MYSTERY WHANGAREI LAUNCH
The above launch is listed on trademe as a ‘Samsford’ – one would have to assume they mean Sam Ford.
What I can tell you about her is that is is 30’ in length, built of wood in 1965 & is powered by a 4 cyl. 72hp Ford diesel.
Home post is Whangarei. (thanks to Ian McDonald for the listing heads up)
Anyone able to ID the launch & tell us more about her?
Mystery Launch at Kawau Island
NEPTUNE
Neptune is a 39’ John Gladden designed ex work boat / converted trawler & is now a potential live aboard.
She was extended .6m eight years ago & has a 11’5” beam & draws 5’2”.
Her trademe listing is very light on details, the only other things I can advise is that she was built in 1982 & made of wood.
( thanks to Ian McDonald for the listing heads up)
PREMA
Prema was built in 1965 but looks older, no mention on her trademe listing as to a designer / builder but I’m sure we can uncover that.
She measures 26’ & is kauri built. The zoom zoom is via a 48hp Perkins.
While she obviously needs some DIY repairs / maintenance, given that if her hull is sound, the asking price of $12k is a great entry point to classic wooden boat.
Home port is the Thames Marina & I just weep when I see that the rental is $30 per week.
Input from Cameron Pollard – Billy Rogers.( so we where lead to believe)
Original name was Raewyn.
We bought her from Milford marina some 25ish years ago. Very nicely built and roomy for her size.
GENEVERE
Today’s story show cases the Lake Rotoiti launch Genevere. She was built in 1908, builder unknown, measures 30’. Her zoom zoom is via a 45hp Perkins diesel that pushes her along at 6>8 knotts.
According to her trademe listing (thanks Ian McDonald), she has had a reasonable amount of TCL & engineering work done on her, so presents well.
At an asking price of $15k, she would appear a good buy. Anyone able to tell us more about Genevere?
CHARLIE
From what WW can learn from her trademe listing (thanks Ian McDonald), all we know is that Charlie was built in 1927 by the Monk Bros (?), is approx. 27’ in length & her zoom zoom is via a 60hp Ford diesel.
Charlie has had some TCL in recent times & would make a nice entry point into classic wooden boating. Current home is Omokoroa, Tauranga.
Anyone know more about her?
New Home for Waitematawoodys
A Spirit of Tradition Woody
The above launch was built in 1983 but looks 50 years older, so she makes the cut on WW. Her trademe listing (thanks Ian McDonald) describes her as a 37’ Jorgenson Quicksley launch, with a beam of 10’7” & draft of 4’3’.
Hull construction is 1 3/8” kauri plank and the zoom zoom comes from a 100hp GM Detroit diesel.
Home port is Nelson so she comes with all the fruit, including the mandatory diesel heater 😉 Anyone able to put a name to the launch?
Input from John Wicks – Cna’t for the life of me remember her name, but Jorgensens built her for one Cdr. “Sankey” Critchley who lived just outside Blenheim and had a bach at a bay known as Longbeach in the Grove Arm of Queen Charlotte Sound.
Cdr Critchley had previously owned the Albert Strange yawl “Sheila II” which he bought from Adrian Hayter after the latter had sailed her out from the UK.
Anyone Looking For A Winter Project?
I have been contacted by Mike Renner who inherited a pond yacht (photos below) from his father, who died over 50 years ago. It’s 1.2 metres long & Mike suspect it belonged to his grandfather. It’s been hanging in the garage for years and it needs a new home.
20-07-2018 Update – I understand the model has found a new home with Greg Lees at his boatyard – I look forward to seeing it finished 🙂
ARGO – Mason Marine Clipper 26
In recent years there has been a resurgence in the restoration of the Mason Marine motor boats. Aside from being very smart craft, the ability to pop them on a trailer & take them home, cuts out the savage marina costs. Her owner has had her since 1993, in later years she was always a project to be completed but life got in the way.
Todays deep vee Clipper 26, Argo, & is for sale on trademe, she looks a little tired after sitting out in the weather for years but the bones are their. Her looks are deceiving. Her hull has been tapped her out and she sounds good. Internal wood work needs a lot of attention.
Although the Clippers originally never had a flying bridge, one was added with hydraulic steering top and bottom.
This boat comes with a 6.4 GMC Diesel motor (not converted) Volvo stern leg plus the standard bits and pieces that were on her originally.
The photos of her in her original glory are from Pete Miller’s web site. Got to love the photo from the “old times” checking for fuel leaks whilst the character n the background has his smoke.
Argo had a wide beam of 9’6” & interesting construction of strip plank cedar glassed on the exterior and ribs on the interior. Fuel consumption must have been fierce with twin 283cu inboards originally, later replaced by a 440cu Magnum 4bbl and she had a third with a 440 cu Magnum with a 6 BBL carb. But then fuel was dirt cheap in those days.
So Woodys anyone looking for a project?
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