I have mooched past Echo numerous times on her mooring in the Weti River & she is always in attendance during the Mahuranghi Regatta weekends. I understand she is owned by a retired builder (possibly boat builder) & from chat from other woodys the standard of the workmanship during her restoration was very high.
Talking a few weeks ago with woody Russell Ward, he mentioned that Echo’s owner may have reached a stage in life that ownership / maintenance of a classic wooden boat was a little too much & could be looking for a new owner for Echo. That is all I know – so woodys – what do we know about the boat & can anyone confirm if she is in fact ‘on-the-market’.
Had a wee oops this morning – got my wires crossed & called Echo, Scout. Have to stop posting at 4.30am 🙂 Nathan H pulled me up on it 😉
Today’s launch photo is from the Auckland Museum’s Tudor Collins collection. The photo quality is not the best, I suspect the plate was damaged at sometime in the past. The ww brains trust have come up with a big fat zero in terms of ID’ing the boat, so help from the woodys would be appreciated.
In terms of the location – given its a Tudor Collins image it’s more than likely to be the Bay of Islands or even further north e.g. Whangaroa? Input here too please 🙂
She was not a mystery for long 🙂 view details & photos on Harold Kidd’s 27 Sept 2013 ww story on Ranginui at the link below.
Resident woodys spotter in the Hawkes Bay, Mike O’Dwyer sent me a note last weekend saying that he had been down at the Napier Sailing Club & heard the rumble of a V8 starting up. Upon closer inspection Mike spotted a rare appearance of Ella B.
As an aside Mike is the owner of the delightful 1902 classic ‘Janet’, built by Angus Sutherland to a design by Chas. Bailey Jr
Ella B (named after the owners granddaughter) was built by 77 year old Bill Brassington, an upholsterer by trade with a love of woodworking.
The build took six years & is still being tweaked. On the day they were fitting a new alternator & giving the motor a run. The boat was built from plans supplied by Glen L boat designs. It is the 24’6″ Monte Carlo, a long sleek barrel back inboard based on the styling of the typical finer Chris Craft of yesteryear. The steering wheel is out of a 1936 Ford.
Bill built the boat in it’s entirety including the trailer. Deck & windscreen fittings were made from mdf then cast and chromed. The hull is solid mahogany with a two pot finish.
Ellia B is powered by a 350 fuel injected Chev V8 which produces 400 hp. The Italian dash gauges are set into an ex Napier Sailing Club engraved silver salver trophy.
Given Bill’s trade, the upholstery is a work of art, total perfection.
Now here’s the thing..the boat has never been launched. When Mike asked Bill when that would happen he replied “it’s got water running through it now…it’s getting wet” 🙂
Ian McDonald sent me the above photos of the Daisy Belle, the b/w photo was taken by Ian c.1980 at Arid Island. The colour photo is her today (May2016) hauled out at Putaruru, uncovered & rotting away. Her owner is supposedly going to restore her – he better start soon or she will be lost.
Can any of the woodys supply more details on the vessel? I’m thinking the ww followers that belong to the ‘The Workboat Study Group’ must know of her & her past.
Yesterdays story on Max Carter & his boats, received the viewing numbers the man desired, highest in the last 2 months. Very proud that waitematawoodys could showcase his work & record it for future generations to enjoy. Special thanks must go to Chris McMullen for his efforts in securing the material, all too often our maritime history is lost.
A friend of mine, Ray Oxenham, sent me the video link below, what a great idea, perfect for somewhere like Waiheke Island 😉
Input from Harold Kidd DAISY BELLE was built by W.G. Lowe & Sons in 1940 for Vella and Bronlund and had a new 88hp Kelvin. She hit Spray Rock c1970, was bought as a hulk and rebuilt by Baileys. In 2002 she was owned in the Bay of Islands by Darien Boswell with a Gardner 8L3.
DAISY BELLE was apparently fishing throughout the war owned by Peter Bronlund and S. Vella and was part of the Auckland Seine Boat Association. She was considered for war work on 9th June 1942, examination work at Fiji, which the similar craft ZUYDER ZEE and KAIWAKA later did. I really doubt if she did any war service anywhere. Registered as AK62 she was entitled to pass the Auckland boom defence without examination, but as a fishing boat.
Input from Ian McDonald Daisy was originally a trawler pre-war and Darien Boswell (Boz) found her derelict on piles at Beachaven ? & after purchase, set about restoring her. I think Boz told me that she also did service during the war on the harbour defence booms. She has a Gardner 8L3B he got from either Ernie Seager or Shorty Sefton.
Input from Bruce Pullman The extract below on Daisy Belle is from a book called ‘High Tide’ by Bernard Rhodes (photos by Brian Moorhead). Bernard Rhodes is a boat builder on Waiheke.
Input from Wayne Mason The photos below were taken last week when Wayne spotted the Daisy Belle driving from Taupo . The nearby neighbour in Putaruru says she is owned by a Dutchman who was renting a mooring in Tauranga but thought on the hard would save him some money . He’s planning on restoring or rebuilding .
Input from Stuart Johnson
Stuart sent me the photo below that he believes is of ‘Daisy Bell’ (AK24) which didn’t quite make the wharf in Mansion House on he believes Anniversary Day 1959. From memory ( Stuarts 91) the crew managed to get ashore and find their way to the ‘Snake Pit’ whilst they waited for the returning tide.
03-08-2016 update ex Barry Davis
Below is a very low res photo of Daisy Belle taken in July 1974 before conversion to a pleasure craft. Interesting to note that the forward port holes have been sealed.
09-08-2016 Photo below ex Baden Pascoe
31-08-2016 Input from Ian McDonald – Correction to comment that she is owned by a Dutchman. The owner is not Dutch, is from Tokoroa & known to me personally, and it was me who put him in touch with Darien when he purchased her.
Below is a photo taken from the helm, of Rex McDonald on the foredeck circa 1983
03-09-2016 Update – 3 pic’s below emailed to me by Ian McDonald that Rex McDonald took about a week before she was lifted out in Tauranga & taken to Putaruru.
16-07-2020 Input from Stephen Green – refer below the undated newspaper clipping below regarding the Daisy Belle.
His father, John Green was on the USSCo Katui in the early 1960’s.
17-07-2020 Input from Nathan Herbert – Daisy Belle also went aground on the point at Hobbs Bay very much high and dry in the early days. Photo below.
17-01-2023 UPDATE ex Paul Drake – “I saw her for the first time a few days ago, in Putaruru. She was spotted by my passenger, who was visiting from overseas, as we passed through town heading north from Taupo. Top marks to him. Checking WW the last photo appears to be 2016. I am surprised that she still exists, but clearly there is no hope. Note the anchor, ready for letting go. Also, nice mast.
07-11=2025 UPDATE ex BILL ENDEAN – Bill snapped the photos below passing thru Putaruru recently – not looking too healthy.
I do not know much about the launch Ozone other than Harold Kidd has commented previously that there were 2 launches built named Ozone & the above is the one built by Percy McIntosh in Whangarei in 1914 for Harold Vipond for the Auckland-Wade River trade but which Vipond took north to the Bay of Islands in 1925 or perhaps a tad earlier for game-fishing. Looking at both photos she was obviously a successful game boat, in each photo she has a fish on board.
Do we know anymore? HDK also commented that it was rumoured Ozone was now at Mahurangi……… Russell Ward……. are you able to input?
The photo is from the Auckland Museum, Tudor Collins collection.
ps loving the turret* for the helmsman. (* whats the correct term?)
Tokatea was built by WG Lowe & Sons in approx 1958 for the Fisheries & based at Coromandel & partially sank there when her skipper (Neil McDonald* possibly) clipped the black rocks in the dark while seeking to chase a trawler sneaking out to do a “burglar shot” as they called them in those days. Proof of the incident was that just forward of the engine room bulkhead, port side, she had 2 or 3 short planks & a couple of tingles where she had been repaired.
Rodger Edwards & Ian McDonald tendered for her when Fisheries bought in the big Steber boats c.1987/88 & took her to Tauranga.
Prior to Tokatea Roger & Ian also owned another ex fisheries boat, Hubert Levy (named after a man who worked for Lowes) & if you look at the step-down from the foredeck on both vessels, you will definitely see the similarity in both vessels. Ian was told that Hubert had a hand in both designs.
The Hubert Levy (photo below) pre dated Tokatea by about a year and was built with a very shallow draft, with twin bilge keels, as she was based for a while on the Manukau harbour. Ian & Roger tendered for her successfully when she retired from service in Tauranga. She had a Gardner 4LW in her – last seen by Ian at Great Barrier Island and powered by a 6cyl Ford, the owner couldn’t afford to fix the 2UC Gardner gearbox – a sacrilege Ian reckons.
*Neil McDonald – was nicknamed in Coromandel the ‘Black Mac’, Ian believes he became the Harbour Master there after he retired from M Fish.
The above photo appeared in the 19th Feb, 1947 issue of the ‘Weekly News’ (ex Mac Taylor collection) & shows the RNZYS fleet at anchor in Mansion House Bay, Kawau Island for the annual squadron weekend at Kawau, which continues to this day. Its a very impressive line up of classic’s that includes most of todays premier classic woodys.
New Classic Read
If you are looking for a ‘fix’ of classic sun & sailing this winter (in fact anytime) check out the new UK magazine at the news stands (got mine at Whitcholls).
Its called Classic Sailor & its publisher is Dan Houston ex Classic Boat magazine editor – & the best news, its only $9.50
The June issue (cover below) is the 9th issue, check it out, you’ll enjoy it. More info at classicsailor.com
Today’s story is on the 33′ launch Pauwai,which was built by Arthur Eli Forrester at Whakapiru in 1908. Its been commented that the boat is similar to a Logan as Arthur worked for Logan Bros and built five boats himself. She served many years on the Kaipara Harbour. D/D kauri plank construction & powered by 60hp BMC Commodore diesel giving 9-12 knots.
From the photos she appears to have a nice timber interior, quite roomy with big forward cabin, dinette.
Puawai sold last week on trademe for $5,620 to a Tauranga buyer, given that the seller (deceased estate on Great Barrier Island) paid $30,000 for her in 2013, someone got a good buy.
Do any of the woodys know more about her past?
Harold Kidd Input
Owners include Wilson of Helensville (1), Logan McLeod, Pouto, H.B. Bradley, Dargaville, W. Hansen, Bruce Carter (1985), then a name change to WAIWERA and transfer to the Waitemata. Louise Brewer 2004 did a revamp.
28-02-2018 ‘New’ photos added + she is for sale – view comments section for details.
Today ww is showcasing the 34’4″ launch Tara, owned by ex commercial fisherman Glynn Anderson. Glynn bought Tara to provide the family with a ‘floating bach’ & with her current configuration she is certainly that. Tara’s previous owner was Harry and Gay Suttclife of Snells Beach & Harry believes Tara was built around 1910-1920 but has no proof, there is no sign of a builders mark.
Glynn understands the Suttclife’s owned her for 20+ years & when they acquired she was in a sorry state & saved her from certain death. During this restoration period they built the topsides & added the wide belting for ease of walking along the sides.
Harry Suttclife told Glynn that she was either called Tara or Tara II when he got her but thought that there was a name change somewhere along the line so her history was lost .
Glynn would love to uncover more details on Tara’s past – so woodys can anyone help?
24-07-2016 Haold Kidd Input
All I have on a local TARA (and there may have been more than one) is that she was owned by V.B. Trainer of Howick in 1973. Another (or the same) TARA was for sale on TradeMe in 2012 at Warkworth as a 36 footer powered by a D series Ford diesel. She was said to be “rebuilt in early postwar years but early”. I reckon it’s this boat. Her hull is very like a Bailey & Lowe stock 35 footer of the period 1910 onwards, perhaps with a raised foredeck.
Keiran McCarten sent me the above photos of his 1938, 18′, kauri clinker cabin boat. It is in my eyes rather special, primarily because she is almost perfect in terms of proportion, not can easy thing to get right in an 18′ boat with a cabin.
If you were looking for a nice day boat or a lake boat, at $10k ono, including a galv. trailer its a great buy. If the sellers claim that its a Jack Logan built boat is genuine its even more of a steal (the boat has a Jack Logan builders plate).
She is currently powered by a 16hp Shubarra diesel. Her owner has the original Norman Marine motor & running gear so an enthusiast could easily refit this & return her to ‘as-original’ condition.
A bonus today – check out the July/August edition of the USA on-line magazine ‘Classic Yacht’ – link below.
The article on ‘Nero’ the spirit of tradition ‘super’ motor yacht built in China – at 300′ she is very impressive (pages 54>65).
The sobering article on Boating Accidents & Death (pages 30>31) shows some interesting stats – while boating accident related deaths has remained almost static between 1997 & 2014 – there has been a marked decrease in accidents & injuries.
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