Greyhound + Johnny Wray On TV + Bargain Woody 4sale

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GREYHOUND

Greyhound was an ex WWII 40′ high speed launch .Ex Air Force out of Hobsonville. One of four launches built in the late 1930’s >early 1940′, as Waitemata chase boats for the Catalinas. They were W44; W45; W46; and W88 (now in Wigram Museum). Greyhound is thought to be W45.  She is a sister ship to Jaguar, already featured on woodys  (16.8.2014). The above photo are ex John Bullivant & the present owner, Mark Allen (trademe) via Ken Ricketts.
Allen bought the boat in December 2014 in Tutukaka & motored it down the coast to Whangerei and then took it by road to Helensville, where it resides today. It was out of the water for 6 months being re-glassed & repainted.
During the war it had two engines and would do between 30 and 40 knots, plane over the water. These days she is powered by a 120hp Ford diesel(12 knots), that is currently undergoing repair. If you are looking for a project with some history, I understand the vessel is for sale.

Input from John Bullivant“below is a photo of Jaguar I took in the 70s. She is on the ramp at Bucklands Beach Yacht Club having just been hauled out. The Hansens who owned her had an engineering business in Harp of Erin producing grease guns amongst other products ( I still have one of their grease guns). Jaguar definitely had two stroke diesels at the time this photo was taken (used to love the sound of them). She was moored at little Bucklands beach, pretty much straight out from the owners house for years. I lived on The Parade at Bucklands for many years and saw many well known boats come and go up and down the river including Imatra, Jaguar, Golden Lotus (Alan Harnish and later Rick Irvine who put the cabin on her for diving use) Tarapunga, Alert, Carroma, Jane Gifford, Romo, Rainbow and Rainbow ii and hundreds more. Fleetwing Junior (with cabin) was moored almost in front of our place (belonged to a school friends parents at the time)
Coincidentally there was a plywood yacht of around 45ft named Fleetwood moored about 200ft from her as well.
It was a great place to live in the 60s and 70s and 80s as the river was like Queen st most weekends, but as the price of gas went up there seemed to be fewer launches going out regularly. I’ve noticed a big drop off in weekend boating in the last 20 yrs (maybe it’s just me) but I’ve been out sailing on a few perfect days between Browns Bay and Rangi and been all on my own with not a boat in sight. The first time that happened I thought I was missing something – like a Tsunami warning, a very odd feeling to be out there on your own on a perfect day, would not have been like that in the 70s as the whole area would have been populated with boats of all types.”

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The Johnny Wray & Ngataki Story –  On TV Tonight (Sat 18th)

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Just a quick heads up that Television NZ will be screening tonight (Sat 18th) the latest series of ‘Te Radars Chequered Past’ on TVOne at 8:05pm. In the opening episode Radar retells the story of Johnny Wray & Ngataki’s creation. I’m told its a cracker & not to be missed – but if you do miss it, in this wonder digital world, you will be able to view it later ‘OnDemand’ link below.
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/ondemand/te-radars-chequered-past
Enjoy 🙂

36′ Grand Banks – ‘NO SALT’ – Must Be Sold – Offers over $50,000 will buy her
Check out the trademe link http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/boats-marine/motorboats/auction-1258171194.htm
Owner contactable on 021 025 46184

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No Salt – 4Sale – All Offers Considered

NO SALT

NO SALT IS BACK ON THE MARKET – I UNDERSTAND A LOT OF WORK & MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT ON CORRECTING THE ISSUES SHE HAD. NOW 4SALE & ALL SENSIBLE OFFERS WILL BE CONSIDERED. CONTACT ROGER – 021 02546184

I have spoken before about the emergence of what I call ‘the floating bach’ – well No Salt fits that category perfectly. I predict in the next 5 years we will see more & more of this ‘trawler’ style classic motor boat on our harbours & lakes. Just look at the camper van scene, it has exploded but camper vans only appeal to a % of the population & the biggest negative is  you have very little control over who your neibour is 🙂

No Salt is the real deal, a genuine wooden Grand Banks, from the desk of the renowned American designer Ken Smith. She was built / launched in 1973 & is one of the last wooden Grand Banks before they switched to GPR production 😦  40′ on the water (the yanks assign the LWL length to their craft so she is a GB36) she is mahogany carvel planked on sawn frames & features a full length keel that provides protection for the twin props/rudders – perfect for nudging into that secluded bay.
Powered by twin Ford 120hp (non turbo) engines she cruises at 9knots & would run on the smell of an oily rag, this efficiency combined with 720L fuel tanks makes her perfect for extended cruising. While she carries 800L of water if I owned her I would drop a water maker on board & then there would be no stopping you.

The Americans can be a little OTT in terms of safety but in No Salts case her high bulwarks & all round teak railing make her very family / older person friendly. Another bonus is the window / seating height in the saloon – few boats get this right, with No Salt you can be seated & enjoy brilliant exterior views.

Yes No Salt is for sale & would have to represent the best value for money in the leisure / lifestyle market.
Who will buy her? with her 7 berth layout there are lots of options with this floating bach & while I would not like to see her leave the Waitemata, what a low-cost lake pad she would be & you have the best view on the lake + you can fish from your door step.
As always click on any photo above to enlarge.