LADY ARGYLE — CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – LATEST ADVENTURES

Posted on by
Reply

LADY ARGYLE — CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – LATEST ADVENTURES

Tom Wieringa the owner of LADY ARGYLE the 52′ 1965 classic wooden launch built by John Lidgard, made contact with WW earlier in the week with an update on her travels and some recent photos.

LADY ARGYLE has appeared before on WW – links to those stories below. Lots of details on her past there, make sure you read the comments sections. When launched she was named Santa Rosa, then Argyle, then went all fancy and became a lady.

WW 2015 https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/05/29/lady-argyle/

WW 2025 https://waitematawoodys.com/2026/05/30/classic-wooden-launch-lady-argyle/

 I’ll hand over to Tom (edited)

“We have had the pleasure of owning Lady Argyle for six years. Five of those years we have lived aboard, from Tauranga to the Hauraki Gulf/Coromandel to Whangarei to the BOI’s, Whangaroa and back again.

She has looked after us through almost every weather and sea condition you can think of, delivering us on our adventures every time.

She is beautifully crafted in 3 skin kauri; two diagonal layers and a top longitudinal layer totalling 55mm thick; riveted together over massive stringers you have to see to believe; approx. 140mm x 70mm. The interior timbers are kauri beams and stairs and teak everywhere.

I have just moved her to Pine Harbour Marina for a few months, hoping to get out and about a little more often.

The trip from Whangamata, after waiting for the south westerlies to settle down, was a lovely 15hr adventure, averaging an easy 7.3 kn at 1300rpm using 8L/hr  total both engines.

I parked up the first night at Port Charles, having never stopped there before, it was very pleasant.“

Tom commented that he was looking to rent a marina or mooring suitable for Lady Argyle (16m+) (LOCATION: Pine Harbour, Gulf Harbour, Whangarei, Coromandel)

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – MOANA ROA (MAUREEN R) A Peek Down Below

Posted on by
1

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – MOANA ROA (MAUREEN R) A Peek Down Below

 Back in August 2018 we Rana story on the 1957 Owen Woolley built 29’ launch MOAANA ROA (previously named MAUREEN R, then over time we received regular input and historical photos from WW readers as to her story, the last being in 2025, Link to that story here https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/08/27/maureen-r/

Fast forward to last week and thanks to Ian McDonald spotting a tme listing we now get to have a peel down below.

Appears to be a very smart, well presented classic wooden launch. Forward motion is from a Lees Marine Ford 60hp diesel engine.

CLASSIC WOODEN YACHT ASTRID – ANOTHER PIECE OF HER STORY SURFACES

Posted on by
Reply

CLASSIC WOODEN YACHT ASTRID – ANOTHER PIECE OF HER STORY SURFACES

Sundays WW story on the classic wooden yacht – ASTRID,  https://waitematawoodys.com/2026/10/04/where-is-astrid-the-search-for-a-classic-wooden-yacht/  , prompted Mark McLaughlin to send in todays update / input. Over to Mark 

Further to Sundays storyon Astrid, there was an Athol Burns thread on Boatdesign.net about 14 years ago where the topic of Astrid came up. An ex-owner (now residing in the USA) came forward and provided some colour photos from his ownership and he made the following comments:

I was partnered with a friend we owned ASTRID in Auckland for a few years. I too was wondering what became of her and stumbled onto this forum. I have included some photos.

She had a single banger gas engine with a huge flywheel crank start. The name eludes me. It was kind of cool in it’s annoying way. Cranking made for some funny times.

She sailed quite well with a bit of a struggle pointing as you can imagine. We decked her out with some Lidgard sails including a full radial reaching chute. From memory she was built in Kawhia. I had a copy of the Seaspray article but it has since disappeared.

She was in Westhaven when we bought her. 

https://www.boatdesign.net/threads/who-is-athol-burns.38688/page-2

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – AVALON – RESTORATION UPDATE #6

Posted on by
3


CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – AVALON – RESTORATION UPDATE #6

Today we have an an update from Tobias Forsyth on his rebuild of the 24’ Sam Ford built (1954) classic wooden launch – AVALON. Getting very close to hitting the water. Have to admire the workmanship , very talented man is Tobias.

I’ll hand over to Tobias to walk us thru the work – Update 6, great progress and we have a launch date for late November.

“Photos are fairly self explanatory, new cabin top has been clashed with kauri and then corners glassed, an internal laminex epoxied and vacuum bagged down to have a nice easy maintainance deck head. Cabin top then fully painted and installed. Final coats of varnish done plus non skid on decks before glass install. Made some good progress of wiring and systems with a quick test run of the engine to make sure all is working as it should. 

Test fit the new squabs and carpets along with a few other cosmetic touches. All going to plan the launch date should be ok. Just the final coat on the hull and then driveline install and finish off the engine bay and systems left to go now.” 

WHERE IS ASTRID – THE SEARCH FOR A CLASSIC WOODEN YACHT

Posted on by
2

WHERE IS ASTRID – THE SEARCH FOR A CLASSIC WOODEN YACHT

Last week WW was contacted by Mark Panther who is trying to track down the current location of the Athol Burns designed 23 foot double ended cutter ASTRID. I’ll hand over to Mark to tell the story. The Sea Spray articles area get read.

“I believe ASTRID was built by George Gould in the early 1950s. This boat is of some significance to me, as my parents sailed her to Tonga, Fiji and back home in 1957. The story of the trip along with photographs was published in serialised form in the 1960 August, September and October editions of the Sea Spray magazine.

From all accounts, she was a bit on the slow side, but handled a number of adverse weather events on that trip very well. 

Bluewater sailing in those days differs from the current methods. Windvanes or autopilots were not available, so it was watch on, watch off hand steering, and safety consisted of a small folding canvas dinghy rather than a liferaft, with sextant sites when you could get them.

The top photo shows her hauled out on the old WWII seaplane base concrete ramp at Sawene Bay, Fiji for an antifoul. 

I believe she was owned by a Mr Brian Brown at Waiheke in the early 1990s, and I had heard a rumour she was located at Whagapoua on the Coromanel some time later.”

So woodys can we help Mark out with an update on what became of ASTRID and where she is today.

PART ONE – SEA SPRAY AUG 1960

PART TWO – SEA SPRAY SEPT 1960

PART THREE- SEA SPRAY OCT 1960

A CLASSIC POND YACHT LOOKING FOR HER IDENTITY

Posted on by
1

A CLASSIC POND YACHT LOOKING FOR HER IDENTITY

Todays woody story is a shout out for someone who might be able to answer a few question.

WW was contacted recently by David McWilliams, from Melbourne, Australia asking for help concerning a pond yacht his father built.

The model carries the name WAIRAKEI. It is an impressive craft, standing approx. 6’ tall.

On old photo has the name WAIRAKEI , built 1899 Logan Bros, Auckland written on her stern. However he photo is most likely the 1904 34’ Logan built gaffer rigged yacht – WAIRIKI. So there is a degree of crossed wires / confusion in play.

So woodys –

1. Did Logans build a yacht named WAIRAKEI and if so what year

2. Does David’s pond yacht look like a Logan build

If the answer is yes to the above – do we know what became of her.

Hopefully Mr Kidd or Mr Elliott will be able to help solve the mystery.

And On The Subject of Classic Pond Yachts – I said good buy to one of my favourites yesterday , pictured below. Bought on trademe for $120. An architectural design firm saw the model in a WW story and ‘just had to have it’ for a client reception project – I said no 3 times, then the offer was enough that I couldn’t say no. There’s money in these models if they look the part and are near to original .

WOODYS GETTING SOME TLC + Marine Yard Sale This Saturday

Posted on by
1
MENAI
LADY MARGARET (Colin Wild)

WOODYS GETTING SOME TLC + Marine Yard Sale This Saturday

As we get closer to the summer boating season, several woodys are nearing completion of significant winter work.

The first woody above is the Sam Ford built MENAI that came in for a deck replacement but the scope has slipped out to some TLC, MENAI is one of my favourite classic wooden launches so very happy to see her new owners commitment to her.

The last photo is of the 42’ LADY MARGARET  (Colin Wild) in the shed for a big birthday (100 in 1927) treat – photo was sent as a tease, with the promise of a full story soon. 

HEADS UP – the Te Atatu Boating Club are having a Marine Yard sale this Saturday  (3rd Oct),.Nice and early start –  7am  A great opportunity to find those goodies or to sell those preloved unused items. 
Seller spots also available for non TABC members if any of your readers wish to buy a spot.
Details are on the poster below.

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – EMERALD – 4sale

Posted on by
2

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – EMERALD –  4sale

The 32’ classic launch EMERALD first appeared on WW back in Sept 2019 (link below) that story generated a lot of comments and historical photos (below – dated c.1970’s). We also were sent updated photos from her then trademe listing. WW Sept 2019 https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/09/16/emerald/

What we know about EMERALD – built c.1950’s, designer unknown but possibly her hull from the Collings & Bell stable.

Kauri hull now glassed and powered by a 3.6L, 4 cylinder Ford Trader marinized (Lees Marine) diesel engine, that gives her a cruising speed of 9 knots.                                                             Her home waters are Picton, Marlborough Sounds, South Island.

Earlier in the week WW was contacted by Bruce Herbert, who purchased EMERALD in 2022. Bruce advised that between 2022 and 2023 he commissioned a restoration at Sounds Marine Series, Picton that saw her exterior and interior refurbished and included upgrades to her systems. 

Sadly circumstances have changed and Bruce is looking for the next custodian of EMERALD. Bruce is aware the market is weak and in my eyes is asking a fair price ($19k)

Interested parties to contact Bruce at  bruce@tradingwireless.com for more intel on the vessel.

c.1970’s

05-10-2026 INPUT ex owner BRUCE HERBERT (edited) – below are a few photos showing some of the journey Emerald has come on. The black and white image shows a similar lineage, I’m guessing, or is of a similar age as the image above from c,1970’s.
The location is Henderson, courtesy of Bob Wylie, where she was undergoing the rework of hull restoration when they sheathed it in glass, along with the additional cabin work.

CLASSIC NORTHLAND WOODY – COQUILLAGE + WOODYS KAWAU CLASSICS PARADE

Posted on by
1

CLASSIC NORTHLAND WOODY – COQUILLAGE + WOODYS KAWAU CLASSICS PARADE

Now I suspect as soon as this story goes live someone will inform us that the yacht is either plastic or steel. But she looks the part 🙂

I spotted COQUILLQGE tied up at Dockland5 in Whangarei earlier in the month. 

Can we learn more about her.

CIRCLE THE DIARY – LABOUR WEEKEND CLASSIC WOODY EVENT – KAWAU BOATING CLUB SPRING SPLASH

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – SEA LEOPARD

Posted on by
1

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – SEA LEOPARD

On my numerous trips to the OBC marina in Auckland I have walked past the classic wooden launch – SEA LEOPARD. Thanks to a note from Lindsay McMorran we learn that she has just appeared on tme.
What we learnt – 36’ in length, kauri planked and powered by a 120hp Ford Leman diesel engine. 

Previously owned by the Onehunga Working Men’s Club (as it was then known.) which may the origin of the OTT side rails.To quote the owner re her condition ‘definitely not new’, but the bones are there and appears well spec’ed and only asking 7k

Can we learn more about her – design, builder, launch date etc.