Category Archives: Launches

Royal Falcon

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Royal Falcon 2013
Royal Falcon 2013

ROYAL FALCON

Built in the mid 1930s by Cox & Filmer in 1938. Originally had a converted Studebaker truck engine later replaced with a Kermath & the Studebaker was sold to Bill Waters, who put it in the Gay Dawn when he built her. Owned by the (John?) Wrightson family in the 1940s & 50s.

Updated 20/05/2013 with current photos

Pearl Diver

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Pearl Diver

PEARL DIVER

Launched 1966 owned & built by Ken Ricketts life long friend Lloyd Burnand, who passed away a few months ago. Built at 6 Ngapipi Rd Orakei from a 30 ft Shipbuilders kitset, powered by 6 cyl Ford Diesel, 2 skins of glued screwed Kauri, which made here enormously strong as he used an expensive special glue. Was sold later to Steve Lomax of Warkworth. Last heard of, was at Whangarei.

Luana

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LUANA

I will start by quoting an anonymous lover of classic wooden boats who said to me once when the subject of Luana came up –  “I think she is my favourite of all the Classics. Believe it or not she is prettier than Lady Margaret, Lady Gay, Wirihana etc. She really is the ultimate in ‘cool’. Its interesting how different boats do it for different people but Luana is one of the rare beauties that is perfect from all angles”. I have been aboard & have to agree.

 
She was built by MT Lane in 1920 in Mechanics Bay & her specs are LOA 47ft, Beam 11ft.6in, Draft 39ins. She has a provenance as long as your arm.
I’m sure her owner will chip in with some tales from her past. One that I do know is that she still holds the record for landing a marlin, shooting a deer & catching a trout – 3hrs 25 minutes
I think I’ll let the photos tell the story.

Otazel

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Otazel

OTAZEL

Owned by Arch Tucket, the manager of the T.E.A.L. harbour patrol craft fleet, for flying boats, at that time, in the later 40s & early 50s, whom I knew & went aboard her several times, about 1948 he replaced the original engine with a Universal “Blue Jacket Six” flat head 6 cyl petrol engine circa 90hp. whilst she on the hard, at Okau Bay, for her winter overhaul.

She was approx. 33-34 ft, by about 9ft 6 or 10ft beam, builder unknown, lovely looking little boat in my view, always well kept & used regularly.

After Arch sold her, she disappeared off my radar, so would appreciate any input.

Story & photo – Ken Ricketts

Posiedon

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Posiedon

POSIEDON ( LATER RENAMED BONITA) — by original owner.

Built c.1950, aprox 28 ft, for Percy Hamblin, a chiropracter of Tawawera Tce St Heliers Bay — Next to W. Waters who owned & built GAY DAWN. Hamblin sold her c.1958
Powered by Osco converted Ford V8. with V drive, in stern. Builders name unknown.
Once again have not seen her for many years. Would appreciate any info.

Story & photo ex Ken Ricketts

Rakanoa

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RAKANOA
Story & b/w photos from Ken Ricketts (colour photo ex Russell Ward)
She was built by Shipbuilders Ltd in 1946. A magnificent 56 ft example of artisans work, in both design & build.
She is 3 skins Kauri, is enourmously strong, will last forever, & had the very best of everything that money could buy used, when she was created. She is still kept in beautiful condition at Gulf Habour.
There is no doubt in my view, she is an important part of a real dynasty, & one of the very few boats that have been in the same family from new, for that huge length of time. She was “modernised, in the 60s, & there were moderate combings alterations done in the cockpit area. She is shown on launching day &  pic I took at North Harbour Ponui Labour weekend  in 1948
She was orignally powered by a 671 Gray marine diesel, for one year, then replaced it with a 250 hp Herecules Diesel in 1947, she had this until 1981, when her present Gardiner 6L3 diesel was fitted.
Indeed a vey important part of NZs maritime heritage

NOTE: This posting has been edited on the request of the owner (the late) R Parker, the information supplied by K Ricketts was obtained without the owners knowledge or approval that it would be published in the public domain.

09-04-2016 – photo taken at Gulf Harbour (April 2016) by Ken R.

RAKANOA at GH 3.4.15

Dec 2016 Hauled out at Gulf Harbour – photos ex Ken Ricketts

21-09-2019 Update
Photo below sent to me by John Parker, the ‘great nephew of Ross Parker. It was ex the estate of his late father Wallace Parker.
Rakanoa