Mystery Launch 12-06-2015
photo ex Dean Wright
The photo of the above launch was taken by Bay of Islands based professional photographer Dean Wright, so again I assume the location is up ‘North’.
Can anyone ID the vessel & supply any details on her?
NGARUNUI
photo ex Dean Wright
The photo of the above motor-sailer (or maybe its more a launch with a steadying sail) was sent to me by Bay of Islands based professional photographer Dean Wright so I’m assuming the location is ‘North’.
Can anyone ID the vessel & supply more info on her?
Details from Robin Elliott
Its Ngarunui. To my mind she is the best looking boat in the Bay. Could do with a more sympathetic colour scheme, the lolly blue doesn’t appeal to me, but that’s just being picky.
Jim Young built about 1955, so I assume a Young design as well. Registered with the AYMBA by J.A.K. Spicer and C.R. Pollard in 1957 with dims of 48ft x 46ft x 11ft 8 in x 4ft 3 in and a 165hp diesel of undeclared make.
She was based in Whangarei when I moved up here around 2006 but has lately been moored in Te Uenga Bay (Parekura Bay). Haven’t seen her out much recently but we did sight her a couple of times over the summer.
Harold Kidd Update
According to Lloyds Yacht Register she was designed and built by J.H. Young in 1955 for J.A.K. Spicer and C.R. (Russ) Pollard. She is 48’x46’x11’8″x4’3″ and was originally powered with twin GM 165hp diesels of 1942 vintage (obviously ex-USN) + an 11hp Coventry Cub. Beautiful craft!
25-01-2016 Update
As ID’ed by Russell Ward (3 June 2015) Ngarunui has 2 prop shafts, one above the other. See Ken Ricketts photos below.
27-01-2016 Update
Stewart Lodge (current owner) reports that Ngarunui had a single 165 6-71, and this was replaced with a 210hp version of the same. Always had the aux engine mounted behind the main with shaft above. The current engine is a Doosan (Korean) commercially rated engine at 200hp, solid mounted.
Mystery Launches – Onerahi, Whangarei
photo ex Nathan Herbert, most likely ex National Library
Time for a ‘who can put a date on the above photo & ID some of the launches in the bay. You will need to enlarge the photo.
.
WW – Tip of the Day – Now I assume that ww readers know how to ‘blow-up a photo ? If not see below.
1. Click on the image
2. Scroll down on the black panel that appears & click on the tab that says ‘View Full Size’ (on the right side of the panel).
3. You can focus in on a selected area by scrolling the magnifying glass icon across the area & clicking, note only allows one ‘enlargement. If you click again it returns to the original (enlarged) image.
4. To exit the photo, click on the ‘X’ in the top left hand corner.
This works most of the times, unless the photo was a very small image to start with.
NOTE: Do not write in the ‘Write A Comment’ panel as copy here just gets tagged to the photo & does not appear on the main ww comments section e.g. unless people click on the photo, your comment is not visible (seen).
Iawai (Tidesong)
The above photos were sent to me by Andrew Pollard, owner of the 1913 Tom Le Huquet launch Aumoe.
Andrew received them from the grandson of Aumoe’s original owner, Mike Brookfield.
Can anyone ID the launch? (done)
Harold Kidd (+ Baden Pascoe) Update
She’s the 55 footer IAWAI, built for Judge H.G. Seth-Smith of Russell by James Reid’s brother David Reid at Customs St W in late 1911. She had a 40hp (rated) heavy duty 4 cylinder Buffalo engine. She was the largest pleasure launch in Auckland at the time. Seth-Smith donated her to the Government in 1915 for war work. The Government sold her to R.B.S. Hogwood in 1922 and then she went to Auckland metal and carrying contractor A.W. Bryant and used for commercial work, heavily modified from this configuration, but looking very smart. I’ll post a pic later. Baden and I struggled over this pic for some time until Baden hit the spot.
In 1933 she was renamed TIDESONG and run by C.D. Cooper until 1938 when F.D. Cadman bought her and had her renovated by Joe Wheeler at Bayswater. She was taken over by the RNZAF as W95 by 1942 for towing at Hobsonville. She also possibly went to the flying boat base at Lauthala Bay. There is some confusion in the RNZAF records on this (and her correct W number).
Post war she was used as a hire launch at Gisborne and Tauranga. She finished up being a total loss when she sank at anchor in Shipwreck Bay, Northland on 23rd June 1972 when owned by Roy Callister of Browns Bay.
Photos ex Harold Kidd
23/02/2015 – A message from Shelley Arlidge , the Curator at the Russell Museum
Hi Alan,
I was able to narrow down the date of that photo of Iawai to about a five year window. Your commentators say that she was built in 1911. There was a Russell Regatta in 1912 after a gap of some years and then every year after that until the 1950s. There is a building in the background of your photo of Russell’s first town hall. It collapsed in a storm in 1916 and a new one wasn’t built until 1922. So this photo must have been taken in the years 1912 to 1916.
Mystery Launch – 06/12/2014
This one should not be too hard to ID, I snapped the photo early on the Sunday morning of Labour Weekend at Onetangi. Given how close in they were, these guys must have been very optimistic about catching a fish for breakfast 🙂
Off to Patio Bay, Waiheke Island, this morning for the annual CYA Race Weekend / Xmas Party. Always a hoot & a great collection of beautiful old wood, so the camera will be working overtime.
Mystery Launch 18-11-14
Now this ones a big ask – all I know is the current owner of the photo, Harold Kidd, bought the photo (a bit blurry) at an antique fair.
Come on classic woody spotters – who can ID her ? the very flat face of the cabin front, must help.
Mystery Launch 16/10
photo ex Heather Reeve ex trademe
The description on this post card says “Oldest wooden & stone buildings in NZ. KeriKeri Bay of Islands.”
Who can ID the launch?
Both Baden Pascoe & Harold Kidd have ID’ed her as the Fullers launch ‘Doris’
Mystery Launch 19/09/2014
photo ex Dave Jackson via Adrienne
All I can tell you about the above launch / motor-sailer is that she is a Brin Wilson sedan. Now there can’t have been many sedans around with a stick, so lets see what we can uncover.
Mystery Launch 10/09/2014
photo ex Ken Ricketts
Anyone able to ID or attempt to ID this rather cute small motorboat. The photo was sent to me by Ken Ricketts so I suspect he knows more than he is letting on 🙂 but what say you on the origins of this one? Its a big ask as these motorboats were the ‘taxis’ of the inner gulf & a lot were built.
Mystery Launch 24/06
The above photo, according to its tag on Pictures-past was taken in 1946 & the launch is nudged into the causeway between Rangitoto Island & Motutapu Island.
Its a big ask but is anyone prepared to have a go at ID’ing her?. The square windows may help.
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