Category Archives: Launches

Nana

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Nana

NANA
She was built by Chas Bailey & Son Ltd in 1934 . She was a 35 footer with a 110hp Redwing Big Chief. She had a side exhaust well above the waterline, on the starboard side, with no cowl over it.

Ken Ricketts has known this boat since 1946, when she was moored in Matiatia & belonged to Mr Fred Allison (the original owner), who owned the Devonport Steam Ferry Ltd & lived at Matiatia, Waiheke Island. Alison got Bailey to build his boats because of the ferry connection. Ken only very recently acquire this photo, ex Harold Kidd. Ken was absolutely thrilled to have it, as he always was fascinated by her. Her hull was painted royal blue with varnished & white combings, — unusual for that time, — & she was always immaculate. used to sit a little high in the water at the tuck waterline, with the boat not sitting in the water until a little below the round of the chine line, but nevertheless, lovely, with the name in gold leaf arched in the middle of the tuck. Not used very much. Ken never actually saw her off the moorings, on the many weekends, he anchored there on his dad’s boat, the JULIANA circa 1946-48.

Nor West

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NOR WEST Port Side AUGUST 2012 Nor West

NOR WEST
One of 2 identical boats built by Garth Lane at Panmure circa 1948-50 both had 2 x Ford V8s originally. Both were used extensively for game fishing for many years. No info on ownership, but always admired there futuristic, low, sleek, appearance. Both had the engines in the stern, with V drives a la LADY SANDRA.
 Marina photo (ex trademe) was taken in the Sounds where she has been living.

Sou East

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Sou East

SOU EAST

Identical sister ship to NOR WEST & used extensively at Mayor Island, for many years for game fishing both boats now have diesels — Nor West has 2 x Fords.
Ken Ricketts took this photo of Sou East in Mansion House Bay Kawau Island Christmas 1949

Mystery Launch no more – Tawaki

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Ok train spotters, questions of the day – 1. where 2. name 3. design / builder ?? We have a winner – Zach Matich – see below

“Pahi (Kaipara) -Dems Road to be exact, ‘Kawiti’ (think that’s how you spell it) owned by Tim Cant, pass on the builder, was told she was used as a ‘school bus’ somewhere on the east coast.Had a BMC engine.

09-04-2016 – Input from Pat Shanks (nee Simons)

My son wondered what had happened to Tawaki as he had spent holidays on her with his grandfather, and found her on waitematawoodys
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Tawaki was originally named Penguin. She was owned by the Hansens of Purerua in the Bay of Islands. Mr Hansen used her as a charter for deep sea fishing. Mrs Hansen was a teacher. Penguin was used to ferry children to school in the Bay of Islands. I don’t know if she had a previous owner.
My father, Edgar (Nobby) Simons bought her in 1967 or 68 and rebuilt her as a launch. He and my mother, Bertie, had 25 years of sailing and fishing in her, based in the Whangarei Harbour.

09-10-2016 Updated photos ex Peter Mence

 

29-04-2024 UPDATE ex HAROLD KIDD – TAWAKI/PENGUIN was built by Dick Lang for the Hansen brothers of Russell and launched in August 1927 with a Hill 24hp diesel engine.

Great 1930’s movie featuring the launch Waitangi

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Fantastic 1930’s movie footage of the launch Waitangi & another motor boat doing close maneuvers between the rocks east of Hooks Bay. The first 1/4 has some great aerial footage of Waiheke Island back then. The skipper must have known the area like the back of his hand because remember there were no gps or depth sounders in those days. All boats I believe were owned the the Stein family.
Waitangi certainly had a bit of zoom zoom in those days -petrol Kermit engine, replaced c.1955 with a diesel.

The movie is titled ‘Beautiful Waiheke’ & I suspect was a promotional movie for Waiheke Island, Auckland, New Zealand. Filmed c.1930 by Alex Lambourne. Features the classic launch Waitangi. The white dinghy in the rowing sequence is called ‘The Beagle’.
Starring Peter Stein, Dean Ellingham, Alan Lambourne, Joan Woollams, Arthur Nicholson, Cynthia Restall, Shirley Vicary + others

Thanks to Roger Guthrie (brother of CYA member Graham) for forwarding this footage to waitematawoodys.

Waitangi

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Waitangi

c.1953, photos taken from Roger Guthrie’s family launch Caprice, whose forestay is showing in the top photo

Waitangi getting some love in Blanche & Ian Cook’s shed, Sept 2011, the last time I saw her. Alan H

Update 23-12-2019 – Photo below ex Peter Apperley of Waitangi at Westhaven Marina.

Waitangi Launch Dec2019

 

Caprice c.1953

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Caprice out at Silver Bay Caprice

Caprice c.1953, under way, photo taken from the launch Waitangi. Owned by Roger Guthrie’s family. Second photo is of Caprice hauled out at Silver Bay, Waiheke Island for antifouling. The little guy in the photo is Roger Guthrie.

 

Atalanta (Rotoiti)

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ROTOITI (Atlanta)

ATALANTA  (Rotoiti)

Unsure of builder, approx. 40 ft . When Ken Ricketts first saw her in 1946-47 she was called Rotoiti & owned by a Larry Johnston owner of Johnston Blue Motors the airport transport bus service providers for Auckland & she was called the ROTOITI. He owned her from at least the mid 40s through to the 50s, he recalls she had a 6 cyl Kermath petrol engine. Kept in quite good condition & used fairly regularly.

Her original, “real” name, was ATLANTA, & it was not until Ken came in contact with her again many years later, in the 1980s, that he was told by the then owner, that they had removed all the old paint from the hull during a refurbishment, & discovered “ATLANTA” carved in to the tuck, in big letters about 1/2 inch deep. Unsure who changed it, or when the name was changed, but he feels by the look of her, she was probably built between 1933 & 1937, & it was probably changed in the later 30s or early 40s. Ken is pleased to say that the last time he saw her she was ATLANTA

Rotui

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Rotui

ROTUI

A Chris Craft, built circa 1938, 32 -33 ft originally had a Ford V8 petrol engine which is sure to have been changed to a diesel by now, & belonged to Alec & Linda Walker who lived in Landscape Rd Mt Eden & owned Regal Fashions in Karangpape Rd. They were a lovely friendly couple & owned her until the mid 50s. After they sold her, she diappeared off the radar. Ken Ricketts would love to know what ‘so happened to her. If anyone can help email kenpat@ihug.co.nz