Wanda

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WANDA

details & photo ex Ken Ricketts. edited by Alan H

Wanda, known to her original owners, the Porter family as ‘Little Wanda’. She was the Porter families introduction to the world of pleasure boating. Fred Porter got ‘the bug’ while out on Claude Atherton’s Manawai during WW II c1942-43. Claude Atherton was an employee of Mason & Porter at that time.

Her actual build date is unclear, but Fred’s son, David Porter, told Ken Ricketts he had been told he was taken away on her in 1943, when he was 3 weeks old, so she was built pre 1943. Terry Porter, David’s younger brother, feels she was probably built by Garth Lane or his father.

Wanda is approximately 26′ long & was powered by a Ford V8 petrol engine (most likely marinised by M & P) & was very quick for her era.

The above photo was taken at David’s grandfather (founder of the M & P) Reuben Porter, family home, on the water’s edge at Beachlands.

She was later replaced by Wanda II, built new c.1948 by the Lane Motor Boat & Mason & Porter. Then in 1961 with another Lane Motor Boat / M & P built launch, the 58′ Marnine & then again later with the luxury 68′ aluminum motor yacht Simran built by McMullen & Wing, which is now based overseas.

Keen to find out what happened to Wanda post the Porter period of ownership.

NGATAKI VIDEO – PART THREE

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NGATAKI VIDEO – PART THREE – Tony Stevenson – Tino Rawa Trust

Last week the classic wooden boating community were treated to a double whammy –  the re-launch of Johnny Wray’s yacht Ngataki & the launch of a 75th Anniversary edition of his book ‘South Seas Vagabonds’. A grandson, Kelly Hunt, of one of Ngataki’s original crewman – Snow Hunt  was on hand to film the official side of the occasion. There are 3 short video’s.

NGATAKI VIDEO – PART TWO

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NGATAKI VIDEO – PART TWO –  Bruce  Ansley – New Introduction Author
Last week the classic wooden boating community were treated to a double whammy –  the re-launch of Johnny Wray’s yacht Ngataki & the launch of a 75th Anniversary edition of his book ‘South Seas Vagabonds’. A grandson, Kelly Hunt, of one of Ngataki’s original crewman – Snow Hunt  was on hand to film the official side of the occasion. There are 3 short video’s.

NGATAKI VIDEO – PART ONE

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NGATAKI VIDEO – PART ONE – Finlay MacDonald – Harper Collins Publishing

Last week the classic wooden boating community were treated to a double whammy –  the re-launch of Johnny Wray’s yacht Ngataki & the launch of a 75th Anniversary edition of his book ‘South Seas Vagabonds’. A grandson, Kelly Hunt, of one of Ngataki’s original crewman – Snow Hunt  was on hand to film the official side of the occasion. There are 3 short video’s.

Erinor (Lady Allyson)

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ERINOR (formerly Lady Allyson)
Snapped this rather fine sedan top launch moored off the the wharf at Sand Spit this morning.
Anyone able to help with more details on Erinor?

Lots of activity happening up there with the new marina construction well underway.

Saw more dolphins today than I have in the last 2 years.

04-07-2017 Update from Dean Wright

Dean snapped the photo below of Erinor on a swing mooring in Opito Bay, B.O.I.. She had just appeared there & Dean was wondering if she had migrated north?

Erinor-_DW85822

 

 

Where Is She Now? – Lady Ava

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Where Is She Now ? – Lady Ava

A very pretty launch that we need in the CYA fleet, so the question today is where is she hiding these days – the above photo ex Jason Prew was taken at the Mahurangi Regatta in 2006.

I hope I have the correct name – the only reference I have is the yellow pennant on her stern – Lady Ava

+ need details on her please 🙂 thx Harold – amended as below.

Update from Harold Kidd

Its MISS AVA, built by Ernie Lane at Picton in 1931.
I looked at her to buy several years ago and found her quite attractive. She went to Wellington about 1937, owned by Ernie Lamberg. She was in NAPS at Wellington 1942-3 as Z70. Her dimensions are 36’x9’8″ and she recently was powered by a 6 cylinder Ford diesel. There is a nice pic of her in the Boat Harbour at Wellington in NAPS in “New Zealand Naval Vessels” by Bob McDougall on page 105. She hasn’t changed much since then.

Update to the above from Harold

johntwodogs is quite right. Z70 in that image is not MISS AVA. I wish I had checked my copy of NZNV before posting, especially since the entry in my database had an asterisk for a doubtful piece of info. I have only just found it after 3 hours of searching in my library, face down in the wrong place.
NZNV gives only a couple of NAPS numbers for Wellington launches, Z73 for QUEEN CHARLOTTE and Z78 for ROSEMARY M. I’ve filled in a few, eg RAHEMO with Z76. So what is this Z70? She’s a weird-looking craft, quite large. The only Wellington NAPS boat that seems to correspond is KOTUKU, a 48 footer owned by Wm. H Smith about which I know nothing.
The image below is for the Wellington buffs to chew over. Courtesies to Bob McDougall who had no responsibility for my leap in the dark.

PS Of course QUEEN CHARLOTTE is Z72, NOT Z73 as in NZNV.

Boat Harbour1942502

Updated ‘recent’ photos of Lady Ava ex John Wright. click photos to enlarge

John tells me the ‘young lad’ in the wheel house is ‘Captain Buck Rogers’

I’m Homeless

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waitematawoodys needs a new global headquarters

After 6 years on A Pier @ Bayswater I have to find a new home for Raindance. The owner sold the berth on trademe, would have been nice to know it was on the market……. but as the say – you snooze, you lose.

In the ideal world looking for someone wanting to rent a 10.5 > 12m in Bayswater but Westhaven could be an option.

Contact Alan at waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Woody Report From A Far #3

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Woody Report From A Far #3

My cub reporter sames to have reverted to his past – the latest trip report is all sail & even a steel one, I have sent a strongly worded note reminding him his lavish retainer is based on a supply of wooden motor boat articles 🙂
OLD IRON SIDES

Only in the USA – the USS Constitution 200+ years old and even though now a museum, she is still a commissioned warship. Despite her nick name her hull is 21 inches thick timber. Undefeated in battle she was feared by the British who gave her the nickname as they could not sink her.

PEKING
One of the last generation of great sailing ships, the windjammers. Peking was built in 1911 & not a woody as her hull is steel.She is permanently berthed these days at New York’s South Street Seaport.

Ngtakai / Johnny Wray – South Sea Vagabonds

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NGATAKI / JOHNNY WRAY SOUTH SEAS VAGABONDS

Big day down at the waterfront yesterday, we had over 200 people turned out for the Tino Rawa Trust re-launch of Johnny Wray’s Ngataki & the Harper Collins launch of the 75th Anniversary edition of ‘South Sea Vagabonds’.

Todays post is a photo essay of yesterdays events. As always, click any photo to enlarge 😉

Ngataki

Ngataki Memorabilia

South Sea Vagabonds 75th Anniversary edition launch

Finlay McDonald – Harper Collins
Bruce Ansley – author of the Intro
Tony Stevenson – Tino Rawa Trust

Friends of Ngataki  (Andrew Fagan’s – ‘Swirly World & K. Hammond /  A. Sully’s – ‘Seaward’)

Swirly World
Seaward

The legand lives on

Something really cool – at the book launch Findlay MacDonald from Harper Collins Publishing advised that the Red Cross were the benefactors of Johnny Wray’s will, so proceeds from the book sales go to them, BUT the Red Cross has decided they will split the proceeds with the Tino Rawa Trust to help maintain Ngataki. How cool is that – remember the Red Cross next time one of their collectors rattles a money box in front of you – or more likely, you get a phone call.

Remember – the boat & the dockside exhibition is open Saturday & Sunday – see details below.

Click the link below to see some launch day photos ex Tony Stevenson

http://classicyacht.org.nz/cyaforum/topic/ngataki-restoration/#post-124899

Ngataki in the International Media

The relaunch &  book launch is featured in the Oct 2014 edition of the Classic Boat UK

Miss Brett

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MISS BRETT

Classic displacement launch Miss Brett, built for the famous cream trip at the Bay of Islands. 40′ loa, 10’9″ beam, 2’11” draft. Kauri carvel planked, launched 1924, powered by 100 hp 6 cyld Ford diesel.

Must be loads of history out there on this old girl. Designer / builder??

Sorry about the photos, ex trademe & very poor quality 😦