Tag Archives: Lady Argyle

LADY ARGYLE — CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – LATEST ADVENTURES

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LADY ARGYLE — CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – LATEST ADVENTURES

Tom Wieringa the owner of LADY ARGYLE the 52′ 1965 classic wooden launch built by John Lidgard, made contact with WW earlier in the week with an update on her travels and some recent photos.

LADY ARGYLE has appeared before on WW – links to those stories below. Lots of details on her past there, make sure you read the comments sections. When launched she was named Santa Rosa, then Argyle, then went all fancy and became a lady.

WW 2015 https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/05/29/lady-argyle/

WW 2025 https://waitematawoodys.com/2026/05/30/classic-wooden-launch-lady-argyle/

 I’ll hand over to Tom (edited)

“We have had the pleasure of owning Lady Argyle for six years. Five of those years we have lived aboard, from Tauranga to the Hauraki Gulf/Coromandel to Whangarei to the BOI’s, Whangaroa and back again.

She has looked after us through almost every weather and sea condition you can think of, delivering us on our adventures every time.

She is beautifully crafted in 3 skin kauri; two diagonal layers and a top longitudinal layer totalling 55mm thick; riveted together over massive stringers you have to see to believe; approx. 140mm x 70mm. The interior timbers are kauri beams and stairs and teak everywhere.

I have just moved her to Pine Harbour Marina for a few months, hoping to get out and about a little more often.

The trip from Whangamata, after waiting for the south westerlies to settle down, was a lovely 15hr adventure, averaging an easy 7.3 kn at 1300rpm using 8L/hr  total both engines.

I parked up the first night at Port Charles, having never stopped there before, it was very pleasant.“

Tom commented that he was looking to rent a marina or mooring suitable for Lady Argyle (16m+) (LOCATION: Pine Harbour, Gulf Harbour, Whangarei, Coromandel)

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – LADY ARGYLE

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – LADY ARGYLE

Todays classic wooden launch is the 52’ 1965 bridge-decker LADY ARGYLE , built by John Lidgard for Mac Stewart. When launched she was named SANTA ROSA, and later ARGYLE.

She was built based on drawings done for the original owner by “Hoki” Williams, a retired staff member of Shipbuilders Ltd., with modifications by John Lidgard.

She first appeared on WW back in May 2015, lots of ownership details and photos in this link https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/05/29/lady-argyle/

Todays photos come to us from Angus Rogers and show LADY ARGLE in her new Whangamata Marina berth.  Angus commented that she was very smart.

Santa Rosa – Argyll – Lady Argyle

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2013
2015
2015
c.2007
c.2007

Santa Rosa > Argyll > Lady Argyle
Updated details from Harold Kidd, Don Galbraith, Lynton Bates, the Lidgard family & Ken Ricketts. photos ex Don Galbraith& KR

Lady Argyle was built in 1965 by John Lidgard at his Glen Eden factory, for Mac Stewart & one other partner (a taxi driver), when launched she was named Santa Rosa. She was built based on drawings done for the original owner by “Hoki” Williams, a retired staff member of Shipbuilders Ltd., with modifications by John Lidgard.

She is a  big volume, massively strong traditional bridge-decker measuring 52′ with about 15′ beam & an impressive flared bow. She is still powered by what is believed to be her original engines, 2 x 6 cyl. 130hp Ford Dover diesels, with 2 enormous props, which John & Graeme Lidgard both think are original.

Mac Stewart & partner retained her until c.1975. Norm Galbraith was the next owner & changed her name to Argyll after the part of Scotland from which the Galbraiths originated. The Galbraiths sold her to Maurice Mahaffe (a Salvation Army officer) who  changed her name to Lady Argyle. Mahaffe most likely sold her to a John Taylor (who previously owned Marine), Taylor still owned her in 2002. Another owner was “Spick Spicer (date unknown). Someone (??) sold her to a Steve Lay, who sold her to a Dr. Eric Horne, a Scottish GP, Horne sold her to Graeme Lidgard, a cousin of John Lidgard,  who has owned her for approx. 2 1/2 years.

Check out the comments section for more chat on her