Category Archives: 1930’s

Robyn Gae (Connie V)

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Robin Gay (Connie V)

New Photo (Water Gipsy) ex Harold Kidd 16/04/2014

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ROBIN GAE (CONNIE V)
CONNIE V was built by Lane Motor Boat Co in 1949 for Valentine of Hamilton and originally had 2 x Chrysler 75hp Ace engines, hopefully the article reproduces well enough to read. The photo shown in the article was taken in 1938 at the long demolished Mechanics Bay wharf.

Harold Kidd Update 16/04/2014

I’ve had a chance since posting the above to review all the above material and to compare images of WATER GIPSY and CONNIE V. Morrie relies heavily on the Register of British Ships and it leads him into a whole bunch of traps because, for various reasons, the information is frequently dodgy. I’ve discussed this with him before. He infers that CONNIE V was built new in 1935 for Valintine, and that’s exactly what I’ve always thought until now.
WATER GIPSY (another image attached) was launched in October 1934 for C. Miller by Cox & Filmer (Speedcraft Boat Co) with dimensions 32ft x 8ft 6in. She was a slightly extended version of a 30 footer built by Cox & Filmer for one Martin (haven’t identified her yet). Miller used WATER GIPSY for a while (eg Marjorie Miller visited yacht LITTLE JIM from her on 2/2/35) and then she “disappears”.
Now, if you compare my image of WATER GIPSY with the image of CONNIE V in Paul Titchener’s highly erroneous article above (I assume whoever posted it had PT’s copyright permission), which was based solely on family anecdote I imagine, as Paul married Valintine’s daughter, you will clearly observe that the two boats are identical back to the aft end of the clerestory.
It is obvious to me that the truth is in the cracks between the various versions.
I think this is what happened.

WATER GIPSY was obviously a bit of a problem, ergonomically. She had no cockpit, had a pair of davits across the counter, and would have been a pain to handle. Valintine bought her in 1937, renamed her CONNIE V after Mrs. V, had her lengthened to her final dimension of 38ft, with the provision of a cockpit, coaming and dodger over…..much more user friendly. The work was undoubtedly done by Lanes who also fitted her with a Chrysler Crown in September 1939. That was after the Kawau petrol fire in January 1939 when Valintine scuttled her by chopping a hole in her hull, saving the boat. It may also have been after he sold her to E.M. Henry (Lambourne bought her from Henry).
She remained in the Lambourne family until 1956 or so but Lambourne obligingly changed her name to ROBYN GAE on 14/11/49 at the time Lanes launched the second CONNIE V for Valintine.

There’s a whiff of assumption in the above which I detest in others………………….

3 girls on a 1930’s boating picnic. Filmed on Waiheke Island, Auckland, featuring the classic launch Waitangi

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I930’s movie filmed on & around Waiheke Island, Auckland, New Zealand. 3 girls row to a bay for a picnic but are surprised & captured by pirates. Great footage of the classic motor launch ‘Waitangi’ playing the role of Coastguard rescuer & the motor boat ‘Pelican’ as the pirates boat.

Thanks to Roger Guthrie (brother of CYA member Graham) for forwarding this footage to waitematawoodys.

Nana

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Nana

NANA
She was built by Chas Bailey & Son Ltd in 1934 . She was a 35 footer with a 110hp Redwing Big Chief. She had a side exhaust well above the waterline, on the starboard side, with no cowl over it.

Ken Ricketts has known this boat since 1946, when she was moored in Matiatia & belonged to Mr Fred Allison (the original owner), who owned the Devonport Steam Ferry Ltd & lived at Matiatia, Waiheke Island. Alison got Bailey to build his boats because of the ferry connection. Ken only very recently acquire this photo, ex Harold Kidd. Ken was absolutely thrilled to have it, as he always was fascinated by her. Her hull was painted royal blue with varnished & white combings, — unusual for that time, — & she was always immaculate. used to sit a little high in the water at the tuck waterline, with the boat not sitting in the water until a little below the round of the chine line, but nevertheless, lovely, with the name in gold leaf arched in the middle of the tuck. Not used very much. Ken never actually saw her off the moorings, on the many weekends, he anchored there on his dad’s boat, the JULIANA circa 1946-48.

Great 1930’s movie featuring the launch Waitangi

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Fantastic 1930’s movie footage of the launch Waitangi & another motor boat doing close maneuvers between the rocks east of Hooks Bay. The first 1/4 has some great aerial footage of Waiheke Island back then. The skipper must have known the area like the back of his hand because remember there were no gps or depth sounders in those days. All boats I believe were owned the the Stein family.
Waitangi certainly had a bit of zoom zoom in those days -petrol Kermit engine, replaced c.1955 with a diesel.

The movie is titled ‘Beautiful Waiheke’ & I suspect was a promotional movie for Waiheke Island, Auckland, New Zealand. Filmed c.1930 by Alex Lambourne. Features the classic launch Waitangi. The white dinghy in the rowing sequence is called ‘The Beagle’.
Starring Peter Stein, Dean Ellingham, Alan Lambourne, Joan Woollams, Arthur Nicholson, Cynthia Restall, Shirley Vicary + others

Thanks to Roger Guthrie (brother of CYA member Graham) for forwarding this footage to waitematawoodys.

Atalanta (Rotoiti)

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ROTOITI (Atlanta)

ATALANTA  (Rotoiti)

Unsure of builder, approx. 40 ft . When Ken Ricketts first saw her in 1946-47 she was called Rotoiti & owned by a Larry Johnston owner of Johnston Blue Motors the airport transport bus service providers for Auckland & she was called the ROTOITI. He owned her from at least the mid 40s through to the 50s, he recalls she had a 6 cyl Kermath petrol engine. Kept in quite good condition & used fairly regularly.

Her original, “real” name, was ATLANTA, & it was not until Ken came in contact with her again many years later, in the 1980s, that he was told by the then owner, that they had removed all the old paint from the hull during a refurbishment, & discovered “ATLANTA” carved in to the tuck, in big letters about 1/2 inch deep. Unsure who changed it, or when the name was changed, but he feels by the look of her, she was probably built between 1933 & 1937, & it was probably changed in the later 30s or early 40s. Ken is pleased to say that the last time he saw her she was ATLANTA

Rotui

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Rotui

ROTUI

A Chris Craft, built circa 1938, 32 -33 ft originally had a Ford V8 petrol engine which is sure to have been changed to a diesel by now, & belonged to Alec & Linda Walker who lived in Landscape Rd Mt Eden & owned Regal Fashions in Karangpape Rd. They were a lovely friendly couple & owned her until the mid 50s. After they sold her, she diappeared off the radar. Ken Ricketts would love to know what ‘so happened to her. If anyone can help email kenpat@ihug.co.nz

Reremoana

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Reremoana

REREMOANA

We know very little about her, except that she is another example of the Couldry excellence of design & build, circa 1936-38 lived in Westhaven in the 40s & early 50s right next to Tiromoana,
Ken Ricketts took this pic c.1948

Last saw her a few months ago, entering Gulf Harbour, sadly the lovely varnish has gone — not looking outstanding, but still recognisable.

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Update 12/10/2013 – Colour photos ex Ken Ricketts, on-the- hard at Gulf Harbour. It upsets me when I see what ‘enhancements’ can do to a beautiful design……………. 😦  AH.

Update 26/06/2013 Launch Day photo ex Papers Past ex Harold Kidd referral.

A rare photo of Reremoana below as launched in November 1938, as a 28 footer, prior to being lengthened by 6′ & having a wheelhouse & raised top added by Lanes in September 1939.
Read the comments section, lots more info there.

I have to say, these Couldrey launches are starting to grow on me 🙂

Launch day Nov 1938

12-01-2016 Photos below of her at Te Atatu Boating Club yard

07-08-2017 Photos below re-launched at TBC

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Sept 2017 Out again at Te Atatu – photos ex Ken Rickets

Rehia

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REHIA.
A Colin Wild classic, built in 1938, & owned by Bill & Phyl Ryan of owners of H.J. Ryan Ltd ,manufacturing engineers, who lived in Hillsborough, & owned her for many years from about 1945. She was very much a part of Ken Ricketts life in the mid 40s & 50s & he was on her on many acasions — Bill & Phyl had 2 sons, Bob, & Jeff, who were his age & we were great mates.
REHAI had a 6 cyl flat head Buda petrol engine, circa 100 hp for very many years, which had an American, “Bendix,” gearbox & throttle control system, with just 2 tiny levers, — very rare in those days. She was always impecably kept & used regularly. Eventually the Buda was replaced with a 6 cyl Ford Diesel which she still has. She was sold by the Ryan estate on his death in the later 70s earlier 80s.
She is still absolutley original, & has never been “fiddled with,” & when last seen in Whakatakataka Bay a year or 2 go she was still “a picture of health & beauty”.
Story by Ken Ricketts, photo by Ken & Alan Houghton