CLASSIC CABIN JET BOAT – TARANUI

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CLASSIC CABIN JET BOAT – TARANUI

If you typed the words jet boat into the WW search box, pretty sure the answer would be ’Nothing Found’, until today.

I stumbled across this wee beauty 4 sale in Nelson – what a treasure.

Some details – TARANUI is 19’ in length and was built in 1967 by Mr Macpherson of Mapua. She spent the most of her life in a shed at Duncan Bay, Tennyson Inlet. Powered by a Crusader Marine 327 Chevy, connected to a Hamilton Jet unit which was purchased from Wilkins & Field in the mid to late 60’s. The gate steering has been modified to make her more agile.

She won ‘Best Jet Boat’ at the 2016 Classic Boat Show at Lake Rotoiti and from the photos looks like she could win again.

STUNNING SUNSET AT KBC LAST NIGHT

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH LOLENE LOOKING VERY SAD + LABOUR WEEKEND KAWAU ISLAND SPRING SPLASH DETAILS

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH LOLENE LOOKING VERY SAD + LABOUR WEEKEND KAWAU ISLAND SPRING SPLASH DETAILS

The classic kauri carvel sedan launch LOLENE was designed and built by Billy Rogers & launched in 1963 as his own launch. Back in April 2014 WW ran a story on her and we learnt from Harold Kidd that she was named after one of his daughters, as were a lot of Billy’s boats.

powered by 6 cylinder 120hp Ford diesel. She measured 34’Length, 10’ 9” beam & 3’ 3” draft. 5’ 10” headroom and powered by 6 cylinder 120hp Ford diesel. Link to 2014 story here – https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/04/08/lolene/

Fast forward to April 2025 and we had a peek back in her early days – Link here https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/04/08/classic-wooden-launch-lolene/

Earlier in the week John Dawson sent in the above photos from Waiheke Island. Fingers crossed someone out there loves her, she is desperately needing some TLC.

KAWAU ISLAND SPRING SPLASH – do not want to temp fate but everything is falling into place – weather forecast ✔️, bands / DJ’s everyday at Kawau Boating Club ✔️, new caterers and menu ✔️, refurbished clubrooms ✔️, events for all – sailing races, cruising events, classic woodys parade – ✔️, and its all free ✔️, no entry fees, no cover charges , clubrooms open to all boaties✔️, there is even an extended ferry service from Sandspit for non boaties ✔️ – programme below.

CLASSIC LAUNCH WAIKARO GETS A HEART TRANSPLANT

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CLASSIC LAUNCH WAIKARO GETS A HEART TRANSPLANT

Spotted the 33’ Roy Parris designed and built (1978) classic launch – WAIKARO at the Slipway Milford earlier in the week , poked my head / camera into the cabin and got a surprise – it looked a little like a tip 🙂 Normally she is immaculately presented (last photo), closer inspection revealed a large hole midships and the absence of her Ford 2715 diesel engine.

Turns out she is getting a heart transplant – out with the Ford and in with a new Yanmar. Will be interesting to see the performance comparison – the Ford was 6cly. 120hp and gave her a top speed of 14 knots, The Yanmar is 4cyl. 110hp and turbo. Yanmar is higher reving and probably 1/2 the weight. Her semi displacement hull helps with the speed.

Being keen fishermen her owners like to fish where the big ones are eg Great Barrier Island , so reliability would have also been key factor in the decision to re-power.

Looking forward to feed back on the performance of the new Yanmar.

You can see / read more on WAIKARO here https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/08/11/waikaro-exceptional-classic-wooden-boat/

UPDATE – Engine installation and new fuel tanks

Also nice to see at the Slipway Milford the progress being made on LEXIA the 26’ 1904 Chas Bailey Jnr built yacht. See early update on the work here https://waitematawoodys.com/2026/09/27/122-yr-old-classic-woody-gets-a-well-deserved-makeover/

CLASSIC QUEENSTOWN HYDROFOIL TOURIST BOAT

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CLASSIC QUEENSTOWN HYDROFOIL TOURIST BOAT

Over the last week I have been following the update on the ‘Famous Meteor 3 Queenstown NZ’ fb page that has been documenting the start of a refit on the iconic Queenstown classic tourist boat – METEOR III.

METEOR III was once one of the star attractions on Lake Wakatipu. Fingers crossed that post the refit she will take her place as one of Queenstown’s leading water based tourist attractions along side the TS Earnslaw . Yes – its not wood and not made in NZ but its a kiwi classic.

I’ll hand over to the crew overseeing the work for an overview of the vessel

SOME BACKGROUND

In 2021 the Society purchased the Meteor III, a 10m fast hydrofoil assisted tourist viewing vessel constructed of aluminum (rivetted) on steel frames.

Vessel History

The Meteor III was constructed by Porthleven Shipyard in Porthleven, Cornwall, UK in approximately 1964. The vessels design was by Supramar AG of Lucerne, Switzerland. Once completed, it was shipped to New Zealand for its original owner Frank Howarth of Lake Wakatipu. The vessel was put into passenger survey. It is well known that Meteor III attracted plenty of business both because of its space age looks and its high speeds.

The vessel was then held by various people, retired and fell to dereliction. It was then purchased by an owner who undertook and completed a full restoration of the vessel so once again she appears intact, bright and sparkling with a quality paint job, fresh carpeting and refurbished seating.

Design & Layout

The Meteor III is designed as a fast hydrofoil monohull constructed of aluminium. The engine compartment is at the bow and the drive shaft extends almost the full length of the vessel. There are hydrofoils both forward, below the engine, and aft. The passenger cabin is somewhat reminiscent of an aircraft with 15 seats that take up most of the interior with just a small area aft for storage of safety equipment and providing an emergency exit. There are plenty of viewing windows for the passengers with extra windows built into the cabin ceiling to allow passengers a full view of the scenery.  Cabin head height varies from 5ft 10′ to 6ft 2’.

The Engine

The Meteor III is powered by a Chrysler 440 petrol engine rated at 300HP V8 coupled to Chrysler gearbox.  This engine is not original to the boat. Fuel tank capacity is 200L. Cruising speed is around 31mph and top speed is 45mph. To get vessel up on the plane it needs to achieve approximately 4,000RPM following which it can drop back to 3,100 RPM. There are two hydrofoils on the vessel, one forward and one aft. The forward foil is adjustable using a hydraulic pump and the aft foil follows suit automatically. The drive shaft is stainless steel and the prop measures 420 x 560.

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH MENAI RELAUNCHED

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH MENAI RELAUNCHED

Over the last 2months WW has been following  the 38’ 1937 Sam Ford built classic wooden launch – MENAI as she has been continuing her rolling restoration.

Very likely one of the longest projects since she changed hands in 2021. Her latest owner has continued righting the deferred maintenance and when she slid down the railway slipway at The Slipway Milford yesterday, MENAI was looking very smart. Probably her best in the last ten years.

Lots of discussion re whether the bow and side rails are reinstalled – owner and myself say yes, Milford crew say no.Time will tell. Photos below of her with and without rails fitted.

Lets put it to the vote below 👍 = no rails – 👎 = refit rails

CLASSIC 1930’S BIG GAME FISHING LAUNCH – 4sale

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CLASSIC 1930’S BIG GAME FISHING LAUNCH – 4sale

Todays woody is named PILOT and has appeared on WW numerous times over the years, each time we have learned more about her provenance.

What we have learnt is that she was built in 1931 by L.C. Coulthard in Onehunga, Auckland for the  New Plymouth Harbour Board.

Back in the early to mid 1990s her current owner, Paul Nattrass, was working for Sea-Tow barging coal into New Plymouth and commented to the senior pilot that he would like to buy the boat. Paul was told he would never get the opportunity as someone from the port would get her.                   Fast forward a couple years and in a tender Paul  bid to in sure that he proved him wrong.

Paul and friend Graeme Wiig steamed her round the top of the North Island to Houhora where she still resides today.At the time of purchase she was powered by a 4 cylinder Ford diesel, later updated to a 6 cylinder .Paul converted PILOT to a recreational game boat and has been landing good sized fish ever since.

After approx. 30 years of ownership Paul has made the call to find a new custodian for PILOT. To quote Paul ‘ she is a wonderful sea boat and seems to be blessed with good luck in terms of landing fish’.Wonderful bones, time spent with a sander and paint brush will be rewarded with a very sharp looking classic woody.

Interested parties to initially contact Paul at paulnat@xtra.co.nz

CLASSICS IN THE MIST + Paeroa Maritime Museum Robbery Fund Raiser

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CLASSICS IN THE MIST + Paeroa Maritime Museum Robbery Fund Raiser

One of our best looking sub 40’ classic launches is the 38’ Colin Wild 1929 built bridge-decker – TASMAN, bridge-deckers if the wood butchers haven’t played around with them always seem to look just perfect to the eye. Only downside is all the stairs 🙂 .Back in December 2025 TASMAN’s owner shared with us photos of the winter refresh he had under taken, link here. https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/12/10/the-refurbishment-of-classic-colin-wild-launch-tasman-begins/

Recently photographer Roger Mills sent in a video he took of TASMAN off OBC on a misty / damp day, the position of the mast indicates a passage under the Tamaki Drive road bridge.  The gaffer yachts in the background would be from an RNZYS race, classic division.

EARLIER IN THE WEEK WE RAN AN ALERT RE THE BREAK IN + DAMAGE + THEFT AT THE PAEROA MARITIME MUESUM – to date they have been unsuccessful in tracking down the culprits and the missing items. A Give-A-Little page has been set up to help club with the repair of the damaged vessels – if you can help out please do – link below.

GIVEALITTLE LINK BELOW

https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/historical-maritime-park-stripped-of-brass

ABANDONED MYSTERY WOODEN LAUNCH – IDOLON

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ABANDONED MYSTERY WOODEN LAUNCH  – IDOLON

Todays wooden launch photo comes to us from John Dawson , who spotted it on the NZ Cars, Boats, Motor bikes ….. fb page.John commented that Mitchell Hutchings had commented he took the photo but could not recall the date or location, but suspected maybe the Coromandel . 

I also have a suspicion that it may have made an appearance on WW before, but the lack of intel hinders a WW search.

Anyone able to shed some light on the photo .

INPUT ex GREG PHILPOTT – The boat is IDOLON. Built by Francis Arlidge in Russell for Brian Baker. She was about 38ft and powered by a Chrysler 6 petrol. Photo was taken in Russell.

UPDATE – Appeared on WW on March 2024 https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/03/07/idolon-where-is-she/

A SPIRIT OF TRADITION CLASSIC LAUNCH – FAULTLESSLY PRESENTED 4SALE

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A SPIRIT OF TRADITION CLASSIC LAUNCH – FAULTLESSLY PRESENTED 4SALE

If you used the WW search panel you would not find many Pelin Empress motor launches on WW, but there would be more than you would find Vindexs 🙂

Todays 35′ launch, ELYSIUM fits very comfortably into the Spirit of Tradition category.

Built in 1980, 10.6m in length and powered by a 225hp Ford Lehman SP225 turbo diesel engine.

Her owner, a good friend, has ELYSIUM for sale along with her Gulf Harbour marina (note – marina not for sale separately)

The sale is brought about due to health reasons, always sad for an owner but more often, a buyer gets a better boat i.e. most boats sell at the end of an ownership period and their condition reflects deferred maintenance.

There is a tongue-in-cheek saying amongst trades people that goes like this – “the builder has the worst maintained house in the street” – well ULYSIUM’s owner is a marine engineer and he destroys the saying. In terms systems, fittings and maintenance you would struggle to find a better boat. I do not have the room on the page to narrate her extensive fit out. To see and read more go to her trademe listing https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/boats-marine/motorboats/listing/6173940295

PROJECT CLASSIC SEA CRAFT CLINKER RUNABOUT

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PROJECT CLASSIC SEA CRAFT CLINKER RUNABOUT

WW has been contacted by Jack Lyons regarding his 12’6” classic Sea Craft clinker built kauri runabout .

Jack’s father purchased the boat c.1950 and ownership was passed on to Jack but as is often the case these craft get ‘parked’ away with the good intention of being restored. 

Well life and the ownership of a 47’ Warwick yacht got in the way and now Jack has made the call to find a new custodian that can take on the project.The Sea Craft is located in Wellinton and from Jack’s comments, the right owner is more important than the right prize.
WW readers will be familiar with my view that these trailerable classics are the future of classic wooden boating, so woodys someone needs to put their hand up.Jack can be contacted at  

lyonsfamily@actrix.co.nz