CLASSIC MYSTERY WOODEN LAUNCH AT LEIGH WHARF
Today we have another classic wooden launch photo from Robyn Kellian via Tobias Forsyth.
Based on all the previous photos and what we can see in this one, the location is the Leigh Wharf.
Vessel name and date unknown.There appears to be a Registration # on her bow so maybe a small commercial fishing boat – long-liner?
Hopefully we can get a positive ID from the WW crew.
A COMMUNITY RALLIES TO SAVE A STOLEN & SHIPWRECKED CLASSIC LAUNCH — ALMANA
The classic wooden launch – ALMANA, appeared on WW back in August 2017 when Nathan Herbert sent in a photo of ALMANA asking if we could uncover her designer / builder and what became of her. Link here waitematawoodys.com/tag/almana/
Harold Kidd commented that she was built in 1940 by Cliff Roberts and Alder.
Fast forward to 2019 and we received several photos and comments from Nathan Herbert and Jason Prew as the launch ‘moved’ around the Waitemata Harbour – those photos are below.
Fast forward again early this week and WW is connected by Kathy Parlane who discovered ALMANA on WW while searching for historical photos of my family’s boat, ALMANA. I will hand over to Kathy to share with us an unknown chapter in ALMANA’s life –
“My parents owned Almana in the early 1980’s. After leaving her moored in Mangonui Harbour following a wet Christmas, my father intended to return from Auckland once the weather improved. Before he could do so, the vessel was stolen by three escaped convicts who attempted to sail her toward Australia. They ultimately abandoned her on 90 Mile Beach, Northland, during a spring tide.
Residents of Pukenui and Houhora assisted in recovering Almana, and she was transported back to Auckland for restoration. Many of those involved became lifelong friends of our family.
My father, Doug Parlane, passed away in 2015, so my remaining records are limited, but I wanted to contribute this part of Almana’s story for your archive. I’ve also included a link to the video of the rescue from 90 Mile Beach”
The video mentioned above was pretty ropey and one hour long, so we have uplifted images from the video – as seen above.
Can anyone tell us who undertook the restoration and where she was between the early 1980’s and 2017.
Also in the photos below, the last one shows her alongside a Harbour Master vessel, most likely for an appointment with a back-hoe. Do we know if this happened.
CLASSIC LAUNCH WAIMEA – SOS
The 29’ classic wooden launch WAIMEA popped up on tme as a ‘free to a good, bad or any home’ offering.
Built from twin planked kauri and powered by a65hp Perkins diesel engine.
Unfortunately she was partially (tbc) submerged , hence the free boat offer.
She made an appearance on WW back in 2020, moored at Waiheke Island at the time – link below. https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/09/10/waimea/
CLASSIC WOODEN WORK BOAT – MANAROA BF.8 305
Todays classic wooden boat – MANAROA popped up on the NZ Cars, Boats …..before 1999 fb recently. Hands down one of the prettiest workboats to grace WW.
The poster Noor E Bidduth commented that MANAROA operated as a fishing vessel as part of the Riverton fishing fleet, during the 1970’s and at the time was skippered by Dennis McManaway.
We learnt nothing about her design / builder but a gent named Tas Beer commented that she went ashore on the Solander Islands > Hautere (the biggest in the group of 3), in Foveaux Strait, Southland and was lost.
Can we learn more about her builder etc and confirmation on her demise.
INPUT ex PETER STRINGER –Built by Jorgensen, Waikawa Bay, Picton. The photos below ex the Jorgensen website show her on launch day and sadly her demise. The photo was tagged – MANAROA went down to the south of the West Coast fishing. She was powered by a V8 GM with a twin disc gearbox. Going by the insurance report she blew an oil cooler pipe on the gearbox and drifted onto the rocks. She broke up before any assistance could arrive.
HENRY GEROS WOODEN BOATBUILDERS – TAURANGA
Todays woody photo popped up recently on a fb link that features historical events from the Tauranga area.
The photo originated from the Bay of Plenty Times, 22 March 1973 issue.
The poster was Rebecca Muir, who commented that in the photo we see Henry Geros and his two sons – Phillip and Michael(r), putting the finishing touches to a 22’ cabin cruiser built in their Tauranga based boat building yard.
Can we learn more about the yard and possibly the design of the cabin cruiser, which to my eyes is very appealing. Being 1973 the AWB’s (average white boats) can not of been too far away……..
DEFIANT — A RATHER MAGNIFICENT CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH
On one of my recent trip north I spotted a rather impressive woody hauled out at in Whangarei named DEFIANT. Hard not to miss her given her size.I had a brief phone chat with her owner Chris Wilkens, and was given the green light to go aboard. Chris went to great lengths to tell me she was a tip inside as he was part way thru an upgrade project.
Excuse the quality of some of the photos, as I edited them to remove WIP clutter.
First impressions of DEFIANT is her overall size , she is huge. As a guide in the photos you can see some ‘LazyBoy’ armchairs – there are 4 in the saloon and they are the full domestic size.
Keen to learn more about her – but for now – designed by Nick Peel, I think 54’ in length, powered by a Gardner engine (possibly 150hp).Home port is Whangaroa, Northland.
INPUT ex PAUL WILSON – built by Dave Bryant, an experienced off shore sailor, as a long range cruiser.
CLASSIC MULLET BOAT WAIATA’s POST WAR TRIP > JAPAN
Todays woody tale features the 1934 Dick Lang built 26’ mullet boat – WAIATA (H15). Probably the most travelled mullet boat ever.
Chris Leech sent in a link to a fb post by the boats owner – Steve Rhodes, Steve had shared details and photos on the ’Sitting There Rotting….’ page.
We learnt that WAIATA was taken over in c.1939 by the Royal NZ Airforce for use in a R&R programme during the war. Fast forward to March 1946 and the airforce loaded WAIATA onto an English aircraft carrier named GLORIA headed for Japan where she continued her R&R duties for the J-Force.
WAIATA returned to NZ in 1948, and returned to civilian ownership. The article below is dated from the year 2000 and provides more background.Steve Rhodes commented he bought WAIATA awhile ago in disrepair and pulled her out and is spending ‘shiploads’ on doing her up. In the b/w photo above we see WAIATA on the aircraft carrier GLORIA along with our troops and the Corsair planes.
Great history, keen to learn more about the future plans for the ‘yacht’ (I suspect from the photos she is now better described as a launch)
CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH OM0KOROA RE-LAUNCHED
During the week WW was contacted by Lyndon Chambers the owner of the 36’ classic wooden launch – OMOKOROA, which was re-launched on September 8th. after a 3 year 7mth refit. The woody has appeared numerous times on WW and probably holds the record for the most name changes in her 106 year history – PHENELLA > WANGANELLA > KOTUKU > OMOKOROA. She was hauled out and relaunched at the Shelly Park Cruising Club in East Auckland.
Links below to the the most recent WW stories, whereto can read about her former times.
April 2024. https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/04/25/omokoroa-april-2024-update/
June 2024 https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/06/20/om0koroa-phenella-wanganella-kotuku-omokoroa/
The b/w photo below is from c.1950’s.
MYSTERY WOODEN MOTOR SAILER #2 – WHANGAREI TOWN BASIN – WAIMARIE
Today we have another pilothouse classic woody berthed in the Whangarei Town Basin.
Again as per yesterdays vessel she looks very salty and could be from foreign shores.
Can any of the northern woodys help us out regarding the vessel.
INPUT ex PETER STRINGER– she is name WAIMARIE, and was launched in 1963 – 47′ in length- more details in the article
IMPORTANT EVENT DATE ADVICE – THE OVER NIGHT BBQ CRUISE TO THE CLEVEDON CRUISING CLUB IS NOW NOVEMBER 14
MYSTERY WOODEN MOTOR YACHT – WHANGAREI TOWN BASIN – Riddle of the Sands
Todays wooden was spotted yesterday in the Whangarei Town Basin. I’m not sure how you would describe / classify her – ‘pilot house motor sailer’ / pilot house yacht … open to input. Not a design we see much of in NZ.
Given that WTB is a magnet for international cruisers maybe she is from foreign shores. What ever her roots she is quite a big girl.
Can any of the northern woodys help us out regarding the vessel.
Speaking big girls – the rear on 65′ ARCTURUS, the 1930 John G. Alden (USA) designed schooner is a work of art.
18-09-2026 INPUT ex MARK MCLAUGHLIN – Originally called Solaris, now known as Riddle of the Sands. She is a ferro Hartley Tahitian hull built at Span Farm, with deck and wooden superstructure built by Jim Young.
