MYSTERY LAUNCH 26/03/2014
Ok its only a mystery because the broker selling it wont include the vessels name in the listing. Well that’s fine, I wont include their name on ww 🙂
The sales story says its a 1948 Colin Wild, d/d/ kauri, major refit in 2010, which included reconditioning the under sole twin GM 55h.p. diesels.
Anyone able to ID her ?
RONAKI (MV Manukau)
Classic displacement launch designed and built in triple skin heart kauri by Charles Bailey Jnr in 1914 and known as m.v. Manukau, she plied the Manukau Harbour as a pilot boat and was also used for barge work and buoyage. Rebuilt to survey in 1961, she had a new Gardner LW4 diesel installed and for many years was used sounding work in the Waitemata. She is now in private hands and has been lovingly cared for and used as a pleasure boat by her present owner. For sale now on trademe.
The 56 hp Gardner 4 LW drives her along at 7.5-8.5 knots using only an astonishing 4 litres of diesel per hour
Transmission Details: Inboard
Engine Details: 1961 Gardner 4 LW
Displacement: 9900 kg
Length:12m (39.4Ft)
Beam: 3.16 metres (10 Ft 4 In)
Draft: 1.00 metres (3 Ft 3 In)
Fuel Capacity: 455 litres
Water Capacity: 136 litres
Harold Kidd update 30/03/2014
The info on this launch as set out above is 100% accurate. The first RONAKI was designed and built by Collings & Bell for the Auckland Harbour Board in February 1913 (see “Vintage NZ Launches” for a good image and history). She was converted to a bridgedecker after AHB disposed of her to G Hyauiason and probably got the V8 during RNZN service in WW2.
Since contributors are continually (and drearily) name-dropping on this site, let me join in. It was probably my uncle, Lou Wilson, MD of Watson Steele & Ganley, who allegedly attempted to borrow the set of points, because he owned RONAKI at the time. Quite how, with his huge trade knowledge, Lou Wilson would come to ask such a bloody stupid question beggars belief! Good story……………………….
This boat was, as is accurately detailed above, designed and built by Chas. Bailey Jr. Why should there be a trace of doubt in that? Does olivene2013 consider him incapable of that?
AHB commissioned her for use on the Manukau and called her MANUKAU. When the new MANUKAU was built by Scholten & Brijs to replace her, she was brought back to the Waitemata by AHB in February 1967 and renamed RONAKI (sometimes rendered as RONAKI II).
PS OOPS, If I’m descending to name-drop spraying too, I should get it right!
Lou Wilson was MD of Morris, Black & Matheson, and later a director of Tappenden Motors, not WASGA.
Something deeply wrong with that story! Lou would have been tickled with the absurdity of it.
A Woody Weekend
photos from alan houghton & brian fulton.
Just back from the CYA Waiheke Cruise, 9 woodys did the trip to the bottom end & despite the weather forecast – enjoyed stunning weather. It was great to see some of our new members joining in – Seagull (Lyndsay & Paul Burton), Manapouri (Suzie & Mark Sorrenson) & Ngaio (Lancia & Ian Kohler). The hardy souls (yes I was one) that did the Stoney Batter walk on Saturday morning certainly earned the ice cold beer that greeted them back at the beach front Man O’ War Winery. It was extra nice not having the normal long weekend / xmas period crowds.
On the subject of MOW, I have to say that the Spencer family have done Auckland proud with their total Island experience, the farm is beautiful (if you can say that about a working farm) & the winery has added another gem to boaties things to do at the bottom end list. There were a few teething problems in the early days but now it very very slick.
Late Saturday afternoon saw the flotilla move over to Rotoroa Island for a BBQ, again another of Auckland’s old families – the Plowmans – need to be thanked for their generosity, the Island & it facilities are amazing. The sunset was the icing on the cake.
On route to Rotoroa we had one of those wow on the water moments – the 300′ super yacht Nahlin cruised by. Most saw her berthed at the Viaduct but out & up close in our gulf – a breathtaking sight. I used to say Rawhiti had the best bum in the fleet (technically she still does) but the stern on Nahlin is a work of art. As Barbara Cooke (Trinidad) commented “I think she’s the most beautiful thing that ever floated on water. Hauntingly and nostalgicly romantic”.
Enjoy the photos, we enjoyed the weekend.
Keeping Fine Company
photos ex Brian Fulton
Anchored this morning at Rotoroa Island along with a fine collection of classic woodys. Yesterday after lunch at Man ‘O War vineyard (Waiheke Island) several of us where motoring across the Waiheke Channel when we were ‘joined’ by the rather grand 300′ super yacht Nahlin, owned by British industrial entrepreneur Sir James Dyson. Truely a magniciciant 1930 ship.
The CYA gang all went a shore for a BBQ dinner at Rotoroa & later a very shinny black chopper landed to collect Sir & Lady James who had spent the day on Rotoroa.
We were treated to a stunning sunset.
LADY JOYCE
The photo above shows her at the 2014 Mahurangi Anniversary Regatta. Owned by John Foreman for approx. 20 years, John purchased her off Alan Keane & told me that he had touched base again with Alan in Port Fitzroy over Christmas and at the regatta weekend. John has been told she was built in 1927 by Chas Bailey – probably the son, Chas Bailey Jnr.
John & ww would like to near more about the ‘lady’ so if you know any details or have photos – send ww an email.
Harold Kidd Update
I think she was built by Leon Warne in 1922 for James Tombs as SHEIK. Tombs sold to Roy Browne in 1925. Browne sold to S. Harrowell in 1932 who had her largely rebuilt by Lane Motor Boat Co. which included her present bridgedeck. Harrowell renamed her LADY JOYCE. During WW2 she was in RNZN service. After the war Willie Oliver owned her for a while, which says a lot for her ability. She’s a few boats along from me at H Marina, Gulf Harbour, so I’ve been interested in her for years and I’m happy that the above provenance is correct.
27/01/2015 Updated photo (ex Ken Ricketts) of LJ leaving Gulf Harbour on-route to the 2015 Mahurangi Regatta
August 2015 – LJ hauled out at Gulf Harbour (photos ex Ken Ricketts)
04-09-2023 Update ex John Wicks – Lady Joyce spotted in Chafers Marina Wellington
Alan Williams Sedan Cruiser
Reputedly designed & built by Alan Williams in 1972 for his own use. Williams built several more of this 34’1″ sedan cruiser to the same design, which were known by the design name ‘Banshee’.
Currently for sale on trademe
Harold Kidd Update
Alan Williams built BANSHEE for himself in 1966. She was built at a time when Williams was fighting the Takapuna City Council to remain in business with his existing use as a boatbuilder in Omana Road, a predominantly residential area. There were allegations at the hearing of noxious noise from “shipbuilding” on the site, with overtones of clanging steel and grinding, when he was in reality producing lovely wooden thoroughbreds like this.
I acted for the local residents and regretting taking that brief!
In Fiji
LA RETA (Sayandra – ML410)
details & photos ex Bob McDougall , Russell Ward & Ken Ricketts + the ‘Workboat Study Group’
La Reta started life & was launched in December 1942 as “ML 410,” for the Royal New Zealand Navy, & built by P Vos Ltd., at their slipway, at Auckland Harbour’s Western Reclamation.
Miss Fay Vos, the builders daughter, christened her, whilst Lt. Gordon Crisp, the first C.O., looked on proudly.
She was commissioned on January 25th 1943 & immediately sailed for the Wellington region, where she spent much of her wartime service.
After WWII, she was sold to a person by the name of Jarvis, who sold her to the Cook Islands Producer Board.
She was by then named, La Reta.
She left for Rarotonga on 19th May 1949 & stayed there for 2 years, after which she returned to Auckland & undertook excursion work (fishing trips) from 1950 to 1965 & in 1963 was renamed Sayandra.
Russell Ward recalls she then had a flat / boxy top & vertical oblong screens to the open bridge but the Fairmile wheelhouse. He remembers some brave soul ‘tarting’ up a Fairmile in the early ’60s and running three day gulf excursions. Had male and female heads at the aft end of the deck house, this might account for the big water tank above in the above picture. Russell particularly remembers the toilet arrangements because he tried to talk them into giving him a holiday job as deckhand & had a good look over. He also commented that in the photo she has a RDF and a loudspeaker on the foredeck which would suggest commercial use.
The most recent photo above was most likely was taken in or around the mid 1960s.
Power was originally 2 x 530HP Hall Scott V12 petrol engines replaced by 2 x 6-71 175 hp GM Detroit diesels after WWII.
To view / read an great Evening Post article on the building of the Fairmailes click the blue link below. (ex Harold Kidd)
10-11-2015 I recently received this great story from Vern Lake, one of the former crew – its a cool read. Enjoy. Alan H
I have been following and reading your very interesting articles., among others in my search for information and possible pics of where the Fairmile LA RETA is and what happened to her. La Reta (Q410) was used as a day fishing excursion vessel operating from the Princes Wharf launch steps on Quay St Auckland, under the command of Captain XXXXXXXXX (deleted by AH), retired ex Royal Naval Captain. ( I was always led to believe that Captain XXXXXXXX owned the LA RETA ) also operating from the same launch steps as a day fishing excursion vessel was the 60ft? Florence Kennedy owned and operated by Len Sowerby, also there was a much smaller vessel Shannondoah also operating as a day fishing excursion vessel, owned and operated by Abe or Alby? my memory of his correct name is a bit hazy.
I worked and lived aboard the LA RETA for a few years during the 1950s/early60s, the Engineers’ name was Bill Daveny, I was the deckhand/ Coxwain, also doubling as Second Engineer on almost a daily basis on the homeward voyage as the Engineer had to berth the boat due to the Captain being drunk! ( I had to go to the side door of the Captains’ favourite Hotel every morning with a sugar bag to collect two bottles of square Gin and a dozen tall bottles of beer, the Captain had many habitual drinking mates who went out every day, they stayed in the wheelhouse drinking all day) I went below to operate the throttles and manual gearbox levers as per the ships telegraph signals from the Bridge. Captain XXXXXXXX misjudged the timing to signal the engine room on one occasion and the ship ended up with the bow under the wharf, luckily no one was injured!
My Dad first took me out fishing on the LA RETA when I was 10 in 1951/52. I was a frequent passenger after that, the Engineer was a friend of my Dad so he took me under his wing and taught me well, I was the youngest on the Auckland waterfront to obtain my proficiency certificate of Radio Telephone Operator in 1959, LA RETA still had the wartime radio, compass and searchlight which was mounted on the Bridge, the Auxilliary engine was a Petters, mounted on the Starboard side of the engine room. We could comfortably carry 120 people with ample room for all to fish, there were regulars who went out 5 days per week, selling their fish on the pub black market!
I came to Australia for a holiday in mid 1962, liked it here so stayed, the Engineer was sent to Queensland early 1963 with explicit instructions to get me to go back to Auckland to crew on LA RETA as she was or had undergone alterations to become a luxury cruise vessel, I declined the offer, choosing instead to Skipper a 40ft Prawn Trawler on Moreton Bay Q’ld. The last I heard she had gone to the Islands then up to Canada. I have tried searching for her on the internet for 10 years, I made enquiries to the Canadian Marine Officials but with no luck, early this year I got an email from a Lady in Auckland she said LA RETA was renamed Sayandra and was wrecked in the Islands and subsequently blown up as she could not be salvaged. Late last night I was again looking at your site and came across the above article that you posted early this year.
I would be grateful if you could email me any further info/pictures etc of the LA RETA/SAYANDRA. All my photos were lost during one of our big Queensland floods, La Reta was a big part of my younger life, ( I am now 75 ) I actually shed a few tears when I learned that she is now in Davey Jones’ locker…. VERY SAD ENDING to a fine ship!!!!!
My email address: thelakes@outlook.com.au
JIMMY WRENN
Built by Kem McPherson at Wakefield in 1946 from Redwood timber for well known Lake Rotoiti (Sth Island) identity James Wrenn.
She has undergone an extensive restoration & is for sale (trademe) at $9,500, this is a steal. Someone needs to bring Jimmy north, either Lake Rotoiti (Nth Island) or better still Auckland.
Come in James Mobberley – this ones got your name on it – time you came home, the cult needs you 🙂
THELMA / VERA
photos & details supplied by Bruce Yarnton. (Russell Ward added)
From the story below you will learn that Thelma has had a fascinating life & now her ‘bones’ sadly reside on the roof of the Lake Ohau Lodge, for protection after numerous backpackers decided kauri made good firewood 🙂 The lodge owners are interested if anyone has any old photos or tales for her past.
The tale of Jock Edgar & his gambling adventures are worth the read alone.
In the b/w photo above Thelma is berthed at Lake Wakatipu (Frankton) with the Remarkables in the background. There is no date to the photograph but sources have confirmed its pre 1920’s.
The History of Thelma (Vera)
The Thelma was built in Auckland in 1903 by Mr C Bailey, and engined by Messrs W A Ryan & Co, also of Auckland. Thirty five feet long with a six foot four inch beam, she was fitted with a 5 horse-power Union oil engine, and could accommodate thirty passengers. She was brought new to Dunedin by Messrs Hayward & Garratt to demonstrate the Union oil engine. She was not christened Thelma but was the Vera for the first few months of her life. The Vera’s maiden voyage was on the Otago Harbour in September 1903, and she was then bought by Mr Searle of Queenstown and by October 1903 was providing tours on Lake Wakatipu.
Six weeks later Vera had been overhauled by Ryan & Co after her bearings gave trouble, and was re-named Thelma at the same time.
Subsequent owners were Jno C McBride who took her over in 1906, and then Jock Edgar.
Quoted from “The Mount Cook Way” by Harry Wigley, first published 1979.
Jock Edgar was one of the characters of the district. A confirmed batchelor, an inveterate gambler, he had no family ties and not many other responsibilities, and would periodically go on a bender for two or three days. Jock who was never known to hurry, had a Southland drawl, and when he told one of his innumerable yarns, often against himself, his eyes and florid face would light up.
In his youth he was once lined up before the local magistrate – who happened to be his father – on a charge of being drunk and disorderly, and in due course he was fined 7s 6d. After listening to the magistrate make his pronouncement, Jock said in a loud voice: ‘You’ll have to pay it, Dad.’ He went off to the South African War and gambled his way round that country with varying degrees of success, finally arriving on board the ship which was to take the contingent home with not a penny in his pocket, and only the clothes he stood up in. He claimed that when he stepped ashore in New Zealand he owned nearly all the loose cash on the ship, as well as a wide range of saddles and bridles, watches and other gear.
Returning to his hometown of Queenstown, he bought a graceful old launch – the Thelma, with a yacht-type counter stern and a slow-revving single-banger engine – and with this he ran trips to the many parts of the lake not serviced by road. The old Thelma was later used on Lake Ohau for a number of years until she went ashore and was damaged beyond repair, and as far as I know she is still lying on the beach below the Lodge.
To cope with the expanding traffic Jock had built a modern passenger launch, the Kelvin, and he also developed walking trips up the Routeburn Valley and down the Greenstone, using a series of mountain huts and packhorses to carry in supplies. He ran the business from a small building on a piece of land he owned on the waterfront across the road from Eichardts, and it was this building which was moved to the Crown Range and later on to Coronet Peat to establish skiing there.
In the mid 1920s the Company bought the whole of Jock Edgar’s business, including the launches, the land on the waterfront, and his huts and horses. A modern building to replace Jock’s hut was erected on the waterfront site to house the branch office and staff. Once a year Dooley Coxhead, who was then Company secretary, did a round of the Routeburn and Greenstone Valleys to check the huts and count the horses, but it was not until some years later we found that the ones that Jock had sold to us actually belonged to the Tourist Department!
In a book called “All Aboard” by RJ Meyer which was about the old cargo boats, firstly yachts then latterly steam, it mentions the Thelma in the winter of 1933 being roped in to help with the mail and service run to Glenorchy. While the Earnslaw was having boiler repairs the Ben Lomond also developed boiler trouble and the Thelma was called on to serve the lakeside stations. The Thelma then had engine trouble and the Kelvin and the Muritai had to carry on the service.
TAMAHERE
photo & details ex ken ricketts
Tamahere is seen above tied up at the Sandspit wharf. She is currently owned by Chris Metcalf who has had her for about 12 months & bought her off a Mr Rose. She has a small Isuzu engine, which replaced a 135 hp 6 cyl Ford, which had been right in the bow, & he has put the Isuzu more amidships.
The designer / builder is un-know & while there is no concrete proof the talk is she was launched in 1904. She appears to have been low wooded in the bow & has had the bow raised & combings added to, altered, or replaced, through the years, but not for a very long time as Ken recalls her more or less looking like she does now back in the 1950s/60s.
In her past life she was used for years by a number of Kawau Island residents & trades people (builders etc) to tow barges & be a work boat & workers transport, Also for a while was used to tow the fuel barge with big tanks on it, to the KIYC, from Sandspit. She was moored for quite a period in the 1970s & 1980’s in Smelting House Bay.
Currently kept up the Matakana River at Sandspit & is in the process of being, in the owners words, ‘tidied up’. Any help in ID’ing her & her past would be appreciated.
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