Tag Archives: Norm Beetson

Naiad

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NAIAD
Naiad is a Norm Beetson design, built in 1957 by Stan Blake. She is a sister ship to Gayella & Georgella (later Kararik) & based on Beetson’s own, 32’ Acquiesce. In a previous life (1966>1970) she was owned by Russell Ward’s father, & back then powered by a 60hp Ford diesel.
She measures 36’ & these days the zoom zoom is via a 120hp Ford.
In recent years she has been hauled out at Te Atatu Boating Club & as you can see in the above photos, has received a lot of work.
Unfortunately her owner has to move Naiad on, so she is offered up for sale as a work-in-process. Most of the bits , including engine, gearbox, tanks etc are on hand to complete the rebuild.
She is currently back in the water, so we know she floats 😉
She looks a lot different from ‘as designed’ – I have included below some b/w photo’s for reference.
Details via Harold Kidd & trademe listing heads up from Ian McDonald.
Naiad
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Acquiesce

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Acquiesce
photos & details ex Tim Brown

The existing ww post on Acquiesce prompted Tim to send me the above photos (reproduced from slides) of Acquiesce taken while owned by Tim’s uncles, Tinny and Bunty Brown while they owned her for a few years during the 1960s (Tim thinks).

Some look like they are on a cruise (Barrier?) and spent some time hanging out with the scow Owhiti… The question of the day, whats the other launch alongside Owhiti?

To view more on Acquiesce click this link  https://waitematawoodys.com/?s=Acquiesce&submit=Search

More photos just in from Tim. That bow is something else 🙂

The launch along side the starboard side of the Owhiti was if Tim recalls, owned and built by either the manager or foreman of Shipbuilders.  It certainly has a distinctively flared bow….

Acquiesce – One of Norm Beetson’s 4 Sisters

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Acquiesce – One of Norm Beetson’s 4 Sisters
details & photos ex Jason Mills

The waitematawoodys article on Norm Beetson’s 4 Sisters was brought to Jason Mills families attention and they decided to add to the Acquiesce story.

Jason’s parents purchased Acquiesce around May 2008 and sold her sometime in 2010. His father first saw Acquiesce moored in the Tamaki River, approached the owner (who had owned her for approx. 30 years) and they agreed to sell her.
Although purchased in a seaworthy condition, she did need an amount of cosmetic repairs which Jason’s father started on. Unfortunately, his father developed health problems, which made the repairs very difficult to carry out and he decided to sell, still with alot to be done.
As a side note, not long after Jason’s parents had purchased Acquiesce it was brought to their attention the Sea Spray article on the 4 Sisters. After approaching Sea Spray (and having to purchase a subscription for a year) they sent the Mills family a scan of the article, but not the cover though.
The below relevant pages from the Sea Spray magazine are somewhat ‘warped’ due to being close to the centre fold but are still legible and also featured are photos of Acquiesce during the Mills ownership. The SS article also has a photo under construction and states the fourth as being named ‘Calypso’ and not  ‘Kakariki (launched as Georgella)’ as stated on the ww site.

4 Norm Beetson Sisters

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Kakariki
Naiad
Gayella
Acquiesce

THE FOUR NORM BEETSON DESIGNED ‘SISTERS’

Thanks to Mark McLaughlin sending in a photo of Acquiesce we now have photos of all 4 of the Beetson designed sister’s. Interesting to compare the ‘changes’ over the years.

Apparently all four boats were featured in the 1950’s on the cover of Sea Spray, would love to get a scan/photo of the cover & the article inside the mag – Harold ???

Scroll down to the previous post for details on the 4 launches – Acquiesce, Gayella, Naiad, Kakariki (launched as Georgella)

Kakariki (Georgella)

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KAKARIKI (Georgella)

details from Harold Kidd & Andrew Pollard.photos ex trademe

Kakariki is one of the 4 ‘sisters’ designed Norm Beetson built, they were launched in the following order –  Acquiesce, Gayella, Naiad, Kakariki (launched as Georgella).

The 32 footer Acquiesce was built by Norm for himself in 1948 for himself at 70 Kildaire Ave, St. Heliers followed by the 33 footer Gayella in 1952 to the same design, built by George Roberts for himself at St. Heliers (Chrysler Crown), then Naiad by Stan Blake for himself in 1956 and Georgella in 1959 by George Roberts again for himself with a Fordson. Georgella was sold to the famous petrol-head Les Stericker who renamed her Kakariki. Gayella has been in Andrew Pollard’s family since his grandfather Shorty Sefton (Mr. Gardner in Auckland) bought her in 1963.

The question of the day is – where is Acquiesce?

Kakariki is currently for sale on trademe

Mark McLaughlin Update

ACQUIESCE was for sale a couple of years ago at the Panmure Bridge. I had a look over her when she was on the slip there. Her owner at the time told me she was repowered c.1965 with a 4cyl Fordson. She now resides on a swing mooring at Okahu Bay.
NAIAD was up at Te Atatu recently, GAYELLA is on a pile mooring up the Tamaki Estuary and KAKARIKI (GEORGELLA) is at the Thames boat harbour.

Naiad

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Naiad

NAIAD

photo & words ex Russell Ward

The photo above is of Naiad, Russell Wards’s fathers boat. She was a sister ship of Gayella & Georgella (and one other?)
Ward snr. owned her from 1966 –70. She had the 60hp Ford Lees Marine diesel like most of the boats around –you could hear them start up all over the anchorage, the sound was agricultural but OK.
The family had a lot of fun in her.

Harold Kidd Update:

Norm Beetson design built by Stan Blake. Sistership to GAYELLA and GEORGELLA (later KAKARIKI) and based on Beetson’s 32ft ACQUIESCE. I have an undated cutting of Blake launching her after 3 years’ work. Were there any other Beetson designs built?

Gayella

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Gayella

GAYELLA
photo & details ex Andrew Pollard

Designed by Norm Beetson, 32′ and built/launched by George Roberts in 1953. She is the second of Four sisters built. Acquiesce,Gayella,Naiad,Kakariki in that order i believe.

There was a Sea Spray article on them all in the 50’s titled “the four sisters”. There all still in existence to my knowledge.
Berthed at Panmure on the Tamaki.One family ownership since 1963.

Update from Harold Kidd

The 32 footer ACQUIESCE was built by Norm Beetson for himself in 1948 for himself at 70 Kildaire Ave, St. Heliers followed by the 33 footer GAYELLA in 1952 to the same design, built by George Roberts for himself at St. Heliers (Chrysler Crown), then NAIAD by Stan Blake for himself in 1956 and GEORGELLA in 1959 by George Roberts again for himself with a Fordson. GEORGELLA was sold to the famous petrol-head Les Stericker who renamed her KAKARIKI. GAYELLA has been in Andrews family since his grandfather Shorty Sefton (Mr. Gardner in Auckland) bought her in 1963. Neat boats.

24-05-2017 Photos ex John Wicks – Hauled out at West Harbour Marina

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