Went up to Warkworth today for a bit of a drive (40 mins away north), seeing the day was perfect after the crappy weather we've had lately. Thought I'd take a few pics of the Jane Gifford which resides there now, after a fantastic restoration a few years ago. I went to see her during the first restoration at the top of the Manukau harbour (Waiuku 1985) and still have some of the merchandise from the restoration supporters shop. She was run on the Manukau for a few years till 2000, taking passenger excursions, but ended up needing more work than the group had money for. She has been beautifully restored+++ and maintained, and still looks almost like new.

I used to see her every day in the late 60s and early 70s going up and down the Tamaki Estuary in the (Waitemata Harbour) when she belonged to the Subritzky shipping line, and was servicing most of the islands in the Hauraki Gulf, along with a barge and ex steam tug Romo. Subritzkys had a new big landing barge ( the Port Kennedy) built in the 70s powered with a 'Harbour Master' stern leg (later changed to twin Hamilton jets) which was used to carry cars, houses, entire herds of cattle, and large racing yachts and launches (they ended up with 3 landing craft and 2 vehicular ferries).

This spelt the end of the Jane Gifford and she was retired, and I believe, was bought for $1 from Subritzkys, on the condition she was restored (first restoration). You would not recognise her today as the same boat, as she always looked a wreck during the 60s and was not really cared for,- just a work boat. She only had a stub mast as a derrick for cargo back then as well.

Note how thick the planks are on the bow! an extremely solid boat. The steam launch Kapanui is also at the same jetty. 3 pics after the launch are- looking back to Warkworth from a park (JG just out of sight) the river towards the sea (about 6km to the Mahurangi harbour- 15km to the sea) and yacht masts in the distance ,- about 1/3 way to river mouth.

Last 2 pics on the way home, are from the top of the hill above Wenderhome reserve, (the big spit in the center,- (see spot on GE pic) Couldn't be a better day! GE pics show 1st and second restoration places, and location now. I took most pics of details which might be useful for modellers. This last resto was pretty much just started from the keel, and went from there, boat was pretty rotten, so really almost a new boat. New masts, deck houses,-everything made by boat builders up north. Never had most of the bits on top when working. See site here http://www.janegifford.org.nz/gallery.htm