RANUI

I had these stunning photos of Ranui sent to me yesterday by her previous Wellington owner, Sven Baker, who spent 3 years bringing her back to as new with a no expense spared refit that included rebuilt engine, major hull repairs, total repaint and varnish inside and out.

Sven used her for one summer in the sounds and then sold her to an Auckland owner, so she’s now back on Auckland where she belongs 🙂 , Sven’s words not mine, but I agree !!.

Ranui was built c.1947 by R Lidgard for Hec Goodfellow. On launching day she was 38′ but in the late 1950’s / early 60’s she had 6>8′ added to her length. Quite an unusual build for NZ, obviously heavily influenced by the USA Chris Craft marque .

So the big question is – where is she & who owns her ? – I want her in the CYA launch fleet 🙂

Remember: by clicking on a photo, you can enlarge it 😉

B/W photo below, as launched, taken by Ken Ricketts c.1950

Update from Harold Kidd

Hec Goodfellow owned Shed 8 at Ngapipi Road where he kept RANUI. On the back wall is still the name plate for the 30ft runabout METEOR Sam Ford (Invincible Boat Co) built for him in May 1931 with a 225hp Kermath. She did 25kn with ease. Hec sold her in the late 1930’s to Coastguard as a patrol boat, shortly after which she was taken over by the Defence Force and fitted with a Ford V8. She was put up for tender as war surplus in 1945 and later bought by Alan Beamish-White who had Lanes remodel her and then he used her on Lake Okataina.
She was reported as still in existence in Thames not so long ago.
Jim Francis kept LADY MARGARET II (the Lang one) in Shed 8. It is now owned by Chris Dickson.

And just to prove what a trainspotter I am – below is a photo of the Meteor name plate, on the shed wall Harold mentions above 🙂

New photos from today – 12/07/2014