Category Archives: 1940’s

Rakanoa

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RAKANOA
Story & b/w photos from Ken Ricketts (colour photo ex Russell Ward)
She was built by Shipbuilders Ltd in 1946. A magnificent 56 ft example of artisans work, in both design & build.
She is 3 skins Kauri, is enourmously strong, will last forever, & had the very best of everything that money could buy used, when she was created. She is still kept in beautiful condition at Gulf Habour.
There is no doubt in my view, she is an important part of a real dynasty, & one of the very few boats that have been in the same family from new, for that huge length of time. She was “modernised, in the 60s, & there were moderate combings alterations done in the cockpit area. She is shown on launching day &  pic I took at North Harbour Ponui Labour weekend  in 1948
She was orignally powered by a 671 Gray marine diesel, for one year, then replaced it with a 250 hp Herecules Diesel in 1947, she had this until 1981, when her present Gardiner 6L3 diesel was fitted.
Indeed a vey important part of NZs maritime heritage

NOTE: This posting has been edited on the request of the owner (the late) R Parker, the information supplied by K Ricketts was obtained without the owners knowledge or approval that it would be published in the public domain.

09-04-2016 – photo taken at Gulf Harbour (April 2016) by Ken R.

RAKANOA at GH 3.4.15

Dec 2016 Hauled out at Gulf Harbour – photos ex Ken Ricketts

21-09-2019 Update
Photo below sent to me by John Parker, the ‘great nephew of Ross Parker. It was ex the estate of his late father Wallace Parker.
Rakanoa
 

Lillian

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LILLIAN
Built c.1948 , originally named Lillian A,  a previous owner has dropped off the “A”.  She was owned for many years at Sandspit by an Ahuroa farmer called Peterson & had a fairly chequered life, having sunk at her moorings once because of the failure of some fitting. Lillian had a Kermath petrol engine later up to the 70s or 80s replaced by a Ford Diesel. Like so many her age, Lillian has had a lot of alterations through the years, she is however looking very lovely & a credit to her current owners.

Marline

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Marline

MARLINE

Built for Leon Warne, Ken Ricketts took this photo her 1st weekend in the water in North Harbour, Ponui Island, c.1948 –
Possibly she had a Kermath Petrol engine & the owner was intending to use her for game fishing. No idea where she is now so any updated info much appreciated

Update from Ian Miller

I think this is the “Marline” that operated out of Tauranga for many years as a charter game fishing boat. She was owned by Peter Brasting (I think I have spelt that correctly) and for one summer season in the 1960’s he operated on charter out of Gisborne Harbour. Murray Upton, another member of the Gisborne Yacht Club, and I helped Peter bring her from Tauranga to Gisborne that year. I have lost track of her since her return to Tauranga at the end of that season, and from time to time have wondered about her whereabouts as well. My wife and I now own “Alpheus” , and are members of CYA.

Ngapuhi

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Ngapuhi

NGAPUHI – Owned & built by Allan Williams, manager of Shipbuilders Ltd. at the time, in 1946 or thereabouts. Possibly had a Kermath petrol engine.
Photo taken by Ken Ricketts in Schoolhouse Bay Kawau Island Christmas 1948
Any more info would be appreciated.

Mistral

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Mistral

MISTRAL

Motor sailer owned by Barney Bensky of Barnett Barnett major furniture retailers of the day, in Dominion Rd Mt Roskill, built late 1930s or early 40s. He had her in the later 1940s & 50s. She had a Graymarine 4 cyl petrol engine originally. Not sure of builder, or what has happened to her in recent years.
Ken Ricketts who took the photo is interested if someone could bring him up to date.

MISTRAL -- AS AT 1.11.13 -- 2 MISTRAL AS AT 1.11.13 -- 1

Monterey

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Monterey with Florence Dawn behind
Christmas 1948
Monterey in Islington Bay Waikehe Island
Photoshop is a fun thing
Monterey
Mark Edmonds at ‘work’ on Monterey
Monterey & crew enjoying the Rudder Cup race
Boat Const. Photos 003 (2)

Monterey , middle centre, top photo, under construction in the Lidgard factory alongside sister ships

Monterey (33’6”x32’x10’6”x2’7”) was built by Lidgards in 1946 for R.T. (Alf) Postles, an accountant, she was one of 3 the same, the others were Almaray (owned by Stan Bell-Booth) & possiblily Tangaroa was the 3rd one, all had 30hp Listers when launched. Postles sold her to Alf E. Hayman of 22 Omana Ave Mt Eden in c.1950 and it went later to John A Hayman of 5 Riverlea Ave Panmure in 1958 (Alf’s son?).
The old photo above was taken by Ken Ricketts, Christmas 1948.
Monterey’s owners Sue & Mark Edmonds are active members of the Classic Yacht Association.

Connie V

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Connie V

Connie V a Connie V

CONNIE V
She is one of 3 sister ships WANDA II (for Fred Porter) & DOREEN ( for Gordon Mace ) later renamed TANGAROA. DOREEN had & still has as far as I know 1 x 6LW Gardiner & WANDA II had 2 x 6cyl Scripps petrol engines later replaced of course with diesels.

photo & story ex Ken Ricketts

modern photos ex current owner – Gavin Cook

Photo below of Connie V (Feb 2015) ex Harold Kidd

01-03-2016 photos ex trademe ex Ken Ricketts

Castaway (Islander) & Alofa comparison

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Castaway (Islander)
Alofa

Interesting comparison Castaway (Dick Lang) was launched in 1947 as “Islander”. Her sister ship Alofa was built by Sam Ford. Note the different bow, “Islander” has a clipper bow. photos – Castaway ex Alan Houghton, Alofa ex Ken Ricketts