Kotanui Old Movie – Underway 1footage supplied by Nathan Herbert
Kotanui Old Movie – Underway 1
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Kotanui Old Movie – Underway 2
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Kotanui Old Movie – Underway 2 footage supplied by Nathan Herbert
Shipbuilders Ltd by Harold Kidd
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SHIPBUILDERS LTD….a few notes.
By Harold Kidd
The advertisement is from the back of a 1946 Sea Spray magazine and shows Shipbuilders Ltd spreading its wings for the bright new post-war world.
Shipbuilders Ltd started in business in Poore Street, now Westhaven Drive, around the middle of 1922 when it was run by T.L. Sharp. It also had an office at 23 Shortland St. Its major work was in shipwrighting, heavy repair work on steamers, scows, barges and commercial craft of all types. Norman Matheson, who had built the Rudder Cup-winning launch Maroro, worked there for many years. The company dabbled in commercial vessel ownership, for example running the scow EXCELSIOR with J.J. Craig Ltd., bringing rusty scrap from the ship graveyard on Browns Island to town for export to Japan.
By 1939 the Manager was S.B. (Hookey) Williams, formerly of Chas. Bailey & Son Ltd, in Beaumont Street, nearby. It had 4 “electric slipways” and went into the war with a good reputation for shipwrighting and good gear.
During the war the company did a lot of work with Seagar Bros building minesweepers and at least one Fairmile. In 1943 it joined with Chas. Bailey & Son Ltd, W.G. Lowe & Son Ltd, Associated Boatbuilders Ltd., P. Vos Ltd and Roy Lidgard in forming United Ship and Boatbuilders Ltd to carry out an unprecedented amount of ship construction for the United States Army and Navy. As a little light relief, they built 5 M Class yachts for American flyers in the Pacific.
In November 1944 there was a race amongst the five 18 footers which were mainly crewed by Shipbuilders Ltd staff amongst whom were Roy Steadman, Tim Windsor, L. Pollard, W. Heerdegen, C. Freeman, H. Yates, Vince Hogan and Roy Parris…pretty important names amongst Auckland’s yachtsmen of the time.
To be continued
Classic Launch Old Movie Footage – Pacific
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Some ‘old’ home movie footage, of Pacific, note the varnished cabin top, we like that 🙂
Supplied by Nathan Herbert
Update from Grant Burrell
This movie is taken around 1960 before the wheel house cabin was extended and the stern cabin had canvas sides. The cabin was never varnished but my Grand Father painted an imitation fake painted wood grain, It did look good, worked well on a swing mooring but the dark paint dried the timber when on the marina.
Classic Launch Old Movie Footage – Robyn Gae (Connie V)
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Supplied by Nathan Herbert
Marnine
c1963
Ready for engines
MARNINE
Story & photos from Terry Porter
The name ‘Marnine’ is an anagram of Margaret (Joan Porter’s mother) and Janine (Fred and Joan’s only daughter after four sons). ‘Marnine’ replaced ‘Wanda’ to cope better with a bigger family.
Dad and Garth Lane were good friends. ‘Marnine’s’ lines were based on Ted Clarke’s ‘Lady Margaret’. Mum and Dad were great friends with Ted and Margaret (Uncle Ted and Aunty Marg to us kids though no relation). Dad liked ‘Lady Margaret’s’ sea-keeping characteristics so took control of the design of ‘Marnine’. ‘Wanda’ rolled! ‘Marnine’s’ styling and engineering design were all Fred’s work; done in house at Mason & Porter with help from Ralph Ricketts and others (in particular Jack McLeod).
‘Marnine’ was launched at the end of 1961; being 46 feet long with 4 feet added not long afterwards.
Contrary to some thinking, the boat performed OK as it was but the extra 4 feet would provide more bunks, a bigger head and more storage up forward. A benefit was that ‘Marnine’ cruised and looked better.
‘Simran’ was also lengthened from 58 feet 3 inches to 64 feet. This time on the stern and she too cruised and looked better.
On reflection, it seems most boats should be designed and then have 10% added prior to construction.
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– B&W at Lanes Tamaki River being launched to have engines fitted across the river at Rothery’s Landing.
– Colour is cruising in 1963 prior to being lengthened. Lack of forward handrail indicates pre-lengthening.
Note: to view more photos, just enter Marnine in the search box
08-05-2018 Input from Peter Wheeler – Regarding extending the bow.I was an apprentice at lanes at the time and helped Ray Pateman to loft out MARNINE. Ray actually altered the original design and extended the bow. Fred would have none of this and told Ray to go back to the original design. I had left Lanes and was surprised to see MARNINE getting her new bow when I called in to see the lads. She looked much more balanced I thought and saw her a few months ago and pointed out to my friends with me that I spent many a happy time helping to build her. She looked what she is classy.
Dorothy
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.
NZPBA Championship 1929
NZPBA championship races of 1929 on the Whau River (upper harbour)
The small speedboat in photo1 is OP-IT. She was built by Jack Brooke in late 1928,.and according to Harold Kidd & the Brooke family, that’s probably Jack racing her in the C Class outboard race)
Update from Harold Kidd
Photo 1 is certainly of Jack Brooke and his C Class (20 cu in) outbioard racer ‘OP IT which he designed and built himself.
Photo 2 is MISS CLEVEDON (S2) and SPOT II (S15). MISS CLEVEDON was built and raced by T M Roberts and was one of the fastest in the over 20 knots category. I don’t know what power she had. Roberts also raced an outboard MISS CLEVEDON which had a 10hp Dunelt 249cc. Dunelt were upper quality English motorcycle manufacturers of the time who were trying to beat the Depression by getting into the outboard racing craze sweeping the world. SPOT II was a single step hydroplane built and raced by Alf Williams of Ponsonby. She had a “high-speed” Rugby 4 cylinder car engine, a favourite for marine use. The Rugby was built by the Durant Corporation and was the Star car rebadged for British Empire markets as there already was a fine English Star car, built in Wolverhampton and very like the contemporary Sunbeam.
Photo 3 is HOBO (S3) which was built and raced by R. Mouat. She had a 6 cylinder Buick engine with which she won 2nd place in the Masport Cup in January 1929 at Wanganui. She was a crib of the American MARGARET III type.
Update from Colin Orum 30/03/2014
Photo 2 above is a photo of my grandfather Tom Roberts driving boat Miss Clevedon. I have heard quite a lot about his speedboat escapades from Mum now 88 and it was mentioned today. I thought to inquire if any information photos etc. were available. I was quite friendly with an old bloke at Waiheke named George Rose who(as a boy) new Tom quite well and used to tell me stories about his time with the racing boats. George said the power in Miss Clevedon was a Beardmore aero engine. Today Mum said the last she can remember is that Tom was taking Miss Clevedon on a practise run on the Clevedon river, struck a submerged log and sank, we assumed that it was recovered but unsure what happened after that. My brother has a cup trophy for Tom for Auckland speed boat champion around 1929-30.
Another mystery launch
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A nice little launch getting some TLC, the location would have to be Orakei Basin, possibily in front of the boat sheds?. You have to love the attire, jackets even when painting. Now days it would be an old College Rifles rugby jersey.
Any one ID the boat?
Update from Harold Kidd
I don’t think it’s the Orakei Basin, but Beaumont Street. The cabintop obscures the buildings in St Mary’s Bay itself but the characteristic 2 storey house behind it can be seen (Charlie Collings house?). I reckon the slip may be Bailey & Lowe’s or the VCC’s. At left is the discharge end of the AHB suction dredge. The neat little launch could be built by any Auckland builder of course. I would think there’s a good chance she was a flushdecker originally and has had two add-ons.
Naumai
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 .
