELLE
story & photos by Baden Pascoe
Bondi Bell was built as S.S.Whakapara, at Whakapara (North of Whangarei) by Charles Bailey Jr. for the Foote family who were saw millers at several Northland locations . Launched in 1901, initially she was a steamer and converted to diesel in the 1920’s. This vessel is steeped in history and her owner ,Ted Carter needs to find a new owner for her. He is asking $85,000 and is open to negotiations. For details call Ted on 0274-485976.
(b/w photo c.1901-02. Whangarei, Hatea River, were the town basin is now)
Link the (blue) link below to read the brilliant story of the history of Bondi Belle & her 80 year circumnavigation of New Zealand.
BONDI BELLE – Around NZ in 80 Years
The press clipping from the Hokianga Newspaper c1929, was saved by Arch Fell & given to Baden Pascoe. Arch is most likely in the photo. Click to enlarge
Money Can’t Buy Moments
The CYA is full of moments that money can’t buy e.g. hooking an old owner up with the present day owner, facilitating the transfer of a boats artifacts (a name plate, wheel or log book) from someone with an obscure connection to the boat to the current owner etc.
Well todays ww posting is one of those tales.
Push rewind & Dick Fisher has Akarana berthed at the 2011 boat show as part of the CYA’s on-the-water display, Chris Miller is cruising the the docks with his friend Geoff Diggle (Master Mariner) who is the NZ operations manager for Swire Shipping, as they pass Akarana Geoff comments that his father (John Diggle, Master Mariner) was the Auckland Harbour Board senior pilot for over 30 years & spent a large chunk of that time aboard Akarana. Geoff himself as a child spent many an hour aboard as well.
Chris & Geoff hop aboard Akarana for a chat with Dick, which includes the compulsory tour of the engine room 🙂 Geoff casually mentions that some where at home he has a crystal whisky decanter & glasses, that are sand blasted with a line drawing of Akarana. These were presented to the late John Diggle when he retired in 1993. Turns out Geoff’s wife Bev has been threatening to put them out in the next inorganic collection so plans are made to hand them over asap. Well Dick lives up North & Geoff travels a lot.
Now fast forward to Jan. 2014 & the occasion eventually happens at Westhaven. In addition to the decanter set, Geoff had also discovered a wonderful framed photograph of Akarana which will now most likely hang in Dicks engine room (which is the #1 spot on the boat, in Dicks eyes).
It would have been rude to not use the gift for what it was intended so the moment was celebrated accordingly. Now CYA deputy chairman Bruce Tantrum has a good nose for a fine drink & was cruising the docks & either caught a whiff or heard the cork being extracted & joined the gathering.
In the next few days I will do a pictorial posting on the restoration (rebuild) of Akarana from when she was retired by the harbour board into the magnificent ship she is today.
click photo below to enlarge
SILVER DOLLAR
In the last week my spies have sighted Silver Dollar at Great Barrier & Kawau so as my mother used to say “she gets around”. All I know is her stern says Scotts Landing, Mahurangi & was built in 1958. Keen to learn more about this launch with an unusual cabin.
Update from JohnWicks
he and her sister-ships were built by Bob Swanson at Blackwood Bay in Queen Charlotte Sound in the 50s. Bob later moved his boatbuilding operation to Picton, at what had previously been Ernie Lane’s yard. As a small boy I was at either her launching or that of “Maritza”, one of her sisters.- memory not wot it wuz 
She hasn’t been lengthened, though that dodger over the cockpit is a later modification.
Neat that she still has her original 2 cylinder “Jimmy” shoving her along. Those hulls are easily driven, and don’t need a lot of power.
I’ve always thought those boats were very handsome; my admiration is tempered by the difficulty of getting from the helm station at the forward end of the house to the foredeck. My father had the slightly smaller “Palomino” which had a more conventional sedan layout and was easier to work single-handed..
Updated Photos (20/03/2014) from Paul Stichbury (ex Ken Ricketts)
The b/w photo was taken c1958 at the launch at Blackwood Bay, Picton. According to John Wicks (who was there with his father, but not in photo) the gent centre stage with the braces & hands in pockets is Bob Swanson . The photos also show her original (& still there) engine at the time of being reconditioned in 2011, all that was required was new sleeves, pistons & bearings (there was no wear on the crankshaft).
Waimanu – classic designed kauri Herreshoff
Now I do not often feature classics for sale on ww but when they are as good looking & salty as Waimanu I can not help myself. At $95,000 ono, she would have to be one of the best value for money vessels on the market & given her fit out, you could be sailing away tomorrow.
Design: Nereia – Ketch
Designer: Herreshoff
Launched: 1992
Hull Material: Kauri Carvel Planked, Deck Material: Teak, Rig: S/S
Builder: Bill Cartwright
Engines: Ford 1972, 72hp – done 700 hours
Cruise speed: 6 knots, Max speed: 7 knots
LOA: 10.9m, Lwl: 9.6m, Beam: 3.5m, Draft: 1.8m, Displacement: 10.886 Kg
Berths: 1 double & 4 singles
Shower: 1
Head 1 with Electrasan
Also:
Solar panels, Small rib with 2 hp motor, Chart plotter, VHF, GPS, Sound system, Lamps, Clock, Barometer, Freezer, Fridge, Stove, Barbecue
Contact the owner direct: e-mail margo.hudson@xtra.co.nz or 0274 932 887
The History of NIKA-SIA – 1967 >2014
photos & details ex Ken Rickets. edited by AlanH
This profile started with Ken spotting Nika-Sia in Brin Wilson’s shed, Ken has known Nika-Sia since new in 1967.
The first feature that caught Kens eye was the almost original presentation of this classic vessel.
When launched she had beautiful varnished mahogany combings & also a varnished tuck, with a navy blue boot top & the name in gold leaf accross the tuck- back then only a few boats had a varnished tuck e.g Winsome II, Cachalot, & Valhallah I, were probably just about all of them. Today she no longer sports the beautiful mahogany combings & stern, being sadly now white & thus in Ken & my eyes missing that special classic look. But its only paint & fingers crossed one day the scrapers & varnish brush will come out.
SPECS:
35ft 3 long, 13 feet beam, 3 ft 9 draft, hard chine, & built of African mahogany.
ENGINEERING:
She is powered by 185 hp naturally aspirated Cummins V8 truck engine (nz conversion) uprated to 210 hp during a pre-installation rebuild (150 engine hrs ago). This engine replaced an almost identical one, thereby matching her as launched set up. The engine is set fairly well aft, partially under the main cabin aft bunk & partially in the cockpit, driving forward through a vee drive, built in to the gearbox, along with a 2 to 1 reduction gear.
She has 2 rubber exhaust pipes going out to the tuck, (one form each bank of cylinders), which Ken recalls she has had since new, with an external underwater exhaust fitting on each one, of a type introduced in the 1960s which were added a while after she was built.
CONDITION:
She is in outstandingly good condition & by appearance, superbly original inside, still with lots of lovely original looking varnish work — see photos & even has the original stove, which still has its original instruction book with it.
The photo tagged ‘1980s Putting on some fresh make up’ show the Epithaning of Nika-Sia at the McMullen & Wing yard c.1985. Ice White colour on final — 7 coats in total.
The present owner Kim Saull, has family connections to Brin Wilson Boatbuilders where she is currently getting loads of TLC from the outstanding group of craftsmen there.
DESIGNER & BUILDERS:
Launched 1967 designed by Ben Hipkin & partly built by him, trading as ‘Supreme Craft Ltd’, a company he bought off Mac McGeady when he was an apprentice to Mc G, when Mc G got too ill to carry on, in the earlier 1960s.
Hipkin built a number of boats after purchasing ‘Supreme Craft’, including about of 2/3rd of Nika-Sia, in the top shed on the road frontage of the Lane Motor Boat Company premises, in Riverview Rd Panmure, which shed later burnt down.
Sadly he had financial difficulties & she was moved by the Furleys to SeaCraft in Ellerslie who finished her off.
She is built of 2 skins of African mahogany, on opposite diagonals according to the origfinal owner’s son Peter.
PEDIGREE:
She was built for Mr J B Furley in 1967 – the order of ownership is as follows – the Furleys sold her to Mr & Mrs G A / M L Armitage’s in August 1980 who later sold to Terry McKeown in 2001, who sold her to Jim Razey, then John Francis in Feb. 2011, then Kim Saull in Sept. 2012 who has her today.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
WW would like to acknowledge input from Peter Furley, Mary Armitage, Tom Morris & Kim Saull, without who’s combined input, it would not have been possible for Ken to make this story so complete.
23/03/2015 More photos ex Ken Ricketts ex Karen Moren’s mother Lyn McGeady
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