Tag Archives: David M Darrock

Ronomor

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RONOMOR

photo ex Baden Pascoe, details ex Geoff Brebner, Harold Kidd & Baden Pascoe

Geoff Brebner has been sniffing around for info on a launch by the name of Ronomor (row-no-more) which he had last seen a number of years back on the hard at Half Moon Bay. The small  amount he has been able to glean was that she was built at Stanley Bay by D M Darroch & Sons probably in the 1920’s. The story he heard was she was built to save them the frequent trips to the city side in the yard rowboat, hence the name Ro no mor.

Now in consultation (that sounds very posh for an email) with Harold Kidd, Harold agrees that Ronomor was built by Darroch  but originally as Albatross and renamed Ronomor after she was lengthened about 1919. She was used to commute to and from Omaha/Mahurangi rather than across the harbour and did at least two pleasure trips to the Bay of Plenty, probably why she finished up in Whitianga.
Harold advised that there were several Ronomors or variants of that name, which doesn’t help.

Now Baden Pascoe adds that his father fitted a Lees  Marine 90 hp Trader & that she did a good 10 knots. More photos to more ex Baden.

Anyone else able to add to the story of her past / present?

The scow ‘Scot’ – help wanted

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A request from Graeme Webb

“Greetings. I am a member of Coastguard as a volunteer and have recently sent a letter to Coastguard Head Office re the Tarapunga as I believe they are unaware she was on loan to Auckland Coastguard from 1947 to 1950 from the Royal NZ  Navy. I served  on Tarapunga as 14/15 year old on roster with another around my own age as an overnight watchman a couple of nights a week.
However, this is not what I wish to contact you about. Coastguard, in its infancy was also loaned a scow by the name of Scot which was tied up under Coastguard control in the old Western Viaduct, Tarapungas base being Kings Wharf.
The Scot was purchased by the Navy in 1942 and was fully refurbished as a training vessel. She still carried a full set of sails and was built at Omaha by David M Darrock in1905.
When the Auckland Coastguard was disbanded in 1950 due to the Navy wanting Tarapunga back for survey work the Scot went also. She was sold and I have been unable to trace what happened to her. I wonder if any waitematawoodys contacts can help.
“

Update from Geoff Brebner

SCOT was a small hold scow built by David Mackey Darroch at Whangateau (Big Omaha) and launched in 1905. Only a small ship,ketch rigged, just over 60 feet x 17’3″ X 3’3″ deep. She had twin holds separated by the centre casing.She was bought in the 1950’s by Louis Graham who sold her up to the Cook Islands.