
John Salthouse Crosses The Bar

PIRIMANU
Every time I catch the ferry to Waiheke Island I notice this classic sedan top launch moored in Matiatia Bay, in close & to the the right of the ferry terminal. Never been close enough to get its name so last week after anchoring in the bay (just a coffee stop) I rowed past with the camera. She looks to have recently had some TLC as she appears a little smarter than on previous visits 😉
What do we know about Pirimanu?
ps hard to tell from the photos but a very tall mast
Harold Kidd Input
The 28 footer PIRIMANU is an Arnold Couldrey design built by Salthouse Bros in 1968 for W.M. (Bill) Macindoe. Her design harks back to 1948 but good things don’t date, do they? Both Couldrey and Macindoe put some time into the build at Greenhithe.
Macindoe still owned her in 1972 according to Couldrey’s notes and in 1973 according to AYA records. Dennis and Suzie Craig owned her 1997
BLITZEN
photos ex Ken Ricketts. details anonymous (not KR)
The above photos of Blitzen were taken while hauled out at Gulf Harbour recently. There is a lot of dockside ‘stories’ about Blitzen’s past & ww would love to find of more about this vessel.
Said to be a Salthouse design.
Many moon’s ago a new owner was heading away on a xmas cruise & an engine blow off Northhead so they aborted the trip & returned to the marina. Vessel hauled out & then spent the next 5+ years in a shed during which time she underwent the most amazing restoration, its said that her interior is like a piano. The craftsman working on her would send one day on one floorboard.
Fast forward to relaunch day & someone commented to the owner that with that new cabin superstructure that had been added she would trip over. So Blitzen was parked on a marina at Orakai & never left the marina. Dates are lazy, but the fact that she is now at Gulf Harbour provens the merchant of gloom was wrong.
So woodys – what do we know about Blitzen & is the above true?
Summary of info from the comments section
John Salthouse’s much used note book states that 53ft Blitzen was launched Dec ’73 and was Salthouse Bros 89th build. She was built right way up, two diagonals and a fore and aft, red lead and rivots, no glue for Rex & Ian Heavens, of Heavens Farms Maramarua.
Blitzen was owned for years by the Velas, and Brian McCurrah did the big refurb, on their property, situated where Westgate is now.. He was/is very good. A kauri boardroom table he did for Lion Nathan head office, is now in the Kauri museum, next to Robert Brookes sailing dinghy.
She spent much time in Westhaven, then Westpark.
Blitzen is presently owned by Ian Midgley who lives at the Hibiscus Coast
Photo below Whangaroa 1977, ex Nathan Herbert
TARANUI
The above photos were taken by Pam Cundy & George Emtage in early January 2010 at Fitzroy on Great Barrier Island.
Looks a pretty launch with a good amount of cabin space.
What more do we know about her?
Harold Kidd Input
She was designed by Bob Salthouse and built by Salthouse Bros in 1966 as PETALYN. She had a Lees Marine Ford 2700E installed in 1989 and is planked in totara. Recent owners (probably still) were Murray and Christine Hood. First owner was G. Henwood.
19-01-2016 Photos at Gt Barrier (Jan 2016) ex Alan Sexton