Seaway At Waikawa Marina
Todays woody comes to us from the camera of Dean Wright, taken on his recent southern jaunt.
Can we learn more about Seaway?
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SEAWAY
The above photo of the launch Seaway comes to us from the Tauranga Library collection via Nathan Herbert.
Photos below – ex Ken Ricketts hauled out at Te Atatu Boat Club
Update 12-08-2021 Photos below ex John Wright – current owner
SEAWAY
This rather fine looking launch was listed on trade earlier this year, at the time the seller stated she was a 1930 Sam Ford. In discussions with Harold Kidd & Nathan Herbert, the collective thinking is that is not the case, Harold commented that a chap called Fred Brake called all his launches SEAWAY or a variant of SEAWAY & he suspect he owned this one once. She certainly wasn’t built by Sam Ford as SEAWAY in 1930 (if at all).
So woodys what do we know about this classic? I seem to recall she sold & is now moored off Herald Island, but I could be wrong 🙂
TANGAROA (Seaway)
details ex Bill Burrill, photos ex Ken Rickets
According to Bill Burrill, Seaway was built in 1953 for Fred Brake, of Riverview Rd, Panmure, by the Lane Motor Boat Company, for whom, Fred, worked for about 8 years & which was right next door to his family home. Fred was also the harbour master for Panmure, in that era, & kept Seaway at the bottom of his garden on a pile mooring & slipped her on a railed electric slipway that he built on his property.
Fred B sold her to a Mr Gray who owned the station at Man o war bay Waiheke (which he later sold to the Spencers) in approx. 1955. He died in 1959 & Max Burrill bought her through the Guardian Trust, off the estate in 1959. He changed her name to from Seaway to Tangaroa upon purchase. Max Burrill died in 1984 & Bill Burrill, his son, bought her off his mother. Bill sold her this year (2016) to Allen Heatley.
She was moored at Pine Harbour but is now berthed at Fairway Bay, Gulf Harbour. The Heatleys intend to live aboard for the next 12 months whilst they build a property in the area.
She was originally powered by a P6 Perkins diesel when built which was replaced around 1960 with a 6-305 6 cyl. Perkins diesel & 5 years later this was also replaced with a horizontal 6-354 Perkins diesel, to fit under the floor, thereby giving more cabin room. The 6-354 died in 2000 & Bill replaced it with a 100hp 4 cyl. Yanmar turbo diesel, which she still has today.
05-09-2018 Update – Interior photos below ex trademe via Ian MacDonald
Update 21-09-2021 Photos added
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