PEARL DIVER
Launched 1966 owned & built by Ken Ricketts life long friend Lloyd Burnand, who passed away a few months ago. Built at 6 Ngapipi Rd Orakei from a 30 ft Shipbuilders kitset, powered by 6 cyl Ford Diesel, 2 skins of glued screwed Kauri, which made here enormously strong as he used an expensive special glue. Was sold later to Steve Lomax of Warkworth. Last heard of, was at Whangarei.
EL CAPITAN. This boat has a fascinating story. A genuine Chris Craft design & specs, built of 2 skins mahogany in 1960 on his farm, by the owner at Ohakea. Still has original 2 x 6cyl 90hp Chrysler Crown Petrol engines (still only done 750 hours since new). Was used on Taupo & at the Sounds from 1960 to 1974 & then put back in shed at Ohakea for maintenance & never moved until owner died & she was sold to Tony Mitchell a professional self employed boat builder at Lake Rotoiti 8 years ago who has restored her beautifully in his spare time. She was relaunched Dec. 2012 & had been in the water 3 minutes when this pic was taken — I was at the relaunching at Lake Rotoiti.
She had never had a call sign, as the original owner was radio ham & used his ham call sign for marine use. —
I was instrumental in Radio Spectrum Management allocating ZMEC to her for life.
photo & story by Ken Ricketts
Built as a commercial fishing boat for coastal long lining the objective of the overall design and construction methods was to create a simple, cost effective and easy driven vessel. John Dory is also an outstanding sea boat and has demonstrated this ability on many occasions.
Her 27hp Lister Diesel is a good example of the type of machinery once used in small coastal fishing boats. John Dory is well maintained to a commercial standard. Howard Pascoe cruised the Coromandel and Northern Coastline up until his death in 2001.
23/09/2014 – The Lister is getting some love, including a new (out of the box) reduction box – love the bronze nuts.
Rorqual in Man o War Bay – Easter 2013
Falcon & Waimiga at Mahurangi heading up the river to Warkworth
Photo by Chris Miller
Sirena – designed by Orams 1960
Akarana – designed by AJ Collings 1960
Photo by Chris Miller
Kailua – designed & built by Bob Salhouse 1960. Launched as ‘Lady Beryl’
Photo by Chris Miller
One of the most admired classics on the harbour + the one I get the most “if it comes up for sale, let me know” emails 🙂
Photo by Chris Miller
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