Tag Archives: Awanui

A SNAPSHOT OF THE CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – MARISTELLA

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A SNAPSHOT OF THE CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – MARISTELLA

As a result of the photo (see below) of the classic 40’ wooden launch – MARISTELLA, built in 1936 by Sam Ford,  appearing at the recent Classic Woodys Boat Show at OBC – WW was contacted by Katherine Armstrong. Katherine’s parents Roy and Daphine Bridge were previous owners of MARISTELLA.

Katherine commented that she had a collection of photos taken during their ownership. Of course I asked for copies, which today we all get to share.

In the 4th photo above the other launch is AWANUI, which at the time was owned by Bob Goldie. Can we learn more about AWANUI.

In the last photo above we see Roy and Daphine on the ‘flying bridge’ of MARISTELLA. 

One photo is tagged APR 64, so we can safely assume the photos are c.1960’s

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – ARIZONA

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ARAB (L) & ARIZONA (R) at Awanui 1914

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – ARIZONA

Woody owner Barrie Abel (MV MATIRA) sent in todays top photo as part of a recent road trip to the Hokianga Harbour report. 

There will be story on the trip in the next few days. But what caught my eye immediately was the photo of a launch named – ARIZONA, as seen by Barrie at the Kauri Museum. 

The photo is tagged ‘Launch ARIZONA built in 1914 by Logan Bros. It was owned by chief Parore at Kaihu’.

We have several craft named Arizona on WW, so todays question is – could the boat we saw in a WW July 2024 story, (2nd photo above), be the same boat..   The photo ex Nathan Herbert sees a launch (on the right) named ARIZONA berthed at Awanui. Looks like the Kauri Museum boat photo before a tram top was added.

Do we agree and can we learn more.

11-07-2025 UPDATE below ex Mike Cowie from the publication – Tall Spars, Steamers and Gum’ by Wayne Ryburn. Interesting reading, I hope I have the pages in the correct order, I’m sure you can work it out 😉

AWANUI – A Glimpse Back In Time & As Today

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AWANUI – A Glimpse Back In Time & As Today

Back in May 2016 we ran a story on the launch – Awanui – link here  https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/05/25/awanui/

Fast forward to early 2024 and Les Nelson contacted WW with an update on the vessel in regard to his parents owning Awanui for a number of years in the early 1980’s at the time based in Picton.

Les supplied the black and white photo (1st photo above) of Awanui that was most likely from when she was first launched c. early 1900’s (unconfirmed). Les commented that the backdrop (hill outline) looked familiar, probably the foreshore of Picton. A short time later Les unearthed the above colour photos from when his family owned her.

Also as a result of the story her present owner – Carmel Bradley made contact  and advised the launch was still in Motueka and used regularly in and around the Abel Tasman. Carmel sent in the photos below.

Love it when a WW story sparks a few memories and we roll into a bigger story 🙂

Still do not have any intel on who the designer / builder was, both owners are keen to learn more.

2024 🔻

Torrent Bay Lagoon 
Kaiteriteri Beach
Bark Bay Beach Abel Tasman. 

Awanui

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AWANUI

Home port for Awanui is Motueka, Nelson Bay. She is 30’ LOA with a carvel kauri planked hull. With her hull shape & powered by a 80hp Ford diesel she would get along very nicely. Looking at the trademe photos there appears to have been a lot of work done on her & she is well fitted out – sleeps 5, toilet, shower, engine heated hot water, 2 burner gas stove & grill + sounder/GPS plotter, VHF radio, CD stereo & anchor with electric capstan. Solar battery charging & the mandatory safety gear. If she was mine, that alloy boarding platform would be gone very quickly J.

A lot of boat for around $20k.

Anyone know who designed / built her?

14-02-2024 INPUT EX OWNER – LES NELSON 

My father owned Awanui in the 80″s we had a lot of enjoyment around the sounds during our ownership. We have a black and white image of when she was launched from the Picton foreshore back in around 1916-1919??. We stripped her back to bare timber and painted her from top to bottom, Rescue Orange “top side” with cream decks looked very smart. The mast was removed in favour of a shorter mount above the wheel house roof. A hatch was added above the wheel. A rear “duckboard” was removed to allow better control in a following seas. Would love to know where she is now, the last time we saw here was looking pretty plain and sorry looking in the Motueka marina.
We believe Cobber Kane owned her at some stage.

Eric Price’s Motorsailer Awanui – Sailing Sunday

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  Awanui – Sailing Sunday

photo ex Ken Ricketts

Today’s boat lives at Gulf Harbour & could be Awanui. If it is then its owned by Eric Price. Eric is 90+ years & uses the boat regularly. The impressive thing is by use I mean extended cruises for weeks at a time. My wife knows Eric & some of the tales from the cruises would make great reading.

Anyone able to confirm the vessels & also supply any details on her past – she has a Lidgard look to her.

18/01/2015 – Input from Garth Broadhead

On first glancing at the photo and without reading the text, it struck me like she looked like Eric’s boat which I was aboard several times as a teenager – so I’m guessing she is! Delighted to know Eric’s still alive and well!! Someone should ask him to post his tale of having his apendix removed underneath a coconut tree in Fiji – it’s a doozy!