CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH WINSOME II (MAUDE T > LATEX) 4SALE

Posted on by
Reply

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH WINSOME II (MAUDE T > LATEX) 4SALE

Todays feature classic wooden craft is WINSOME II, the 36’ William Hand designed launch was built in 1924 by the Lane Co., Freemans Bay, Auckland.

WINSOME II has appeared on WW numerous times over the years as we have followed her movements around New Zealand.

Today thanks to her current owners we get an extensive deep dive into her past. I have included below a brief overview but encourage you to open / download the PDF file attached to todays story to experience her amazing visual and written history.

Built 1924 – LOA 36’, beam 9’6”, draught 2’9”, kauri chine hull.

Launched as MAUDE T for David Teed, the then mayor of Newmarket, Auckland. Purchased by a Capt. A.E. Emanuel, a ships’ pilot who came to NZ from Shanghai. Re-named LATEX. Commandeered 1940 by the RNZAF, served in Auckland and Tauranga harbours ferrying trainee pilots to and from airports. Acquired by Andy Donovan 1945, used as a charter boat, big game fishing, etc Re-powered with Gray V8 gasoline engine, Cruised at 20 knots. Wheelhouse added 1952. Repowered with Nissan SD 33 diesel 1991. Bequeathed to grandson Andrew Lusty c.1995. Then an unknown owner took her to the Bay of Islands. Found in 2002 by Mike Allan (Marlborough) and trucked and sailed down to Havelock, Marlborough. Refurbishment is ongoing, continued by Chris and Julia Knowles from 2002. 

Maintained with significant assistance from Richard Browning (mechanic/electrical engineer) who also refurbished hull, and installed new galley, conversion to all-round LED lighting, installation 40 V solar panel and associated control panel. WINSOME II is powered by a Nissan diesel  SD 42 T 120 HP straight 6 cylinder that had a marinised cooling system installed 1995. Refurbished motor installed 2016. Her comfortable speed range (cruise > max) is 8 > 10 knots. 

Todays photo gallery are a mix of dates, used to give an overview of her adventures.

Today’s story has two objectives.

To record and share the remarkable history of this beautiful 100-year-old classic so that her story is preserved for future generations.

And to help find her next owner – not simply a buyer, but a custodian who recognises they are acquiring one of New Zealand’s maritime treasures… a vessel that also happens to stop people in their tracks wherever she goes.

Interested parties to initially contact waitematawoodys@gmail.com for more details.

Brochure 2026Download

MYSTERY TIM WINDSOR DESIGNED CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH

Posted on by
4

MYSTERY TIM WINDSOR DESIGNED CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH

Recently the prolific fb poster Lew Redwood has been sniffing around the Maritime Museum photo archives and has discovered ( I use that term because so much of the museums treasures are ‘hidden away’ ) a treasure trove to old b/w boating images from the 1940’s.

Today thanks to Lew we get to see a 26’ classic wooden launch that was designed by Tim Windsor and built at the Shipbuilders yard in Auckland.

The photo is dated 1948 and the photographer is most likely Tim Windsor.

Can we put a name to this classic wooden launch and learn what became of her.

WOODEN LAUNCH – KARA HAKA – A Peek Down Below

Posted on by
4

WOODEN LAUNCH – KARA HAKA – A Peek Down Below

Todays launch is a recent arrival on tme (thanks Ian McDonald), before I comment I reproduce the sellers comments “Shes a bit rough around the edges but got solid bones. A lot of boat for the money.”

It states she is a Sam Ford design but I struggle with that and at some stage an owner must have had access to sheets of plywood at a good price and didn’t own a protractor i.e. not a lot of curves to be seen.

All that to one side asking price is only 12k, so a low cost entry level 36’ launch. What we know – 1964 build, triple skin kauri, powered by a 120hp Ford, home port Tauranga.

Do we know if the name KARA HAKA is original.

CLASSIC SOUTHERN WORKBOAT – ELIZABETH DN.61 – CONVERSION 

Posted on by
Reply

CLASSIC SOUTHERN WORKBOAT – ELIZABETH DN.61 – CONVERSION 

The 36’ 1956 Miller & Tunnage (Port Chalmers) built classic wooden launch – ELIZABETH started life was a work boat, built for E.J. Pile of Moeraki. Her reg # being DN.61 .

From her tme post she was converted to pleasure use in 2000. Post the conversion she has lived on Lake Wanaka (fresh water).

Forward motion is via a 75hp Ford 6 cyl.2715E engine.

Like all southern girls she is well fitted out for comfortable life afloat, including a heater.

If the top photo above is current and with her parentage, its a good buy at 28.5k. Thanks Ian McDonald for the heads up

CLASSIC KAURI LAUNCH HUIA HAULED OUT FOR SOME TLC

Posted on by
1

CLASSIC KAURI LAUNCH HUIA HAULED OUT FOR SOME TLC

Back early 2021 the 37’ 1919 built launch HUIA made an appearance on WW , at the time her then owner was seeking a new custodian for HUIA. Link here  https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/04/09/huia-needs-a-new-owner/

At the time we learnt she was built of kauri and powered by a 60hp Ford Lees diesel engine.

Earlier in the week her current owner, Daniel Carter posted on-line that he had just hauled her out for some TLC. The post generated some amusing chat with a previous owner (Robin Smith15 yrs) recalling that the gent he bought her off was a house painter and every year ‘annual maintenance’ consisted of him mixing together all his part tins of house paint and applying it to both the interior and exterior 🙂

Home these days is the Bay of Islands. Can we ID her builder.

THE BEST BOAT RESTORATION TOOL IS OFTEN A SHARP PAINT SCRAPER 

Posted on by
Reply

THE BEST BOAT RESTORATION TOOL IS OFTEN A SHARP PAINT SCRAPER 

At first glance todays classic wooden launch would scare most off but the last photo shows that beneath all that old paint lies a nice woody. Her seller on tme is open to offers so this could be a great winter (or winters…) project.

What we are told – built in 1929 by Lidgard , she measures 31’6” and has been dry stored for a period.Her interior has been removed, as has the engine – so a blank canvas.

Anyone know the name of the vessel.

CAN WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – GRYPHON

Posted on by
2

CAN WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – GRYPHON

Over the weekend WW was contacted by Glenys Milne who writes / edits the Sandspit Yacht Club newsletter regarding the launch GRYPHON, seen in the above photo.

The vessel had recently been ‘hauled’ out at Sandspit by the Harbourmaster, and due to neglect, was demolished.   Glenys was hoping to via WW uncover  some early history on GRYPHON and commented that she appears to have had a once fine hull, but had had alterations over time eg the enclosed cockpit. 

I tongue in cheek refer to these additions like this as TV1/2/3 i.e. she appears to have 3 TV screens on her 🙂
So woodys – can we help Glenys out with some history on GRYPHON.

CLASSIC 1920’S WOODEN LAUNCH – DUCHESS – One Of The Most Impressive Woodys To Grace The Waitemata

Posted on by
1

CLASSIC 1920’S WOODEN LAUNCH – DUCHESS – One Of The Most Impressive Woodys To Grace The Waitemata

I tend to rotate the laptop screen saver image on a regular basis – for the last week todays photo of the ccc classic wooden launch DUCHESS has been the photo of choice, hard not too – she is such a looker.

DUCHESS has made numerous appearances on WW , starting back in 2013.

Thanks to a 2018 story and input from Harold Kidd and Nathan Herbert we learnt the 40’ DUCHESS was built in the late 1920’s by Bailey & Lowe. In 1934 she has a wee incident with Eel Rock, off Cowes Bay, Waiheke Island. Photo below.           More details on DUCHESS here https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/03/25/duchess/

More details and photo from her past here https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/05/13/duchess-2/

Todays photo is from Ian McDonald via Lew Redwood , via the Auckland Maritime Museum. It was commented that the location was Kawau Island, date unknown.

WHAT BECAME OF THE CLASSIC LAUNCH – OK

Posted on by
3

WHAT BECAME OF THE CLASSIC LAUNCH – OK

During the week WW was contacted by Maxine Dignan a descendant of the Sanderson family from Whangaroa, Northland.  Maxine advised she was currently writing a history of the family. During the research process she came across the photo above of a launch named – OK, pictured in Whangaroa Harbour, with Eric Sanderson at the helm.The photo was in her great-aunt’s album, but sadly with nothing more than the name the boat name and skipper.

Maxine commented that she had also found on WW mention of Eric Sanderson, most often about the launch MANAAKI. She also has links to him re the HAZEL and his brother Alan ( who was the Whangaroa Harbourmaster) on the LOTUS, and apparently Alan also owned the CONDETTE and the  RIO. Eric’s son Jim, grandson Bruce and his sons have all carried on the family commercial fishing business.

With that distinctive bow pattern / caving she must be a Bailey & Lowe boat. And with a very memorable name like OK, we must be able to tell Maxine more about the vessel. So woodys what can we share with Maxine.

INPUT ex HAROLD KIDD – she is Te Whara built by Bailey & Lowe (obviously) in late 1916 for TL and N Drummond of Whangarei. The only local O.K was built by James Reid in 1909 as a passenger launch for Capt Stentiford. Misnamed in the caption I think.

JUST NEED TO FIND THE 8MM MOVIE PROJECTOR IN THE STORAGE LOCKUP 


One of the Friday night gang is an antique dealer and travels the country sourcing goods, these days mainly ‘old’ gold.During the week at one location he spotted a stack of old 8mm movies, on closer inspection one to him may have had appeal to me (note I’m being very PC). Titled ‘Nautical Nudes’ , filmed c.1960 – for the sensitive WW readers I have edited the cover photo, when and if its viewed I will report back 😉

IS THIS THE PERFECT WOODEN BOAT

Posted on by
1

CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VIEW

https://www.offcenterharbor.com/videos/how-to-build-wooden-boat-plank-on-frame-lobster-boat-part-44-build-launch-maggieann

IS THIS THE PERFECT WOODEN BOAT

I regularly rave on about the virtues of the USA based video blog  – OFF CENTER HARBOR, it is subscription based but if you need an example of value for money check out this video on the building of  the plank-on-frame wooden launch – MAGGIE-ANN. 

Todays video is a snapshot of the projects, accumulating with launch day. OCH ran a 44 part series on master boat builder Peter Buxton’s A>Z build.

This video is just one of over 500 in the library that subscribers have access to.                             OCH is the worlds leading reference tool for advice, direction and enlightenment for everything wooden boating.

Don’t believe me – check OCH out here https://www.offcenterharbor.com/about/

And it is only USD$49 for 12 months unlimited access.

BETTER STILL – HERE IS A FREE 2 WEEK TRIAL – LINK BELOW https://www.offcenterharbor.com/join-now-free-trial/?level=1&discount_code=homefreetrial