Tag Archives: Okareka

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – OKAREKA – A Peek Down Below

Posted on by
1

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – OKAREKA – A Peek Down Below

The classic wooden launch OKAREKA popped up recently on tme (thanks Ian McDonald for the heads up) The listing states she was built in 1952 by Colin Wild, is 36’ in length and powered by twin 75hp Ford 2704 diesels.Being sold as-is-where- is.
Can we learn more about her past.

Morning woodys – there was a typo in the spelling of the boats name it wasn’t Orareka its OKAREKA, previously named FERG AND FERGY. Sorry for the confusion – you can view and read more about her here https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/08/17/okareka-2/

30-01-2025 INPUT ex BARRIE ABEL – photo below of OKAREKA moored off Brooklands Boating Club on the Clevedon River.

THE REAL REASON FOR TODAYS STORY –   Sadly plans are a foot to close the winter haul out area at Little Shoal Bay, Northcote.  Yeap another one under the axe of Auckland Council. So woodys have your say, click the link below to sign the petition.  https://www.change.org/p/save-little-shoal-bay-boatyard

Classic Launches at Westhaven Marina c.1971

Posted on by
14

WESTHAVEN MARINA C.1971

If you are on fb and have a passion for wooden boats, the name Tad Roberts will be familiar to you, Canadian born Tad has over 1,000 designs in his portfolio and is one of the most prolific postings / commentators on fb. Yesterday Tad posted the above photo and commented “who says a hard-chine plywood sailing yacht can’t be pretty. 40’ design by John Spencer, launched in New Zealand 1971”.

Being plywood and 1971 – Odessa isn’t the focus of todays story, what is, is the impressive line up of launches across the fairway from her. Given its an average day for boating, chances are some you might be spending longer on WW today than normal – lets see if we can collectively put names to the boats, L>R, I have tagged each boating a photo below. Relies via the WW comments section.


Got some very ‘robust’ emails as a result of yesterdays story on the cancellation of the Mahurangi Regatta. But the negative ones were out numbered 7 to 1 by positive feedback. I appreciate them all, especially the negatives on, it can’t be easy typing with 6 fingers. 

LAUNCHES AS ID’ed BY NATHAN HERBERT

1. Kalua (prev Miss Betty)

2. Shipbuilders recently at HMB Marina 

3. Okareka / Fergy

4. Romany II

5. Lady Ethel or sister

6. Wakanui

7. White Cloud

Okareka (Fergy)

Posted on by
20

OKAREKA (formally FERGY)
photos & details Kent Dadson & Ken Ricketts. Edited by Alan H

Looking for lots of clarification today. Today’s launch was built by Colin Wild & reportedly launched c1940’s (but her owner, Kent Dadson, has been told 1952). She started life named Fergy & is approx. 35′ long.
She was built for Don Brown of D. D. Brown Ltd & had 2 x Graymarine flat head 6 cyl 90 hp petrol engines. Ken Ricketts commented that she was one of the very first boats that had mufflers fitted to petrol engines with above water exhausts – most boats popped or roared along in those days, but Wanda II, Connie V & Fergie were all virtually silent,  from idle up to cruising speed. The petrol engines were later replaced (c.1965?) with twin Ford 2701Es diesels (Lees conversion). Her varnished coamings went white, very early in the peace, pre 1953.
1954 photo of her below in Mansion House Bay, Kawau Island.

Any help in confirming the above & filling in her past would be appreciated.

FERGY 1954 DENNIS BROWN BY C WILD - IN MANSION HOUSE BAY

Update from John Blundell – Ted Copsey and his son Peter were the Fergusson tractor agents based in Pukekohe and they rented some space at the back of Fisher and Blundell Ltd in Newmarket around 1960 – thence the name Fergy 😉

August 2015 Photo at Gulf Harbour

12-02-2025 INPUT ex KARYN KLARWILL – In September 2024 work began on Okareka by Tim Beck who purchased her to share with his young family.   Tim has had the guidance of his father-in-law who has just finished helping restore the 1959 bridge-decker Kotuku. So far Okareka has been surveyed, cleaned, new front windows, engines serviced, the hull caulked, puttied, primer and antifouled applied, topsides, decks and cabin tops painted while on the hardstand at Northcote Point.  She will eventually need more work including new carpet, the squabs recovered and perhaps even a name change.
Okareka was relaunched on 22 December 2024 in time for her new family to enjoy the summer. Okareka will be moored on piles in the Wairoa River in Clevedon.