The V Class Surprise was a sensation from her 1924 launch, and remained a benchmark in her class to the mid 1930s. Bill Couldrey built this Arch Logan design with Ben Mayall.
Photographer unknown, reproduced courtesy of Auckland Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira, Marine Photos Collection (C38341) / Portrait: courtesy of Brian and Graham Couldrey
Little Jim II (A16) and Waiomo (A19) around 1936 – both built by Bill Couldrey in the mid 1930s to Arch Logan designs. Little Jim II became the best known of Couldrey’s yachts.
Photographer unknown, New Zealand Maritime Museum Hui Te Ananui a Tangaroa
Decoy was one of several small sailing dinghies that Bill Couldrey designed for the New Zealand Yacht Squadron during 1943–44.
Photograph by L. G. Hutton, New Zealand Maritime Museum Hui Te Ananui a Tangaroa
(1906–1994)
Bill Couldrey was a respected Auckland designer and boatbuilder who worked closely with Arch Logan until World War II.
Early years
Bill Couldrey was born in the seaside town of Maraetai, Auckland. As a child, he drew and built model boats. He completed his first design commission at the age of 15 – a square-bilged 14-footer, influenced by the work of George Honour.
He did his boatbuilding apprenticeship at Bailey & Lowe, where he attracted the attention of top designer Arch Logan.
Design and build years
Between 1921 and 1941, Couldrey designed and built 42 yachts and launches in his own boatbuilding shed at Sulphur Beach, Northcote. He greatly influenced the 18-foot (5.49m) V Class with his successful racing craft, including Shamrock, Limerick, Jeanette and Marie Dawn.
During this time he did much work for Arch Logan, and was one of the few boatbuilders recommended by him to build and repair Logan boats. His first large keelboat for Logan was Little Jim II in 1934. Logan supervised the project closely, sometimes ordering work to be redone. Logan’s focus on ‘sweetness of line’ had a great influence on Couldrey.
He also built many large keel yachts for other designers, including Arthur Robb’s Tamatea.
After the war
During World War II Couldrey was part of Associated Boat Builders – a consortium of Auckland boatbuilders who amalgamated for the war effort. He didn’t return to full-time boatbuilding afterwards, instead joining the civil service.
He continued with his designing and entered the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron’s ‘one-design’ K Class competition in 1947. His design was highly commended, and two examples, Thelma and Jeananne, were built. He also built Bob Stewart’s second-placed design, Helen (completed at Colin Wild’s yard).
After the war until 1975, Couldrey produced 38 designs. He greatly influenced Jim Young, who referred to Couldrey’s boats as being ‘artistically proportioned and expressing themselves beautifully’.