MANOWAI

photo & details ex KenRicketts

Was owned by a Claude Atherton, during WWII & through to approx the 1960s.

During WWII, he was a welder employed by my father at Mason & Porter in Parnell.

C. A. lived in Parnell & he kept Manowai in Judges Bay, by the groin just under the bridge, for many years, later moving her to the Western Viaduct in later years — see below.

To the best of my recall, she was built by either Collings & Bell, or Baileys, & she was the second launch I ever went on board, at circa 8 years old (c1944), not too long after my first trip ever, on Tiromoana.

She originally, I believe, & certainly when I first went on her had a 6 cyl Thornycroft petrol engine, with 1 side & 1 overhead valve, (painted green), a configuration similar to early Land Rovers. This engine was replaced in the later 40s by a twin cyl Ruston Diesel

She originally had a stern exhaust, just above the waterline on the port side. This was replaced with a short funnel out the deck, amidships, when the Ruston was installed. The Ruston was fitted because C.A. retired from M & P, & went long line fishing commercially, in the later 1940s with an “AK” commercial fishing number on the bow, & she moved shortly after this change in use, to the Western Viaduct as above. He eventually retired because of old age setting in & I lost contact with her for many years & one day, came upon her, by chance, in one of the downtown boatbuilders sheds, perhaps Orams or similar, in the later 1980s or 1990s, where she was undergoing a major hull repair job, with rib replacements, &/or refastening, which, as I recall, took many months or perhaps over a year to complete. — I remember being in conversation with the owner at that time.

C.A’s. daughter, Heather became the wife of one our most famous boat designers, boat builders, & blue water sailors, our very own, really great guy, John Lidgard.