CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – MATIRA – A Peek Down Below
The 45’ 1956 Collings & Bell built launch MATIRA has made several appearances on WW but we have never had a good gander down below.
Some info: Designed by Alex J Collings, she has a 11’ beam and draws 3’6”. Built from kauri, single skin, carvel planked. In recent years MATIRA was re-powered with twin Yanmar 110hp engines.
MATIRA is one of those classic woodys that looks perfect from all angles and looks fast even when at anchor.
WHAT BECAME OF THE CLASSIC LAUNCH – ADELA + WW HITS 15 MILLION VIEWS
Todays woody photo comes to us from the ’Thames Historic Pictures’ fb via Lew Redwood and features a launch named ADELA. The photo is ex the Judd family album and the tag was ’The Judd’s at play on ADELA presumably on the firth’ (of Thames).
ADELA has not appeared on WW before so it would be nice to learn what became this rather smart looking classic wooden launch.
On the THP site I found the two photos below – tagged ‘Fenton Bros of Turua 1960s carting some big logs’ – Could have built a few woodys from those logs, sadly probably went into the domestic housing market.
Woodys Galore At Auckland’s Wooden Boat Festival
If you’ve got even a hint of salt in your veins, make your way down to Auckland’s Viaduct (Jellicoe Harbour) this weekend for the Auckland wooden boat festival.
The festival is a true celebration of everything that makes the classic wooden boat community special.
Expect a visual spectacle of beautifully crafted wooden boats both afloat and on display ashore, alongside undercover exhibitions and a series of engaging talks and seminars from people who live and breathe wooden boats.
From elegant launches and yachts to working classics, it’s a weekend that showcases the craftsmanship, heritage, and camaraderie that define the woody boat world.
Best of all — Entry Is Completely FREE.
Check out the full festival programme here:
https://www.aucklandwoodenboatfestival.co.nz/festival-programme
SHOW STARTS FRIDAY 13th > 15th
FRIDAY 4PM>8PM – SATURDAY & SUNDAY 10AM > 5PM
▽A FESTIVAL MUST DO▽
Regular WW readers will be familiar with my frustration around the plight of the Vos Boat Yard on Aucklands waterfront, well I’m pleased to advice that its now once again a working boatyard and home to the NZ Traditional Boatbuilding School. To celebrate the yard will be open to the public during this weekends Auckland wooden boat festival and the team from NZTBS will give visitors the chance to see traditional clinker construction and repair skills up close, demonstrating a live build of a kauri clinker Frostbite dinghy in the shed.
DETAILS: Saturday, 14 and Sunday, 15 March, 10am-5pm Percy Vos Boat Yard, 34 Hamer Street Wynyard Quarter Auckland CBD Free entry. Find out more at: https://www.maritimemuseum.co.nz/events/percy-vos-boat-shed-open-day
CAN WE SAVE – DOLPHIN OF LEITH – URGENT SOS
The owner of the 28’ gaff rigged cutter – DOLPHIN of LEITH has contacted WW advising that she sadly sank on her mooring at Herald Island and is scheduled to be lifted out on Thursday 12th March 2026).
Whilst her owner (Iain Lowrie) is preparing himself for the reality that this may be the end of her 122-year life, he is reaching out for last minute expressions of interest in saving her.
Some background – Dolphin was built in 1904 in Scotland and has had a long and storied life. She was built on the lines of a Scottish fishing boat in a yard in Leith, Edinburgh. She is a 28-foot gaff cutter, larch on oak build with pitch pine above the water line and a teak cabin top. Much of her structure is still original, though she was given a new deck in 2011. She is a beautiful example of traditional construction and would offer a rare hands-on learning opportunity, or project for someone with a love for classic boats who wanted a sturdy family boat. She has been a recreational boat all her life and has been in Iain’s family for over 50 year.
If you are in position to help or know someone that is – call Iain Lowrie NOW on 022 400 5034.
CLASSIC WOODEN CANOE STERN LAUNCH – NAOMI
Last week WW was contacted by Graeme Carr concerning a launch named – NAOMI, now back in the day that was a popular name and it pops up several times in the WW archives. In Graeme’s opening correspondence he referred to the launch as NAOMI II, but subsequently came to the view that this name came from his sighting the tender that was being used with the boat when afloat was labeled the NAOMI II. But the likelihood is that the main boat was just named NAOMI and the tender was named NAOMI II, as is the often the case.
Graeme commented that he first encountered NAOMI when it was on the hard located at Daimond Harbour, quite a ways from the sea and in a somewhat sad state, refer photos one and two above (dated c.1995/6).
His intention was to buy the boat and relaunch. There were many conversations with the young owner but no deal as he wished to keep it. Graeme lost touch with it after that only to find that he had planted the seed of its sale and that the owner had sold it to an older gentleman who had repaired and re-floated it.
Graeme later (2015) came upon it again moored at Cass Bay close to Lyttelton. Refer bottom photo.
Can we learn more about NAOMI, Graeme is aware that there were sister ships built but unfortunately all records were lost in a fire at the boat builders (Bailey Bros.).
LAST WEEKEND AUCKLAND’s CLASSIC YACHTING ENTHUSIAST’S HELD THEIR ANNUAL REGATTA – woody John Dawson sent in a link to a brilliant you tube video filmed and edited by Roger Mills that showcases some of the cities best classic yachts. Enjoy
2026 NEW ZEALAND ANTIQUE & CLASSIC BOAT SHOW
In the first weekend of March we have one on NZ’s coolest wooden boating events – the NZ Antique & Classic Boatshow, hosted in Kerr Bay, Lake Rotoiti, Nelson Lakes National Park.
Todays coverage of the event is a perfect example of how the WW community works – I get an email from a friend (John Burland) living in Germany informing me a friend of his (Cam Rodgers) is attending the show this year and would I like some photos – short answer – YES.
So thanks to Cam today we get to have a gander at the show. Looks like the weather gods were smiling.
Remember – click to enlarge photos and enjoy the gallery 🙂
WHERE IS THE CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH TALISMAN
Todays woody is the 38’ launch TALISMAN, designed and built by Max Carter and launched in 1961. Her original owner was R. Jordan. TALISMAN had a 11’6” beam so there was shortage of room down below.
TALISMAN graced the cover of the Oct 1962 issue of Sea Spray magazine.
When launched TALISMAN was powered by twin Fordson diesels that were marine converted by the Ford dealer – John Andrew & Sons. The engines gave her a comfortable cruising speed of 10 knots. For the ‘petrol heads’ there are lots of details in the article above.
Question of the day – what became of TALISMAN, name change?.
(Sea Spray article comes to us via Ken Ricketts)
SPIRIT OF TRADITION CANOE STERN LAUNCH – ZOET
Todayswoody story bends the WW rules eg probably ply and f/glass and an American design, but there are some redeeming features – ZOET was built at the Auckland UNITEC Boatbuilding School in the 1980’s, its got a canoe stern + she is a good looker.
Some background – 28’ in length, built c.1980’s to a Ted Brewer (USA) design, powered by Nissan SD22 inboard diesel. Shallow (28”) draft = great inner harbour / lake boat.
(thanks to Ian McDonald for the tme heads up)
NAPIER CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – BETTINA – GETS A SECOND LIFE
Recently Sam Avison acquired a berth in Napier, but there was a slight problem, the berth included a 1950’s kauri built launch. The launch named BETTINA wasn’t / isn’t in good shape, in fact at the time of purchase she was taking on water (sinking). Sam couldn’t bring himself to call in the back-hoe boys so decided to take on the challenge.
First job was to sort out the leak, that’s done and he’s currently getting his head around where to start next.
The primary reason for Sam contacting WW to see how f he can learn more about the vessels past. All he knows is 26’ long, built in Napier and probably had a name change in the 1990’s.
Anyone able to help with IDing the boat.
CLASSIC BAY OF ISLANDS LAUNCH – MISS BRETT
Back in August 2018 , the ex workboat MISS BRETT was looking for a new owner, WW link below, not sure she found one given the circumstances thats assume she did. https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/08/25/miss-brett-needs-a-new-woody-owner/
Then last week Dean Wright sent in todays photo of MISS BRETT in Deep Water Cove, Bay of Islands.
MISS BRETT was launched in 1927 & built by Dick Lang at Russell for the Bay of Islands famous Fullers Cream Trip. She measures 40’ x 10’9” x 2’11” draft.
Looking at todays photo and the WW 2018 photos, does not appear as if she has been getting the TLC on a regular basis.
Can we learn what’s been happening in her life these past 8 years.
LAST REMINDER RE THE AUCKLAND BOAT SHOW – STARTING TOMORROW
LOCATION IS DOCKSIDE AT THE VIADUCT EVENTS CENTRE – DETAILS HERE https://www.auckland-boatshow.com
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