Tag Archives: Lake Taupo

Sir Francis & A Cool Family Idea

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SIR FRANCIS 

During the week Paul Drake commented that every year he produces a family calendar for circulation amongst my family – brothers, children, nieces and nephews. What a cool idea 🙂

All family birthdays are included. Every year the birthday list grows longer.  Paul said it takes a bit of work, but it serves to keep family connected, and it pleases him to know that the calendar hangs on walls in England, Austria, and Australia, as well as in New Zealand. 

Every year I choose a photo of one of the familiesboats, for the calendar, this year it features SIR FRANCIS, a photo from the 1980’s, homeward bound on Lake Taupo. Paul brother Michael is on the helm, and out of sight in the cockpit is their mother. Looking at the phot you would think that SIR FrANCIS had just rounded one of the headlands on the east coast of the North Island, a great reminder that Lake Taupo can get little gnarly.

SIR FRANCIS has made several appearances on WW before and is of course is a 1916 Collings and Bell built launch. 

Paul remembers that as children, the brothers all thought that any vessel which was not Collings and Bell was rubbish! These days they are not so blinkered 🙂

I’m back on dry land now after 9 days mooching around the gulf – lots of woodys out and about – big story on Monday. Talking of big – the beast below was anchored in Bon Accord, Kawau Island on New Years Eve – the tender was approx. 48’ 

Mystery Lake Taupo Launches

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Mystery Lake Taupo Launches

Todays woody photo has a launch leaving the Waikato River at Taupo for an excursion on the lake. The photo appeared in The NZ Herald on the 9th January 1937.

And woodys that is all we know, so keen to ID the launch and also the sedan cruiser in the background.

I suspect my inbox will ping me an alert from one of the Drake brothers with the answers 🙂

INPUT ex Nigel Drake – In my view the boat leaving the harbour is Waihora and the sedan launch on the beach is probably Destiny. Will leave someone else to hopefully confirm and provide more detail.

INPUT ex Paul Drake – Yes the above is a great photo of WAIHORA, run commercially by a Mr Tabernacle (Tabby) who was an A grade mechanic and the only person in New Zealand qualified to work on Rolls Royce engines. WAIHORA had a Chrysler Ace or possibly a Chrysler Crown. Last seen at Lake Rotoiti in the early 1980’s with the usual ugly plywood cabin but not seen for many years. 

I don’t think the other boat is DESTINY.

Photo below of WAIHORA at Lake Rotoiti dated Feb 8th 1983.

03-09-2023 INPUT ex Michael Drake – I agree that the launch in the foreground is Waihora, going far too fast in the river and with two fenders still down. But I doubt if the sedan launch in the background is Destiny, as the launch in the photo is too highly wooded at the stern, and the Destiny’ s cabin sides were visually lower than shown in the photo.

WOODYS BOAT BOOT SALE – SPACE FILLING UP – RSVP TODAY to waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Karakia

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KARAKIA

Karakia is another classic woody that Jason Prew recently spotted at Motuopa Marina, Lake Taupo. She was designed and built by Roy Parris in 1968, but as they say – has had some work 😉

24′ in length, powered by a Sole 34hp diesel engine. To have a peek down below , click this WW link https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/10/01/karakia/

Waima

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WAIMA

Over the long weekend Jason Prew was crisscrossing the middle of the north side burning up fossil fuel, one of the rest stops was the Motuoapa Marina at Lake Taupo. While stretching his legs Jason spotted the launch – Waima, docked at the marina.

A quick WW search reveals no mention of her, so hopefully one of the Drake Bros. will chip in with some details 🙂

INPUT EX PAUL DRAKE WAIMA arrived at Taupo more than 60 years ago in the 1950’s, when she was called WAIMEA and owned by Lloyd Cotton. She is said to have been built by Lanes, maybe in the 1930’s? All planking is full length (kauri) and she is 28′ by 8′ 6″. She had a Chrysler Crown back in the day. She has had a succession of owners over the years but has remained a Taupo boat. She has a lovely powerful hull and deserves a decent top hamper. Present owner unknown, but WAIMA has been neglected in recent times. No doubt her time will come again.

Photo below c.1988 shows her more or less as built – back as far as the dodger anyway.

MORE INPUT from Paul Drake – WAIMA below – perhaps 8 years ago and in great condition.

Caberfeidh – Where Is She

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CABERFEIDH – Where Is She?

Several years ago the classic powerboat – Caberfeidh was bought to my attention by Shawn Vennell, who was attempting to put a price / value on her. 

Caberfeidh at the time was owned by Lindsay Barron whose father, Tom, kept Caberfeidh  in a berth at the Kinloch marina. He used the boat for fishing on Lake Taupo, where the family had a crib (bach). She was also used for big game fishing at Russell in the Bay of Island every year, leaving from Tauranga. So the Caberfeidh had many trips out to sea  in the early days.  

At the time I was talking with Shawn the boat hadn’t been on the water for approximately 8 years. It has always been kept in a large boat shed. Designed and built in 1967 by Dick Smith in Tauranga- a master builder and of a style that is recognised as a Dick Smith boat.Wooden/ply hull with fibreglass matt skin, inlaid mahogany transom – 5 meters in length.Inboard/outboard Volvo Penta motor.

So woodys – todays question is – what became of Caberfeidh? Hopefully still on the lake.

Classic Woody Runabout

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CLASSIC WOODY RUN-ABOUT

Todays woody is a John Spencer Rocket and was built in the 1950’s and has only ever had fresh water use (Lake Taupo), and shed stored.

She is 14’ in length and powered by a Johnson 25hp outboard (1985) and if you believe tme it has only done 30 hours.

Anyone looking for an entry level woody fir the lakes or at the bach?

WOODYS CLASSICS CLEVEDON BBQ CRUISE – I will be sending out details on NEXT weekends (21-22/05) overnight cruise via email tomorrow to the skippers that have RSVP’ed – keep an eye on you email inbox 😉

Luyvon

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LUYVON 

 A few weeks ago Glenn Martin sent in the above photos of woody speed boat hibernating in Taupo. Do not want to give the location away but – near the marina.

As Glenn commented there appears to be a cool hull shape hiding under that tarp. Well thanks to a WW story back in Oct 2017 by Paul Drake we know that the hull was very quick – back in c.1935/36 she narrowly missed out on being the fasted boat on Lake Taupo – just beaten by Piri Pono. Read the story at the WW link below, make sure you also read the Comments Section – good chat there. https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/10/31/three-taupo-boats/

Thanks to Paul and Harold Kidd we know that Luyvon was designed and built by Jack Taylor and launched in November 1934. She was two skin kauri and supposedly 23ft x 7ft. On her trials she attained 25mph.

I love that its tied onto the fence post – just in case it floats away 🙂

Toroa – Gets A Birthday

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Haulout

TOROA – Gets A Birthday


Back in 2014 Toroa made an apperanace on WW (link below) and generated a lot interest in the comments section. What we learned was that she was built by Chas Bailey & Sons c.1950’s, is 28’ in length (including the hanging off bits at both ends) with a 9’ beam of and a draft of 2’6”. Constructed of kauri, in 1966 she was bought by Coastguard and used until 1968 as a patrol boat and training vessel. The price was 4000 pounds paid for with the assistance of the ASB Bank and the Golden Kiwi lottery. What became of her after 1968 is a tad cloudy but owners may have been, John Cheswass / Water Keen / Michael McMahon. https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/10/07/toroa/

In approx. May 2014 Brian & Judy Simpson purchased the launch and transported her to Lake Taupo, where she remained for the last  6 1/2 years, before being hauled out for some TLC that included a repaint and anti-foul. Brian advised that Toroa was recently slipped back into the lake after the refurbishment which was done by Judy and Brian, under the watchful eye of Larry Palmer, boat painter extraordinaire at Taupo Marina. Larry also trailer-ed Toroa out of and back into the lake. 

Toroa is powered by a 4 cylinder, 4L Ford diesel engine, fitted in the 1980’s. She uses around 4 litres an hour at 1700 revs achieving a comfortable cruising speed of 6-7 knots. In the top set of photos above she is looking very grand. In the 2nd set we see her being hauling out.

Victory – A Peek Down Below

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VICTORY – A Peek Down Below

Back in June 2016 we ran a story on the 1939, 40’ bridge decker – Victory (link below) now thanks Ian McDonald and tme we get to have look below decks. In the WW link there is some great history on the launch from Paul Drake.

https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/06/13/victory/

We know that she was designed and built by Jack Taylor in Nukuhau, Taupo. Victory is powered by a 80hp Ford Diesel engine that gives her a cruising speed of 8 knots. As per a lot of lake boats, Victory has a 12hp Yanmar auxiliary engine for trolling .

From 1939 to c.1973, Victory was used as a commercial charter boat by Jack and his two sons. She remained within the family until 1982 when she was sold another Taupo resident.

El Alamein > Ranui On Lake Taupo

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NOEL EAST at the helm

El ALAMEIN > RANUI – On Lake Taupo
The 32’ launch El Alamein, later renamed Ranui, that was built and launched by Supreme Craft in 1945 and has made several appearances on WW (links below to those stories).

Recently I was contacted by Paul London, in regard to Noel East, a previous owner of the launch. Paul has many fond memories of times on the launch at Lake Taupo. Paul was motivated to contact WW to re-connect with a Terry Arnold, a ‘distant’ cousin of his and grandson of Noel East.
Terry Arnold made contact with WW and shared the photos above El Alamein during Noel and Grace East ownership period. In the first photo the lad with the red cap holding a trout is Terry, as Terry commented the trout in those days were both plentiful and stout. 


In the photo below we see the Lake Taupo marina, where El Alamein / Ranui was berthed when owned by Noel & Grace East. There are some grey area’s as to when the name changed from El Alamein to Ranui but the boats know places of residence are summarised below:

• 1945 – Lake Rotoiti • 1949 – Lake Taupo. Possibly when the name change occurred 

• 2020 – Hokianga Harbour. Presently a inner-harbour charter boat.

The clinker dinghy photo sees the grandchildren Terry, Clfiton and Raewyn Arnold out on Lake Taupo in the launches tender.


WW STORY LINKS

August 2015   https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/08/03/el-alamein-ranui/
October 2016 https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/10/12/el-alamein/
December 2020 https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/12/05/ranui-rejoins-the-work-force/

READ MORE https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/08/04/why-you-should-hold-off-paying-your-classic-yacht-association-subscription/