Tag Archives: Mystery Launch

Mystery Bay of Islands Launch (Raurangi ?) – 14-09-2018

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Mystery Bay of Islands Launch (Raurangi ?)- 14-09-2018

In both of the above photos we see a very smart day boat, in the boat house photo we also see beached a motor boat with what appears to be the name ‘Zephyr’ on her bow.
The photos come to use ex Ross Griffin, via the BOI’s Historic Photos fb.
Anyone able to ID the launch? She is rather cute i.e. not a workboat, so chances are someone will recall her, the gent aboard or the boasted.
Update from Hylton Edmonds – who has advised that the photos above originate from the late Coralie Hilton (nee Deeming) Collection via Gavin Bedgegood,  a Deeming relation too.
The new photo below, shows the young school boy (possibly a Deeming?) very proudly standing on what looks to be the same boat, newly launched.
10-07-2019 Harold Kidd Input – H.B. Melton ran her in the Russell Regatta race for launches 6 knots & under in early January 1913. She came third. She must have been launched no later than December 1912. Very up to date with that raised foredeck and neat dodger, an exact contemporary of Collings & Bell C & B JUNIOR, a very similar craft. A very pretty launch.
Coralie Hilton - 137

Mystery Clinker Launch

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CLINKER LAUNCH WELLSFORD 2

CLINKER LAUNCH WELLSFORD

MYSTERY CLINKER LAUNCH
The photos above were sent to me by John Bullivant & show a large clinker built, canoe sterned launch parked up at 115 State Highway.
John commented that she looks like she’s been built for the rough stuff.
I apologise for the quality of the photos – ex google earth 🙂
Anyone able to tell us more about this unusual looking craft?

Mystery Whangarei Launch

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MYSTERY WHANGAREI LAUNCH

The above launch is listed on trademe as a ‘Samsford’ – one would have to assume they mean Sam Ford.

What I can tell you about her is that is is 30’ in length, built of wood in 1965 & is powered by a 4 cyl. 72hp Ford diesel.

Home post is Whangarei. (thanks to Ian McDonald for the listing heads up)

Anyone able to ID the launch & tell us more about her?

 

Mystery Launch at Kawau Island

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Mystery Launch at Kawau Island

The above photo ex Lew Redwood’s fb is tagged 1900>1920 & other than the location, thats all we know.
Any thoughts on the name of the launch in the foreground ?
Harold Kidd Input – The launch at Kawau looks very like one of the Harrison Smith designs built by Bailey & Tyer at Hall’s Beach…….. MANUKURA, ELECTRA, but probably not KOTAHI now at Auckland Zoo.
Looking for a well priced classic woody?
The 1914 Lane built launch Rosemary M has featured several time on WW, in recent times she has been mainly used as a floating apartment, now for sale at what appears a very fair price of $19.5k ono, someone needs to save her from life as as an apartment & start using her again. Details below.

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?