Rob & wife Sue Dorrington
MATAROA Re-Launched
Mataroa has just spent 10 weeks at the Evans Bay slipway, Wellington getting a very big dose of TLC. Owner Rob Uivel commented to me that he would like to mention how supportive and easy going the crew at the yard are, especially – Sven Beirenga and Peter Maherid, nothing was ever a problem.
Mataroa was built in 1928 by Joe Slattery & named Kenya when launched, she measures 36’ LOA & was originally built for Mr Heard of Heards Confectionary. Like most Slattery boats she is very pleasing to the eye & luckily for Rob Uivel has survived relatively as original. She has featured numerous times on ww so search her name in the ww search panel & you can see / read more.
While she was hauled out Rob concentrated on the exterior & as you can see he stripped the cabin sides back to Kauri and applied numerous coats of epoxy and varnish.
The paint colours used reflect what Rob thinks were the original paint scheme.
One interpretation of the name ‘Mataroa’ apparently is long nose – which from on deck, she certainly appears to have.
I’m aware that Rob bought Mataroa for a very modest sum because of rumours that she was suffering from electrolysis. While every hull fastening was connected by a maze of wires, she had suffered a wee bit but surprisingly little compared to other examples we have seen on ww. Needless to say the wiring has all been removed along with any superfluous hull appendages.
Mataroa was re-launched on Jan 21st 2017 & I have to say looks a lot smarter when I saw her for sale on trademe. Well done Rob & family 🙂 We look forward to seeing the interior work next winter.
PS – owning a pretty boat helps get a feature on ww but wearing a ww t-shirt in the photos gets you to the top of the waiting list 😉
BIG WOODY WEEKEND THIS WEEKEND – MAHURANGI REGATTA – I’LL BE POINTING RAINDANCE NORTH MID AFTERNOON TODAY, FORECAST LOOKS ACE, SO SHOULD BE A GOODY 🙂 LOTS OF PHOTOS 🙂
IF YOU ARE THERE IN A CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – JOIN THE LAUNCH PARADE ON SATURDAY MORNING. STARTS OFF SCOTTS LANDING AT 10.00AM.
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It is so heart-warming to see Mataroa restored to how my father, Maurice Reynolds (owner 1968-94), kept her. She looks amazing. Well done and thank you. I was so pleased to find all the information about Mataroa here. I was heartbroken by the state the previous owner had allowed her to fall into, also by the interior butchering done to Mataroa. Sooo wonderful to know she has loving owners again to look after her as she deserves. Such a seaworthy and sea-kindly boat with so many wonderful memories of hours spent on her.
Elaine Reynolds
daughter of Maurice & Pauline Reynolds
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Thanks Ken, Very kind words.We took her out today and were blessed with
Dolphins joining us to bow ride.
Rob Uivel
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Hi Gavin, You are welcome to have a look, let me know when you are in town
and we can pop round to the Marina.
Rob
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Beautiful Rob. Would love to come and have a look sometime…
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Good morning Bill, photos would be brilliant. email them to me at
waitematawoodys@gmail.com
Many thanks Alan H
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Good morning! Keep up the great work! One of the first things I do each morning is open WW!
Just to let you know at Pahi this weekend is the Pahi annual regatta running on Saturday and Sunday. We have a great little collection of boats moored up here and there are quite a few that fall into the WW category! There will be boat racing (launches and runabouts), bath tub racing and carnival stuff! Would you like some photos etc of the boats etc? or perhaps someone may like a day’s outing and a bit of fun so come and watch!
Cheers Bill C 021500269
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And not sullied by any superfluous knobs and excrescences. Not even a handrail up fwd to trip you up and invert you as you fall overboard. There is always a mast shroud to hang on to.
Well done!
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such a pretty boat, well done!
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Rob & Sue, she is a great credit to you both, I just looked back at the pics I took of her in 1948, in Matiatia, & there is not the slightest doubt, that she is looking absolutely stunning, & hugely better than she did even in those comparatively early days. — Love the light green boot top. — Congratulations on a wonderful job — especially her lovely reinstated varnished coamings, — even better than original. — KEN R
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