Tag Archives: Mystery Launch

Mystery Launches & Location

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1927 guess names and place

Mystery Launches & Location
photo ex Nathan Herbert

The above photo is dated 1927 & show an amazing collection of launches. The challenge today is what’s the location, the reason for the gathering & how many can we name?
On my estimate I can count 38 people on the ‘dark’ launch in the foreground, the Harbour Master compliance nazi’s would wet themselves these days if they saw that, & no sign of any life-rails 🙂
This launch is sporting the #6 on her & the passengers have a very high % of females on board which makes the occasion very interesting, I look forward to the replies.

Mystery Launch 24-03-2016

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MYSTERY LAUNCH 24-03-2016
photo ex Robin Elliott

Another mystery launch from Robin’s collection of photos from the Whangarei Cruising Club Collection, as far as Robin knows, all are from the 1940’s early 1950’s & and were taken by Palmer Photography in Whangarei (1910-1999). Most by the late Graeme Palmer and possibly some older ones by his father.

So woodys who can ID this one?

Reproduction of advertisement below ex Robin Elliott

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Mystery Launch 19-03-2016

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MYSTERY LAUNCH 19-03-2016
photo & details ex Robin Elliott

The above photo is another ex Robin Elliott’s Whangarei Cruising Club collection. Photo most likely from the 1940’s > early 1950’s period and taken by Palmer Photography in Whangarei (1910-1999). Most by the late Graeme Palmer and possibly some older ones by his father.

With the swordfish graphic on her bow she has a slightly familiar look to her but my memory bank isn’t sparking today, so woodys – anyone able to ID her & the two vessels in the background? The #38 might help – race?, fishing comp?.

Mystery Launch 16-03-2016

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MYSTERY LAUNCH 16-03-2016
photo & details ex Robin Elliott

Another photo sent in by Robin ex the Whangarei Cruising Club collection. Photo most likely  from the 1940’s >  early 1950’s period and taken by Palmer Photography in Whangarei (1910-1999). Most by the late Graeme Palmer and possibly some older ones by his father.
In the photo the crane was from ‘S.G. Bignall, Ph 2802, Whangarei’,  also the gent holding the stern line has only one arm (no left arm) so maybe that helps in ID’ing the launch?

A little bonus viewing today – check out the latest (March-April) on-line addition of the USA ‘Classic Yacht’ magazine. Lots of great motorboat & yachts featured in this issue – link below

http://www.myvirtualpaper.com/doc/ClassicYacht/classic-yacht-march-april-2016/2016030901/

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Rongotai

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RONGOTAI – Mystery Launch 09-03-2016
photo ex Robin Elliott

The answer is Rongatai – details in the Comments Section

Long over due for a serious mystery launch post. Robin has sent me a collection of photos from the Whangarei Cruising Club Collection, as far as Robin knows, all are from the 1940’s early 1950’s & and were taken by Palmer Photography in Whangarei (1910-1999). Most by the late Graeme Palmer and possibly some older ones by his father.

So woodys who can ID this one? I’ll give a Lake Rotoiti Wooden Boat Parade 2016 Calendar to the first correct answer, backed up with some form of proof & for the record neither Robin or myself know anything about the launch.

Note: Ken R – you only get one attempt, you can’t blast out 5 names & expect to win if one of them is correct 😉

Mystery Launch 29-02-2018

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Mystery Launch 29-02-2018
photo ex A. Turnball Library / Whites Aviation

Todays photo is dated 29 Jan 1950 & is from the 100th Anniversary Day Regatta. The ferry spectators are watching the 18 footer race.
Who can ID the launch in the forefront?

Thames Mystery Launch

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Thames Mystery Launch
photo ex Gwenyth Herbert

Gwenyth took the above photo back in April 2015 of this launch ‘resting’ in the Thames mud.
She looks to be biggish old girl & has a serious case of the live-aboard look 🙂

So woodys anyone out there able to shine some light on this vessel?

Mystery Boat 4sale – Help needed

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IMG_4551 - Unknown - Peach hull, grey deck, white cabin

Help Needed – Mystery Boat 4sale
photo ex Alice Morrison

Alice spotted the boat in the above photo moored in Okura Bay, Totara North, Whangaroa Harbour, Northland. She fell in love with the boat and dream of what it could be. It has 4sale + a price painted on the hull, but no owner contact details 😦
A gent on a neighbouring mooring gave Alice as much information as he knew. That it was owned by Gary from Taipa and that it has a kauri hull made in the sixties.

It has some form of registeration number on the bow – either 4B-623 or HB-623?

Now the big question –  do any of the woodys  know who this Gary from Taipa is? & any more information on the history of the boat.

Alice has been looking for a small classic wooden launch, to restore and potential make her home.

Mystery Picton Boat

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MYSTERY PICTON BOAT

Its only a mystery because the broker selling it obviously doesn’t want to sell the vessel. Why else would you not include the vessel’s name & designer / builder details?

I can tell you this bridgedecker is made of wood, 42′ long, built in 1929, is powered by a 75hp 5LW Gardner diesel & sleeps 6.
Her current home is Picton & at $49k ono its appears a reasonable buy – unless of course it was built in India 🙂

Just re-read the listing & hows this – they list the design of the tender (Seabird)………………

Update – so it looks like it is Rio Rito / Resolution, the photo below of Resolution was sent to me by Don Macleod, taken in Mercury Cove in summer of 2011.

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Mystery Launches 13-01-2016

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Mystery Launches
photos ex Harold Kidd

The two photos above are of the same place and probably taken at the same time period (if not consecutively). We have the 1942 Vos built, ex NZRN (ML410) ship La Reta* alongside in one, can we ID the location & the other boats?
The wee clinker with the Seagull is very cute.

* to read more on La Reta link this link https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/03/20/6468/    there is a great tale there from her later years when she was operated as a day fishing excursion vessel from Princess Wharf launch steps 🙂