Tag Archives: Mystery Launch

Mystery Launches 18-08-2018

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Mystery Launches 18-08-2018

The above photo was sent in by Baden Pascoe looking for some help ID’ing the two launches.
The tag on the photo says Northcote Wharf, the vehicular ferry might help age the photo.
Chatting with Cameron Pollard recently he advised the the family were looking to ‘move on’ (2 words you do not hear often from a Pollard) one of their craft.
Cameron & Andrew purchased the 23’ Grace (Golden Arrow), photos below, a year or so ago & had plans for her but have recently replaced her with another project.
Grace used to be moored off Devonport for a long time. The brothers have heard chat that she may have been built c.1930’s & by Lowe & Sons. Zoom zoom is via a 3 cyl. Fiat, with a manual box.
The brothers wanted to pass her on hopefully to some young blood who wanted to get into cheap wooden boating.
Well I can report that even before I got around to doing a story on her, Grace was snapped up by a gent looking for a boat for his son – we like that 🙂
So woodys, if you see Grace out & about – say high.

Lake Rotoiti Mystery Launch – 1956

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Lake Rotoiti Mystery Launch -1956

Today’s launch is pictured on Lake Rotoiti, at Okere. The location will be very familiar to any of the woodys that have followed my annual pilgrimages to the Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade.
The photo dated Jan 1956 comes to us via Lew Redwood’s fb postings & shows a family heading out on the lake.
Any woodys able to ID the launch?
ps I would encourage you to scroll down & view yesterdays story on St George again, I added a lot of additional photos late yesterday to the story.

Kaipara

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KAIPARA

In the photo above we see the NZS Co. ship Kaipara, built in 1903 – aground in the Rangitoto Channel on 14 June 1910. She was on a voyage from Auckland to London & hit uncharted rocks,she was refloated on 20th jan & repaired. The captain was exonerated from all blame.

Sadly, the ship was captured & sunk south west of Tenerife on Aug 16thby the German armed raider – Kaiser Wilhelm Der Grosse. (photo es Peter Thorpy ex trade)

The question of the day is – who can ID the launch alongside the sailing ship?

OLD SEASPRAY MAGAZINES – I have been contacted by someone clearing out their fathers ‘stuff’ & amongst it is 4 cartons of old Seaspray magazines – anyone want them?

 

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1911 Devonport Waterfront Storm

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1911 PLEASURE BOATS DRAGGING THEIR MOORINGS

1911 Devonport Waterfront Storm 

Another old Devonport waterfront photo (news clipping) ex Keith Humphreys.
Anyone able to ID the launch closest to the shore, hopefully her mooring & gear were sufficient to keep her off the beach ?
Harold Kidd Input – This is the westerly gale of 18th December 1911. I think the launch in the foreground is W R Twigg’s new Bailey & Lowe launch SYBIL while the steamer at right is the Seagar brothers’ REHUTAI.
AND REMEMEBER TODAY IS WORKSHOP TUESDAY AT THE NZ TRADITIONAL BOATBUILDING SCHOOL – OPEN FROM 10AM > 2PM – click link below for address / map

Mystery Launch – win A WW T-shirt

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Mystery Launch

Mystery Launch – Win a WW t-shirt

The above photo is probably from the early 1920’s – got to love that some of the gents are wearing suits while pondering their predicament.
The 1st woody to correctly ID the launch wins a WW t-shirt – answers via the WW comments section.
The ‘owner’ of the photo & their buddies are excluded, as are Mr Kidd & Mr Ricketts 🙂

Mystery Launch & Location

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Mystery Launch & Location

Todays photo is another from the fb page of Lew Redwood, & show a very fine looking launch nudged into the shoreline. The caption stated that the gent standing on the left is Richard Edgar Williams* & possible date is 1930.
The name on the bow could be Joan. There is an impressive number of people on-board, I counted 18, including children.
As to the location – I’m not sure, it looks very Whangaroa Harbour, but the ladder on the bow is a very lake set up. I’m sure someone will be able to shed some light on the name & location.
* from a quick google search – Williams was a Southern man, born in Dunedin in 1891. He had a keen interest I photography & mountaineering. So maybe the photo is located in Milford Sound?

A Spirit of Tradition Woody

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A Spirit of Tradition Woody

The above launch was built in 1983 but looks 50 years older, so she makes the cut on WW. Her trademe listing (thanks Ian McDonald) describes her as a 37’ Jorgenson Quicksley launch, with a beam of 10’7” & draft of 4’3’.

Hull construction is 1 3/8” kauri plank and the zoom zoom comes from a 100hp GM Detroit diesel.

Home port is Nelson so she comes with all the fruit, including the mandatory diesel heater 😉 Anyone able to put a name to the launch?

Input from John Wicks – Cna’t for the life of me remember her name, but Jorgensens built her for one Cdr. “Sankey” Critchley who lived just outside Blenheim and had a bach at a bay known as Longbeach in the Grove Arm of Queen Charlotte Sound.
Cdr Critchley had previously owned the Albert Strange yawl “Sheila II” which he bought from Adrian Hayter after the latter had sailed her out from the UK.

Anyone Looking For A  Winter Project?

I have been contacted by Mike Renner who inherited a pond yacht (photos below) from his father, who died over 50 years ago.  It’s 1.2 metres long & Mike suspect it belonged to his grandfather.  It’s been hanging in the garage for years and it needs a new home.

 Mike’s grandfather and father were very keen boaties.  His grandfather owned several yachts, including ‘Rogue’, and at one stage owned 32 parts in ‘Waitangi’.  He migrated to launches in later years, including Zane Grey’s ‘Otehei’.
Mike commented that the hull looks is good order & there is a mast included.
So Woodys – it would be a shame for it not to have another life somewhere? Mike can be contacted at  mike@merel.co.nz
 
Ps – looking at the photos I was relieved to see a good stack of firewood in the background 😉
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20-07-2018 Update – I understand the model has found a new home with Greg Lees at his boatyard – I look forward to seeing it finished 🙂

 

 

Mystery Launch 12-07-2018

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Mystery Launch 12-07-2018

Lots of stick & rag in the above photo, ex Lew Redwood fb, its dated Jan. 1948 & the caption reads ‘Trans Tasman Race’.
What interests me today is the name of the launch in the foreground of the photo – looks familiar with that unusual shaped, raised wheel house. Looks slightly automobile in design.
Who can ID her?

Motiti High & Dry

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Motiti High & Dry

Another NZ Herald heritages images photo via Lew Redwood fb, this time the vessel Motiti.
I have searched on-line to find details with no joy, can someone tell us about the vessel & how she ended up in that spot? Was she re-floated?
Can anyone ID the launch standing off ?

Mystery Launch 03-07-2018

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MYSTERY LAUNCH – 03-07-2018

Short post today – other boating things distracting me 😉

The above unidentified launch is seen above in Fitzroy Harbour, Great Barrier Island. photo ex Lew Redwood fb

Anyone able to ID her?