CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH MARINUS RE-LAUNCHED

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH MARINUS RE-LAUNCHED

Back in May we started following the haul out of the 1946 classic woody – MARINUS, at the Slipway Milford. Link here to that story https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/05/16/classic-wooden-launch-marinus-gets-a-birthday/

The brief was for a Jason Prew Paint Job and to overhaul her running gear (driveshaft, props etc), well as is almost always the case the shopping list grows and approx. 9 weeks later MARINUS was re-launched yesterday.

The most visible highlights being her new colour and the removal of the 2 lower portholes.

MARINUS has a rather nice interior which we featured back in April 2023- link below https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/04/17/marinus-a-peek-down-below/

Quick overview – Designed by A. Deeming, built by Barr Brown, 46’x12’4”x4’ , and powered by twin Cummins 85hp diesel engines.

(photo below showing the ‘old’ porthole placement)

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – MARINUS GETS A BIRTHDAY

APRIL 2023

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – MARINUS GETS A BIRTHDAY

Back in April 2023 we got to have a gander down below on the 1946 classic wooden launch – MARINUS. A link to that story below. As you will see MARINUS has one of the smartest looking interior in the woody fleet. https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/04/17/marinus-a-peek-down-below/

46’ in length she was designed by A Deeming and built by Barr Brown in Wellington.

In late April when helping relaunch Angus Rogers CENTAURUS, MARINUS was the next up the slipway.

Lots of TLC happening but the two projects that meet with my approval are:

1. The two lower portholes have been removed

2. The chosen colour of her Jason Prew Paint Job (JPPJ) – we kiwis are very boring in our chosen hull colours eg white>>>>>

You only have to look at the classic wooden boating movement in the USA for inspiration – well done to the owner for making the call.

And there’s another woody hauled out on the #3 slipway thats going to sport a splash of colour – details soon.

MARINUS – A Peek Down Below 

MARINUS – A Peek Down Below 

The 46’ launch Marinus was designed by A. Deeming and built by Barr Brown (Wellington) in 1946. Over the years she has undone several rebirths, starting as a bridge decker and the most recent one has in her owners words “converted it into a modern style displacement cruiser’. Lots of time and $$ have been spent on her and she presents these days as a high-end wooden launch.

The level of the work and presentation probably helping her be the fastest selling woody in the last 12 months – less than a week on the market.

Some specs- 46’ x 12’4’ x 4’ – her hull is heart kauri, carvel planked and in the 2019 refit play/glass has been utilised. Marinus is powered by twin Cummins 85hp Diesel engines.

As sold she was very highly spec’ed and in my eyes excellent value for a vessel her size.

Lots of photos and chat on this previous WW story – https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/12/12/marinus-where-is-she/

Marinus – In the 1950>60 Period

MARINUS – In the 1950>60 Period
Back in December 2020 we featured a great insight into the launch Marinus and how she was ‘rescued’ from Great Barrier Island and became the mule for an avant-garde refit.

At the time Harold Kidd commented that Marinus was owned for many years by Keith Lackey of Wellington. She was built by Barr-Brown, Owen and Stewart and launched in 1947. Her first engines were twin 6 cyl Gray petrol. According to Lloyds she was designed by A.M. Deeming.

Now thanks to Mark Erskine, who came across the above photos on the www, we get to sre her in the 1950’s > 1960’s period. Mark commented that bearing in mind her launching after W.W II, “for commercial work in Cook Strait” it’s hard to know if these photos show Marinus as she was built / launched, because her design looks to to be more a large, spacious pleasure craft, rather than a commercial / work boat of some description.


View the previous WW story here https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/12/12/marinus-where-is-she/

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