CAN WE PUT A NAME TO THIS WAIHEKE ISLAND CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT
Just back on dry land after 9 days mooching around Waiheke Island, a mixed bag of weather but you quickly forget the bad days, and there were a few.
Full trip report in the next few days – but today I’m keen to put a name to the launch I spotted in Ostend , near the Waiheke Island Boating Club.
Looks familiar but the brain is fried , so can we learn more about her.
SUMMER CRUISING ONBOARD CLASSIC YACHT RANGER
During a deep dive in the WW files I rediscovered an email received from Paul Garnham concerning the classic yacht RANGER. Refer below (edited)
“It was suggested to me that you might be able to assist me locate the current owner of Ranger. I’m currently digitising my Grandfathers old photos slides from the 1960’s and 70’s and discovered a bunch of photos of Ranger and crew sailing in the Bay of Islands as best I can tell. The owner of Ranger, Mr Tercel? features in a couple of them. I wonder if the current owner of Ranger might be interested or even your website?
I assume it was my Grandfather, Charles Garnham, who took the photos, and I can also identify one of the crew as Mac Redmond, who is my father’s cousin”.
Now I’m hoping I did connect the two, but if not hopefully todays story will.
RANGER also made an appearance on the cover of the Dec/Jan 1961/62 issue of Sea Spray magazine (photo below via K Ricketts)
CLASSIC WOODEN BIG GAME BOAT – DOROTHY – FLASHBACK
Back in July 2015 WW ran a great story on the Oliver & Gilpin built launch DOROTHY, link below. At the time we only had one every stunning b/w photograph https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/07/01/dorothy-2/ There is lots of chat on DOROTHY at the link.
Fast forward to late Dec 2025 and woody John Dawson sent in the great photo above .
Can we learn more about where she is today.
05-01-2025 – INPUT ex CRAIG OGLE – My old mate Wayne owned her in the 90s he sold her to a couple fellas in Wellington as far as I know.
CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – ACHERON
ACHERON was built in 1968 by Owen Woolley and is apex. 44’ in length, has a beam of 12’7” and draws 3’6”.
Forward motion is via twin Commer 135hp engines. Owen W was a big fan of these engine, no doubt based around the sideways configuration which allowed for ender floor installation.
Probably best described as fitting the modern classic mould, she’s a tad too busy up top for my eyes.
She recently made an appearance on tme which gives us a good look below decks. She did appear on WW back in March 2023 https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/03/14/acheron/
Hopefully a new owner is enjoying this rather large launch this summer.
MAYBE LUCKIEST CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH AFLOAT – NANA
In mid December 2025 WW was contacted by John Woodcock with the good news that the 35’ 1934 classic wooden launch – NANA had just been relaunched after a mammoth undertaking to save her.You see back in June 2023 WW ran an SOS story on the boat, she was in very sad state. In fact the listing was an ‘as-is-where-is’ listing.
As in life, the good lookers tend to receive the special treatment, this wasn’t NANA’s first rodeo – she had been close to an appointment with a back-hoe several times. Link here to her in 2019 post a refit. https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/06/03/nana-3/
Some background – NANA was designed by C. Bailey Jnr. & built by C. Bailey & Sons for Mr F Alison of Matiatia, Waiheke Island in1934 & launched in late November / December.
She is 35′ with a 8′ beam and a 3’ draft and built in kauri > carvel
So today woodys we tip out hat to John Woodcock for giving NANA another chance. Still a few bits to finish off but from what we can see in the photos above – NANA is lucky boat.
AND HAPPY YEAR
CLASSIC WORKBOAT – MARILYN – STILL AROUND?
Todays woody is the 34’6” fishing boat MARILYN, built in 1959 by her owner Thomas Clements. Details below.
Question of the day – is she still afloat and if so where and in what condition.
Photos ex Sea Spray magazine c.1960 via Ken Ricketts
KAWHIA WHARF – 1910 – CLASSIC WOODEN MOTORBOATS FLASHBACK
Todays woody photo is of the wharf at Kawia and the large vessel berthed alongside is the harbour ferry – MAHINO.
Of more interest is the collection of small launches , they have a workboat look to them, anyone able to iD any of them.
Photo ex Auckland Libraries heritage collection via Ian McDonald.
WOODY SUMMER CRUISING TRIP REPORT #1 – 233’ CLASSIC MOTOR YACHT
The first report from the woody armada out cruising over the summer holidays is from Angus Rogers on his 42’ 1967 Bailey & Son built launch – CENTAURUS.
Angus was overnighting in Man ‘o’ War Bay, Waiheke Island and was sharing the anchorage with the 233’ majestic CLASSIC super yacht – HAIDA, built in 1929 (originally steam powered). Rumour has it these days owned by another billionaire from Hong Kong.
Also sharing the bay was Peter Loughlin’s 42’ 1927 Colin Wild build launch – LADY MARGARET, see below.
CLASSIC LAUNCH – STERLING – Can We Help Out
Todays woody – STERLING was built by Ernie Lane in Picton and launched in 1925. Lots of details and photos in this April 2019 WW story – link here https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/04/03/sterling-2/
Last week WW was contacted by STERLING’s owner who advised they were in the process of getting her back up to speed for her 100th next year. They commented that with the help of a tame boat builder, they have removed the dodgy timber and replaced with good Northland Kauri, pulled the engine out and given it an overhaul, reconfigured the main cabin and will replace the very agricultural duck board and raise and reconfigure the aft cabin. Along with a full rewiring, she should be good to go for a wee while.
That’s all good news put they have a wee problem – in pulling out the old 6 cylinder Ford Lehman, it was discovered that the cast manifold is beyond repair and are reaching out to see if there are any woodys that might know know where they can get a replacement.
So question today is – can we help out, someone must have one in a shed somewhere.
CLASSIC LAUNCH – KARINA – FLASHBACK
Back in Dec 2023 thanks to a tme listing we got to have gander down below on the 1959 Brin Wilson built launch – KARINA. Link to that story here – https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/12/11/karina-a-peek-down-below/
Today thanks to Ken Ricketts and Sea Spray magazine (June 1959) we get to see her as launched.
THE WINNER OF THE XMAS DAY CALENDAR QUIZ WAS DARRYLL HART – correct answer being Sir Frank Mappln
waitematawoodys.com #1 for classic wooden boat stories, info, advice & news - updated daily - 14+ million views 