CLASSIC WOODEN MOTOR-SAILER –  KAIKOURA – A Peek Down Below

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CLASSIC WOODEN MOTOR-SAILER –  KAIKOURA – A Peek Down Below

The 36’ classic wooden motor-sailer – KAIKOURA was for sale earlier this year, and it must have sold because I had numerous people enquiring about her – she ticked a lot of boxes and her size was an added bonus i.e. not too big.

KAIKOURA was built in Wellington in 1959, builder unknown, for a Mr. Palmer, it has been commented that she was a ‘Scottish Drifter’ design. She was used as a pleasure craft by the Palmer, then Blundell families through the 1960s. In the early 1970s Kaikoura was commercially used by ‘Mana Island Transport Services’ then from 1972 till 1974 as the Wellington Police launch. Kaikoura’s fourth owner from 1974 to 1999 was Mr George Jannis. George added masts and sails initially and a new engine, new keel bolts and fuel tanks in 1988. Kaikoura made many trips to the Sounds over these 25 years, then finding a home there with a new owner till 2008. From 2008 to 2017 Kaikoura, now based in Dunedin, was frequently used as a harbour and peninsula pleasure launch and occasionally entering, and winning club sail races (in her class of one).  Ten days after taking ownership of “Kaikoura” in late 2017 her owners did the first of several trips to the bottom of Stewart Island, they also made a winter trip to Wellington, the Sounds and D’Urville Island.

Forward motion is via a Cummins B Series 6BT5.9 As you would expect for a Southern lass she is very well appointed.

Given my attraction to the work-boat look, in another life she could have been mine 🙂

SAD NEWS ON THE EX WWII NAVY 72’ SHIP – KUPARU News reports have her abandoned off Ninety Mile Beach on the West Coast of the North Island over the weekend. Crew all safe and rescued by helicopter. 2018 WW story on the vessel here https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/10/04/hmnzs-kuparu-hdml/

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – ARIKI

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – ARIKI

Todays classic wooden boating photo comes to us from John Dawson and shows the launch – ARIKI. At the time of the photo (1946) the launch was located in Napier. At the time of the photo the launch was owned by B. R. Menzies.

And that woodys is all we know.

Interested in learning more about the craft.

AND ONE FOR THE WTF FILE

A recent arrival on tme. I’m sure she will find a home, someone, somewhere must need a floating porte-loo. (thanks Ian McDonald for the photo)

CLASSIC LAUNCH – MARISTELLA OUT FOR SOME TLC AND A SHAVE

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CLASSIC LAUNCH – MARISTELLA OUT FOR SOME TLC AND A SHAVE

The 1936, 40’ , Sam Ford built classic wooden launch MARISTELLA hauled out at Milford this week for some TLC and shave. Some great historical photos and a peak down below in the WW links below –
https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/07/30/a-snapshot-of-the-classic-wooden-launch-maristella/
https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/09/03/classic-wooden-launch-maristella-a-peek-down-below/

Westhaven was once one of the better marinas in terms of growth but looking at MARISTELLA seems Westhaven is as bad as all the others these days.

In addition there will be some differed maintenance to her rubber stock area, but thats par for the course on these old woodys.

Have to love a railway haul out and the gentle ‘roller’ method of position a vessel in the yard.

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – RIO RITA

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – RIO RITA

Back in December 2014 WW was helping find a new home for the 1929 Collings & Bell built classic wooden launch RIO RITA, At the time she was named RESOLUTION (a 1971 name change) – this link gives us a gander down below https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/12/01/resolution/

If you use the WW search box there is a lot of intel on the vessels provenance.

Last week she popped up on the social media scene and its pleasing to note that she has reverted to her original name and as we can see from the photos above – owner Peter Meister is looking after this almost 100 year old classic wooden launch.

CLASSIC SOUTHERN WOODEN LAUNCH – MANDALAY

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2013
2016
2023

CLASSIC SOUTHERN WOODEN LAUNCH – MANDALAY

Yesterdays deluge of emails to the WW inbox contained a gem – todays top photo (2013) and a note from Janet & Bob Heart the owners of the 36’, 1940 built classic launch MANDALAY. Over the years MANDALAY has appeared on WW – first in Sept 2016 as a mystery launch seen at anchor in Jacobs Bay in Pelorus Sound, (second photo above).

Next appearance was in May 2023 when Dean Wright was mooching around Havelock Marina (third photo above). This story prompted WW reader Phil Vining to recall the vessels broker listing from c.1980’s  when she was 4sale – see below.

Janet has commented that MANDALAY was built in Auckland by Lanes in 1940, this has been questioned on WW previously because she certainly has the look (and paint scheme) of Lanes Picton.

Janet has kindly written a brief review of the craft.

“We ( Bob and Janet Hart ) have owned Mandalay for 39 years since 1987. She’s been based in Havelock Marina and has been a regular sight around Pelorus Sound over these years. Her original design has been faithfully maintained. She’s been much loved and cared for.

She has a cockpit with seats. With full headroom, there’s  a saloon with table and seating for captain and passenger facing forward. A separate bunkroom sleeps 4 people and a separate bathroom has the rope and chain locker. 

 With a Ford 75Hp  engine, Mandalay uses approx. 1 gallon of diesel an hour.”

CAN WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH

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CAN WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH

Earlier in the week WW was contacted by Jason Waterson re his recently acquired launch. Her current name is 5 O’CLOCK SOME WHERE, but in a previous life was named ELSIE MAY II.

Jason is hoping to confirm her design / builder, current think is Allen Williams and learn more about her past.  When Jason bought her she was on Lake Taupo and previously was in Napier. Forward motion is via a Fordson 40hp diesel engine.

Can we help Jason out.

Now if she was mine I’d we buying a small tin of a pant and returning the coamings (window surrounds) to a semi wood look, or similar – as per the photo of EILEEN PATRICIA below.

(photo ex Toby Hyman)

CLASSIC WORKBOAT – TE TUI + MYSTERY LAUNCH

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CLASSIC WORKBOAT – TE TUI + MYSTERY LAUNCH

We have two woodys of interest in todays photo – firstly the Auckland Harbour Board launch TE TUI seen in the forefront looking very smart for a ‘workboat. The photo came to us from a Chris Wood post on the ’Tug & Workboat of NZ fb page. Chris commented that she operated at Westhaven Marina or the Harbour Masters loft at the end of Queens Wharf. Frequently used for wharf soundings. The Engineers Dept. had  a similar boat named – TE WAKA.

Chris asked what became of these boats. B Worthington commented that TE TUI resides in Tauranga these days.

Can we get an update on her status and builder etc and also TE WAKA.

The second woody of interest is the sedan top launch behind TE TUI, any thoughts on her name.

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – MAKURA – A Peek Down Below

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – MAKURA – A Peek Down Below

The classic wooden bridge-decker MAKURA was designed and built in 1949 by Collings & Bell, and is approx. 40’ in length.

Forwar motion is from a 115hp 6 cyl. Ford diesel engine.

Back in January 2025 we shared some photos of MAKURA from her past – lots of intel in that story on her ownership and re-powers over the years. 

Link below https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/01/18/classic-wooden-launch-makura/

The b/w photo above is from Sea Spray magazine July 1951 edition and shows her as built. 

ENTRY LEAVE CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – WANDERING WAYS

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ENTRY LEAVE CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – WANDERING WAYS

Todays classic launch needs some serious TLC from someone with the space to park her and a winter of part-time work but come next summer they could have a no cost entry into the classic wooden boating movement.

What we know – 36’ supposedly built in 1965 by ‘Baileys’, she is double planked, and powered by a 120hp Ford diesel (tme listing states 2014, and recently recon’ed).

WANDERING WAYS is currently hauled out in Rotorua, so may have been a lake boat in recent years. (thanks to Ian McDonald for the heads up)

Can we learn anymore about the launch.

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH AWARIKI GETS SOME TLC

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH AWARIKI GETS SOME TLC

Back in early 2025 the 1967 Owen Woolley built 32’ classic wooden launch AWARIKI underwent a re-fit at the Slipway Milford yard, the work included the removal of her small flybridge ✔️ – Links to the work below + a 2025 photo of her at The Slipway Milford, waiting on the tide.

Feb 2025 https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/02/19/classic-wooden-launch-awariki-gets-a-top-chop/ April 2025 https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/04/03/two-classic-wooden-launches-getting-some-tlc/

Alan Sexton was mooching around the Sandspit Yacht Club yard recently and spotted AWARIKI in the tent getting some TLC, including a bottom shave and new antifouling. During the work the team doing the work uncoveredsome soft wood issues around the shaft log which have been repaired, the boat builder commented to Alan that it was similar to the problems found on TAREE. Maybe a common Woolley issue.

Nice to see that the new owners of AWARIKI arecontinuingthe TLC thatprevious owner Kerry Lilley did during his tenure.