Tag Archives: Lake Taupo

SAVING A CLASSIC SEACRAFT RUNABOUT 

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SAVING A CLASSIC SEACRAFT RUNABOUT 

If todays woody was a car the all most blue blood link would double its value. Read below the story sent in by Philip Wilson. 

Philip is keen to talk to anyone with additional info about this boats history.

“Back in the 1962 this boat was commissioned as a new build by the Govt Internal Affairs Dept as one of 4-5 Seacraft boats to be used for a visit by the Queen Mother and her party to Lake Taupo. She was to have arrived by Sunderland flying boat and taken ashore in one of these boats and later taken out trout fishing. This visit was unfortunately cancelled I understand due to a health problem

The boat however was a new build, delivered to Taupo and was under the charge of the Head Ranger, Don Maine.

The boat was unique as it was the first hull built to a new modified design with a double skin bottom, a diagonal inner and a fore and aft outer skin rather than the original clinker bottom of the previous boats. This was to give the bottom additional strength to take the power of twin Ford Consul inboard engines.  This info has been confirmed in an email communication to me from Lionel Sands CEO of Seacraft.

How long the boat was in the care of the Ranger, I don’t know or its history until I acquired it.

I acquired this boat via Trade Me after a couple of year’s research to find it in 2005.

The actual structural restoration took 7 years of part time work with a lot of periods of nothing.

The original cabin and deck were too far gone to be reused but the parts made excellent pattens for the new cabin in Sappele Mahogany.    

Seacraft interiors were very spartan in the day so I adopted a configuration from my days at Fleetcraft Marine in Palmerston North.

The Ford Consul’s no longer existed so I decided to go out on a limb and after extensive research I opted for Toyota Starlet 1300 cc Fuel injected/computer controlled engines of 1996 vintage. These engines are coupled to Hurth 150 V drive boxes. 

Many hours were taken to marinize the engines and custom make all the necessary components to get this installation together.

However the end result is a craft that looks good, retains its original classic lines and is functional and has reliable engineering. The engines have been professionally tuned and adapted for marine use.

Late Nov 2025 I completed to final sea trial with the engines running very quietly and achieving 27 kns at 4500 rpm which is the planned max cruising speed.”

UPDATE ex ALAN CRAIG (Craig Marine) Alan has the other two boats referred to above. 

MYSTERY LAKE TAUPO MOTOR LAUNCH c.1950 – – OKATAINA

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MYSTERY LAKE TAUPO MOTOR LAUNCH c.1950 – OKATAINA

Crazy day celebrating xmas in November – overseas family visiting, so just had to do it………….

So woodys when I saw late yesterday that Ian McDonald had sent in the photo that appears above, I was so happy. Was probably the closest I’ve been to missing posting a story.

So the photo is tagged “An unidentified motor launch on Lake Taupo”. William Barbour Beattie for NZ Herald, 1950. (Luck Lib Heritage Collections)

I’m expecting one of the Drake Brothers to ID her and possibly say they own or owned her 🙂

INPUT EX GREG PHILPOTT – OKATAINA – Built in 1938 by Sam Ford in 1938 for the Beamish-Whites at Lake Okataina. Sold in 1939 to the Government’s Internal Affairs Department who were looking for a boat to “serve their ranger work on Lake Taupo as well as on occasions carry distinguished guests”. They required a boat that “could handle rough weather and give fair speed”. Hence the official flag.
Later owners on Lake Taupo included John Henry Kay and Peter Redwood.
The boat ended up in Auckland in late 1989 / early 1990 in poor condition and then found her way to Thames where she remains today.

24-11-2025 INPUT EX PAUL DRAKE – We, the Drake Brothers, were quite besotted with OKATAINA when Peter Redwood owned her, and before we owned ROMANCE. In 1975, OKATAINA ‘s Chrysler Ace petrol engine ended up in ROMANCE. Legend has it that in 1939, at the start of WW2, OKATAINA was put in her float-in shed at the Taupo Boat Harbour and the door locked, not to be opened until 1945. She didn’t fare too well and required fairly expensive rot repairs, so it is said.

26-11-2025 INPUT EX PAUL DRAKE – Photo below of OKATAINA at Taupo (late 1960s) when the young Drake brothers were besotted with her. These days she has rather more structure (flying bridge) and is painted – white. But back then, she had class! To our young eyes, anyway. 

Proof of the feast and the reason I was so unmotivated to punch the keyboard 🙂 And guess what, we will be doing it all again on Dec 25th 🙃

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – TUWHARETOA AT LAKE TAUPO

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – TUWHARETOA AT LAKE TAUPO

Last week WW was contacted by Sharron French who during a review of her parents photo album and came across a couple of photos of her Dad on a boat named TUWHARETOA  at Lake Taupo. The date would have been in the early > mid 1950s.Sharron did a quick google search and up popped the WW site and an article mentioning a boat of this name.

Reviewing the WW stories, the first one from June 2014, there was speculation that TUWHARETOA in a previous life may have been named – DAWN, but at the time Harold Kidd commented “I reckon TUWHARETOA could have been a different launch because she was owned by Sam Crowther who advertised her for hire only from February to May 1923, although it may have been a brief change of name.”

Then in June 2020 in another mystery launch story Paul Drake identified the launch in that story as being named RHODESIA, HDK commented that there had been talk that RHODESIA may have been TUWHARETOA, Paul relied “The idea that RHODESIA became TUWHARETOA is very interesting and quite possible. I remember her in the 1950’s. She had a raised cabin, to the full width of the original cabin, which was very well done. To my eye, she was a looker.” 

Well looking at todays top photo, the launch certainly is a looker.

So woodys – the question today, probablybest answered by Paul Drake is – does today’s launch photos answer any of the confusion re DAWN / RHODESIA / TUWHARETOA.

Input ex Paul Drake – According to the book ‘Boats of Taupo’, published by the Taupo Museum, RHODESIA did indeed become DAWN and then TUWHARETOA. These photos are really interesting and show TUWHARETOA possibly when under the ownership of Ralph Ward, who purchased her in 1939. Ralph had come to Taupo for his health in 1918, having been gassed (and having contracted tuberculosis) in WW1. With no petrol being available for pleasure boats during WW2, Ralph replaced the petrol hungry 6 cylinder Studebaker with a single cylinder San Francisco Standard salvaged from the local boatyard, and converted it to run on unrationed kerosene. Ralph was clearly a good keen man. The previously quick DAWN became the very slow TUWHARETOA, but meant that the Ward family could spend days in the Western Bays, without encountering another boat. Later, a twin cylinder version of the San Francisco Standard was installed. Also able to run on kerosene, this heavy beast meant that she could achieve ‘about 8 knots’. That is what it says in the book, but 8 knots is unlikely, in my view. Sold by Ward in the 1950’s, she remained at Taupo until the late 50’s or early 60’s and then disappeared – said to have gone to Napier for refurbishing. Someone must know more! Thanks to Sharron French for sharing the photos. They have made my day.

CLASSIC WOODEN BOATING LAKE LEGENDS  – Drake Brothers

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CLASSIC WOODEN BOATING LAKE LEGENDS – Drake Brothers

Todays woody story is big on the feel good scale. During the week Taupo woody Shawn Vennell sent me todays photos of the Drake brothers, in the top photo  L>R we have – Micheal – Paul and good friend Monte Jones. The Drake ‘boys’ are a walking encyclopaedia of boating on the central north island lakes and are the WW go-to for any classic wooden boating questions. I have been lucky to meet them at the annual Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parades and have always admired how they present their craft. Genetics is a wonderful thing, I’m told their father was also a legend on the lake. I’m too polite to ask but the combined ages of the brothers would equal an impressive number of years classic boating. 
Have to like the name for SIR FRANCIS’s tender – ‘Love Me Tender’.

The photos were taken by Wendy O’Callaghan for an upcoming show on the history of the Taupo Boat Harbour.

UPDATE FROM PAUL DRAKE – Just a correction – the chap on the right is not Nigel. This is our great friend and vintage outboard expert Monte Jones, who, by the way, built a sixteen foot Hartley cabin boat POLARIS when he was sixteen (he is now in his eighties), and which he still owns and uses.

The occasion in the photo was the trial run of Monte’s recently restored 100 year old  2 hp twin cylinder Johnson outboard. It ran perfectly and pushed SIR FRANCIS along at a couple of knots.  

Missing from the photo are brothers Nigel and Roger – Roger being our engineer, without whom none of our vintage petrol engine powered launches would be running!

Full weekend details in the downloadable PDF file below, which includes the entry (free) form for the sailing events. 

LABOUR WEEKEND SPRING SPLASH (2)Download

CLASSIC WOODEN BOATS – TAUPO MOOCHING

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CLASSIC WOODEN BOATS – TAUPO MOOCHING

Most of todays woodys have appeared on WW before but its always nice to see that they are being cared for.

A woody, my lips are sealed, was at the lake doing a recce on a woody there and snapped a few photos for us.

Also today we share a couple of photos from a recent project on CENTAURUS, owner Angus Rogers is a talented DIY’er and after the recent re-power took on upgrading the dash. See below 

‘OLD’
‘NEW’

CLASSIC LOGAN WOODEN LAUNCH – MAXIE – NEEDS SAVING

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CLASSIC LOGAN WOODEN LAUNCH – MAXIE – NEEDS SAVING

If we believe her tme story, the classic wooden launch – MAXIE, was built in 1903 by Logan Bros in Auckland. That makes her royalty in the NZ classic boating world – with a starting bid of $10k, someone needs to snap her up quick. Home is Lake Taupo.

What we know from tme is she is 32’ in length, and powered by a 75hp Ford 2701E diesel engine.

Back in 1985 she had some serious work done which included a new engine, new deck and new cabin. The hull is double skin kauri and in sound condition as is the cabin structure. The deck as seen in the photos has rot and is leaking and in need of replacement.

So woodys who is going to step up and take over ownership of this blue blood classic Logan launch.

UPDATE – I asked Harold Kidd if MAXIE was the real deal – answer below “Yes it is. She was built as LIGAR for H H  Harris of Pelorus but was sold to the Kennys at Picton then on to Wellington in the early 1920s renamed MAXIE. She was there for many years but has been on Taupo recently.She’s in the Logan book as unknown built for Harris in late 1903.”

INPUT ex PAUL DRAKE – Photo below of MAXIE at Paremata Wellington not long after her rebuild and before coming to Taupo – in the 1980’s?

IS THIS WOODEN LAUNCH – RANUI / EL ALAMEIN

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IS THIS WOODEN LAUNCH – RANUI / EL ALAMEIN

Yesterday Liz France posted on fb asking for help ID’ing the above launch pictured in the top photo in Western Bay, Lake Taupo c.1950’s.

The smaller vessel in the photo was built by Liz’s father and uncle in 1954, and has recently been restored and was re-launched last weekend. This craft is named STINGRAY and seen in the photo gallery above.

Several people commented that the bigger launch could be RANUI / EL ALAMEIN.

Link below to a previous WW story on RANUI / EL ALAMEIN  https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/08/19/el-alamein-ranui-on-lake-taupo/

Can we confirm that the launch Liz has referenced is in fact RANUI / EL ALAMEIN.

INPUT ex PAUL DRAKE – EL ALAMEIN continued to be EL ALAMEIN for many years when she was in private ownership at Taupo. When put into survey (not sure of date) and operated commercially by Jim Storey, she became RANUI. This photo is interesting, and I think it shows RANUI in the eastern corner of Waihora Bay.

CAN WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CLASSIC LAUNCH – JAN MAREE

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CAN WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CLASSIC LAUNCH – JAN MAREE

Recently WW was contacted by Hamish Moore regarding the classic launch – JAN MAREE, that in Hamish’s words is in the family stable and has resided on Lake Taupo for many a year. The family are short on her history and Hamish was wondering if any of the WW followers might know more about her.
The WW post on the Vindex RENA brought some more thoughts to Hamish’s mind and having recently had JAN MAREE surveyed for insurance and the gears have been turning to find out more about her. 

What we think we know about JAN MAREE – she was in the Bay Of Islands owned and used by one family line and ownership changed to another family line, Taupo based.  Her specs are 33’9” x 10’9” x 3’3″
What everyone would like to know is :-

• Confirm design (Vindex?)- • Who built her and where • Tales of her life on BOI 
She lives in a shed on Lake Taupo  and is enjoyed by family members for fishing, recreational and sightseeing. 

JAN MAREE was recently hauled out and trucked to Auckland and underwent some TLC.  • New Heart transplant, now a 320 Cummins • Hull Maintenance and replacement of all skin fittings.  • Remove and plug all redundant fittings.  • New Dash and systems upgrades, to complement the new Engine package.  • New Paint and varnish.  The above work was completed by :-
• The Boatbuilders, HMB, • Ray Bryant Marine • Halfmoon Bay Electrical.  • Gloss Boat, Tāmaki Park 

CLASSIC KAURI BUILT WOODEN LAUNCH – TOROA – A Peek Down Below 

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CLASSIC KAURI BUILT WOODEN LAUNCH – TOROA – A Peek Down Below 

The 26’ carvel planked launch – TOROA has made two previous appearance on WW, links below, but today thanks to Ian McDonald’s eagle eyes and tme we get to have a gander down below.

Her listing states she was built in c.1955 by Chas Bailey & Sons. After an early life in salty water she moved to Lake Taupo in 2014 where still still resides.

Forward motion is from a 1980’s Ford 4cyl. 80hp diesel engine, that gives her a 6 >7 knot cruising speed.

The photos above are combination of 2012 and present day – she needs some TLC but appears to be a good low entry level floating Taupo bach or bring her home to the Waitemata 🙂

WW Oct 2014 https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/10/07/toroa/

WW Oct 2021 https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/10/14/toroa-gets-a-birthday/

Looking For Help Identifying This Wooden Boat

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Looking For Help Identifying This Wooden Boat

Todays woody recent popped up on a Lester Oliver fb post and appears via Maurice Sharp reposting.Lester’s commented that the boat at the dry dock at Ahuriri, Napier. The gent on the left is possibly Napier architect Louis Hay. In the background is the Hawkes Bay Farmers Co-Op Assoc. building . The cowel on the cabin top looks very large relative to the rest of the vessel. Anyone able to put a name to the vessel.

INPUT ex HAROLD KIDD – We’ve been here before.

https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/06/30/hawkes-bay-mystery-motorsailer/

I still can’t establish a name for the boat but have a little more information. She was built in Auckland, no builder known, and shipped to Napier in May 1936 as a hull. Later Louis Hay fitted a steam engine which accounts for the small funnel shown in the earlier images. My guess is that the steam plant was replaced with an internal combustion engine later, hence the large ventilator occupying the same hole as the funnel. As for her name, it doesn’t appear in any newspaper articles even those announcing that Louis Hay was the Commodore of the new Hawkes Bay Yachting & Power Boat Club in November 1936.

Work in progress

29-04-2024 UPDATE ex HAROLD KIDD – The hull was built in Auckland and was offloaded from the PUKEKO at Gisborne because of heavy weather.

Message For The Owner Of The Launch – KARAKIA

If you send me an email confirming the boat location and your ownership I’ll drop a WW burgee in the post – why? Because if you look carefully at the photos you will see they have painted the WW logo on the cabin side 🙂  photos ex JASON PREW waitematawoodys@gmail.com  Read / view more on KARAKIA here  https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/10/01/karakia/