Tiri – Radio Hauraki Quiz
photo ex Chris Leech & the limited edition book ‘Radio Hauraki – The Pirate Years (1966-1970)’ by John Monks.
OK who can ID the classic launch at the rear of the photo?
Tiri – Radio Hauraki Quiz
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Category Archives: 1960’s
Meola
MEOLA
photo & details from Barbara Cooke
Barbara & David Cooke spotted Meola in Whangamumu on the way home from there Christmas cruise. The owner rowed across for a chat saying that he spends a lot of time fishing and diving around Whangaruru and Whangamumu. She sports a Gardner motor and her early years were spent as a general work horse ie towing, shunting and hauling on the Auckland Harbour. Great to see her so well kept.
More details please, I’m sure the ‘work boat’ boys can supply info on her past.
Update from Russell Ward
Press cuttings above showing Meola –well just the tops of her masts in Drunken Bay (Islington Bay, Rangitoto Island) .
She was under the command of a navy officer (who else could show such skill). Rumour was that he was going inside the rocks off the point.
Once again, Arataki and the crew with a barge were on the spot pdq to salvage.
Amazing how many times Arataki managed to salvage the navy’s coastal foulups before the papers got the story.
No such luck this time.
Russell Ward Update #2
Russell remember that when she was new, she had her fwd mast hard up against the wheelhouse and the engine exhaust coming up through a funnel just behind. The pic below from Bob McDougall shows it well. Nowadays, her mast is set a little more forward or it was when I took the below (colour) pic in 2007.
I seem to remember that she was all engine space and storage forward of the aft end of the wheelhouse –never saw down aft.
Russell wonders if she had a Kort nozzle that the Navy put on her perhaps to improve maneuverability? Maybe the twirly wheel reverse on Meola is being confused with the Kitchen rudder that the old navy utilities boats (particularly the so called Cattle Barge) A wheel was used to move a set of cups that went around the propeller to ahead or behind the prop. This gave astounding mobility for the coxwain to avert maneuvering cockups.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitchen_rudder
The navy derivative had a beautiful casting for the tiller with a handle for steering curving above a wheel for reversing, diagram below of the Navy Kitchen rudder showing the twirly wheel.
MV Meola (model) 04/03/2015
photos & details from Grant Morrell
Below is a selection of photos taken during the building of Grants 1/24th scale model of Meola. Construction was an on and off affair over a 7 year period. The model is radio controlled and has sound and lights. The 3 photos on the water were taken on 03/03/2015 just after Grant completed the after boom rigging. Still to come are guard & weather rails.
A brilliant project & the attention to detail is spot on. Click photos to enlarge.
Jack Brooke Cruise Collection #17 – A Late Cruise On Kiariki May 1963
e Walker
Jack Brooke Cruise Collection #17 – A Late Cruise On Kiariki May 1963
Another Jack Brooke drawing, published on ww thanks to son Robert for making them available to ww followers. Jack produced a hand drawing on each cruise. Today’s post is the 17th featured – this one shows a May 1963 cruise aboard Kiariki to the bottom end of Waiheke Island. It appears a landing at Man-O-War Bay (private prop) did not receive a hospitable greeting. From the comments – ‘4 rolls in the main’ to the numerous ‘no thanks we don’t want a tow’ it must have been a mixed bag of conditions.
Crew Onboard: John Brooke, Elsie Brooke, Judith Brooke, Errol Slyfield & Bobbie Walker
Kokoru
KOKORU
photo & details from John Baird
Kokoru was designed & built by Jack Morgan in Picton in 1960. Her first owner being Russell McKay who was a local Wellington car dealer in the 1960’s. John Baird has owned her since 2000 & understands there were 6 vessels in the fleet with Kokoru being the last. Two others in existence that John is aware of are Hawaiki in Picton and Corrina in Havelock.
One of Kokoru’s claims to fame is that she was a Wahine boat – Russell McKay had sold her to a George Mulligan but not before she had been put to the test on ‘Wahine day’. Although she made one or more effective rescues she was rolled on her beam ends when hit by a monster wave and miraculously self-righted. The force ripped one of the motors from its bed and she limped back to port while taking water through the now open seacock. The complete story is reported in Radiator Magazine of the time and hopefully John will supply a copy to ww for inclusion.
As a result of the Wahine disaster a local rescue service was established and Kokoru was one of the original vessels. She was also warranted and used by the local Police in the 1960’s as an official patrol boat when various US vessels were in port during the Vietnam war.
Any more details on her would be appreciated
30/03/2015 Update & photos from owner John Baird.
If any ww followers are passing by Wellington I’d be very happy to show them over her. The first picture I sent you (above) was taken in Ngaruru Bay and indeed one of the readers almost got it right as Ngaruru is off Tory Channel. The pictures below are a bit dated as now she has new grey carpet and I’m in the process of replacing port & starboard lockers and the floors to facilitate the installation of Acoustop sound insulation as alas the old solution is now ineffective and slowly disintegrating.
20-03-2016 Update
Kokoru’s owner John Baird sent in these photos of Kokoru following a complete strip and repaint of her hull and topsides. It took from early January to March to complete the job. In the 16 years John has owned her it’s the first time this has been done to this extent. The job was done in Waikawa Bay by Sounds Marine.
Acquiesce – One of Norm Beetson’s 4 Sisters
Acquiesce – One of Norm Beetson’s 4 Sisters
details & photos ex Jason Mills
The waitematawoodys article on Norm Beetson’s 4 Sisters was brought to Jason Mills families attention and they decided to add to the Acquiesce story.
Jason’s parents purchased Acquiesce around May 2008 and sold her sometime in 2010. His father first saw Acquiesce moored in the Tamaki River, approached the owner (who had owned her for approx. 30 years) and they agreed to sell her.
Although purchased in a seaworthy condition, she did need an amount of cosmetic repairs which Jason’s father started on. Unfortunately, his father developed health problems, which made the repairs very difficult to carry out and he decided to sell, still with alot to be done.
As a side note, not long after Jason’s parents had purchased Acquiesce it was brought to their attention the Sea Spray article on the 4 Sisters. After approaching Sea Spray (and having to purchase a subscription for a year) they sent the Mills family a scan of the article, but not the cover though.
The below relevant pages from the Sea Spray magazine are somewhat ‘warped’ due to being close to the centre fold but are still legible and also featured are photos of Acquiesce during the Mills ownership. The SS article also has a photo under construction and states the fourth as being named ‘Calypso’ and not ‘Kakariki (launched as Georgella)’ as stated on the ww site.
Wakanui & Rakanoa
Wakanui Feb 1969
Wakanui Feb 1969
Rakanoa Feb 1969
Rakanoa Feb 1969
Wakanui & Rakanoa – Two classics we don’t see a lot of
The older photos were taken by Gwenyth Herbert from aboard Kotanui. I understand that in the photos Wakanui was only a year old.
Can anyone supply more details on Wakanui?
Harold Kidd Input
According to Salthouses’ records WAKANUI was commissioned by S.G. “Nobby” Clark in 1967. According to Nobby she was finished and launched in early 1968.Bob Salthouse was responsible for her design.
10-01-2016 photo of Wakanui at Great Barrier Island ex Pam Cundy
Centaurus – A peek down below
Centaurus – A peek down below
Last week I posted some on-the-marina photos of Centaurus & on Sunday I spotted her anchored in the upper harbour. Thanks to Tim Jackson I can now share some interior photos with you.
We know that she was built by Bailey Bros & owned by the Sibun family for approx 40 years, her present owner purchased her off the Sibuns & has had her for 10 years. I’m told she still has her original 1965 Cummings V6 engine. Based on this comment I’m assuming she was launched in 1965.
Rather smart.
Poaka
POAKA
photos & details ex Harold Kidd ex John Blundell
In 1960 Stan Blundell had Alan (Snow) Waters design and build him this pretty little launch, Poaka, although Stan had a big input into the design. Her dimensions were 26’ x 25’6” x 8’9” x 2’9” and she was powered by a 90hp Zephyr engine. In 1962 Stan sold her to Athol Mellars of Ohinerau St., Remuera who had always expressed the wish to buy her if she ever came on the market. Athol died in 1972 and she was taken over by his son John who kept her at Whangaparapara, Great Barrier Island.
Where is she now?
Mahurangi / Warkworth c.1961
Photo 1
Mahurangi / Warkworth c.1961
photos ex Ken Ricketts
Todays post show 2 photos taken c1961, most likely at Xmas & show a collection of launches tied up at the wharf at Warkworth. The really neat thing is hat most of these craft are still a float today & in as good, if not better condition.
It would be nice to see some of those varnished coaming again 😉
Several of these launches will be at todays Mahurangi Regatta & weather & numbers interested – maybe making the trip up the river to Warkworth for lunch.
Ken has attempted to ID the launches – see below.
PHOTO 1
Front row Gay Dawn, Ken can’t identify outer 2 boats.
Top left row, tiny bit of bow too small to indentify next to wharf next is
Cherokee & next is Menai. Ken can’t identify outer boat of that group
PHOTO 2
Bottom left Gay Dawn, Ken can’t identify the other 2 boats.
Next row to right is Faye at wharf, next to her is Royal Falcon & next is
Cherokee & then Menai. Ken can’t identify the outer boat.
Far row to right – boat at wharf is Southern Belle, may have been owned by Stan
Blundell, the outer boat next to her is Lady Karita.
Boat at anchor Reelemin II
Jack Brooke Cruise Collection #15 – Kiariki Anniversary Day Regatta 1962
Jack Brooke Cruise Collection #15 – Kiariki Anniversary Day Regatta 1962
Another Jack Brooke drawing, published on ww thanks to son Robert for making them available to ww followers. Jack produced a hand drawing on each cruise. Today’s post is the 15th featured – this one features the 1962 Anniversary Day Regatta & show Kiariki, Kiatoa & Jezebel. I see there is a note that Moana broke her spinnaker boom.
Big crew on-board: John Brooke, Elsie Brooke, Mrs Owen Aisher, Howard Wallace, Monty Wallace, Bill Thompson, Richard Purchase & Mary Duder.
For details on this years regatta – the 175th & only 3 days away – refer here http://www.regatta.org.nz/
