Tag Archives: Takapuna Boating Club

MYSTERY CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH AT BAYSWATER – TAWHIRI

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MYSTERY CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH AT BAYSWATER – TAWHIRI

Being a resident of Devonport I’m a follower of a fb page titled ‘Original Devonport Locals’, recently Geoff Glanville posted the photo we see above.

The location is Bayswater, just along from the waterfront clubrooms of the Takapuna Boating Club. 

The building still stands today (photo below) but in poor condition and is the subject of heated debate between local residents, sporting clubs (rowing) and the TBC. The TBC several years ago built very smart new clubrooms at Takapuna Beach, but refuse to give up the peppercorn lease on the Bayswater building.            

Recently there are noises about an extensive refurbishment, but time will tell.

Anyway, back to the photo, which is from the E.B. (Jim) Menzies collection, can we put name and possible date to the vessel.

INPUT ex KEN RICKETTS – She is the TAWHIRI, built c.1946 by Roy Lidgard in his Kawau Island shed, & taken to Auckland to have her 4cyl Lister diesel engine installed, (in a box come table,) in the centre of the main cabin. Later replaced, with a 6 cyl. Ford diesel, by Uuan Berger, who owned her in the 1970s, after which she floated about 6 inches higher in the water in the bow. (photos below ex KR)

Colin B

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Colin B 1

Colin B 2

COLIN B

Last weekends NZ Clinker exhibition at the Viaduct has ‘flushed’ a few clinker tales out of the bottom draw. 

Yesterday I was contacted by Rob Walker whose old friend, Colin Belcher, sent him the above photos of the 18’ clinker named Colin B. 

Colin believes that the boat was built for his father, Jack Belcher, c.1950/51 by a small boatbuilder (size of boat not height 🙂 ) in Ponsonby, possibly named McGeady. When launched it was powered by a Morris marine engine.

It was moored in Hobson Bay, nearest to the dinghy lockers in Ngapipi Road.

At Christmas time it was moored at Waiake Bay, to be close to their camping spot at Long Bay.

Colin commented that she was a seaworthy boat, & may have been involved in a tragedy when a man was drowned returning to Waikeke during a storm. Apparently the boat was purchased from his estate by the Takapuna Boating Club as a rescue craft.

So woodys – can we help Colin out & supply some more details on what became of Colin B. Back then she was a pretty looking clinker so hopefully a TBC member will recall her.