New Zealand Scow

Discussion in 'Sailboats' started by dskira, Aug 9, 2009.

  1. sltak
    Joined: Feb 2011
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    sltak Junior Member

    More good snippets of history. Albatross interest me - I looked in Ashby's book and also in the newly published "A History of New Zealand Scows and their Trades" by David Langdon, both of which have comprehensive lists. You are right - no mention of ketch scow Albatross. I looked in Clifford Hawkins (Out of Auckland) and came up with a Niccols-built Albatross - but she was a schooner, not referred to as a scow, and launched in 1861. There are some other Albatross vessels built in Auckland (eg a Baily and Lowe 1902, and two schooners built by Harries, one in Mechanics Bay 1874 and one in Whangapoua 1861) and a ferry, but no scow albatross. Why would this be? Presumably all these authers scanned shipping registers carefully. Was she never registered? Any ideas? Thanks.
     
  2. rahiri restore
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    rahiri restore Junior Member

    what has become of the owhiti today??
     
  3. rayman
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    rayman Senior Member

    Owhiti is just a rotted carcase on the beach at her owners place at Opua.
    Albatross was registered, I have her full history but am moving house and all info is packed away. Langdon says he had heard of her but could not confirm her until I sent him a pic. I will post here when I unscramble a little. Another one missed is "Orini" and make a note in Ted's book, "Kiatia when owned by Winstones was stripped down and became the sand dredge "Big Ben" at their yard at Mere Mere on the Waikato, her remains must still be down at Tuakau to this day.
     
  4. rayman
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    rayman Senior Member

    I found this in my computer. Info from Ingram &Wheatly shipwrecks of NZ. and book on Caesar Roose, Old man of the River.
     

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  5. boybland
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    boybland Junior Member

    I always loved this book as a kid, especially the way it had all the statistics and everything!
     
  6. rayman
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    rayman Senior Member

    ALBATROSS reg.no. 115187 aux. ketch rigged hold scow built Auckland 1902 by Geo.Niccol dim. L66' x b20' x d 5'3" 50 tons GR-38 tons nett. oil engine 40hp.
    went ashore Marakopa River bar Aug. 6-1916 and became a total loss. Engine-cargo and rigging were saved. In 1912 Caesar Roose of Mercer and a Capt. Williams of Onehunga,purchased Albatross in Auckland, loaded with cargo and sailed for Port Waikato. Albatross traded on this run until a slack in trade forced him to make the run to Marakopa. After the wreck the N.S.S.Co. included Port Waikato on its monthly Whanganui run with SS Arapawa.
     
  7. Gary Baigent
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    Gary Baigent Senior Member

    Some sad shots of Rahiri at Waiheke.
     

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  8. rayman
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    rayman Senior Member

    Gary, a mate sent me a bunch of similar pics earlier in the year, it looks like the council went in and cleaned her up before anyone got hurt. They may as well have taken the lot away.
     
  9. rahiri restore
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    Location: waiheke island

    rahiri restore Junior Member

    i went down and looked at her and i don't think the council has cleaned her up because there are some council signs telling you: HERITAGE VESSEL please do not climb aboard as it is dangerous
     
  10. Skineli
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    Skineli Junior Member

    I think a boat of this type could be used to take eelgrass off of beaches.
     
  11. Macpower
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    Macpower Junior Member

    "Alma"

    My father crewed on Alma from 1956-1961.When he first started she stil had a full mizzen mast and complete set of canvas sails.She was owned by Aspden shipping and contracted to JJ Craig.I think she was one of the early scows fitted with Laird grab about 1/4 yd capacity,later after 1958 suction system was used.In school holidays and christmas i would get the chance as a kid to go tosea with Dad.When he first started Beau Stanaway was skipper.Our family new all the Lidgards well of who Joe was a skipper on Alma as well and later master of AHB tug Aucklander now restraunt in Wellington.I also new Archie Robinson who signed onAlma as ayoung fella in 1919 ans was Feryy Master on Makora mostly later until retired.Dad left Alma not long before sold and went to tauranga and he became Pilot launch master on Akarana mostly serving 26yrs.
    One xmas 1961 we took alma to tairua she was the first scow to enter there for fifty yrs.Als o on deck was 36ft "Vindex" and another 32ft launch and a Vangaurd car[Jack Lidgaurds].We beached just by road bridge at Pepepe stream on main rd and alow tide lowered car onto beach and this became our local road transport.The launches were off loaded in the channel on next tide and where used for fishing trips and r&r one of them hired by dept of internal affairs to drop staff off at Aldermans to study tuatara.Alma remained our base for a month anchored in Tairua just off where present Wharf is now.Her lifting gear could handle 13 tons max so launches werent a problem to handle.A canvas tarpaulin that normally covered her deck load was strung over the boom which provided a shelter for great entertainment and parties ,some lounge suites where taken as well so things were comfortable.Often on holidays like this aload of sand would be taken on return to Auckland to cover costs.If down east coast of Coromandel we would dig at Otama/Whangapoua beach or coming back from up North Omaha beach.Our journies would take us around all the Hauraki Gulf north as far as Parengarenga and soth sometimes Tauranga /Gisborne.
    Many fond memories of Alma it is a shame she has not been fully restored as Jane Gifford or Owhiti would sit on her deck she is probably the largest scow in the world afloat
     
  12. Skineli
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    Skineli Junior Member

    I would love to have seen the Alma. It sounds like she was very versatile, and maybe a design like this today could do well.
     
  13. Gary Baigent
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    Gary Baigent Senior Member

    Great stuff, Macpower.
    A modern sailing scow in this day and age? - would be fantastic. Imagine seeing them out on the Hauraki Gulf again; I mean true sailing, not bloody cut down rigs and motors. I'm still pissed off with Jock McKinnon for not giving German girlfriend and me a ride back to Auckland all those years ago. Now look at the Rahiri - if you were insane enough to contemplate a restoration job, it would kill you.
     
  14. Skineli
    Joined: Oct 2010
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    Skineli Junior Member

    Maybe three quarter inch pressure treated stock, then dipped, or soaked in epoxy, and laid up with gun driven monel ring nails bedded in 5200 type caulking, could work. A six inch thick hull, sheathed in glass, perhaps with a softer chine? This may last a long time. We do want a heavy hull, correct? Some steel here and there, possibly laminated with wood, and another tough fun and useful boat we'd have. Shallow water work may mean the vessel would want spuds, or other modern conveniences. The sailing barge, with auxiliary must have a place to fit in, I would think.
     

  15. Skineli
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    Skineli Junior Member

    Perhaps the world could work on a stock design, and share parts, and building crews. I was designing some of these boats earlier with a lot of epoxy pipe as internal structure, and this pipe can hold compressed air, or serve as flotation, or tankage. Several frame units running fore and aft as seen in some of the above designs with wood, would be stock, and also easily connected and sealed. So if the frames were epoxy pipe, chine sponsons running each side, and three mid ships, could make such a vessel dare I say --somewhat-- of a class boat. We could mold in multiple centerboards into the pipe. But I don't know if the commercial and tourist uses could be combined. But I would raise a beer to thinking about it. I would think about a 160 foot scow would be workable inshore.
     
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