Build Date
1912
Boat Builder
Sam Ford
Length
43 feet
Beam
Unknown
Everything We Know About Rehutai
Rehutai was built in 1926 by Sam Ford for C C Ross of Wellington. Rehutai had 50/75hp Stearns engine.
R N Barton of Featherston brought her in 1935/6 and berthed her in Picton. In 1938 he re-engined her with a 85hp Chrysler and is believed to have owned her until at least 1958. After Barton, William Parkes owned Rehutai and after him his son Lex Parkes owned her for some years and kept her in Picton. They both use her to travel around the Marlborough Sounds.
Currently owned by Tony Whyman of Wellington who purchased Rehutai in November 1994 off Parkes. After purchasing Rehutai he sailed her to Evans Bay, Wellington which has been her home ever since. From 1994 to 1997 Whyman started a major refit involving not just himself but also a fulltime boatbuilder and other part time workers. When he brought Rehutai she was powered by a 6 LW Gardner engine which Whyman replaced with a new 186hp John Deere engine.
References
To research Rehutai we used Waitemata Woodys.
Related Posts
Kia Ora – Homemade fishing boat built by Frank and Bill Hawken in Whakarewa Street, Motueka in 1912.
Whareatea – 42ft. first and only steam powered boat built by Claude Wells at Wakatahuri.
Doris – 32ft fishing boat built by Ernie Lane in Picton in 1915.
Southern Maid – 42ft Ernie Lane launch built out of carvel planked kauri.