45' Lane New Zealand Launch (1920) - LUANA

Luana was the first bridge deck launch in New Zealand. Luana was her original name and she was powered by a large American Van Blerck petrol engine which has been replaced latterly by a diesel. Few individual owners over the century with the current ‘custodians’ having owned her for 26 years. Constructed using full length heart kauri carvel planked. Over the last hundred years Luana has been a pleasure boat, towed logs, game fished, dredged mussels and finally returned to pleasure cruising. Luana holds the record for catching a marlin, shooting a deer and catching a trout of 3 and a quarter hours from back in the 70’s. Also caught a 680lb tuna. The black and white photo shows a newly launched Luana with HMS Hood in Auckland in 1924. Hood, the Royal Navy flagship, at the time was on a world circumnavigation. Unfortunately Hood exploded and sank during an exchange with the Bismarck in WW2.