Glen Lee: The Largest and Most Modern Launch in The Sounds (in its day)
1911-1912
Estimated Build date
Claude Wells
Boat Builder
38 ft / 12 m
Length
9 ft / 3 m (approx)
Beam
Building the Glen Lee
The Glen Lee was originally built to be a passenger launch for the Glen Lee guest house in Crail Bay, Marlborough Sounds. The guest house was owned by the McNabb family and Mr G McNabb started the build of the Glen Lee in his wool shed. He set up the keel and stern before commissioning Claude Wells to build the rest of the boat out of single skin Kauri.
The Glen Lee Passenger Launch
After it was launched the Glen Lee became one of the largest and most modern launches in the Marlborough Sounds. During this time Mr McNabb used the Glen Lee as his passenger launch but he also won a trophy in a launch race at the Moetapu Sports Regatta.
Becoming a Mail Boat
In the 1920s Jack Orchard brought the Glen Lee for his mail and passenger service in the Marlborough Sounds. Orchard changed the engine three times. Going from a Regal Petrol to a 40hp Lister Blackstone and finally a 3 cylinder GM was installed in the 1940s
The Sinking of the Glen Lee
In 1948 whilst attached to its mooring the Glen Lee was sunk. When Fred orchard came by the mooring in the morning his boat was no where to be seen. After searching for the boat it became clear it had sunk to the bottom. They dragged the boat on to the beach to drain and make temporary repairs to the stern that had been stowed in. Then they towed the Glen lee to Wakatahuri for repairs.
The Fells
In 1957 Fred Orchard sold the Glen Lee to Arthur Fell for £600 minus the engine. A new 4 cylinder Ford diesel was ordered from Lucas Brothers in Blenheim and dispatched from Wellington. John Fell later brought the Glen Lee from his father and used it as his engineering work boat.
In the 1960’s Fell completely stripped the boat to the bare hull and rebuilt it with double skin Kauri salvaged from a burnt out 28 foot launch called Nikau. They raised the bow and bulwarks by 12 inches, added a new forward cabin with two bunks, a pilot house and aft cabin with four bunks
The Glen Lee Today
In 1993 the Glen Lee was sold to Lex Wells who undertook some minor repairs and changed the engine twice. Currently the boat has a 6 cylinder diesel.
In 2018 the Glen Lee was moored in Okiwi Bay South, Grove Arm, Queen Charlotte Sound and was listed for sale on Trademe.
In February 2023 Dylan Saggers confirmed to us, that the Glen Lee is currently owned by his dad, Paul Saggers. Paul brought the Glen Lee off of Trademe and has been taking good care of her including doing a paint job in early 2023.
References
To research the boats built by Claude Wells and his sons we used the book Boats For A Lifetime by Yvonne M Fell. We also used the website Waitemata Woodys.
Related Posts
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Noelene – 45ft mail boat from the Marlborough Sounds built by Claude Wells in 1932
Pearl – 34ft launch built by Claude Wells for himself
Gleam – 42ft Guard fishing boat built by A.J. Morgan