WHITIANGA CRUISE LAUNCH

Today’s photo (ex Lew Redwood via NZ Cars, Boats etc etc Pre 1975 FB page) is captioned saying ‘Cruise Launch, Whitianga. No doubt Baden Pascoe will jump & tell us the name of the vessels.

The white & blue run-about is rather smart, if Baden was really good – he would be able to give us the owners name. 🙂

Baden Pascoe Input – Merv Stockley might have to correct me with this one. I am sure the blue boat is the Three Kings or Three Springs as the locals call her as she always had pumps running. She belonged to Mr. Reigns (spelling) and from what I remember she showed the signs of a very hard life and he did very little to make her right. My father Howard Pascoe gave her a “wide berth” whenever he was approached to repair her. The little run-a-bout is a Sea Craft and that belonged to either Jack Crawford or Jack Matthews. I can remember it had a twin cylinder Norman motor. I am sure Don Ross Merv’s father-in-law will know all about this scene.

Don Ross (via Merv Stockley) Input – Don said straight away `Three Springs’ also, actually `Three Kings’ usually just serviceable but  in need of care as Baden said. The owner was Les Rides. Ron Raines was a local wheeler /dealer in mostly Cars and Trucks but we don’t remember him owning `Three Kings’. The clinker motorboat belonged to Squib Jones.

Harold Kidd Input – Hardly a “Cruise Launch”! Les Rydes owned the fishing boat THREE KINGS which had a 150hp Hercules diesel. She was affected by the tsunami/tidal waves at Whitianga of 23rd May 1960.