Gunk-holing up the Weti River in a 1902 Logan

Gunk-holing up the Weti River in a 1902 Logan Motor Boat

photos ex Jason Prew at the helm of Otira

Despite the CYA Launch cruise / picnic being cancelled Jason Prew & Nathan Herbert + crew decided to launch Otira, the 1902 Logan day boat at Gulf Harbour & explore the upper reaches of the Waiti River. They made it passed the Silverdale road bridge, which is an impressive distance, along the way they passed an ‘interesting’ array of vessels. Enjoy 🙂  As always – click on any photo to enlarge.

For reference see below a recent photo of Otira at Lake Rotoiti Wooden Boat Parade


Discover more from waitematawoodys.com #1 for classic wooden boat stories, info, advice & news - updated daily - 14+ million views

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

15 thoughts on “Gunk-holing up the Weti River in a 1902 Logan

  1. Isn’t she WAKAITI (=”small boat”) built by Dick Lang in 1922 for Parry Bros who sold her to Brain of Coromandel in 1936?

    Like

  2. Geoff Rogers comment:
    Whakaiti I think the name is , Gil Powll late manager of Bailys in Beaumont st. & Ernie brought her as an old clapped out fishing boat , gutted her out & rebuilt new cabin & interior, fitted a 6 ford diesel and have had years of fun.

    Like

  3. Hi Al, where fine, Ta. I hope alls well for everyone.
    I was just catching up with some sleep.
    The boats in the back creek fared well, we didn’t seem to have much rain or the ground was just soaking it up anyway the creek didn’t flood badly.
    Ole Desdemona sat nicely in her cradle taking a battering from the sea behind but was at her max on taught lines and only a short distance from the sea wall, I was wondering how I was ever going to look Harold in the eye if I lost her. The sea had certainly chopped up nasty for such a short fetch across the harbour. Listen to me I sound like an old woman. But on the other side of the sea-wall the 1902 Arch Logan Kia Ora had pulled one of her bow lines out and was laying along the wall. She’s fine, fenders of various makes and vintage saved a planking job. So virtually unscathed other than some sand from out the front which is now down the other end of the beach, it’s back to work as usual.

    Like

  4. Ernie Seagars launch WAKAITI is the launch in motion.
    He has owned her for years after saving her from the mangroves in thames. Many thousands of litres of alcohol has flowed in around and over her and many thousands of miles traveled. A great ship.

    Like

  5. And the whacking great 30ft mullet boat MOLLIE was built by Tom Allely of the marine engineering firm of Allely Bros (later of Hamer Street) in 1914 at his home at 98 Queen Street Northcote and then skidded down the cliff to Sulphur Beach for launching. She’s been up there for 40 years or so.

    Like

  6. ^Ben you will well know also that Carlotta Anne before that, lived on the poles at Skudders Beach for ever. When John Welsford bought her he stated on his blog a name change to Kairos… that doesn’t seem to have happened, and she is also in need of a de-mould by the looks! a nice big boat.

    What isn’t shown by the rusty tugboat photo, is that she is moored WAY up the creek, past the boat yard even. There are certainly some interesting boats up there. I wonder what engine she has?

    Like

  7. Hi, Not sure if they knew but the Charlotte Anne launch that features in the Weiti river gunk-hole expedition is the current home of John Welsford. He’s moored on the end of a wharf owned by Chris Dickson, and house rented by my niece. I went up the creek a fortnight ago to shelter from a blow, and catch up with relatives in our steel 38ft skipjack Mary of York. Pleasure to find him! Cheers, Ben

    On 16 March 2015 at 00:19, waitematawoodys.com – the classic wooden bo

    Like

  8. Good stuff guys.
    The photos of the bridge – they built the new bridge next to an old one going by the footings.?
    Can you jump ashore and get a photo of lovely little Otira to on these outings for the gallery of photos, when and if you can.

    We are under half an hour away now from high tide at the boat yard and all is well, have had worse storms come through. All boats so far accounted for and in one piece but pulling violently at there lines. Not through this yet…

    Like

  9. Image 973 is “Carlotta Anne” (I don’t think that’s her “maiden name”) one of Roy Paris’ biggest, and current home of designer John Welsford.

    Like

Leave a comment