Yearly Archives: 2017

Lady Eva

Posted on by
11

Screen Shot 2017-03-30 at 5.27.20 AM

LADY EVA
or the continuing saga of ODIN / OVODIN

In yesterdays post there was considerable debate around the name of the stranded motor boat. Woody, Baden Pascoe strongly debated the case that the vessel was Odin. He commented
“It is easy to see many features of Odin that mirror those of Lady Eva (both built at Whangarei) e.g. side deck rails, shear chocks, towing hook mast mounted, wheel house. Why would you not copy the greatest towing launch of her time? I would. When Lady Eva was launched in 1913, she was the talk of New Zealand, she had a modern 120 English diesel of 120 h.p and many good features of towing launches of the time. The towing hook mounted on the missen mast was what they did in those days, but having a towing point so high is a lethal thing – great way to “gurt” a tug (tow comes along side, pulls and over goes the tug).”

In the above photo we see a scale model of the Lady Eva, built by the hands of master craftsman Bruce Tantrum (love the calendar in the background Bruce 😉 )- to view more of Bruce’s work here https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/03/27/bruce-tantrum-artisan-model-boatbuilder/  and here  http://www.btmodelboats.com/
For comparison I have included below (again) a Odin/Ovodin photo. What do we think woodys? , scroll down to yesterdays posts, read the comments & tell us your thoughts.

OVODIN -T. COLLINS COLLECTION 3

Ovodin / Odin

Posted on by
33

OVODIN - RESTING ON ROCKS - T. COLLINS COLLECTION

OVADIN / ODIN

Today’s photos are from the Auckland Museum, Tudor Collins collection & the caption says ‘Ovadin resting on rocks’. That is all we know, so any woodys able to help out with more details on the boat & how / where she is ‘resting’? photo sent in by Ken Ricketts

30-03-2017 – Input From Capt. David Stanaway

A prime example of inaccurate journalism and data inputting in the past.
Before motor vessels were classed MV there was OEV (Oil Engine Vessel) which was sometimes shortened to OV.
My grandfather had a towboat
O.E.V. Idler this was to differentiate her legally from being a steam vessel.
Normally her name ODIN and port of registry would be shown at her stern. I have never seen shown name and classification on a commercial vessel before, especially on a sidelight screen.
The Auckland Museum curator is quite amenable to having information corrected as I have done in the past.
As I have pointed out to Baden when writing historical tomes they must be 100% accurate or you end up with these situations.
She is definitely the ODIN
Regards Capt David Stanaway

The Most Referenced / Viewed Story On WaitemataWoodys

Posted on by
3

image006

What Is The Most Referenced / Viewed Story On WaitemataWoodys ?

By a clear mile it is Chris McMullen’s story on electro-chemical damage to our classic wooden boats. link here > https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/05/15/electrochemical-damage-to-wood-the-marine-version-of-leaky-homes/
Taking to Chris the other day he mentioned that he inherited around 100 copies of the ‘Professional Boatbuilder’ magazine, from the late Max Carter.
Browsing the magazines, Chris came across the June/July 2000 issue & noted that one of the feature articles – ‘Wood Behaving Badly’ – by Larry Montgomery is very similar article to his ww article on the electro-chemical damage caused to wood by the use of anodes and bonding. Chris (being humble) commented that he considered it better written than his. The article had also been endorsed by the editor of the magazine.

Given the severity of the problem in NZ & in the interests of saving our classic boats, I have taken the liberty & re-produced the article below. Read it & heed it 😉

image001

image002

image003

image004

image005

Lady Karen

Posted on by
10

Screen Shot 2017-02-21 at 8.20.31 AM

Screen Shot 2017-02-21 at 8.20.46 AM

Screen Shot 2017-02-21 at 8.20.18 AM

LADY KAREN
Lady Karen was built in 1957 by Oliver & Gilpin & measures approx 41′. Power comes from 2 x Ford diesels of 80hp each giving her a cruise speed of 8kts.
Based in the Marlborogh Sounds & in MOSS survey her fit out & condition is very well presented for sale & could provide her purchaser with the ultimate boating / working lifestyle.

Do we know anything more about Lady Karen’s past?

28-03-2017 Some information on ‘Lady Karen’ ex Gordon Low
I am the current owner and have had Lady K for around 20 years. I purchased the boat from a Nelson boat builder and his wife, Dale & Jenny Pomeroy. They had owned the vessel for around 9 years after purchasing her from a Wairapa farmer, Hugh Beatham. He was the second owner.
She was built in Kauri & Mahogany near Tauranga and launched in 1957. I believe that she was the first of the larger launches built by Oliver & Gilpin primarily for game fishing out of Tauranga.
When we purchased Lady K, the idea was to develop a small boutique style charter business in Queen Charlotte Sound. We placed her in survey and have built up a successful business taking small groups of tourists on a stunning Sounds experience. She continues to be maintained to a high standard and received her new MOSS survey in December 2016.
I reluctantly placed Lady K on the market in February and hope that any prospective new owner will get as much pleasure out of her that I have.
I had the great fortune some years ago of being visited by one of the original builders, John Oliver. He had prepared for me a photographic history from Kauri tree to launching. This valuable piece of history takes pride of place in the wheelhouse and offers an insight into the effort that goes into building a classic timber launch.

WAITOA – Sailing Sunday

Posted on by
18

WAITOA

WAITOA – Sailing Sunday

Waitoa is a yacht from Ken Ricketts childhood,the  photo above was taken by him in Islington Bay, during a night stopover on route to Kawau Island pre Christmas 1952.Ken recalls she was an F class but is unsure of the designer / builder. She may have been a Woollacott, but she doesn’t show on the Woollacott list.
When Ken knew the yacht (1955-60’s) she was owned by Fred McGehan of Mt Albert. Ken sailed to Kawau on her once at Christmas c1953-55, to catch up with his parents on the family launch Juliana.
Any of the woodys able to advise more details on Waitoa & what became of her?

Harold Kidd Input – 28 footer WAITOA F10 des. Bob Stewart built by Phil Barton 1947-8, so she’s a good ‘un. I saw her in 2005 at Nelson.

GOING TOPLESS

I was recently sent the photos below from Bob Cofer who resides in Bellingham, Washington, USA. Bob pro-formed a top chop on his 1972 Grand Banks ‘Ebbtide’ – if you ever need proof that going topless is the cool thing to do – check out the before & after shots 😉

image1

image2

MELODY – A CLASSIC PROJECT

Posted on by
13

Screen Shot 2017-03-24 at 4.09.23 PM

MELODY – A CLASSIC PROJECT

Melody was built by the legendary John Lidgard in the 1950’s on Kawau Island & used as a Govt service vessel. She measures 11.5m & is powered by a 100hp Ford.

Despite the hull being in excellent condition, the 1930’s plywood that was used on her superstructure, de-laminated due to bonding failure.  Approx. 20>30 years ago she was completely stripped (decks and superstructure) to a her heart kauri bare hull and stored in a dry shed under cover. Recently the property where she was stored was sold to developers and contractors needed to clear the site. On inspection, despite being covered in litter, the hull proved to be perfectly sound and true. No doubt due to efficient storage preserving the quality of materials and excellence of design and construction.
Following negotiations, the vessel was offered, generously, to the Kerikeri Steam Trust and duly accepted by the Trustees.

The Trust shifted her to the TSS Minerva’s restoration site in the centre of Kerikeri, the hull was stripped, steam-cleaned and covered. Machinery and fitments were removed, ready for detailed inspection and refurbishment.
It is anticipated that all proceeds from the sale of Melody will go to the continued restoration of the engineering requirements for TSS The Minerva.

So woodys – anyone looking for a project or a quick start on a build should consider her.

03-05-2020 Update ex Nathan Herbert – Nathan sent in the press clipping below that show Melody, it that  popped up on the Kerikeri fb page. The date  of ’The Kerikeri Chronicle’ – Vol 8, No.2 is 30 May, 1981

IMG-7003

Joy Belle + Maka2

Posted on by
6

Screen Shot 2017-03-23 at 9.22.49 PM

Screen Shot 2017-03-23 at 9.22.12 PM

Joy Belle – 16 ft Clinker Open Launch

Joy Belle was built in 1954 by G C Hayter at Picton & was first used in Queen Charlotte Sounds as a commuter vessel, at some point it was sold as a fishing boat out of Akaroa, then returned to Nelson and held in storage until 2014 when the restoration project commenced & completed in 2017.

Her planking is American cedar, the rebuild timbers include macrocarpa and elm. The restoration included being re-ribbed, stem post rebuilt, new transom installed, new framing and deck laid.

Zoom zoom comes from a  20hp Farymann twin cylinder diesel, that gives her a cruising speed of 6 knots.

Joy Belle is for sale on trademe with an asking price of $9500 ono – making her in my eyes a steal 😉

Grace Isn’t Grace – She is Maka2

received_10207909213990605

Back on March 10th we talked on ww about a small launch that had sunk off Devonport, initially it was thought she may have been named Grace but subsequent intel from Paul Beachman & Nathan Nathan has confirmed that the launch is actually Maka2. Nathan sent in a photo of Maka2 taken several years ago looking very neglected & down in the bow. In the recent weekend storm it all got too much for her & she sank on her mooring.

Fast forward two weeks & I can report that walking the dog last night I came across a recovery job underway off the Windsor Reserve Beach in Devonport. Seems a Genesis was beached last night & re-floated tonight at high water. The good news factor was that already on the barge was Maka2 looking in pretty good shape given she spent two weeks sitting on the bottom. Lets hope someone breaths some life/love/$$ on her 🙂

IMG_0717

IMG_0725

IMG_0727

Photo below ex Jason Prew of the Genesis showing the bite mark………..

IMG_3425

04-05-2017 An update on AKA2 ex Adrian Pawson
This fine craft was delivered to the Henderson dump shop over the weekend. According to the dump shop manager, she had sunk on her mooring during the weather bomb the other week. She was subsequently raised by the harbour master and deposited at the dump.  Someone had bought her and she looks to be on her way to a new home. (That is good news 🙂 Alan H)

ps if the new owner is looking for the other cabin door & a few of the floorboards, try the Devonport Yacht Club, I saw it alongside the slipway, obviously washed ashore 😉 AH

Maka2 b

Maka2 c

Maka2 a

Elsie May II

Posted on by
9

DSC04743

Pre – repaint below

ELSIE MAY II

Back in early January Paul Drake sent in the above photos of Elsie May II. She had ‘appeared’ at a berth near Paul’s ROMANCE a few months before, having been on a mooring on the Lake Taupo for several years.

She is very original, and Paul commented that whoever owns her did a great paint job on her in December.

Paul believes she came from Napier, but knows nothing else. Possibly a 1950’s Chris Craft design NZ built ? & 28>30′ in length

Can any woody supply any details on Elsie May II?

Harold Kidd Input – ELSE MAY (I) was owned by L.G. & W.E. Mair of Connells Bay in 1973 (my pennyworth).

Malolo

Posted on by
7

33191426262_8e94ea55a0_k

MALOLO

I have been invited to some very swish boat launchings over the years but the best invite award would have to go to Max Cumming & R Tangaroa for the invite to the  re-splash of their c.1929 speed boat Malaolo.
Malolo was originally built in Russell, Bay of Island by Francis ‘Nipper’ Arlidge & that is where she will be officially re-launched after a 5 year restoration. The work looks amazing & she has already won the Jens Hansen trophy for best vessel overall at the 2017 NZ Antique & Classic Boat Show at Lake Rotoiti, South Island.
The 5.7m Malolo was originally built to act as a ‘water taxi’ for game fishermen in the B.O.I. There are no photos of the original boat, so the restoration was based on the memories of four old boaties who could remember going out on Malolo.
So woodys has anyone got an old photo album / collection from the B.O.I. that might contain a photo of Malolo?
Well done guys & good luck with the big day. Make sure someone has a camera handy & snaps some photos to share with the woodys.

Malolo 1

 

Malolo 3

Malolo 2

Malolo 4

‘Waifs’

Posted on by
13

IMG_2346

‘WAIFS’
I have recently been sent details on a couple of old girls that look like they need a home &/or some love.
The photo above was sent in by Murray Deeble & in his words is ‘currently pretending to be a dairy cow & needs saving as she has quite a history’. Just what that history is, Mr Deeble has not disclosed, so can any woody enlighten us? She is located at Kakaramea, in South Taranaki (near Patea).

The vessel below, we are told is a 1930’s kauri built launch that has been sitting in a dry shed for the last 10 years as an unfinished project. Her interior has been gutted out & there is no engine. Sadly as a result of a deceased estate she is available for the sum of $1. Pick up is ex Wiri in Auckland. From the photos we can see there is a nice hull – anyone looking for a project or some kauri? Thanks to Greg Skinner for the head up.

566256458