CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – DONALD SUTHERLAND (MV USSCO / SEA HAWK) – On The Move

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – DONALD SUTHERLAND (MV USSCO / SEA HAWK) – On The Move

The 46’ classic wooden launch – DONALD SUTHERLAND, once named MV USSCO and also SEA HAWK, was spotted by Angus Rogers at Half Moon Bay Marina, Auckland on Tuesday on the back of a Boat Haulage rig. 

We last saw her back in May 2023 when she had had an oops in a storm and ended up on the Tamaki Drive breakwater, as shown in the second group of photos. She has made several appearance on WW, links below.

WW Aug 2019 https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/08/30/donald-sutherland/

WW April 2023 https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/04/14/mv-ussco-4sale/

In the previous WW stories we learnt she was built by Collings & Bell in 1936 and commissioned by the NZ Government as a tourist / passenger vessel, also worked as a light house tender.

Not sure from the photos she is coming or going, I suspect leaving HMB as you dont need a transporter to launch + the ‘Kaiapoi’ name on the stern suggests she’s heading to the Christchurch region.

Anyone able to confirm the plans for her.

(Photo below – lunch day Jan 1936)

Screenshot

Centaurus On The Move

CENTAURUS

CENTAURUS ON THE MOVE

Yesterday was a sad day and a good day.

SAD – Angus Roger’s 1967/8 Baileys & Sons built launch – Centaurus left The Landing at Okahu Bay hardstand on Aucklands waterfront on a transporter – why sad?, because she was the last boat left hauled out at the Orakei Hardstand, looks like Scott Milne and his Auckland Council cronies have done a clandestine stocktake i.e. the haul out facility has been closed down and the area no longer available to rate paying Auckland boaties.

(“A section (term) in the above post has been edited on request. The use of the term was not intended to offend any particular ethnic group or religious advocate. No malicious was intended.

WW thanks Mr. Adam Ross for drawing the NZ Human Rights Commission to the matter and going forward the WW site will tighten the filter on its comments”)

GOOD – Centaurus is off to a new temporary home for the final act of her refit – the installation of a John Deere 6.8L 175 hp diesel. The JD replaces her original engine, which was a monster – a Cumins V6 215hp – photo below. The Cumins had to partially dismantled to get her out.

First refit photos https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/09/17/centaurus-has-a-birthday/

Engine out photo gallery https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/02/02/centaurus-under-goes-open-heart-surgery/

Centaurus is a very big woody – 42’ long with a 13’ beam and built like a brick outhouse – 1.25” kauri carvel planked.

Lots of chat and head scratching going on during the unloading > cradle 🙂

Full details on all the refit work in a later WW story.

UPDATE 06-07-2023 NEW ENGINE INSTALLED (video ex Tim Strange)

SKY TV ADDICT – the owner of this (name withheld) launch must like his Sky Sports 🙂

UPDATE FOR THE RECORD – after input from numerious parties re the launch date of Centaurus we can advise the following – BUILT 1967/8 – LAUNCHED EARLY 1969