Tag Archives: Privateer

MYSTERY CLASSIC LAUNCH – A LONG WAY FROM THE SEA – PRIVATEER

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MYSTERY CLASSIC LAUNCH A LONG WAY FROM THE SEA – PRIVATEER

Todays photos were sent in by Jason Prew who spotted the launch ‘high & dry’ at Tokaanu. I’ll assume that like me most of you will go ‘where?’, so I’ll make it easy for you – Tokaanu is a small settlement at the southern end of Lake Taupo, near Turangi, in the central north island.

She is quite pleasing to the eye and appears to be well looked after. Maybe a few inches off the top of the dog house and replace the windows………..

Can any of the lake woodys (Drakes brothers?) ID the craft for us.

INPUT ex PAUL DRAKE – The Tokaanu launch is PRIVATEER. She appeared on woodys in 2015. She was the last boat to be ejected from the old Motuaopa Marina before it was re developed. In about 2221 she was purchased from the Harbour Master as an abandoned vessel. Her new (Auckland) owner has done well to get her to the stage she is at, but the last step – getting her back in the water – seems to be eluding him. Good things take time……

2015 WW link https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/08/22/privateer/

2021 WW Link https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/07/07/what-happened-to-privateer-sandpiper/

What Happened To Privateer (SandPiper)

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What Happened To Privateer (SandPiper)
The 1927 kauri launch Privateer first popped up on WW back in August 2015, when Paul Drake spotted her as a new arrival on Lake Taupo (link & photo below). At the time Zach Matich ID’ed her as Sand Piper and commented that she had been on trademe and based in Wellington at the time.

Fast forward to Jan 2021 and Ian McDonald saw her on trademe, ‘berthed’ at Tokaanu, Lake Taupo – offered up ‘for removal as an abandoned vessel’ by the Taupo Harbourmaster. As you will see from the above photos she was looking very sad, but a comment on WW in Feb 2021 advised that she had been acquired and hopefully would be restored.

The above and below photos are a good graphic example of how quickly old woodys go down hill when the TLC stops.
Hopefully the new owner will update us on their plans for the launch 
2015 WW Story https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/08/22/privateer/

Privateer

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PRIVATEER
photo & details ex Paul Drake

Today’s launch is Privateer a recent arrival at Lake Taupo. Can anyone comment on where she came from and what her history is? Paul mentioned that she seems quite heavily ribbed. Not an Auckland boat perhaps?

The photo is taken (Aug 12) at the marina at Motuoapa (at the southern end of the lake) & the reason its so empty is it has been closed and emptied of boats, in preparation for its re development.
Soon the weathered wooden jetties and the wetland/island in the middle will be gone. The new marina will lack any character whatsoever and be all plastic, as is the custom these days. A little sad if you like weathered wooden jetties! Anyway, its great that the last boat out will be a woody.