Category Archives: Non Waitemata

Rongo II

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Rongo (II ?)b Rongo (II ?)a

RONGO II
photo ex Simon Manning
Pictured here around 1970-71 at what was then Simons family’s place at Curious Cove near Picton
Harold Kidd Update:
Great images! That’s the 1919 Bailey & Lowe RONGO II (ex-GLADYS II) during her period in the Sounds all right.

Lady Karita

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LADY KARITA
story & photos ex Russell Ward
Lady Karita. One of Sam Fords finest.Used to be on the marina off AMYC and Menai was nearby. Both fine ships.
The b/w photo was at a AMYC picnic. Off to the left you can see Monterey. Astern is Lady Faye or her sister ship  (is it –the one without the turtle deck?) Nearby, I think it is Apache before the aft dodger changed her svelte lines. Would have been when Harold Parkinson had her and she was petrol.
Not sure of the boat astern of Karita, but Barney Soljacks Southern Belle is astern of her. Can’t make out who it is astern of her.
The colour photos are at Havelock Marina  and Lady Karita is looking pretty chipper.
Alan H comment –  I was once told that the Slipmaster at Westhaven said that Lady Karita was the best boat Sam Ford made – because the man who commissioned her stood over him while he built her. Those that know about Sam Ford boats will know that this is probably true 🙂
Updated again: Someone also said that having a Sam Ford boat in your marina was ecologically very good as they filtered the water thru their hull everyday – I’m bad, I know 🙂

Lady Kay

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LADY-KAY
Don’t really do ‘for-sales’ on ‘WW’ but this old girl deserves to go to a good home. Currently in survey & set up for commercial use, would make a great conversion.
*Built in 1957 by Ces Watson for Franich Brothers (George and Johnny), 38′, check out the builders quote.
*Built and launched in Tutakaka
*She was named after their first born niece
*Was powered by a 5LW Gardner Diesel which cost 1500 pounds, brought through
   Shorty Sefton
*Now powered by a D11 Scaina 180hp,
*More info call Wayne Eyles  0211865358

UPDATE 28-09-2021 – Photos below ex Bruce Rowe of Lady Kay berthed at the Thanes marina.

‘John Doe’ – awaiting more info on this vessel

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Story & ‘newer’ photo ex Baden Pascoe

I have just received a heap of scanned photos from Barbara Weatherley (nee
Walling, yes the famous little Barbara W is named after her). In the album
they say this launch is “Virginia” at Mayor Is. Looks a lot like Rongo
before she was lengthened. I have a hunch the Owens Family (Bob Owens the
Tauranga freight mogul had something to do with her).Very nice looking boat.

Update & ‘as launched’ photo from Harold Kidd

Charlie Millett was a boatbuilder and launch skipper in Tauranga in the 1930s. He specialised in “modernising” launches by building up the foredecks on old low hulls. VIRGINIA started life being built by Tyler & Harvey in Auckland in November 1909 as a 35ft cruiser for the well-known sporting shop proprietor W.H. Hazard. Hazard often took her to the Bay of Islands and was one of the pioneers of big game fishing there. VIRGINIA made the headlines when she was attacked by a swordfish in 1918 and had to be beached for temporary repairs.
In 1925 Hazard sold her to U S citizens (Zane Grey & co?). John Mowlem of Tauranga  had her in 1930 and kept her in service taking out game fishing parties, with Charlie Millett as skipper. It was found that the bash out to Mayor Island made her very wet so Charlie was employed to rebuild her. He did the same to many other launches including the Logan Bros SEVERN.

We have have some confusion – 

After reviewing the photos above HK thinks there may have been a mix up in the caption on the photo/s. Harold has sent in a photo of Virginia taken by Charlie Millett on his slip at Tauranga in 1929. All he’s done by then is to extend the decks with hardwood beltings and install washboards to hold 2 swordfish.

Harold thinks she’d grown the tramtop under Hazard’s ownership and possibly the low bulwarks forward. There’s talk in NZY of Ernie Harvey modifying the cabintop in June 1910.

Baden’s image is very much later and shows that there appear to have been truly major changes since the 1929 pic, not the least of which is that her canoe stern has become a transom stern!

Now that’s all entirely possible, but I don’t have the photo I thought I had of her after Charlie raised the foredeck.

Therefore, logically,

  1. Millett very substantially rebuilt VIRGINIA as above or
  2. The caption in the Barbara Weatherley album is wrong and Baden’s image is of another boat.

Can anyone shed some light on this ??

Triton

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TRITON

Photo & story by Russell Ward

This gorgeous ship was built by Colin Wild for Ken Butland. I knew her when she was still in her prime and Joe Tatham (New Zealand Motor Corp CEO) owned her in the ’60s -He could afford the petrol and upkeep. She was down at Big Muddy and so were we –anchored alongside so I rowed over. He had to shift anchor and I helped out. She did go well –two big petrol engines. So burbly and smooth. Arrrgh! She was long and thin, quite a hard turn to the bilge, and she would go like stink if given some juice!

I have often thought that Triton might have been part inspired by a Thornycroft launch pictured in Philips-Birt Naval Architecture of Small Craft at p 250 although the Thornycroft boat is hard chine and has a reverse sheer. Triton was a real man’s boat, a sailor’s boat. I distinctly remember the abundance of ex navy fittings and switches –for example those huge chunky push buttons that HDMLs and frigates had to call the watch below, sound the siren etc (presumably they were NOS when she was built). Triton might not suit everybody in her original guise, but she was ideal for her original owner who used to show the ways of the sea to aspiring young seafarers. She had an open bridge (don’t downgrade it by calling it a flybridge. It was a BRIDGE dammit!). It was complete with voice pipe to the chart table directly below in the wheelhouse where the young sailor navigator would be plotting the course and yelling it out up to the helmsman. There was another helm as well as engine controls in the wheelhouse. Those lovely old chrome Morse levers on a circular escutcheon with ramps to stop you over riding neutral without pulling the lever bodily outwards – one each side of the console. She had elegant wood panelling below –so classy.

My picture shows her when I last saw her in Lyttlleton a little down on her luck. Layne Stephens put the shed on over the flying bridge some years back I am sure it made her more livable, but it is not for me, I am afraid. Most of the lovely woodwork was painted over. A little sad. But that’s the problem with age, (especially when we can remember some of these boats when they were new).

There are two things worth mentioning –Harold Kidd reminded me that Colin Wild refused to fit the open bridge and Lane Motor Boat Co finished her off for Ken Butland. The other detail, Joe Tatham told me in ’62. Mitchell, a subsequent owner to Butland, was very tall and her wheelhouse was raised about 6″ -you can see where the plank was grafted in. More obvious than then when the teak was bright finished.

Rumour is that she is available –c’mon someone. Come and get her.  

Hope there will be more details emerging.

Rosemary II

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ROSEMARY II
Story & photos by Russell Ward
One of my childhood sweethearts. She lay on the piles just off the Squadron Marina.
She was one of the four Shipbuilders SuperCraft boats built in the ’50s: Lady Eileen, Rosemary 2, Rakanoa (yep I know she started off as a Couldry design) and Mahara. They were designed by Thomas (Tim) Windsor who obviously had a very good eye and was American trained. He was still alive when I last heard and I hope someone has taken a history from him.
Hunters owned her way back then and she was always there when I rowed / sailed / motored past.
I took the pictures a few years back when she was up at Whangarei and available. A little down on her uppers, but still great. The old petrol engines had been replaced by the ubiquitous six cylinder Lees marinised fords and the interior scruffy.
I hope she hasn’t sprouted a dodger aft and a fly (hic) bridge. She was beautiful as she was.

Wairangi

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WAIRANGI
 
Story by Ken Ricketts
 
Designed by Wren Carey of Christchurch, as a pleasure craft for himself and his family. She was to be 17 meters long x 4.1 meters beam x 1.9 meter draft with 10 berths in 3 cabins. Her weight is estimated at 35 tons and she is perhaps a little different from other classic launches of that era in that she has a cruiser stern which, in a following sea  is very, very comfortable.
 
Well known boat builder, Andy Millar, of Millar & Tunnage, in Dunedin, was selected by Carey to build her, – which they did, from heart kauri, and completed her in 1934.  It is believed Wren Carey based her in Lyttelton, and mainly cruised Banks Peninsula, but there are photos, which show her in Picton, so Carey and his friends used her in the Marlborough Sounds, probably over the summer holidays. In those pre-war days.
 
Photos below show she sported 2 masts, the main mast, just in front of the wheelhouse, and the mizzen mast about over what is now the owners cabin, which is fairly well aft.
 
In those days the super structure stopped at the funnel, so access to the lower areas aft, would have been via an external hatchway, just aft of the funnel casing.
 
Her engine was Thornycroft, which must have been used as an auxiliary, with sail being used, when possible.
 
At the outbreak of WW2 she wascommandeered for use by the Lyttelton Harbour Board  as an inspection vessel..
 
At the end of hostilities, she became surplus to requirements, and was handed back to Carey, who then sold her in 1948, to the Lyttelton Harbour Board, (LHB) (refer Russell Ward’s comment below), as their pilot boat, and small tug. The LHB removed the old petrol motor, and installed a brand new Gardner 6L3 marine diesel, which is still operating perfectly today. They had an engineer in the engine room, who manually shifted the gearbox into forward, neutral & astern, on instruction from the skipper on the helm, but today a Morse system is used at the helm, which goes from mechanical, to electrical, to hydraulic, via an ingenious conversion system. She cruises at about 7.5 knots and uses about 6 – 8 litres of diesel an hour. There are very few 115hp marine engines today, with this low consumption figure, and the 4 new fuel tanks installed recently, will hold around 3,500 litres of diesel, which makes her ideal for expedition work or long passages.
 
LHB also removed her sails and the mizzen mast, and installed a radar above the wheelhouse, where the mainsail on its boom would have swung.
 
So began her transformation from a motor sailer, to 100% launch.
 
It can safely be assumed that Wairangi, during time with the LHB, has rubbed up against virtually every passenger and cargo ship visiting Lyttelton, from 1948, to the late 1980’s, when she was sold to Lionel Jeffries, an Auckland businessman, who used her as a pleasure craft. He also extended the superstructure aft, from the funnel casing, to what is  there today, using teak planking, to match the original wheelhouse upper works.
 
He sold her to Lew Ritchie, who used her as a dive and charter boat, out of Tutukaka, in Northland, for a few years, before putting her on the market, and finally selling it to Andrew Jackson, – a retired Auckland businessman, now living in Picton, who immediately started a large scale refit, and refurbishment of the vessel. Sadly, through years of neglect, it proved not possible to keep the exterior teak planks varnished, as many had split and needed filling, so they were painted over. To replace them would have been very costly..
 
Jackson was looking for an old, NZ built, classic launch, to undertake a couple of adventures abroad. At one stage, it looked like funding might appear, for an expedition, to search for the answer to what happened to Amelia Earhart, when she went missing in her epic 1937 round the world flight. A second plan, one which used her in Europe, in a 13 part television series,  looked like it may eventuate, but the worldwide economic downturn, saw both projects shelved.
 
With her low fuel consumption and huge range she is ideal for expedition work, and long range cruising.
 
The vessel has been fully refurbished, to the point, where the Jacksons now live aboard her, in the new Picton marina.
 
She still has her original call sign of ZMTM.
 
She is now for sale,  contact – Andrew Jackson on 021347988.
WAIRANGI 2013 -- BUILT 1934WAIRANGI - PILOT LAUNCH- CIRCA 1948

Lola

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LOLA
A unique and incredible boat in our Marlborough Sounds, lives in a purpose built, air-conditioned building, on the waters edge.

‘LOLA’ is a 1962 Riva Tritone Aperto, tritone means the boat uses twin engines and apertos is the large open sunbed on the aft deck. She has a LOA of 27ft and is one of only 15 in the world. It is believed to be the only original Riva in New Zealand, and a stunning example of boat restoration. Only 3000 Rivas were built, between 1950 and 1966.

The restored Riva, has a flared bow, confident lines, a tumblehome hull, gleaming engine and exhaust vents and chrome fittings. It seats up to 10 people, plus two (or more) on the sunbed.

The boat is left-hand drive, and uses independent throttles and gear shifts. The latter are on the steering column, (one on either side), while the horizontal throttles are mounted on the side, to the left.

The two Riva Crusader 350XL V8 5.7L 270 horsepower engines offer agility and smooth manoeuvring. The Riva’s fine entry, chine line and deep forefoot combine for a soft ride, light steering and perfect trim. The Crusaders push the boat to a top speed of around 40 knots.

Features of the now restored Riva, include the brand name set into the boss of the steering wheel, the rear vision mirror, the flagstaff, the fairleads, the navigation lights, the windscreen and the windscreen wipers. The attention to detail involved in the craftsmanship is second to none.

LOLA was restored by Sounds Marine boatyard in Waikawa, where the paint was stripped, and the bottom faired. Topsides, some of the teak and mahogany foredeck needed replacing, and a new kingplank was crafted. The interior was cleaned and repainted.

All of the instrumentation is original Riva gear, with original hand-beaten chrome fittings. Many of these latter pieces required re-chroming. Four coats of International’s Epivar two-pot varnish were used on the completed hull, and the bottom painted.

The engines were removed and reconditioned by a local engineering firm, Boating Marlborough.

Specifications

Length 8.02m
Beam 2.62m
Draft 0.60m
Engines 2 x Riva Crusader 350XL V8 5.7L 270hp
Top Speed 40 knots
Fuel Capacity 476 litres

Video footage at link below (thank you Trade-a-boat)

http://www.tradeaboat.co.nz/news-reviews/2009/5/video-1962-riva-tritone-aperto

Story & photos supplied by Ken Rickets. edited by Alan H

Valray

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VALRAY TAKEN ON OWNERS FAMILY SLIPWAY1975

VALRAY 
Tale & photo supplied by Ken Ricketts
Valray,named after Mr Ray & Mrs Val Hamilton, as one would think, is 38 ft, built of fiberglass Kauri, on the family farm, by the original owner himself, who was the then Harbour Master at Sandspit, Ray Hamilton, a real craftsman & artisan at all he did, or attempted, with his son Andrew, whom I thank so much for making this the photo available to me, having carried on what he started, with the boat building craftsmanship dynasty, & who is at the moment building a fascinating launch, on the same farm in Hamilton’s Rd Warkworth.
I saw her under construction on the farm during the later 60s. I can tell you all, the quality of materials & workmanship was almost better than the best, with beautiful lines as you can see, & a superbly crafted & finished interior.
As is obvious she is of the Vindex concept.
She was powered when built by 2 unusual model 6 cyl in line Perkins Diesels in N.Z., they were the  “S6” model & the only 2 I ever saw, & they may well still be in her today. They ran beautifully.
I saw them before installation, & after, & they were lovely looking large, mid metallic blue painted, naturally aspirated motors, ideal for the job they would be doing, in my view.
She lived right off the main wharf at Sandspit, during Ray H’s stewardship, (surprise, surprise, since he was the Harbour Master), & was used regularly.
She cut through the water superbly, & at a really good turn of speed, sat very flat in the water, & did not push or drag lots of water either end — seemed to cruise circa 18 knots at least, I’d say.
BEAUTIFUL!!
All in all, as far as I know, a great well keep boating secret, until now.
Would love to know where she is now if anyone can help. My email is kenpat@ihug.co.nz
Additional info
Valray was sold in 1978 to a Mr Gilbert.
Ray H imported the engines himself from UK specailly for her & the family still have a complete engine (not running at the moment) & many spares if anyone knows of a home for them.