Tag Archives: MV Gunner

Posted on by
1

CLASSIC LAUNCH – GUNNER – A Peek Down Below

Back in Dec 2023 we ran a story on the  1940 Erine Lane built 43’ launch GUNNER, where we saw her dockside. Link here https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/12/28/mv-gunner-update/

Today we get a peek down below. She is a solid old girl, 1-1/4” kauri carvel planked and powered by a 6 cyl. 100hp Ford Lees D series that give her a cruise speed of 7 knots. As Ian McDonald commented “crying out for a Gardner” 🙂

GUNNER was originally intended for work and fishing in the Marlborough Sounds. However, she was requisitioned by the Crown during wartime and transported to the Devonport Naval Base in Auckland for final fitting out. After the war, Gunner was sold and began commercial fishing out of Leigh Harbour. During this time, she also operated a mail run to Great Barrier Island in the Hauraki Gulf. Around 1957, Gunner changed hands again and continued her commercial fishing career from Port Ohope. In 1973, she underwent a 3-year conversion from a working vessel into a pleasure craft. This transformation included extending the wheelhouse and adding an aft cabin.

Each to their own but she appeals to me, a very comfortable boat that could easily do laps on NZ.

MV GUNNER Update

Posted on by
2

MV GUNNER Update

The Lanes (Picton) built launch Gunner last appeared on WW in April 2021  https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/04/20/help-needed-iding-gunner-woody-involved-in-collusion-sinks/

On a recent mooch around Bayswater marina I spotted her looking rather smart – some one has spread some TLC on her – a very salty looking small ship, the canoe stern making her near perfect.

Photo below ex K Ricketts taken during her period doing survey work

Help Needed ID’ing Gunner + Woody Involved In Collision Sinks

Posted on by
11

GUNNER
A Bayswater marina boats dropped me a note asking what I knew about the ex workboat – Gunner that was berth near him at Bayswater. I answer was – nothing, so I popped down and took the above photos.Very distinctive looking small ship so one of the Work Boat chat group should be able to enlighten us.

Input & photo below from Cameron Pollard – she was built by Lane’s in Picton


KAHU SINKS AFTER COLLISION WITH TRAWLER

 Boat builder Greg Lees sent in the sad photo above of the launch Kahu semi submerged after being T-boned by a fishing trawler. I’m a little hazy on the location, but I understand it was near  “Cooks Rock’ in/near the entrance to Queen Charlotte Sound at the tip of the South Island. I’m told everyone was taken off both vessels and the trawler taken under tow – BUT Kahu was left to fend for her self. In the above photo she had been ‘afloat’ for 2 days and was about to be taken under tow, with the hope of beaching her. The prognosis isn’t good so woodys, fingers crossed she can be saved. Link here to a WW story on Tahu     https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/01/21/kahu-a-peek-down-below/

Update – Interesting spin on things – not sure what the actual situation is

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/sinking-yacht-threatened-cook-strait-power-cables-vital-to-new-zealands-electricity/YOD4TPIXMI4MDW62KQFHNCZYNY/

22-04-2021 UPDATE BELOW EX STEPHEN BALLINGER

She sank in Cook Strait on Saturday the 17th of April in the AM in a strong southerly north of the brothers. The Westpac rescue helicopter located the 3 crew and the yacht Chatham Whisper was able to recover the 3 from the water then transferred them to a coastguard boat out of picton near Cape Koamaru.
The boat was completely submerged but was able to be recovered but had been crashed into by a fishing boat while it was under the surface. https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/124906808/boat-found-drifting-towards-cook-strait-power-cables-raised-from-sea-sits-in-lower-hutt-marina

Photos below ex Ross Giblin at STUFF – see above link for stroy re the recovery. Alan H