Category Archives: Launches

Yasawa

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YASAWA

Currently for sale on trademe, this bridgedecker could be a good buy for someone wanting to get into classic boating.

She appears to be very well presented & excellent value for money.

The listing says she is a 1952 Collings & Bell but HDK advised this is incorrect & she was built by Charlie Filmer. She sleeps 6-8, 10m (32.8′) long, with a 2002 90hp motor. While Picton based, thats not a big issue, ‘Boat Haulage’ are not that expensive, if you are prepared to wait for a return trip.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/boats-marine/motorboats/auction-680775450.htm

Harold Kidd Update

Stuart Findlay of Paunui Road, St. Heliers owned her in 1957 and may well have been her first owner. He was followed by Solicitor Arthur Bourke of First Ave, Stanley Point in 1959. Her original engine was a 100hp Scripps-marinised Ford Mercury V8. 

I can’t fathom why she is now claimed to be a Collings & Bell boat. The APYMBA records show her as built by Charlie Filmer. She doesn’t look Collings & Bell to me anyway. 

Probably some oracular shellback advised an owner that she was C&B. That’s the process that has given us today more Logan, Sam Ford and Lane Motor Boat Co launches than they ever built.

Photo below hauled out at Motueka marina, Jan 2018, photo ex John Burland

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Update 26-09-2021 Photos (ex Grant Stone) below when owned by a Tom Wilcox in the late 1950’s

Jessica

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Jessica

Jessica

JESSICA

photos ex Baden Pascoe

The name plaque says built by Bailey & Lowe in 1912, I’m sure if this is correct, Harold will be able to shed some light on Jessica. HDK has rather a soft spot for B&L craft. Jessica was photographed at Thames over the xmas/ny period.

Harold Kidd Update

1. “JESSICA” is a re-name. I know she’s been that since at least 2006.
2. Although foliate scrollwork on the bow was a feature of Bailey & Lowe work up until say 1920 (by when it was considered “old hat”), their scrollwork was much more free-form than this symmetrical work. Maybe the first owner wanted a symmetrical job, but I’ve not seen another and therefore have mild doubts about the “Bailey & Lowe” tag.
3. She was obviously built as a raised foredeck flushdecker.
4. It would be nice to know her previous name(s) so that we can establish some real provenance for her.
5. I do wish launch owners didn’t so readily change their boats’ names, seemingly often to butter up the female members of the family who had dark thoughts about hubby buying a boat. My father did exactly that in 1934.

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*designer,builder,type of vessel e.g. launch or yacht,CYA only vessel,period launched e.g. 1920 etc

Arohanui (McGeady)

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Arohanui

Screen Shot 2014-01-08 at 9.11.41 AMArohanui fishing off WaihekeArohanui @ Pah Farm Jetty Kawau 1998

AROHANUI

photo & details ex Ken Ricketts

In Kens eyes, she was one of the best sedan top examples that McGeady ever built, having the forward section & forward deck longer than usual & giving a further aft helm position, which means a smoother ride for the helmsman & crew in rough weather being further aft than usual & a sort of more sleek laid back concept to her & excellent balance of line.

She was built for Tucker Brothers food product manufacturers (Sunshine Jellies etc) in Khyber Pass Aucland., circa 1952, in McGeady’s Summer St Ponsonby premises & had the usual Ford 6 cyl Diesel fitted by Tracey Nelson. She was the second boat built by McGeady for Tuckers, the first being a bridgedecker built circa 1939 called Lady Sunshine, which was owned just after WWII by Com Hardley, M.D. of Hardleys Plumbing Merchants, of Morrow St Newmarket, who renamed her Varlene, the name as far as Ken knows she still has today.

Varlene was sold to H.T. Morton, a lawyer of Cliff Ave Belmont & Auck Hospital board Member in the later 1940’s. If anyone has a photo of Varlene, Ken can do a post on her, as he knows quite a bit about her early days.

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05/03/2105 – New photo ex Karen Moren – sent in by Ken Ricketts

Photo ex Ken Rickett’s – Tauranga Harbour

09/04/2015 more photos ex trademe

13-07-2015 Update sent in by Paul Newell ex Sea Spray ex NZ Classic Game Boat

Lady Jane

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LADY JANE

 

I spotted the above leaving Man-O-War Bay early on New Years day, apologies for the poor photo but I was in the dinghy doing the rubbish barge drop (post NYE).

Anyone able to ID her?

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*designer,builder,type of vessel e.g. launch or yacht,CYA only vessel,period launched e.g. 1920 etc

NZ Antique & Classic Boatshow 2014 – Lake Rotoiti, Sth. Island

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NZ Antique & Classic Boatshow 2014 - Lake Rotoiti, Sth. Island

NZ Antique & Classic Boatshow
Nelson Lakes National Park, February 2014

Classic boat-lovers have the opportunity to indulge in a long weekend of glorious hydromatic relaxation at St Arnaud in the Nelson Lakes National Park, with this year’s NZ Antique and Classic Boat Show linking with Waitangi Day.

Some photos from the 2010 event here http://classicyacht.org.nz/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=810&hilit=NZ+Antique+%26+Classic+Boat+show

The show is set for the weekend of February 8 & 9 and Coordinator Pete Rainey says if people can wangle Friday off they’ve got a four day mini-holiday.

“It’s the same weekend as Taste Marlborough and a Tasman Makos’ game in Blenheim so it’s an excellent time for North Islanders or Cantabrians to see what a varied range of action the Top of the South can offer,” he said. “Being a month earlier than usual means the weather is more stable for visitors who want to pack in a bit of mountain-biking, some exploration of the Nelson Lakes National Park or a few visits to our famous vineyards and art galleries.”

But for the true enthusiast, there’s no reason to wander further afield than the shore of Lake Rotoiti where the Classic Boat Show takes place.

“There will be the usual range of boats…cedar kayaks, jet boats from the 60s, clunky clinkers and veteran wooden yachts,” Rainey said. “From early morning on both days of the weekend you can wander around the boats on land, chat with the owners, view displays with stories of restoration and rebuild and then watch the races on the lake in the afternoon. We have a lot of fun, from the slightly chaotic sail-past to the Seagull dinghy race with its Le Mans start, which always has some poor bugger who can’t get his motor going.”

Another attraction this year is the new Nelson Lakes Classic Boat Museum, alongside the Clinker Café and gift shop complex at the St Arnaud village. It will be open with boating displays all weekend.

The NZ Antique and Classic Boatshow is now in its 16th year, and continues to grow in the number and quality of craft presented, as well as the number of people coming to view the boats and the action. Judging will take place on Saturday, ahead of an evening awards ceremony at the Alpine Lodge. At stake is the Jens Hansen Trophy where the judges are after good looks as well as history, construction and a boat with a story to tell.

Other awards include prizes for best new restoration, best steamboat, best jet-propelled craft and best themed display. Races will be held for yachts, row boats, seagull motored dinghies, poppers, canoes, child rowers and swimmers.

All boats will be checked for noxious aquatic weeds, and oil leaks before entering the water; and boaties are reminded to be aware of minimising the spread of didymo. And remember DOC has released Kiwi into the National Park very close to where the show takes place, so no antique and classic dogs please!

More info at http://www.nzclassicboats.com

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*designer,builder,type of vessel e.g. launch or yacht,CYA only vessel,period launched e.g. 1920 etc

Artemis

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Artemis

ARTEMIS

One of my ‘cub’ reporters 🙂 was out & about over the holiday period & spotted Artemis in a paddock in Puhoi. As you will see from the photo she has seen better days…

Anyone know more about her?

Update & new photos ex Russell Ward 15/03/14

Russell spoke with the current owner who he said he has had her for four years, built in the ’30s and top works from the ’60s. Doing up the old villa behind her in the photos, so is short of time for other projects.

Sea Crest – Summer boating in the good old days

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photo ex classicboatnz, chat ex Ken Ricketts

SEA CREST

Ken Ricketts initially thought Sea Crest could have been a Lidgard build but a discussion with his old friend Jim Thomson who has a wonderful recall, on all the Lidgard boats & was involved with the construction of virtually all his boats, from about 1949 onwards, until Roy & his son Jim’s very sad & untimely death at sea, in the 1960’s, has confirmed Sea Crest was not a Lidgard. Reviewing the photo both Ken & Jim feel she may very well be by Billy Rogers.

Sea Crest has a platform on the tuck, which may not be original, as these did not become popular until the very late 1950’s or 1960’s, so she could well have been built just before that time.

She is a lovely boat with superb balance of line, symmetry, colour scheme & is a great advert for her builder & all her owner/s.

Does anyone have information & photos on this boat?

Lady Gay – before & after

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LADY GAY – BEFORE & AFTER

‘old’ photos ex Keith Munro, new ex Alan H

The older photos above of Lady Gay show her when Tommy Allan first bought her. I post as inspiration to anyone considering undertaking a restoration, all it takes is money 🙂 (I joke). The combined efforts of a lot of very talented people have gone into bringing LG back to her finest. But she deserves it, she is after all one of the 3 big & beautiful Colin Wild sisters (Lady Gay, Wirihana & Linda) .