ALMITRA
photos ex Ken Ricketts
Todays post is almost a mystery boat, we know her name but that’s where it stops. Almitra was recently hauled out at Gulf Harbour & Ken wa able to observe that she has twin shafts / props , so one could safely assume she is powered by twin engines. The interesting thing, which just might be a ‘Ken-erism’ is that she appears to have only a single mast exhaust .
So woodys, someone must know more about her?
Photo ex Russell Ward
PHOEBE (IMP)
photos & details ex Michael O’Dwyer
Todays launch is named Phoebe & is currently hauled out in Napier getting some TLC. She has been in Napier for approx. 12 years. Prior to this its believed she was based in Auckland.
According to a name plate on board she was originally called Imp & built by Collings and Bell in 1952. Her length is 24′.
Her current owner is Stan Escourt (Napier) & he told Mike that the cabin top was added by Lanes and built over the original canvas covering the fore cabin. It’s still in place inside but hidden by synthetic carpet.
Phoebe is powered by a Ford 2711 E 4.15L motor.
So woodys do we know anymore about Phoebe/Imp?
Harold Kidd input
Collings & Bell built an earlier IMP for Frank Pidgeon of the Ace Tyre Company in September 1937. She was a 17ft runabout with a 40hp 4 cyl Lycoming which gave her 28 mph, pretty fast for the time. That IMP replaced (or complemented) an earlier IMP, a 14ft single-step hydroplane “built on anti-trip principles” which Sam Ford built for Frank in November 1936, also with a Lycoming. He raced both boats enthusiastically.
In 1952 Frank Pidgeon would have been only 50 so it’s reasonable to think that he may have commissioned this one too.
23-12-2015 Photos ex Michael O’Dwyer
ROMANCE
photo & details ex Paul Drake
Paul believes today’s photo of his launch Romance (#1) on the left, was taken in Mansion House Bay, Kawau Island.
Romance was built by Bailey and Lowe in 1914 and was sold 4 or 5 years later. After that she was in Napier, until 1932 when she went to Lake Taupo. The exact date she went to Napier is not known but it could have been in 1919. Romance has been in the Drake family for over 43 years.
Lots more details on Romance here https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/09/22/8829/ and here https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/05/10/romance/
Can we ID the other launches? the little dinghy is very salty, love the fenders 🙂
22-12-2015 Photo below ex Harold Kidd of the launch Pirate that can be seen on the right of Romance & the dinghy.
KOHEMA
photo & details ex Michael O’Dwyer
Today’s photo is from the Napier Sailing Club & shows the launch Kohema on the clubs opening day in 1950. Of all the photos in the ww library this one would take 1st prize for the most people aboard 🙂
Can any woody tell us a bit more about Kohema?
04-06-2016 photos added ex Ronald Walker
CORONA
photos & details ex Peter Campbell
Corona was built by G.Curnow & M.V. Wilton in Nelson & launched at the beginning of 1938.
She was built for H.I. Dimock who sold Corona typewriters in Nelson, hence the name of the vessel.
Peter’s grandfather purchased the boat approximately mid 1940’s & she has stayed in the family since. 70 years of ownership is very impressive. Her specs are – 38′ LOA, Beam 10′, Draft 3′ 9″ & with 6′ Headroom.
The hull is kauri carvel construction & her original engine was a petrol Chrysler Ace. These days powered by a Ford diesel 2725E, which sees her cruising at 8 – 9 knots, max 11knots.
Peter reports that Corona is a very comfortable, economical boat & perfect for the use it gets now, Abel Tasman, D’urville Island & the Marlborough Sounds.
Legend has it Corona was featured in a NZ boating magazine in February 1938 page 9. Does anyone know what magazine?. Peter love a copy of the article or better still would anyone a copy of the magazine they would part with. So woodys – can anyone help ID the magazine &/or supply a scan of the article / or the magazine?
Hazel May
photo & details from John Burland
Today’s launch, Hazel May resides in Nelson Marina & is owned by Stephen Donar (?), that folks is the extent of what we know. John took the photo while cruising the dock looking for woodys.
So folks can we shed some light on this old girls past?
Update from Geoff Brebner
Not to sure of when she was built but think it was before 1920. She was built (another “I think”) by T. le Huquet for Henry Bronlund (my mothers uncle) who farmed at Stony Bay on the far side of Cape Colville. Named for their eldest daughter Hazel. Stony Bay was very remote at that time and she was their only means of direct communication with Auckland. Kept in a boat shed, she would be loaded with bales of wool then return with enough provisions to keep them going. She was latterly taken over by son-in law Jack Strongman of Coromandel and kept there for many years. I think she was originally powered with a Twigg petrol engine. Strongman’s had the agency for Perkins engines so it wasn’t long before she was re-powered. She was very fast with it seeming no limit to her hull speed. Jack and his sons Cyril and Nigel were great tinkerers and innovators and Hazel May could to the trip to Auckland in under two hours. Jack Strongman set up the Strongman Electric Supply Co in 1946 and supplied Coromandel town with electricity until the late 1950’s when Coro was connected to the national grid. Jack’s brother Sam set up the Strongman Shipping Co in 1936 (Wee Pat, Maretana and Coromel). Hazel May was sold to relations in Nelson a number of years back. Good to see she’s still alive! 🙂
Photo below ex Andrew Pollard ex Classicboatsnz
Lake Taupo Launches
photo ex Paul Drake
Today’s photo was sent in by Paul ex his brother Roger. Roger collects old Taupo postcards & this one is part of the collection. The post card was tagged ‘Launch Haven, Waikato River, Taupo’.
The recently posted launch ‘Katoa’ can be seen center right, can we ID any of the others?
10-12-2015 Input from Paul Drake
In the stream from the left – KAHURANGI (said to be home built in Hastings – last seen at Mana Marina some years ago being set up as a live-aboard). NGARO (Lidgard?). ARCADIA (said to be a Slattery and still at Taupo but with a different cabin). KATOA.
Moored to the river bank – at far left is KOTAHI (now at Auckland Zoo as previously discussed on ww.) At far right alongside each other are MARY (last seen on the Whanganui River) and HAPPY DAYS.
On the far side of the river above KATOA is NOMAD (previously owned by the Bull family who replaced her with KATOA). NOMAD last heard of at Rotorua.
Manukau Racing – Sailing Sunday
photos ex Manukau Yacht & Motor Boat Club ex Nathan Herbert
Today’s post shows the start of the Champion/s Cup run by the Manukau Cruising Club in 1929. The bigger yacht in the center of the fleet is A27, photo below.
This post was done via the iphone from Patio Bay on board Raindance, make sure you check in tomorrow for lots of photos from the CYA weekend 😉
Harold Kidd Input
A27 is ANAHERA, built by Robert Logan Sr in August 1893 for D.S. Sutherland of Onehunga as a centreboard cutter. She was a 38 footer, rated at 3.5 tons and by far the biggest yacht on the Manukau. She was taken over to the Waitemata in late 1919 and eventually registered with the APYMBA as a C Class, C22. She went back to the Manukau in 1924 when bought by the Hammond brothers.A27 is her Manukau number, the “A” her Manukau Cruising Club number and the “27” her Manukau Yacht & Motor Boat Club number.
Back on the Waitemata, in May 1936 she was completely gutted by fire while hauled out on the Tamaki River below the Panmure Bridge.
She is also third from left in the top pic.
The patiki on the extreme left of the top pic is MYRA, (sail number W), built by Logan Bros in August 1898 for Roy Wilson. She was on the Manukau between 1919 and 1930. She appears to have died in Northcote around 1939, but Robin may have more details.
The next boat to the right is one of the several mullet boats on the Manukau in 1929. I can’t read her number or tell her by the cut of her jib but she’s possibly the 22 footer MAIDIE. The rest to leeward are a mix of mulletties mainly, although the Logan patiki AOMA is probably in there.
Katoa
photos ex John Burland, Paul Drake & Judith Wallith
Morning woodys, I know there has been a few ‘mystery boats’ lately but that’s how it rolls, you post one & it triggers another.
Today’s launch arrived in Mapua, Nelson two days ago & no one knows much about her. An interesting mix of styles, a little bit of everything there.
Can we shed some light on her?
UPDATE
Today’s post had woodys the length of the country digging out there photo albums & cameras & we have uncovered some very cool details.
Paul Drake via his brother Roger sent in the b/w photo below of Katoa (is she still named that?) when 60 years ago she was berthed at Lake Taupo. Owned by the Bull family at the time.
Judith Wallath sent in the below photo of a painting she did c.2000 of a launch anchored at Forestry, Great Barrier Island that must be the same boat.
John Burland, who blogs on the very funky blog http://notthenelsondailyphoto.com/ who put me originally onto the boat, today sent in more photos. He had also un-coverd that she is owned by a gent called David Smith who owns a business in Mapua. The launch used to be at the Nelson marina and before that, it was at Riwaka for a long time.
08-12-2015 Update from the owner via John Burland. (edited by Alan H)
Current owner bought the launch for $27,000 in Jan. 2015 from a gent in Riwaka called John (surname unknown, possibly passed away).
Built 1911 “by 2 brothers in Auckland”. There’s a 1913 bridgedecker at the Nelson marina built by the same “couple of brothers”.
Currently powered by a 60hp (American) 4 cylinder Ford, (fitted 30 years ago). 42’ long, beam 8’, draws 1.1m, displaces 5.5t
Legend has it that she was sailed (motored) to Fiji at one time. Cruises at 7 knots, tracks like a dream and he used 2 litres of fuel from Nelson to Mapua.
The engine is very forward (like Seabird) – 25’ drive shaft. What appears as the funnel is actually the chimney for the wood burner stove.
All of the above needs confirmation, John B is attempting to access further info.
16-05-2017 Update – Photos below from her new owners Ra Hammer & Joseph Henrey
LAKE ROTOITI 2016 CLASSIC & WOODEN BOAT CALENDARS
Once again waitematawoodys, Chris Miller & myself are rapped to have worked with the Lake Rotoiti Classic and Wooden Boat Assoc. on the production of their 2016 calendar.
The calendar is chocker full of photos from the amazingly popular 2015 Classic & Wooden Boat Parade. The calendars make excellent Christmas presents for those ‘hard to buy for’ friends & are great value – $10 for 1, or $8 each for 5 or more. There is a limited amount printed so get in quick, last year they sold out very quickly.
If any woodys are interested in buying contact Rachel Jamieson via this email link
zea.rachel@gmail.com
Postage is $2.40 for up to 7 calendars, $5 for more than 7 or courier ($6 North Island $7 South Island – RD extra).
Payment is via direct credit – please use your surname as reference and email Rachel when you make the payment. Remember to add the postage 😉
The bank account number is: 12 3155 0140546 00 Lake Rotoiti Classic and Wooden Boat Assoc.
This is one of those cool win/win situations – its a great way to support the wooden boating movement & you get something back i.e. a cool calendar. Order now.
ps sorry for the slightly wonky cover photo – Rachel needs a few photography 101 tips 🙂
