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Boating NZ : FREE TO READ May 2014
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VINTAGE PERSPECTIVES HAROLD KIDD 94 L ouis and Mavis Fenelon of Epsom, Auckland, now in their late seventies, are facing decisions on what to do with their cherished vessel, a remarkable survivor of the once-prized Arch Logan-designed, canoe-sterned, diagonal-built masterpieces which were at the top of motor launch production in New Zealand in the first decade of the 20th century. Logan Bros was a partnership between the three eldest sons of Robert Logan Senior: John (Jock), Robert Junior and Arch. Their youngest brother Willie worked for the firm during most of its existence from 1892 to 1910. During that brief period, slightly more than 18 years, some of the finest yachts, launches and small steamers ever built in this country emerged from the Logans’ yard in Mechanics Bay. Famous for their racing yachts, Logan Bros were a little later than their Bailey family rivals in producing motor launches. Their first efforts were dainty, yacht-like, clipper-bowed 36-footers like Norseman and Sprite in 1897, but they quickly developed a sturdy, whaleboat type of motor launch which was perfect for the kind of motor power available at the time: the first and second generations of big, low-revving marine engines. Their favoured manufacturer was the Union Company of San Francisco which built relaxed engines of large capacity with open crank cases that looked like steam engines of the period and were almost their direct equivalent in cost, weight and power. Logan Bros’ first big commercial launch contract was to the Wellington Harbour Board for the Union-engined, 64-footer Uta in 1900. She was followed by a series of increasingly refined, diagonal-built whaleboat type hulls for commerce and pleasure purposes. Amongst the first of these was the lean, minimalist 35-footer Matareka which was launched in November 1903 for William Spencer Whitley of Parnell. Whitley was a prosperous kauri gum-merchant when kauri gum was a major export of the North Auckland region for use in the manufacture of varnishes and linoleum floor coverings. W S Whitley had seven sons who were involved in many sports, principally rowing with St Georges Rowing Club, Rugby for Parnell and in keel yachts, notably Tom Kilfoyle’s Robert Logan Sr-built The 1907 Logan Bros double-ender motor launch Matareka II has been the heart and soul of the Fenelon family’s leisure activities since 1972. 94 Boating New Zealand May 2014 and other Logan Bros double-enders The two Matarekas Part I Kirita, another Logan Bros double-ender of 1908. REGULAR_Vintage perspectives_May14.indd 94 17/04/2014 7:14:10 a.m.
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