Category Archives: 1900’s

Naomi III

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Naomi

NAOMI III
Todays photo of the motor-sailer – Naomi came from a postcard that appeared on Mitchell Hutchings fb page.
Previously on WW we had a story on Naomi III, which is the same vessel as above.
Harold Kidd noted on that story that Naomi III was the third Naomi owned by M.A. Jenny of Nelson, Auckland and Wanganui. She was 39’x10’x2’6″ and had a 20hp Gardner 2 cylinder petrol engine. Jenny was a most controversial figure during the years leading up to WW1. Nominally he was Swiss but there were suspicions he was an Austrian and a spy! He was quite a dashing wealthy figure and briefly was Commodore of the North Shore Yacht Club until he resigned in February 1903. He took this launch to Nelson but sold her in 1911 to Downes brothers of Wellington. From there she did the rounds, spending a lot of time in Tauranga game-fishing in the 1930s. When I last heard of her, she was in Lyttelton owned by John Sole in 2007.
Chas. Bailey Jr also built Naomi I (March 1902) and Naomi II (November 1902) for Jenny. The latter was last seen on the hard at Panmure Yacht Club. Harold noted the interesting cabin top, Bailey retained the dee-front separate cabin top but put his toe in the water with a raised foredeck as well. Truly a “transitional” style.
You can view the earlier photo here
Harold Kidd Input – Great pic of NAOMI III in Nelson.
Just to muddy the waters a bit, the NAOMI at Panmure owned by Tim Hanna turns out to be the Logan Bros-built Huria, later owned by Jenny and renamed VANORA. See the discussion on VANORA recently on WW.
Britannia 18′ Gets Some TLC In Australia 
Robin Elliott sent in the link below to Ian Smith undertaking some repairs to the 18 footer, Britannia.

Wooden Boating VIP On The Waitemata

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Wooden Boating VIP On The Waitemata

Today I hosted Ben Mendlowitz on Raindance, Ben is the number one wooden boat photographer in the world & shoots for just about every boating magazine there is & produces the world famous “Calendar of WoodenBoats’ + has authored dozens of books on the subject.
While in New Zealand Ben was keen to photograph some of our classic fleet, so we headed out yesterday to catch the classic division of the RNZYS Winter Series race.
Ben will have some stunning photos, I was just the driver today so only took a few, very average photos – I did however capture 2 rare events:
1. Thelma going a ground off Stanley Point – some very red faces
2. Jason Prew venturing forward of the mast on Rawene – he didn’t look comfortable 🙂
Photos below – enjoy
THE NEW ZEALAND SAILING DINGHY EXHIBITION
In case you missed it – in 2 weeks (Oct 5>7th) is the annual Classic Yacht & Launch Exhibition at the Viaduct – this year the theme is ‘The New Zealand Sailing Dinghy’ – I’ll post more on the event during the week – but right now Tony Stevenson is doing a call out to anybody interested in displaying their classic NZ designed and built sailing dinghy, yacht class information or memorabilia.
Please contact Tony Stevenson tonys@nwv.co.nz  or 021 977 456
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Vanora

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VANORA
I was recently contacted by Doug Howard concerning the vessel – Vanora. Doug came across the above photo (ex MA Jenny) recently of Vanora, it was taken in Nelson probably earlier 1900’s.
Searching on-line, Doug discovered on WW a mention of Vanora in a Harold Kidd Rudder Cup Regatta 1908 article, it stated “The big Vanora was sold by Lindsay Cooke to Maurice O’Connor of the Thistle Hotel in 1912. He fitted a 30hp Auckland-built Twigg engine and sold her to the Government in late 1913. We do not know her subsequent fate.” 
Doug was wondering if anything has been found since – anyone able to help?
Harold Kidd input –  Logan Bros built HURIA in 1899 for Capt Mercer of Nelson. She was 45ft x 10ft x 4ft6in, schooner rigged and fitted with a 2 cylinder Daimler petrol engine. Mercer used her for passenger and freight service in the Sounds. M A Jenny bought her in Nelson in 1905, changed her name to VANORA and had her extensively refitted as a motor-yacht, fitting a 3 cylinder 30hp Gardner petrol engine in Wellington. This is the form she is shown in the image above.
Jenny sold her to Lindsay Cooke in 1906 and she came to Auckland. Cooke entered her in that famous Rudder Cup Ocean Race around Sail Rock in 1908. In 1909 he sold her to Maurice O’Connor of the Thistle Hotel who fitted a 3 cylinder Twigg engine.
O’Connnor sold her to the Government in late 1913 and she was used to transport goods during the 1913 waterfront strike. In 1914 she was overhauled by Bailey & Lowe and used to do works on outlying islands, based at Tauranga, skippered by Capt. Nordlinger.
VANORA then disappears.
But did she morph into Tim’s NAOMI? Jenny had several NAOMIs built by Bailey, the last one, a 38 footer, going from Wellington to Tauranga in 1927 where Mowlem used her for game-fishing but there’s no connection I know of between the boats apart from the name and the Jenny connection.
In my view HURIA = VANORA = Tim’s NAOMI. In that case Tim should enter his boat in the upcoming Rudder Cup race as the Logan VANORA, repeating her entry of 110 years ago.

Mizpah

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Mizpah 1

Mazpah 2

MIZPAH

The 1st photo above shows the launch Mizpah at a jetty in Crail Bay, Pelorus Sound, dated c.1900’s.
Harold Kidd has commented that she was built in Dunedin c.1904 most likely by Jas M’Pherson for FJ Sullivan. M’Pherson had him also build the hire launches Moana & Maitai around the same time.
Sullivan bought a fishing company in Pelorus in 1905 & shipped Mizpah up there. By 1909 she was being used as a passenger & hire vessel from Pelorus by JW Taylor of Kenepuru. In 1924 she was taken to Wellington & survived there under that name into the 1930’s. She had a 20hp Standard engine around 1920’s but was re-engined in 1929. Her dimensions were 40’x8’6”x3’.
(photo is ex Lew Redwood fb)
24-11-2018 Harold Kidd Input – I thought I would hasten to advise that MIZPAH was built by John M’Lellan in Dunedin, not by James M’Pherson. Any residual stress occasioned to WW followers by doubts about her provenance are therefore resolved, and they can now resume their normal lives, untroubled by this concern.

Kaipara

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KAIPARA

In the photo above we see the NZS Co. ship Kaipara, built in 1903 – aground in the Rangitoto Channel on 14 June 1910. She was on a voyage from Auckland to London & hit uncharted rocks,she was refloated on 20th jan & repaired. The captain was exonerated from all blame.

Sadly, the ship was captured & sunk south west of Tenerife on Aug 16thby the German armed raider – Kaiser Wilhelm Der Grosse. (photo es Peter Thorpy ex trade)

The question of the day is – who can ID the launch alongside the sailing ship?

OLD SEASPRAY MAGAZINES – I have been contacted by someone clearing out their fathers ‘stuff’ & amongst it is 4 cartons of old Seaspray magazines – anyone want them?

 

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Genevere

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GENEVERE

Today’s story show cases the Lake Rotoiti launch Genevere. She was built in 1908, builder unknown, measures 30’. Her zoom zoom is via a 45hp Perkins diesel that pushes her along at 6>8 knotts.

According to her trademe listing (thanks Ian McDonald), she has had a reasonable amount of TCL & engineering work done on her, so presents well.

At an asking price of $15k, she would appear a good buy. Anyone able to tell us more about Genevere?

 

1911 Devonport Waterfront Storm

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1911 PLEASURE BOATS DRAGGING THEIR MOORINGS

1911 Devonport Waterfront Storm 

Another old Devonport waterfront photo (news clipping) ex Keith Humphreys.
Anyone able to ID the launch closest to the shore, hopefully her mooring & gear were sufficient to keep her off the beach ?
Harold Kidd Input – This is the westerly gale of 18th December 1911. I think the launch in the foreground is W R Twigg’s new Bailey & Lowe launch SYBIL while the steamer at right is the Seagar brothers’ REHUTAI.
AND REMEMEBER TODAY IS WORKSHOP TUESDAY AT THE NZ TRADITIONAL BOATBUILDING SCHOOL – OPEN FROM 10AM > 2PM – click link below for address / map

What’s Happening With The Percy Vos Shed?

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What’s Happening With The Percy Vos Shed?

If I had $20 for ever time I have been asked that question, I’d be buying the Ngapipi Rd boat shed that appeared on WW yesterday.
It would be an understatement to say that the shed is a project that has had a few false starts, in fact a well known waterfront identity is on record as saying he would walk naked up Queen St if it was ever completed. In fairness to them – I think they were referring to it being a working classic wooden boat yard.
So woodys I was a little relieved the other day to come across an article by Vicki Holder on the Ray White weblog, its dated February 2018 so hopefully what was reported is still on track.
I was even more upbeat when I saw name Rod Marler popping up early in the article – Rod is one of good guys, calls a spade a spade & does what he says he will. The man comes to us from an impeccable yachting bloodline, with his family having owned one of our finest classic yachts – the 1905 Arch Logan – Rawhiti. Rod himself has owned & raced the 1934 Arch Logan designed yacht – Little Jim & these days skippers one of the smartest classic motor launches on the Waitemata. An ex chairman of the NZ Classic Yacht Association & a true waitematawoodys fan (see photo below).
Nine to Five (more like 7>7) Rod is director of design & place at Panuku Development, now that is a fancy sounding title & I can hear going “whats he actually do?” – well the answer is a hell of a lot, lets just say that if it involves Auckland’s waterfront, Rod will have rubbed up against it.
Back to the Vos shed, owned by Panuku – now one person can’t deliver a project the size of the Vos Shed but Marler has what it takes to pull together the many interested parties & funding streams to make it happen – there is talk about a summer of 2019 completion date, fingers crossed that this time it happens – I’m sure at some stage there will be the opportunity to contribute to the funding, I’ll let you know when.
Read the article at the link below + some great photos.
Woody, Baden Pascoe has published a great book, titled ‘Launching Dreams – Percy Vos & His Boys, its a must have / read if you are a true waitematawoody. Check it out here   https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/11/20/percy-vos-the-boats-his-boys/ . I think you can still buy copies – Baden can you confirm & if so – where & how?
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Maeve – Electric Launch

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MAEVE – Electric Launch
While I’m sure Maeve likes her Dunedin, Otago, home port, she would make a stunning addition to the Lake Rotoiti (Nth Is.) woody fleet.
Built in 1904, she was originally a North Otago fishing boat, & is a beautiful canoe shaped 26’ electric launch with a slipper stern.
Her wooden hull has been professionally fibre-glassed over, the wooden roof and window frames are in the style of a Thames River Boat & were added in recent years by a professional boat builder.
The motor is adapted from an electric golf cart & pushes Maeve along at a virtually silently at 6.5 knots for approx. 4+ hours.
Her current owner bought Maeve unseen several months ago under the misapprehension she was much smaller than she is & then discovered their standard boat trailer was too small to safely and legally take an 8m boat from Dunedin home to the Marlborough Sounds – so she is back on the market. Thanks to Ian MacDonald for the trade listing heads up.
Maeve has a long and proud provenance and was much loved by her previous elderly owner. With a little TLC, she could be a very smart lake boat.

Karoro

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Unknown

KARORO

Another photo bought to us via Lew Redwood’s FB postings – this time the Karoro, the Logan Bros built launch.

In the above photo we see her just after her launching on 21st February 1906.

If I have the facts right & she is the same bought – Harold Kidd has previously commented that Karoro went north to Whangarei in 1916 as a passenger launch owned by H H Jagger of Taurikura and had a name change to TUNA around 1932 when she was sold to the Thames (HDK – correct?)

Anyone able to comment on what became of her?

Harold Kidd Input – Like most launches she had a complex history, name changes etc. She was in Whangarei from 1916-1921, then to Gisborne 1921-1925, back to Whangarei, back to Gisborne 1928-1932 then Thames then to Auckland in 1934 to be sold by auction in a mortgagee sale on 13th July 1934 as TUNA, bought by J J Craig then sold to A.E. Hite. I think she might have been the fishing boat TUNA that reported a floating mine off Coromandel in late January 1941 owned by N. E Owens of Auckland, but there were many TUNAs.