Category Archives: Working Boats

Atatu

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An update on Atatu
words & photo from Frank Stoks
Here are a couple of fresh pictures of Atatu (1919, Bailey and Lowe) mentioned on this site about a month ago.
The new hardwood aerofoil rudder (installed 3 years ago) replaced the flat steel plate in order to eliminate all zincs and stop delignification of hard to repair timbers.
Moreover the rudder still works drifting into the berth at 1 or 2 knots whereas the flat steel rudder didn’t work at low speed.
She was a luxury launch for Holloway, then Nathan family, war service in Wellington, converted to fishing vessel in 1947, has had several wheelhouses the last of which (shown) by us about 15 years old now. Present engine is a Caterpillar D330B installed new in 1968 still going strong [touch kauri].
I have an extremely detailed history of her, concerning owners, incidents, activities, conversions, and engines – with photos starting from before she was launched to the present day. Unfortunately the Atatu embossed Royal Dalton China, cutlery, carpets and etched glass have long disappeared.
And yes the funnel is a folly – but I’m proud of it!

Sierra

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SIERRA

words & photos from Dennis Christopher

‘Sierra’ is a general purpose workboat, designed and built by Joseph Fell of Kohukohu (Hokianga Harbour) & launched 3 May 1917. She is planked with two skins of Kauri over steam bent frames. Powered by a 120hp Ford Lees with a 2:1 twin disc gearbox. L – 42’6”, B – 11’2”, D – 3’6”.

Like most workboats, she has a very interesting history. She was built for Hokianga traders A. S. Andrews & Sons who had six stores dotted around the harbor. She carried passengers, general freight and was the official mail boat. Later on in her life she worked on the Auckland Harbour doing light towing duties and transporting men to and from the Bridge construction project. She also did general work and towing duties on the Manukau at the Glenbrook Steel Mill gas pilings.

“Sierra’s” days of hard work are over and she is now owned and cared for by Dennis Christopher of Panmure. “Sierra” is a regular competitor in the annual Tug boat race and parade on Auckland Anniversary Day and she won the Parry Trophy for the best presented retired vessel in 2009. A fitting tribute of how a piece of maritime history can be preserved and enjoyed.

 

Tuhua

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Tuhua

TUHUA

words & photo ex Baden Pascoe

Tuhua formally Port Whakatane, built by W.G Lowe in 1937. Bruce Donaldson owns her but when they rebuilt her, whoever did it, must have been blind towards her shear line and other atributes. Hard to tell she is the same ship because she looked a honey when launched.

Harold Kidd Update:

She was indeed a neat little vessel. She had a 60hp Gardner diesel when first launched. I lived in Whakatane briefly in 1946-7 and had a trip to Whale Island on her. All I really remember was her very pleasant exhaust note and that the floor of the bay we anchored in was covered with a massive squadron of stingrays that flew in just as we were going to dive in after anchoring. I went on the annual trip taking Maori muttonbirders to the island in the season (November).

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.

Dorothy

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Launch day
At Rewa wreck
Launch day press coverage
DOROTHY
Story & photo ex Andrew Pollard
Built by Chas Bailey in 1929. She was actually launched as Dorothy M (after the original owners young daughter Dorothy Munro) the M seems to have been lost in the mists of time.
Im not sure of all her details and history… Baden and Im sure Harold will know  (Baden sent me this picture and should know more on her.)
It was taken at the sight of the Rewa wreck.
Very well known in the commercial fishing industry…
Currently at Westpark undergoing a re-birth.

Naumai

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NAUMAI
Photo & words ex Baden Pascoe 
Built by Ernie Lane at Picton in 1937 for Alf Walling of Tauranga. In later years she was purchased by McCallum Bros Ltd and slowly she changed her identity. She was eventual wrecked on Browns Island one foggy morning. Her normal skipper Lance Cross took a day off. Originally Fairbanks Morse powered (E.R. Lane were agents) then another motor and later a 8L3 .

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.

Meola

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MEOLA
story & photos ex Russell Ward
One of my favorite workboats- was built in 1961 by Miller and Tunnage at Port Chalmers. She was built for the Ministry of Works for servicing of Marine Dept and navy installations around Waitemata Harbour and the Hauraki Gulf. Barney Soljak told me that she was modeled on Clematis but with a transom instead of a ducks ass. He felt that she was a little archaic and that they needed a more modern boat.She is 42’6″ LOA x 12’7″ Beam powered by a 4L3 Gardner. She was taken over by the Navy in 1976. She performed some impact hydrography cutting the corner inside Emu Rock and sank in Islington Bay 8 November 1978. RNZFA Arataki and a barge had her salvaged the next day –The tug Arataki had an interesting life in those days, frequently sorting out the Navy coastal cockups (usually before the media got there).
Meola is now in private ownership and much loved. She comes to all the classic workboat events.

Curlew

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Curlew 1916

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CURLEW

Built by Rope brothers 1913
Lots of history on the Waitemata and Kaipara Harbours…

She was W68 when used By RNZAF at Hobsonville.

Photo & details from Andrew Pollard

Update & older photos from Zach Matich
A few Curlew pic’s first is her before the war, next is when she was sold to Cal Crooks
she is on the Kaipara Water Transport slip, last one is a newspaper shot so her towing sand barge ‘Wakarere’ for Kaipara Water Transport LTD, my dad Ron Matich is skipper and Ken Beattie is bargeman.
She was the back up tug for the ‘Lady-Kay’. Always had a obsession with her when I was young, she was sold well before I started as deckhand for the company.
Update 29-07-2019 – 1953 photo below
Curlew