Category Archives: Engines

EX 1929 CLASSIC WORKBOAT KATIPO

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EX 1929 CLASSIC WORKBOAT KATIPO 

Seems these days there is a fb page for just about anything and everything – John Burland sent me a link to the ‘Memories of Abel Tasman National Park’ page. There I came across a  posting dating back to April 2023 where a Peter Campbell posted a copy of a Cody  Engineering advertisement from November 1951 , featured in the ad was the 26’ launch – KAIPO. At the time owned by Henry Cotton. She had a 8’6” beam and draft of 2’6”. We ran a brief story on her back in 2023 but didnt learn about, so we try again 🙂

Then we learnt in the comments section(ex Steve Thomas 2024) thatDon Thomas and Boxer Fanslowe purchased KATIPO from Nelson Fisheries mid 1950’s and was then refurbished by Dick Stringer in Nelson.. In another comment in 2024 a Lynda Gould advised the Don Thomas was her father and him and Boxer owned the boat in the 1950”s > 1970’s.

She was originally built by the Juke yard, Wellington and launched 1929.  The Petter 10hp engine was replaced around 1960 with a Ford Dexta 3 Cylinder, 32hp. KATIPO remained in the Thomas family until sold around 1998. 

She’s now sitting in Picton Marina and I believe with the same Dexta engine still going strong after 63 years service. Photo below ex Steve Thomas, taken around 25 years ago.

Do we know what became of KATIPO.

03-02-2026 INPUT ex JOHN BURLAND – Now located in Picton Marina on a pole mooring. Powered by Ford Dexter diesel engine and 4sale on tme.

A WOODEN BOATING TIME CAPSULE – 1913 NZ YACHTSMAN 

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A WOODEN BOATING TIME CAPSULE – 1913 NZ YACHTSMAN 

Yesterday in the post I received a package from Denis O’Callahan, past owner of MV TASMAN. Denis had recently been going thru his ’to good to throw out’ files and found a collection of old boating magazine from 1911, 1913,1938 and 1958 – after a quick glance I had to put them away before I wrote the whole day off 🙂

A couple of things did catch my eye – 

1. The above advertisement for the Central Boating Company, promoting the Hyde Propeller and Regal engine – which CBC were agents for. I assume the motor boat in the advertisement is named REGAL as a result of its engine and that it ran a Hyde Propeller – caption reads 15.38 knots, very impressive for the size of boat. But, back then there were very little home comforts aboard, so significantly lighter. Further on in the issue we learn that REGAL did have a 32hp Regal engine and her specs were 32′ in length with a 6’10” beam, She was also for sale, no price mentioned.

Do we know what became of REGAL

2. A boats for sale listing from 1913, see below. One of my pet frustrations with boat dealers is they never show / list a boats name, in fact even go as far as removing the name from the photos if the name is visible . The vessels name is an integral part of its DNA, equal to designer / builder / specs etc.

One can only assume the boat dealer is too insecure to publish the name. 

Well after reading the 1913 December issue of New Zealand Yachtsman seems the insecurity has been around 100+ years, after reading the listing I wasn’t able to put a name to any of the launch for sale descriptions. The reference to a race winner on the 3rd from top listing might make that one identifiable. 

FATHERS DAY SORTED FOR ANYONE WITH SALT IN THEIR VEINS

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FATHERS DAY SORTED FOR ANYONE WITH SALT IN THEIR VEINS

Rarely these days do I pick up a book and can not put it down – well it happened recently. I received an advance copy of Davey Jones just published book – ‘Davey Jones of Wakatahuri’ and its both a cracker read and an amazing account of his boating life and his interaction with the Wakatahuri region. Now I’m sure some of you will be asking yourself ‘ where is that?’ – well its in the outer Pelorus Sound at the top of the South Island, the Marlborough District (refer chart below). The area has been many things to many people – a fish factory, a boatyard, a ship breaking base and a community hub.

Davey Jones arrived at Wakatahuri as a young fisherman in 1956 and still lives there today , on and off when he’s not lapping NZ in his boat.

It’s an additive read that with the help of over 200 photographs will have you hooked. 

And as a bonus – included is a reprint of an equally wonderful read -’Sounds Wrecking Co.’ by Martin Burthold.

So woodys drop a hint to the family re what you want for Fathers Day (Sept 7th) or just order one for yourself – $60+ p&p – all enquiries to daveyjonesofwakatahuri@gmail.com

AND I HAVE A COPY TO GIVE AWAY – just answer correctly the name of the vessel Davey Jones has most recently been lapping NZ on. Enter ONLY via email to waitematawoodys@gmail.com all correct entries go in the draw. Closes 6pm 17-08-2023.

AND THERE ALWAYS HAS TO BE A BOAT PHOTO – this is from Davey’s book and shows the work boat MARLBOROUGH PN47, in Picton Harbour c.1929, built by E R Lane. In the background are VALMARIE, at left, and Ernie Lane’s boat shed, the Picton Rowing Club sheds at right. The vessel under repair at Lane’s yard is a lighter from Port Robinson (Gore Bay)

A REPLICA ERNIE LANE CLASSIC 1920 CLINKER

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A REPLICA ERNIE LANE CLASSIC 1920 CLINKER

I’m a big fan of the Picton Clinker & Classic Boat Club, they seem to have the mix right when it comes the wooden boating community. Recently I was chatting to Roy Jones (Roysie) who among other things pulls together the clubs newsletter. Roysie mentioned a project he had been working on and promised a story – and today woodys we get the enjoy that story – I’ll hand over to Roysie to tell it.

“Fifteen years ago The Picton Clinker & Classic Boat Club was gifted a 14ft clinker hulk which came with a remarkable provenance. Built by Ernie Lane in 1920 for Mr John Brownlee, son of the timber tycoon, William Brownlee of Havelock, the boat was in a sorry state and owned by Club Member, Noel Johnson.

Noel’s initial attraction towards Ruru was that, when he lived in Havelock as a child in the mid 40’s, he can vividly remember Ruru resting in the creek near the present causeway, whilst owned by the Havelock butcher, Mr Johnny Buncombe. Playing in Ruru, he would often be chased off and Noel miraculously relocated the boat again in 2003 on the Holdaway farm near Blenheim.

The Holdaway’s had purchased Ruru in 1948, from Johnny Buncombe for 100 Pounds, and who himself, had bought her from the Brownlee’s in 1933. 

Now in a very sorry state, Barry Holdaway gave the hulk to Noel who intended to restore her. Aged 80, he realised it was beyond him, and Noel wisely gifted the craft to the Picton Clinker & Classic Boat Club in an effort to preserve her,  and it worked.

Ruru as restored in Jan 2010

Ruru is the Club’s flagship and is utilised on all the club runs as such. Roy had a little to do with the restoration and always admired her lines as created by Ernie,  she was now available for all to view and admire. So last Christmas he borrowed Ruru for a week and after setting her up,  took her lines off and drew them up on the computer. From these he created a table of offsets and after lofting out, began construction early in the New Year.

Ernie created a built-down style of deadwood almost a bustle, presumably to ensure the engine could be low as possible and with a fairly level prop-shaft, but this was difficult to recreate. 

He must have steamed the kauri planks tightly to achieve the curvature around the stern deadwood rebate. Roy elected to use Meranti 9 mm marine ply rather than timber purely due to supply constraints. While gluing the lands removed the need for nailed and roved laps, it still required steamed American Oak ribs. This was the only job Roy required assistance with and co-opted a couple of retired members in the club to assist with the morning’s task. Peter Baker & Keith Henson willingly helped out and this is the norm amongst the Clinker Club members, advice and assistance is most often always freely available.

Propulsion System We originally installed a Stuart Turner P66 twin cyl. 10 hp engine in Ruru, but this was overpowered, so we swapped it for a P55 5 hp which  proved more appropriate, however, the Stuart Turner became  problematic for the numerous skippers in the Club. We have since settled upon a Lifan Chinese 6 hp and this has run well for 10 years, but is quite noisy. Roy considered this and, after speaking with new member, Tim Barton about his neat little electric 12ft’r, Billy O Tea, decided to also install an electric system in the Ruru clone.

With Tim’s advice on where to go for the Chinese supplier, Roy ordered a 4kw, 1000 rpm 48v dc motor and controller, which duly arrived about 4 weeks later without problem. At around $3,500 landed, he considered it reasonably economical.

Subsequent to that major decision, he continued construction, framing the deck and glassing same. Unlike Ruru, he made the top strake varnished with a sub belting along the bottom edge in a more traditional style. Lacking more traditional hardwoods for the beltings, standard Quila timber decking was utilised and machined to suit; merely because it is readily available and reasonably economical.

The dc motor is considerable, weighs about 30kg developing 39 N.M. 

The universal is a CV joint from a wreckers, and the thrust bearing just aft. The motor output shaft is 35mm!

Having decided upon electric propulsion, Roy decided to throw the cat another goldfish and fitted hydraulic steering to enable comfortable curved seating in the stern without a the tiller interfering with guests seated there. 

Once again, Roy went online and researched hydraulic steering systems. Having been quoted over $2000 locally, it cost less than $500 for a full set imported and landed at the door in 3 weeks.

The short S.S. rudder tiller penetrates the transom quite unobtrusively, to the ram below deck and can be disconnected from the rudder when removing for trailing.

The Electric system enabled a centre console with motor and battery installed beneath, leaving a huge area amidships, where an engine is usually placed. A forward curved seat fits neatly behind the curved foredeck coamings. The large 48v lithium battery required is situated under the front seat of the console, while the motor and drive train is beneath the foot level lid below the helm.

The 48v 100 amp hr lithium battery is the blue item & takes up the full width of the compartment. The silver item is the motor speed controller that came with the motor. The yellow lead is for connecting to the 48v  HD charger.

Roy purchased the 48v 100 amp hour Lithium Ion Battery from Auckland along with the new trailer, driving up and back being cheaper than freighting both down to Marlborough.

He also installed a GPS Plotter & Sounder plus a Victron battery management system from Burnsco. This is a magic device providing a shunt in the neutral supply and thus determines the present battery voltage, the currently used amps & watts, plus provides a range in hours and minutes left in the battery. It is supplied with a 50mm gauge but the best method of readout is by Bluetooth to a cell phone enabling all the readings on one screen.

The greatest dilemma with electric boat propulsion systems is range anxiety, knowing how long you can actually cruise for, at the present power usage. Well, the Victron system diminishes this to a normal fuel level concern, if you run at full power then your fuel range will be minimal, but with sensible throttle use many hours are available. Roy intends to calibrate the range from GPS speed, Shaft rpm & amps drawn. These are shown further on.

Tim provided his figures, and for example at 3.3 knots Billy O Tea draws 5.2 amps, at 5 kts she draws 22 amps but at 5.4 kts, draws 50 amps indicating her best hull speed is just below 5 kts. i.e. 100 amp hour battery at 22 amps =  5 hrs motoring, and you can always slow down!

We used GPS speeds & digital tacho rpm figures with the Victron gauge providing the current drawn. Roy will do similar with Toroa EV,   (her new name now she is completed.) Toroa means Salvins Mollymauk (and the EV is electric vessel!).                                                                          

Ruru like most clinker hulls is a very seaworthy craft and it is on record that when Ernie Lane completed her, she was motored around from Picton to Havelock by a Mr Doug Pickering. This is a daunting trip for a 14ft Clinker, even today, and he is reported to have had fuel trouble near Cape Jackson, Doug simply tied Ruru to some kelp while he cleaned out the fuel line of shavings!  Ruru was fitted with a Scottish Kelvin of about 5 hp from new and to have motored the 60 odd miles around the Cape was an impressive feat 105 years ago!

When one considers that she was built shortly after the First World War, it is remarkable that it was obviously intended she would have an engine from new.   It wasn’t a retrofitted engine installation as is usually the case with this vintage. Perhaps this would indicate the wealth of the original purchaser, Mr John Brownlee?

With the helmsman and passenger sitting in the stern sheets. Toroa EV rides high in the bow but with passenger forward she sits nicely to the waterline.

Roy advised that Toroa EV took 5 months to construct at old farts pace… i.e. 5 hr per day knocking off at rum o’clock. He takes great delight in creating clinker craft, believing if the boat is pretty, it will become a 100 year boat. (only pretty boats last 100 years because their owners love them!)

The Picton Clinker Club members own many small clinker & classic style boats and are committed to salvaging and restoring these wonderful small craft, often saving them from various scrap heaps or bonfires.

Toroa EV Performance

Revs                                   Speed                                Amps

350                              2.1kts                                 2.4

450                              2.6kts                                 3.5

650                              3.4kts                                 6.6

800                              4.1kts                                 11.7

970                              5.3 kts                                16

1070                                   5.4 kts                                21

1250                                   5.9 kts                                39

As you can see, any attempt to exceed 5 knots hull speed causes the amps load to dramatically increase, up to about 4.5kt is very economical indeed but a little more and range diminishes dramatically. Exactly the same of a combustion engine I guess.”

NEW ZEALAND MARINE ENGINES – Seven Part Series

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NEW ZEALAND MARINE ENGINES – Seven Part Series

The seven part series is viewable by the individual links below. The series was collated by Ken Ricketts and edited by Corinne Pettersen. As always we have endeavoured to be as factual as possible but there will always by matters others will either know more about or be able to correct errors – so woodys are encouraged to contribute via the WW comments section. ENJOY

PART ONE – https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/04/04/an-insight-into-nzs-unique-marine-engines-part-one/

PART TWO – https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/04/12/an-insight-into-nzs-unique-marine-engines-part-two/

PART THREE – https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/04/18/an-insight-into-nzs-unique-marine-engines-part-three/

PART FOUR – https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/04/26/an-insight-into-nzs-unique-marine-engines-part-four/

PART FIVE – https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/05/03/an-insight-into-nzs-unique-marine-engines-part-five/

PART SIX – https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/05/06/an-insight-into-nzs-unique-marine-engines-part-six/

PART SEVEN –https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/05/15/an-insight-into-nzs-unique-marine-engines-part-seven/

AN INSIGHT INTO NZ’S UNIQUE MARINE ENGINES – Part Seven

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AN INSIGHT INTO NZ’S UNIQUE MARINE ENGINES – Part Seven
Todays WW story follows on from earlier stories – link below to Part One, Two, Three, Four, Five and Six 
As per pervious stories in the series the content has been pulled together by Ken Ricketts and ‘polished’ byPatrica and Ken’s daughter Corinne Pettersen. As always we have endeavoured to be as factual as possible but there will always by matters others will either know more about or be able to correct errors – so woodys do not hold back in commenting.

PART ONE – https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/04/04/an-insight-into-nzs-unique-marine-engines-part-one/

PART TWO – https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/04/12/an-insight-into-nzs-unique-marine-engines-part-two/

PART THREE – https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/04/18/an-insight-into-nzs-unique-marine-engines-part-three/

PART FOUR – https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/04/26/an-insight-into-nzs-unique-marine-engines-part-four/

PART FIVE – https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/05/03/an-insight-into-nzs-unique-marine-engines-part-five/

PART SIX – https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/05/06/an-insight-into-nzs-unique-marine-engines-part-six/

GRAYMARINE 6CYL 4 STROKE MARINE DIESEL ENGINES 

GRAYMARINE 6CYL 4 STROKE MARINE DIESEL ENGINES 

THETIS with her twin Graymarine 4 stroke 6cyl diesel engines  

These are a very rare model of the Graymarine range, that was originally produced in WWII for the US military. All Graymarine diesel engines for general and normal marine use worldwide, including NZ, are based on the GM Detroit two-stroke engine, marinized by Graymarine. I believe the THETIS engines were the only two that ever came to NZ and were specially imported by Jack Butland for his 1955 Lane Motorboat built launch, THETIS. Here is a copy of previous comments I made regarding these engines, on Woodys.

26-04-2018 WW UPDATE

“Ken Ricketts reports that having recently spoken with Thetis’s owner that the 2 in line, 6 cyl, 4-cycle, 120hp Gray Marine engines, installed in 1960 (still there today) are a very rare model & type. They were manufactured during WWII for the American forces & could possibly be the only 2 in NZ. The owner believes her original owner Jack Butland in the later 1950’s probably reconditioned, & war surplus imported them.”

BELOW IS A REPRINT OF THE HERCULES SETION IN PART 2 WITH ADDED TEXT I HAVE TAKEN THE LIBERTY OF REPRINTING IN THE CIRCS. 

HERCULES 6 CYL c100HP DIESEL ENGINE AS FITTED TO THE FAYE

HERCULES 275 HP DIESEL ENGINE, SIMIALAR TO THAT PREVIOUSLY IN THE RAKANOA 

FAYE WITH HER 6 CYL HERCULES HOME MARINISED DIESEL ENGIINE

RAKANOA WITH HER  275 HP 6 CYL. MARINE/HOME MARINISED DIESEL ENGINE

Hercules was a manufacturer and supplier of a large number of basic engines to many marine engine companies for marinization by each company to its own specifications. This included names such as Kermath, Chrysler, Graymarine, Scripps, Chris Craft, and many more. However, engines sold under the Hercules name, based on my research, are comparatively very small compared to their total manufactured units.

There are two boats I know of in New Zealand that have engines both labelled under the Hercules name and are diesel engines. One is the FAYE, which is equipped with a home-marinized C100P 6-cylinder Hercules diesel engine. This engine replaced her original Willys Jeep petrol engine when she was about 4 or 5 years old. FAYE’s details are noted in her Willys Jeep listing in part 2 of this post.  

The other is the beautiful 56-foot RAKANOA, built in 1946–47, which had a 6-cylinder 250HP Hercules diesel fitted after she had been in the water for one year. This engine replaced her original GM Detroit 165HP 6-71 diesel.  

Her original owner, Stan Parker, was a brilliant engineer and owned a very large precision engineering business. 

I am not sure if the Hercules engine was factory or home-marinized, as he would certainly have had the ability and equipment to do this. Stan, the original owner of RAKANOA, owned a large heavy engineering factory in Auckland. This business passed to Ross when his father passed away in 1961. RAKANOA retained this engine until 1981. Ross told me, after he inherited her many years ago, that they had always had trouble starting the Hercules engine, especially when hot. Many years after he inherited her, he eventually replaced the Hercules with a Gardner 6L3 diesel engine, which she still has to this day.

The Hercules engine was fitted because original owner Stan P., could not tolerate the very loud high pitched geartrain noise of the Rootes blower, combined with a loudish exhaust noise, she had with the G.M. Detroit

Unfortunately, I have not been able to find on research to date, any images of the 250 HP marinised version of the Hercules engine, however I have found what may be an unmarinised version, of RAKANOA’s engine.  

RUSTON HORSNBY DIESEL ENGINES.

HAIMONA ex MANGA, WITH HER ORIGINAL TWIN 6 cyl, FODEN DIESEL ENGINES

HAIMONA   –   HER TWIN RUSTON HORNSBY 6 CYL. 200HP DIESEL ENGINES

RUSTON HORNSBY TWIN CYLINDER MARINE DIESEL ENGINE AS USED IN THE MANOWAI

HMNZS MANGA AS ORIGINAL. 

HAIMONA IN HER PLEASSURE CRAFT GARB WITH HER 2 RUSTON HORNSBY DIESEL 200HP ENGINES, ON THE KAIPARA HARBOUR

MANOWAI IN HER RUSTON HORNSBY DIESEL ERA, AT HERALD ISLAND 

There are only two of these I know of in New Zealand in pleasure boats. One was in the 32 ft MANOWAI, during the second part of Claude Atherton’s era, from 1949 until at least the 1960s; it was a twin-cylinder version of the engines. 

The other boat was HAIMONA, formerly HDML MANGA, which was based in the Kaipara Harbour. Eventually, after a few years there, the only slip she was able to use for maintenance became unavailable, and she deteriorated badly before being destroyed by her last owners. 

When they bought her, a massive coaming structure was added, and they also replaced her original Foden engines with twin 200 HP 6-cylinder Ruston Hornsby diesels, which they removed prior to dismantling her.

FORD FALCON 4.1 LTRE 6 CYL. PETROL ENGINES

FORD FALCON 4.1 LTRE 6 CYL. PETROL MARINE ENGINE

VALSAN CHRISTMAS 1948 IN HER PRE-FORD-FALCON, PETROL ENGINE ERA

The 1938 Roy Lidgard-built VALSAN was bought by Arnold Baldwin around 1947, complete with her original engines, which were 2 x 100 hp flathead Graymarine petrol engines. He owned her for many years, and the time eventually came, after many of those years, when they had to be replaced, around 1970.

I was amazed that he chose 2 x Ford Falcon 4.1 L petrol engines as replacements, as these were engines usually associated with small day boats or runabouts, often equipped with stern drives or jet units. There were a total number of such engines unknown to me, and she is still the only launch I have ever heard of with these engines.

Things have, of course, moved on since then, and the last I heard, she had 2 x 4-cylinder Mitsubishi diesel engines post 2000.

CHRYSLER-MITSUBISHI CN-55TI 200HP 6CYL. IN LINE MARINE DIESEL ENGINES 

THE CHRYSLER-MITSUBISHI CN-55TI 6 CYL. DIESEL ENGINES PRODUCING 200hp @ 3150 RPM INSTALLED IN ALIBI

ALIBI – WITH HER 2 X CHRYSLER-MITSUBISHI CN-55TI DIESEL ENGINES PRODUCING 200HP @ 3150 RPM

ALIBI’s 2 “STERN POWER” STERN DRIVE UNITS, & NOTE BOTH ENGINES EXHAUST OUT THE SAME SIDE AT THE TUCK

As readers of this series may recall, ALIBI made a cameo appearance in part 2 when I was seeking information related to her sistership, which I now know is or was called CRESCENDO, seen below on launching day, as I have seen the two V8 Chrysler-branded diesels CRESCENDO had when new. 

Thanks to the input of others, I have now also discovered that these engines were manufactured by another company, and simply sold under the Chrysler label, which seems to me to be a continuation of Tony Mason’s apparent tendency to use engines with the Chrysler label, as in ALIBI. 

However, since the previous cameo appearance of ALIBI, I now have full details of her engines, thanks to a lady named Juliet Hindman, who is very knowledgeable about the Mason Clipper range of boats. 

Her family has owned one of the two only 33-foot versions of the Mason Clipper, and she has now contacted me. 

As a result, and with the information she has provided, ALIBI now definitely falls into the “Unique” class of engines category, as specified above, as far as I’m concerned, and she now has her place in the group in her own right. 

ALIBI’S two CHRYSLER-MITSUBISHI CN-55TI DIESEL ENGINES, producing 200 HP at 3150 RPM, are driven through Warner gearboxes to “Stern Power” make, cream-painted counter-rotating outdrives. While the engines and gearboxes are both left-handed with a 1-to-1 ratio, outward turning counter-rotation of the propellers has been achieved by the gearing system in the stern drive units, which are also acting as reduction gears with a 1.5-to-1 ratio, driving Volvo 16 x 17-inch propellers.

I feel the engine-to-stern-drive setup with these engines, is superior to many others, in that the engines are obviously primarily produced for conventional drives, having the gearboxes attached to and as part of the engines, but can still be used either way, for stern drive units, or conventional drives, with the stern drives simply providing the drive to the propellers. 

Many manufacturers combine the gearbox and stern drive into one unit, which makes them much more complex and quite possibly much more expensive to maintain.

Additionally, the combination drive/gearbox units are often very “clunky” and jerky when selecting forward or reverse, whereas there would not be this clunk with the smoothness of hydraulic engine-attached gearboxes.

I have spent a great deal of time, trying to source a good clear image of these engines, but they seem to have disappeared from historical public databases, and the only image I have been able to source, is of ALIBI’S own engines installed in her.

It is, however, wonderful that she still has these original engines after all these years since she was built in the later 1970s. A great testimony to Mitsubishi. Here are her details as received from Juliet H.:

“Released in 1979, the Clipper 42 was 12.8m x 3.7m with a draft of 900mm and, fully laden, displaced around 9 tonnes. Alibi was the prototype, built with a sandwich construction of strip-planked cedar, fiberglass on both sides. A mould was taken off the prototype so that all future boats could be full GRP with a balsa core. However, Crescendo was the only boat ever pulled from the mould.” 

I would recommend that readers revisit ALIBI’S cameo appearance in part 2 of the series to see some wonderful images of her exquisite finishing and interior.

A final note re CRESCENDO.   – She has been seen reasonably recently, in the South Island, I have been told, so any further help with information about her in any way, would be much appreciated. 

LISTER MARINE DIESEL ENGINES

I had considered including LISTER MARINE DIESEL ENGINES in the group, however, there are quite a good number of these engines that are or have been in use in NZ., in many work boats, fishing boats, tugs, & a few pleasure craft, & in the end I decided they fell just outside the scope of what I was about, so will just make a general mention of them, with a few images of the odd pleasure craft, all of which had these engines installed by Roy L.

Roy Lidgard used quite a number of them in various types of craft, the 1940s & 1950s, mostly 4 cylinder, & also had a 4cyl version of the Lister Diesel driving the Smeltinghouse Bay Kawau island sawmill, he set up & ran on his property, in the later 1940s & 50s, the remains of which are still there today. 

As just a brief mention, he installed Lister diesels, in the ROSE, (2 CYL) (later LA ROSA) Clive Power’s WAINUNU, (4 CYL) & TAWHIRI, a lovely sedan topper R Lidgard built in the mid/later 1940s (4 cyl) 

THE ROSE (NOW LA ROSA)

TAWHIRI BUILT BY R LIDGARD 1940s WITH 4 CYL LISTER MARINE DIESEL AS  ORIGINAL

WAINUNU WITH CLIVE POWER AT THE HELM, WITH HER 4 CYL LISTER DIESEL, WITH THE EXHAUST OUT THE TOP OF THE MAST. c1940s

Screenshot

ROY LIDGARD’S SAWMILL, SMELTINGHOUSE, BAY KAWAU ISLAND c. LATER 1940s

LISTER 1940s 3 CYL MARINE DIESEL ENGNE AS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT ERA

EPILOG:

Well, readers, we have come to the end of this seven-part journey, and I can only say that for me, it has been a wonderful ride, to share with all of you who have taken the time to share the ride with me, and to follow the seven parts of what I’ve learned throughout my lifetime.

So often, you know as much, if not more, than I do. While some may have learned a little from me, I have, in turn, learned much from many of you, as we have shared this journey together, & I thank you all, for the opportunity to gain this new knowledge from you. 

I especially want to express my humility and gratitude, for the kind words of thanks and appreciation, in some of your comments directed towards me personally.

I have done this most of all, to encourage us all, to share and record publicly, what we know about our New Zealand-based boats, with each other, and most importantly, to provide a public record, for the benefit of the boaties of the future. Those who will come after we old wrinklies have all gone, & will become the stewards of tomorrow. As a result of what we all write now, they will hopefully have the chance to understand what has gone before in all or many aspects of what will become their boats, the majority of which will surely live on long after we are not here.

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – AVALON RESTORATION UPDATE #1

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Launch Day 1954
2021

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – AVALON RESTORATION UPDATE #1

Back in Feb 2020 one of the WW spies spotted the launch – AVALON ‘parked’ on a lawn in Auckland’s north shore. From the subsequent WW story , linked below, we learnt that the 24’ AVALON was built be Sam Ford and launched in 1954 . AVALON has enjoyed one extended family ownership since new and at the time Tobias Forsyth (MV Callisto) was planning to give the launch a birthday. The top photo (launch day) above was sent in by Cameron Pollard Feb 2020 https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/02/17/mystery-sam-ford-launch/

Fast forward to Nov 2021 and Tobias gave us an update, link below, which included a wonderful collection of historical AVALON photos over the years. He also shared a design sketch of the thinking re the ’new’ look (4th photo above). Nov 2021 https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/11/29/resurrection-of-avalon/

Then last Friday the gallery of work-in-progress photos above landed in the WW inbox. The Forsyth family, including father Ian (MV MEOLA) are very talented chaps as you will see from the work underway.
Tobias commented that it had “been a busy few weeks with some big milestones but plenty of work has gone on since she was installed outside my kitchen window. Getting onto the shiny bits new with new solid Honduran mahogany cabin sides with a slight more sleek take on Avalons original design, engine is in and things are progressing well. Hopefully she can be in the water for summer 2026 in a rough and ready mode.”

As always – click on photos to enlarge 😉

UPDATE ex TOBIAS FORSYTH – AVALON will be re-powered  new Mercruiser 3.0 petrol engine with new hydraulic transmission. 

The old engine (Morris Naviigator) was too far gone and finding parts made it uneconomical. Its still sitting in my garage if someone looking for parts as there’s all sorts there and spares too including the Paragon box with 2:1 reduction. Would make a good static museum piece as it’s quite neat with the hand crank start etc. it seems too good to take to the scrap dealers. 

The new engine is half the weight, 8 x more HP , narrower and shorter, so gives me much more internal room. And it should be nice and quiet inside the cabin when running. Plus she may boogie a little faster now.

I intend to tow her around the country and visit a lot of the lakes and hard to reach spots right down south in the future so she will be a full trailer boat now. Plus the anniversary races etc.

Tobias also commented that he is the second owner of Avalon, his grandparents had her hull and cabin sides built by Sam Ford in early 50’s and grandfather transported her home on the truck and finished her outside their kitchen window over a period of about 6 months with what ever he could find that would do the job, tounge and groove and canvas cabin tops. They then kept her at their wharf in Helliers Creek that Avalon help build as she towed the logs to Riverhead to be pressure treated and milled before towing/carrying them back rather overloaded at times.  Tobias’s Grandma used her regularly well into her 80’s before she ended up on the lawn . Tobias’s  mum Carol is the baby in Granddads arms on launching day. 

AVALON is a genuine one family owned vessel since new. 

AN INSIGHT INTO NZ’S UNIQUE MARINE ENGINES – Part Six

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AN INSIGHT INTO NZ’S UNIQUE MARINE ENGINES – Part Six
Todays WW story follows on from earlier stories – link below to Part One, Two, Three, Four and Five 
As per pervious stories in the series the content has been pulled together by Ken Ricketts and ‘polished’ byPatrica and Ken’s daughter Corinne Pettersen. As always we have endeavoured to be as factual as possible but there will always by matters others will either know more about or be able to correct errors – so woodys do not hold back in commenting.

PART ONE – https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/04/04/an-insight-into-nzs-unique-marine-engines-part-one/

PART TWO – https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/04/12/an-insight-into-nzs-unique-marine-engines-part-two/

PART THREE – https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/04/18/an-insight-into-nzs-unique-marine-engines-part-three/

PART FOUR – https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/04/26/an-insight-into-nzs-unique-marine-engines-part-four/

PART FIVE – https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/05/03/an-insight-into-nzs-unique-marine-engines-part-five/

BENZ DIESEL ENGINE – BENZ OM59 55HP 4CYL DIESEL ENGINE PROBABLY SIMILAR TO THAT IN THE MANUNUI

MANUNUI WITH HER 55HP 6 CYL BENZ DIESEL ENGINE DURING WWII

MANUNUI AS BUILT AT SPEED WITH HER BENZ DIESEL ENGINE 

The MANUNUI was built for Percy Colebrook in 1939 by Bill Couldrey and had a medium / slow revving 6 cylinder 55 hp Benz Diesel engine fitted when built, which she retained until 1963 when it was replaced by a 100 hp Perkins Diesel. 

CRUSADER V8 MARINE PETROL ENGINES

TWIN CRUSADER ORIGINAL V8 PETROL ENGINES HAVING SERVICING, FROM THE RIVA TRITONE “LOLA,” WHICH ARE STILL IN HER TODAY. 

Crusader engines, while major marine engine suppliers in America and other countries, have only made a cameo appearance in New Zealand, with only a handful of these lovely engines in use here, as far as I can ascertain.

Overview: The only craft I personally know of for certain is the stunning 1962 Italian-built Riva Tritone, LOLA.

However, WINSOME II may have had one, back around the 1950s when owned by Andy Donovan. I know her previous Chrysler 8-cylinder inline engine was replaced around that time by a V8, that was either a Crusader, Chris-Craft, or Flagship. However, the memory banks have failed me, making it impossible to determine which of the three it is, so come on, you WINSOME II experts, help me out here!

In the 1960s, Crusader Marine Engines was a prominent brand worldwide, providing inboard power for many boats, particularly cruisers and sport fishermen. They were known for their premium quality and reliability, used by leading boat manufacturers like Chris-Craft. 

Crusader engines were based on standard automotive engines, but were marinized for marine use, with many of them based on Ford engines, and later with Hercules and Chrysler base units.

LOLA WITH HER 2 X CRUSADER 270HP PETROL ENGINES 

LOLA, the 1962 Italian-built Riva Tritone Aperto, has a LOA of 27 ft and is one of only 15 in the world. 

It is believed to be the only original Riva in New Zealand and a stunning example of boat restoration, all completed in NZ. Only 3,000 Rivas were built between 1950 and 1966, and she still has her original engines. She lives, or did live, in her own, purpose built, fully air conditioned boat shed, on the banks of the Marlborough Sounds.

WINSOME II – MAY HAVE HAD A CRUSADER V8 PETROL ENGINE IN THE 1950s /60s ERA – POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES ARE FLAGSHIP & CHRIS CRAFT 

CHRIS CRAFT PETROL ENGINES.

CHRIS CRAFT 1950s 6 CYL FLATHEAD PETROL 135hp ENGINE SIMILAR TO THAT IN THE GLENIFFER IN THE 1950s

These are another brand of engine that is sold in huge numbers worldwide, particularly in America, where all genuine Chris-Craft boats are built. However, they have only made a cameo appearance in New Zealand, with most of them coming here in imported Chris-Craft boats.

There are a few New Zealand-built boats that have or have had them. I have only ever seen a petrol version, although naturally, they do produce diesel engines in their lineup. All the engines they produce are based on other major engine manufacturers’ base engine blocks and are marinized by them. Hercules is a major engine block supplier to them.

GLENIFFER WITH HER CHRISCRAFT 6 CYL FLAT HEAD PETROL ENGINE RUNNING ON KEROSENE IN THE 1950s – OWNER PERCY JENNINGS IS AT THE HELM.

Input copied from previous post, ex Harold Kidd.  – “Trevor Davis sold GLENIFER to P J Jennings of Paeroa in 1937 and he sold her to George Manktelow of Paeroa in about 1959. The Gleniffer was replaced by a 6-cyl Chris Craft (Hercules block) during the 50s, converted to run on power kerosene with a Model A Ford Zenith carb.”

FLAGSHIP MARINE ENGINES

FLAGSHIP 1958 250HP V8 PETROL MARINE ENGINE – BASED ON A CHEV BLOCK

There were a number of these engines that found their way to NZ in the 1950s/60s era and this is one of the possibilities for the V8 engine that was installed in the WINSOME II in that era by Andy Donovan who may also have had an agency for them, around that time.

AN INSIGHT INTO NZ’S UNIQUE MARINE ENGINES – Part Five

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AN INSIGHT INTO NZ’S UNIQUE MARINE ENGINES – Part Five
Todays WW story follows on from earlier stories – link below to Part One, Two, Three and Four 
As per pervious stories in the series the content has been pulled together by Ken Ricketts and ‘polished’ by Patrica and Ken’s daughter Corinne Pettersen. As always we have endeavoured to be as factual as possible but there will always by matters others will either know more about or be able to correct errors – so woodys do not hold back in commenting.

PART ONE – https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/04/04/an-insight-into-nzs-unique-marine-engines-part-one/

PART TWO – https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/04/12/an-insight-into-nzs-unique-marine-engines-part-two/

PART THREE – https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/04/18/an-insight-into-nzs-unique-marine-engines-part-three/

PART FOUR – https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/04/26/an-insight-into-nzs-unique-marine-engines-part-four/

LINDA, AT CHRISTMAS 1948, TAKEN IN SCHOOLHOUSE BAY, KAWAU ISLAND, JUST AFTER HER LOEW-KNIGHT PETROL ENGINE HAD BEEN REPLACED, WITH HER GM DETROIT 165HP MARINE DIESEL.

COQUETTE, POST HER LOEW KNIGHT-ERA

I know of only two boats that have these very rare versions of the Knight sleeve valve engine. One is the 1928 Colin Wild-built LINDA, which was bought by Roy Swales just after WWII with her original Loew-Knight 6-cylinder petrol engine. I saw it running, and it was incredibly smooth, quiet, and looked very tiny in LINDA’s huge engine room. It was painted silver and had the name “Loew-Knight” in a scroll, cast into the inspection plates on the crankcase. 

Roy W. replaced it in 1947 with a 6/71 GM Detroit 165 HP diesel engine. 

The other boat was the delightful Logan-designed and built COQUETTE, with her sedan top, which was added many years later by Arnold Couldry. He kept her delightful lines perfectly with this addition. She had a 4-cylinder version of the Loew-Knight sleeve valve engine, also painted silver.  I tend to think this may have been her second engine because of her age, having been built in the early 1990s.

FODEN 2 CYCLE DIESEL ENGINES.

FODEN 12 CYLINDER 2 STROKE, MARINE DIESEL 256HP ENGINE – 2 X 6 CYL ENGINES SIDE BY SIDE ON ONE CRANKCASE IN 1 ENGINE  

FODEN 6 CYL 2 STROKE DIESEL ENGINE

FODEN 6 CYL 163HP, MARINE DIESEL ENGINE

ORIGINAL FODEN ENGINES IN THE HDML MANGA, AS SOLD BY THE NAVY

KUPARU NOW OWNED BY SCOTT PARRY BELIEVED TO STILL HAVE 2 FODEN DIESELS

 HMNZS KUPARU 

HMNZS MANGA

DEODAR IN PRIVATE OWNERSHIP AFTER HER DAYS AS THE POLICE LAUNCH

LADY MARGARET WITH HER 2 X 6 CYL FODEN DIESELS – (Built by Dick Lang)

MARNINE WITH HER 2 X 6 CYL 163HP FODEN MARINE DIESELS IN MARCH 1963

WHITE CLOUD LAUNCHING DAY WITH HER 4 CYL., HOME MARINISED FODEN DIESEL

There are only three pleasure launches that I know of that have these engines, and there are two with 6-cylinder versions. The LADY MARGARET (built by DICK LANG) replaced her original two Fairbanks Morse Diesels; the MARNINE, which had two of them from when she was built, had the same specifications and was installed at the same time as the LADY MARGARET. The third boat was the WHITE CLOUD, which had a 4-cylinder home-marinized version, fitted by or for, the managing director of Fodenway Motors, Penrose. They were the New Zealand agents for Foden engines at that time and had her built and baselined a generator set to convert the 4-cylinder Foden for marine use in his new boat. This installation took place at their Gt. South Rd premises after being built at 1A Summer St, Ponsonby, by McGeady (Supreme Craft).

In addition to these boats, all RNZN-owned HDMLs and the first of the Police Launches named DEODAR, (DEODAR I), had two of them installed. All were originally 6-cylinder versions; however, but with the HDMLs., some engines were later replaced with 12-cylinder versions in some boats, which were, in effect, two 6-cylinder engines side by side in one crankcase. These had one drive shaft and two crankshafts connected by a system of gearing. At least one twin x 6-cylinder installation is believed to still be in a boat & still surviving today. It is in the massively refurbished, now privately owned KUPARU, primarily located in Whangarei.

Foden engine manufacturing and parts supply were sold to Rolls Royce in the late 1970s, and production ceased when they took over the Foden manufacturing rights.

AN INSIGHT INTO NZ’S UNIQUE MARINE ENGINES – Part Four

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AN INSIGHT INTO NZ’S UNIQUE MARINE ENGINES – Part Four

Todays WW story follows on from earlier stories – link below to Part One,Two and Three 
As per pervious stories in the series the content has been pulled together by Ken Ricketts and ‘polished’ by Patrica and Ken’s daughter Corinne Pettersen. As always we have endeavoured to be as factual as possible but there will always by matters others will either know more about or be able to correct errors – so woodys do not hold back on commenting.

PART ONE – https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/04/04/an-insight-into-nzs-unique-marine-engines-part-one/

PART TWO – https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/04/12/an-insight-into-nzs-unique-marine-engines-part-two/

PART THREE – https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/04/18/an-insight-into-nzs-unique-marine-engines-part-three/

PAXMAN V12 VALENTA RP200 – 3030HP MARINE DIESEL ENGINES

PAXMAN RP200 3033hp V12 MARINE DIESEL ENGINE AS IN THE RNZNs 4 COASTAL PATROL CRAFT FROM 1975-1990

 RNZN COASTAL PATROL VESSEL TAUPO, in 1975

 I’m only aware of four boats that used PAXMAN MARINE DIESEL ENGINES. They were all replacement vessels for the WWII HDML and Fairmiles, with the first, the Taupo, going into service on 29th July 1975. The second, the Hawea, arrived shortly afterwards, followed by the last two, the Rotoiti and Pukaki, which came a little after that. They remained in service until 1990 when they were sold off.

 KELVIN OLD MODEL MARINE DIESEL ENGINES

 KELVIN 4 CYL. OLD MODEL DIESEL ENGINE, SIMILAR TO THAT FITTED AT ONE TIME, IN THE MATAROA.

KELVIN 4 CYL MARINE DIESEL ENGINE SIMILAR TO THAT IN THE FERRY MAIRE

KAWAU FERRY MAIRE, WITH HER 4 CYL KELVIN DIESEL c 1950s 

MATAROA POST HER KELVIN DIESEL ERA 

Kelvin diesels are slow-revving, high-torque engines used mostly in commercial fishing and tugboats. The MATANUI is the only pleasure craft I am aware of that has, or has had, one of these beautiful engines, which run like a well-oiled sewing machine with an absolutely silent exhaust out the stern, well above the waterline. In the case of the MATANUI, even at cruising speed, all one heard was a very gentle hissing sound. The engine was painted a bottle green.

I went aboard her during the Joe Kissin era in 1946/47 and she had it then, having had it for a good number of years, notwithstanding that she had several engines in her long lifetime of over 100 years now. 

One unusual thing to note was that her Kelvin started on petrol and then switched to diesel after starting, which is unusual in pleasure craft.

KAWAU ISLAND TO SANDSPIT FERRY, MAIRE. 

The Sandspit to Mansion House Bay Kawau ferry – MAIRE, was built by Roy Lidgard in his boat building shed at Smelting House Bay, Kawau, in the late 1940s for Allan Horsfall, owner of the Mansion House Guest House/Hotel. She was fitted with a 4-cylinder Kelvin Marine Diesel engine and was part of the ferry services to the island right up until the property was sold to the Historic Places Trust around 1977. 

I am personally only aware of two specific installations, I know that quite a number of these engines were fitted to some of the fleet of classic trawlers built from around the 1930s to the 1960s by boatbuilders such as P. Vos, R. Lidgard, Shipbuilders, and others. Some examples , which may or may not have had KELVIN engines include boats such as Eddy Mansfield’s WAIWERA, the Owens brothers’ (Gordon and Jim) KAIWAKA, WAIMANA, FOX II, DALMACIA, and COBRA, among others. I believe the two main engine brands of choice by the owners of those lovely classics were Gardner and Kelvin. Any knowledge of vessels fitted with KELVIN engines, would be appreciated.

The company that produced the KELVIN diesel engines was founded in the UK in 1904 and has undergone a succession of ownership changes over the last 120 years. It is presently owned by British Polar Ltd. However, notwithstanding all the various ownership changes, the name KELVIN has been retained up to the present day.

DOOSAN 6 CYL 200 HP MARNE DIESEL ENGINES

DOOSAN 6 CYL 200 HP MARINE DIESEL ENGINE AS IN THE NGARANUI

NGARANUI WITH HER DOOSAN 200 HP 6 CYL MARINE DIESEL ENGINE, which replaced a Detroit 6-71 marine diesel engine

NGARANUI SHOWING HER AUXILLARY PROP  

NGARUNUI was built in 1955 by Jim Young and started life, with a 1942 GM Detroit Marine Diesel engine (ex-war assets). It has now been fitted with a late model 200hp DOOSAN Diesel and has a Yanmar 20hp diesel auxiliary engine, with the prop for that engine mounted immediately above the main propeller. 

MERCEDES BENZ MARINE DIESEL ENGINES & M.A.N.& M.T.U.  MARINSATION VERSIONS OF THESE ENGINES.

MERCEDES BENZ MODEL OM321 6 CYL c100HP DIESEL ENGINE WITH 2 FITTED TO THE R LIDGARD BUILT, FLYING SCUD IN 1971, BY KEN RICKETTS

MAN MERCEDES BENZ V12 DIESEL ENGINE SIMILAR TO THOSE FITTED BY LEN SOWERBY TO THE NGAROMA IN THE 1960S/70S 

M.A.N. MERCEDES BENZ 600HP V10 MARINE ENGINES FITTED TO PACIFIC MERMAID WHEN BUILT. 

FLYING SCUD WITH HER 2 OM321 100HP 6 CYL MERCEDS BENZ MARINISED DIESEL ENGINES IN BIG STATION BAY, MOTUAPU ISLAND, IN 1972.

NGAROMA WITH 2 X V12 770HP M.A.N.MERCEDES BENZ MARINE DIESEL ENGINES – IN THE 1970S 

PACIFIC MERMAID WITH HER 2 X V10 600HP MAN MERCEDES BENZ MARINE DIESEL ENGINES.

Mercedes Benz, as the world knows, is a huge conglomerate with many divisions under various names and entities.

In the case of marine diesel engines, they are marinized under their own name and by various other marine engine companies, which have marinized them under their own company names. There is also a huge range of engine sizes and horsepower options. In New Zealand, we have had many installed in new craft built here for offshore owners. Most of these offshore exports, would have been under the M.A.N. or M.T.U. brands, as these brands of engines are typically of the larger horsepower ranges.

Regarding engines used in New Zealand, Im aware  of only five boats however, there are undoubtedly others. Nevertheless the total number of such engines remains quite small. So, if anyone knows of other craft in this group, please add them to the list.

The boats known to me include the PACIFIC MERMAID, a 105-foot super luxury motor yacht, fitted with two 10-cylinder 600HP., intercooled, artificially aspirated engines, with twin exhaust-driven turbines, marinised by M.A.N. She was built entirely in Auckland by Ken Winter and his family in South Auckland, with the build completed in 1989. He owned her until his recent passing, in Auckland. 

Ken W. usually ran her engines at a modest 1400 RPM, achieving a hull speed of about 10 knots.

PACIFICA MERMAID’s galley  distribution & control switchboard – starboard alternator in use. She has 2 x John Deer turbo 6 cyl. diesels driving 2 X 230/400volt alternators to supply her 230volt single phase 400volt 3 phase power supply, when away from her berth, which supply enough electricity for about 12 houses each

‘OHORERE AS AT 2025 WITH HER 2 X 770 HP MTU MARINISED MERCEDES BENZ DIESELS.

MTU MERECEDES BENZ DIESEL ENGINE – POSSIBLY SIMILAR TO THOSE IN THE OHORERE

OHORERE, was built by Percy Vos in Auckland, for the government of the day, to be a high-speed fisheries patrol craft, and designed by Thornycroft in the UK. However, she never reached anything close to her anticipated speed projections, as required in the order from the government, to the designers, and builders. Large sums of money were spent collectively, by the designers, Rolls Royce, who supplied her original engines, and the builders, to give her better performance, but they failed miserably, and she was ultimately sold to private ownership, where she has been used for many years now, I am told, for fishing charters in Tauranga. 

The 2 x 8 cyl. Rolls Royce’s were replaced about two years ago, with 2 x 770hp MTU marinized Mercedes Benz diesels, and is now capable of around 30 knots.

The engine in the image is used, which because of the huge cost of them new I feel it would be most likely & also most practical to install used engines.

The only other boat I know personally, is my own 1953 Roy Lidgard-built, 31-foot FLYING SCUD, which I bought in 1970, with her original twin Austin Skipper 100 marine petrol engines. 

I replaced them almost immediately with two OM321 100 HP Mercedes Benz 6-cylinder diesels. I sold her six years later, when I started building my 40-foot Vindex, TIARRI, and a later owner replaced FLYING SCUD’s Mercedes Benz engines with two Bedford diesels.

PERKINS DIESELS MODELS “S6” 6YL & 510 C.I. V8 MODELS ONLY 

 PERKINS MODEL S6 MARINE DIESEL ENGINE

TIARRI’S TWIN V8 PERKINS 510 CUBIC INCH DIESEL ENGINES  

TIARRI’S 510C.I. 165 HP PERKINS V8 DIESEL ENGINES IN PLACE

TIARRI AT SPEED OFF RAKINO ISLAND 1982 WHEN OWNED AND NEWLY BUILT FOR KEN RICKETTS BY BARRY JONES & REX COLLINGS OF MATAKANA & WHANGATEAU 

KAIKOURA WIH HER TWIN PERKINS V8 MARINE DIESELS IN BON ACCORD HARBOUR, KAWAU ISLAND c1984

MOANA LUA WITH HER PERKINS V8 DIESEL ENGINE

LADY KIWI (EROS), POST HER PERKNS 510 C.I. V8 MARINE DIESEL ENGINE ERA

VALRAY WITH HER 2 X S6 PERKINS 6CYL MARINE DIESEL ENGINES

Whilst there are many thousands of Perkins engines in use in NZ of various types, the two referred to above are rare. The S6 engine was developed for the military in the UK during WWII, and Ray Hamilton, the harbour master for the Sandspit area at Warkworth, managed to import two of them a few years after the war. He kept them in a big, beautiful shed on his Warkworth farm for a good number of years until he eventually built his dream boat, the VALRAY, in that shed in the 1960s.

The 510 cubic inch, 165 hp V8 Perkins diesel engines are in only four boats that I know of. The Eros (Lady Kiwi) had two fitted when new, the Moana Lua had one fitted around the 1990s, I believe. I had two of them put in my own boat, TIARRI, a modified 40-foot Vindex, (we added an extra 18 inches of beam) when she was being built for me, and launched in October 1979. There is also the P Vos built KAIKOURA, which had her original two 165 hp Kermath Seamate Special petrol engines replaced by the Bridgeford family of Mission Bay, owners at that time, in the 1960s-70s. She has had two Perkins 510 c.i. V8s ever since. 

FOOTNOTE: I have not written about or included very small, very old engines and boats from the very early days of the 1800s to the early 1900s, where engines seemed to me to be mostly New Zealand-made, of one-, two-, and three-cylinder types. I have read some excellent, very knowledgeable writings from Harold Kidd, on these, and as he is an expert in this very specialized field.

INPUT ex ALAN SEXTON – Another great read from Ken and as usual a few comments following Ken’s sequence

Another relatively rare installation in NZ was the Cummins VT-370M, 785 cu.in turbo diesel. These were fitted to John Wiles Salthouse Giovanni II (since replaced with a Volvo), the Pelin Shikaree “Neureus”, owned by Haines Hunter’s Denis Kendall and twins were installed in the Wellington Police boat Lady Elizabeth II (the one that sank). This model engine was superseded by the Cummins VT-903M, approx 450hp, with a pair installed in ~55′ Pelin Eclipse “Trident” in the 80’s

Kelvin diesels – I believe there was a bit of a “Holden vs Ford” mindset between commercial fishermen when comparing Kelvin and Gardner diesels, I remember an ex fisho I worked for many years ago being a strong Kelvin man and very “dismissive” of Gardners

Doosans, Lees were selling these for a while. Another notable installation (a 320hp) was Conrad Robertson’s sedan launch Rampage , originally built for himself. I understand she has since been re-engined (Cummins?) and cockpit has been extended

The MAN V10’s from the 80’s mentioned were derived from a JV between Merecedes and MAN, https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/truck-history-the-man-18-3-liter-v10-the-last-on-highway-turbodiesel-behemoth-in-europe/ so are considered genuine MAN’s. Other notable installations include the Ted Ewbank designed “Kiwi Challenge” support boat for the 87 cup challenge and Neville Crighton’s Alan Warwick design Countach, both I believe 750’s. By the way Pacific Mermaid is advertised as being built by Salthouses.

The Perkins S6 was developed in the 1930’s for heavy trucks and was an enlarged version of the P series. https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/21st-october-1939/26/perkins-ii-ices-new I believe the first installation in NZ was in Alan H’s “favorite” launch, the original Vindex. Wasn’t there for very long, replaced by the lighter and more powerful T6.354 in the mid 60’s

There was another launch written up in Sea Spray in the late 60’s which had a 160hp Perkins 504, cannot remember her name

Moana Lua has had quite a few engines in her life, I believe the current engine is a John Deere. When she was owned by Ken Burrowes from the late 60’s to early 80’s I understand she was originally equipped with twin petrol engines and then Ken replaced them with a “Torpedo” brand diesel engine (I thought he was pulling my leg when he first told me this), which i assume was from this factory https://tractors.fandom.com/wiki/Torpedo_(Rijeka)

Another quite common installation was the petrol Chrysler Crown, a marinised flat head Dodge. Eastern Star, Shipbuilders 32 previously featured here was built with one. This was replaced with a 75hp Ford in the early 80’s.

09-05-2025 INPUT ex JIM LOTT on Kelvin engines – Around 1981 I removed a Kelvin diesel from a yacht and replaced it with a Yanmar 2 cyl. The Kelvin had a crank start fitted and I don’t think there was an electric start at all. I am pretty sure it was 2 cyl. It was fitted in the 34ft Ladybird design (Bert Woolacott) named “Aorangi”. 

Aorangi was built by Ron Evans who lived at Bucklands Beach and Ron was a commodore at BBYC and later on manager at John Burns and Sailors corner. He built Aorangi late sixties or early 70s using full length kauri planks. The owner of Aorangi who I worked for was AAH Schulte, known as Hubert. The bottle green Kelvin was tucked under the cockpit driving through the quarter.

I was more interested in the new Yanmar I had to fit so I did not take too much notice of the Kelvin but I recall Hubert telling me he had given it to a transport museum. The Yanmar worked out fine and I moved the shaft to the centreline.

INPUT 04-08-2025 Perkins T12: A Wartime V‑12 Diesel Prototype

Purpose & Origin – Designed just before WWII, the Perkins T12 was intended for naval craft (motor launches, gunboats, torpedo boats) to replace petrol engines and free up Rolls‑Royce Merlins for aircraft use  .

Design & Specs A 55° V‑12 (two inline‑6 banks on a single crankshaft) with 6″ bore and stroke, giving roughly 33.3 L capacity. Each bank had independent systems (water, oil, fuel injection), enabling one half to run if the other failed  . Featured an unusual centrifugal supercharger driven from the crankshaft. Only 5–6 prototypes were built, with two installed in a Royal Navy launch (ML 570) from late 1942 through WWII  .

Performance & Fate It achieved the target ~1,000 bhp, but production never followed due to the availability of cheap American petrol engines  . After the war, one engine served as a stand‑by generator at the Peterborough factory into the 1980s  .

🔗 Links with Rolls‑Royce

Direct Association: The design was meant to replace Rolls‑Royce Merlin petrol engines in marine craft—similar size and layout for direct substitution  .

Personnel Connection: Perkins was founded by Frank Perkins and Charles Chapman—the latter previously worked closely with Rolls‑Royce founding engineer Henry Royce  . Chapman’s expertise evidently carried influence from aero‑engine principles into the T12 design.

Summary The Perkins T12 was an ambitious, Rolls‑Royce‑inspired diesel V‑12 project to militarize petrol-dominant craft space. Built quickly (~14 months) under Charles Chapman’s leadership, it showcased clever redundancy and performance—but never reached mass production, sidelined by US petrol engines. There does not appear to be any direct Rolls‑Royce technical design partnership—rather, the association comes from the T12’s role as a diesel counterpart to the Rolls‑Royce Merlin, not from a joint development.