Yearly Archives: 2018

HMNZS Kuparu HDML

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HMNZS KUPARU HDML
I received an email the other day from Ken Ricketts which served to remind me I was overdue on a wee story on the ex ex Naval 22m patrol boat HDML Kuparu P3565. Her owner Scott Perry has been keeping me updated on the refit of this icon NZ Navy vessel. A fitting project as Scott is ex Navy.
Scott was at a T intersection in this life having recently lost his wife to cancer & thankfully a combination of Kuparu & his young family were the glue he needed to get thru a very traumatic period.
  
In Scott’s own words “Kuparu was a very big ugly mess of a job” but he rolled up the sleeves & with the help of some good friends (old & new) he re-launched her late last year.
Now the navy purists may not all agree on some of the mods but Scott is now the proud owner of a very large, comfortable woody cruiser. The ideal platform for the family to get out & about on the Waitemata Harbour & Outer Gulf & believe me they do, I have spotted them everywhere.
 
If you see Kuparu, give them a wave or if in a bay, row over for a chat & to admire the scale of the project Scott took on. Like all woodys, it never ends, so occasionally Scott posts on facebook looking for anyone keen on helping out with some maintenance – she is a rather large craft to do anything to e.g. clean, sand, paint etc.
 
Kuparu was very lucky to find an owner like Scott but the flip side is Scott was equally lucky with Kupara. Well done Scott.
 
(note below is a gallery of images that Ken Ricketts uplifted from a video on Lew Redwood’s fb page, I apologise for the quality – most often video > still photos = out of focus, I have tried to digitally enhance them but they are low quality, but from them you get a peek into the project  
 
 
As I was writing this story I received an email from a gent named Zaps Zander, who for the past 3 years has been running, compiling and administering a blog on  anything ML related i.e. from day 1 in 1943 to this month (the recent Black Watch sinking). Check out his weblog below – there are over 150 photos

Details below from the RNZN Communicators Association via Ken Ricketts.

LOA:  76′ Beam: 16′, LWL: 72′, Draft: 5′
Design or Class: W J Holt Admiralty World War II anti-submarine patrol craft
Former Name: HMNZS Pegasus P3563 > HMNZS Kuparu P3563  Q1348 WW2 number
Home Port: Auckland
Designer: W J Holt Admiralty
Boat Type: HDML, Gross Displacement: 54-ton
Number of Engines: 2, Engine Model: Mark 6 two-stroke Fodens, Total Engine Horsepower:  180-hp (each)
Builder Name: Ackerman Boat Company, Location Built: Lido Island, California, Year Built: 1943
Hull or Design No.: Q1348
Owner Name: Scott Perry, Owner Country: New Zealand
07-10-2018 Input from John Bullivant – just dug out a photo (below) of Kuparu I took probably about 15yrs ago when she was out the back of the Devonport navy base, by the Ngataringa Bay sports field. I was being watched closely as I was taking the photo by a couple of WRENS who probably thought I was after secret HDML information.
HDML P2563 KUPARU NAVY BASE

Estrela

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ESTRELA
Estrela a double-ender, triple skinned kauri launch was built be Joe Fell in 1920. Her zoom zoom comes from a Hino H07C- 158 hp diesel. 
She  measures 43’in length & from her trademe listing (thanks Ian McDonald) she appears to be very well kitted out. 
At 42′ with her hull & the Hino engine, she must have a healthy turn of speed.
 
Being a double-ender makes her very distinctive so hopefully we can un-cover more on her.
Update – Woody Chris Leech has asked if the above launch is previously named Dawn Star, once owned by ex DYC member John Mitchell – see photo below. Sure looks like it to me (AH).
Dawn Star
Input from Harold Kidd – I didn’t know that Joe Fell built double-enders. The rest of his launches were mainly cream launches for the Hokianga Dairy Company and clones of SIERRA with a tuck stern for carrying capacity. I wonder which one she was originally? Can’t place her.
Dave Jackson will probably know.

East Wind + A woody weekend

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East Wind
In a recent WW story the Lake Rotoiti location of ‘Honeymoon Bay’ was mentioned, this prompted woody Paul Drake to send in the above photo (dated Feb 2017) of one of his families lake boats – East Wind. She has been in the their ownership for nearly 50 years but little is known about her provenance.
Looking For A Woody Experience This Weekend?
It has become a bit of a tradition that on the weekend following the Auckland on the water boat show the team at the Tino Rawa Trust host a classic boating event at Auckland’s Viaduct (Karanga Plaza, at the waterfront end of Halsey St.). This years theme / focus is the New Zealand sailing dinghy. The event is open to the public on Friday 5th, Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th October | 10am to 4pm and entry is free.
These exhibitions are always a not to be missed gig on the classic woody calendar, so do make an effort to visit and see the cream of our small classic fleet on display. Details below 
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Te Haruni

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TE HARUNI
Back in June 2016, woody Mark Edmonds was cruising around Waiheke Island (ashore) & came across an old launch hauled out at a residence in Surfdale. We did a ‘Mystery Launch’ story on her but never uncovered any more details.
Now out of the blue I get an email saying that her name is Te Haruni & she is for sale on Facebook.
A little digging around & I found the fb listing, the asking price is $1800, she has no motor & would have to fit into the ‘work-in-process’ category.
In the listing it states that it was the sellers fathers working project & now needs a new home. I have a contact ph # is anyone is interested.
Hopefully with a name & the above photos we can ID the old girl.

Lucinda 4sale

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LUCINDA – 4sale

I have had a long vicarious association with Lucinda, myself & friends used to sit in the Devonport Yacht Club & look out at her moored in what appeared to be the main channel of Waitemata Harbour. I think we even took bets of how long before she sank, then one day Nathan Herbert rocks up, tracks down the owner & buys her. Her extraction & removal of her beard was covered off on WW her at the link below:

https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/03/11/lucinda/

Then she was towed to Milford Marina & hauled out for a 2+ years restoration (some photos from then included above). Nathan is an engineer & very fastidious so all the work was 120%. You can view her relaunch at the WW link below:

Lucinda Re-Launched

I do not normally do ‘long’ 4sale features on WW but (a) Nathan is a mate (b) Lucinda would have to be the best presented, best looking, value for money classic woody on the market. For $30k, you will be boating this coming weekend. And for the record, given the extent of the work done on her – I think Nathan is a little low on the asking price, it should be closer to $40k in my eyes.

And the question you are all most likely thinking – “Why is he selling?” – simple answer, he had the opportunity to purchase a classic woody that has been in his family for 100+ years, you don’t pass on something like that, so Nathan is back in the restoration mode.

My advice to anyone interested in her – buy her & quick, unlike most classic woodys, she will not be on the market for long.

Below is her story & details on the restoration project.

Lucinda was built in 1930 in Auckland by LC Coulthard and has a beautifully sound single skin Kauri hull with solid kauri cabin. With the help of classic boating experts, I completed a 2.5 year restoration/rebuild of her that saw her stripped back to bare hull and cabin sides, fully checked over and all other components rebuilt/replaced. Lucinda has covered over 1000 miles since relaunch in 2016. 

She is a good looker from every angle, is extremely roomy for her 27ft and uses very little fuel with her relatively modern diesel engine.

Lucinda is very seaworthy and with her high bow and V-bottom hull shape she barely rolls and rides over waves well. She is easy to manoeuvre and with her 2ft 6” draft it is easy to find safe anchorage close to shore!

All of Lucinda’s gear is built to last and top quality. 

Hull

Stripped bare inside and out and repainted in Altex system.

Kauri carvel construction with copper fasteners. 

Large pohutukawa knees throughout with extra large kauri knees in the bow area. 

All sawn frames re-fastened. 

Both bulkheads replaced, with extra sawn hardwood frames added in these areas. 

New solid Jarrah engine beds fitted.

All keel bolts replaced with large custom-made copper bolts.

Keel is solid kauri with no hogging.

Decks

Foredeck (bow area) stripped back to original laid kauri deck. Some planks replaced, then whole deck ply covered and fibre glassed over.

Side decks excellent condition kauri planked with solid pohutukawa belting. Stripped bare and laid over with new fibre glass.

Cockpit roof completely replaced with treated plywood and fibre glassed over. Other cabin roofs are sound, and fibre glassed already.

Cabin sides

Solid Kauri sides stripped bare inside and out and repainted in Altex system. Windows all removed and resealed with sikaflex.

Drivetrain

c.1990 Perkins Prima 50hp diesel rebuilt (new pistons, rebuilt block, crank, valvegear, head) by Taylor Automotive in 2017.

Borg Warner velvet drive 2:1 hydraulic transmission.

Solid bronze shaft. New custom- made 4 blade propeller to match.

Steering gear

New marine grade stainless steel rudder. Teleflex cable steering.

Solid bronze shoe from keel to rudder pintle

Practical and unobtrusive Garmin GPS/fishfinder etc.

Interior

All upholstery replaced, with double V-berth in bow and two singles in saloon area.

Sink and solid kauri bench / seating in cockpit. I have always used a portable gas stove and a portable compressor fridge for simplicity, which are not included in the sale.

Full headroom in the cockpit and bridge (very tall interior in bridge) and about 5’5” in saloon area. 

Marine toilet located underneath a lifting section of the for’d berth to starboard. 

General fittings

Solid bronze cleats, bow roller, electric anchor capstan etc etc. 

Manson Boss anchor with 16m chain, spliced to rope, very safe system.

Full-height varnished hardwood Samson post for anchoring. 

Oregon mast on bronze tabernacle.

Varnished hardwood grab rails.

Top quality fitted cockpit covers.

Automatic deluge-resistant ventilators on foredeck.

Varnished hardwood folding duckboard.Teak cockpit doors.

Electrical

All wiring replaced

High capacity deep cycle house battery with separate starting battery.

BEP switches with VSR, plus earth isolating switch. New alternator.

Auto bilge pump with small secondary pump if required.

All LED lights. Stereo with Bluetooth.

Watch Her Underway

And I’ll Finish On Some Plastic Boat Humour (sort of) down By The Boat Show  – not sure what happened but looks expensive.

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And the other side – ouch 

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And Now On Film

Naomi III

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Naomi

NAOMI III
Todays photo of the motor-sailer – Naomi came from a postcard that appeared on Mitchell Hutchings fb page.
Previously on WW we had a story on Naomi III, which is the same vessel as above.
Harold Kidd noted on that story that Naomi III was the third Naomi owned by M.A. Jenny of Nelson, Auckland and Wanganui. She was 39’x10’x2’6″ and had a 20hp Gardner 2 cylinder petrol engine. Jenny was a most controversial figure during the years leading up to WW1. Nominally he was Swiss but there were suspicions he was an Austrian and a spy! He was quite a dashing wealthy figure and briefly was Commodore of the North Shore Yacht Club until he resigned in February 1903. He took this launch to Nelson but sold her in 1911 to Downes brothers of Wellington. From there she did the rounds, spending a lot of time in Tauranga game-fishing in the 1930s. When I last heard of her, she was in Lyttelton owned by John Sole in 2007.
Chas. Bailey Jr also built Naomi I (March 1902) and Naomi II (November 1902) for Jenny. The latter was last seen on the hard at Panmure Yacht Club. Harold noted the interesting cabin top, Bailey retained the dee-front separate cabin top but put his toe in the water with a raised foredeck as well. Truly a “transitional” style.
You can view the earlier photo here
Harold Kidd Input – Great pic of NAOMI III in Nelson.
Just to muddy the waters a bit, the NAOMI at Panmure owned by Tim Hanna turns out to be the Logan Bros-built Huria, later owned by Jenny and renamed VANORA. See the discussion on VANORA recently on WW.
Britannia 18′ Gets Some TLC In Australia 
Robin Elliott sent in the link below to Ian Smith undertaking some repairs to the 18 footer, Britannia.

Skacen / Skagen

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SKACEN / SKAGEN
Now this wee ship (she is a ship) has been on WW before but she is such a honey & now for sale so she deserves an encore 🙂
Skacen measures 36’ with a beam of 10’7” & draws 4’11”. Zoom zoom comes from a 5LW Gardner (of course).
She was built by Salthouse in 1973, with a carvel kauri hull. You will see from the above photos she is very well fitted out with lots of character.
In the photos you may have picked up something strange – on the port side her name is Skagen & on the starboard its Skacen ?
As Ian McDonald commented when he sent me the trademe link – not many boats of her size have a walk-in engine room.
She would be perfect for a couple wanting mooch around the NZ coast in almost any weather, as she spent over 10 years in commercial fishing on New Zealand’s East Coast.
Woody – David Glen has advised that she was moored in the Whangapoua Harbour, off Matarangi Wharf, for the best part of the last 20 years. She was owned by a local resident who worked in the local forests. She caught David’s eye at Matarangi in 1990’s and she appeared to be well maintained, but seldom used.
And speaking of David Glen, he sent me yesterday the photo below from Amsterdam of this lovely, what I assume is a hire boat. Loving the top & down windows.
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Wairuna

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WAIRUNA

Anyone looking for a low entry cost woody project?
I have been contacted by Phil Gilbert concerning Wairuna a 28’, c.1938-40 Bailey and Lowe launch.
Wairuna has had one owner for the last 30 years, who sadly is now deceased, & the vessel has been sitting on a mooring at Tryphena for a bit.
She is now in Westhaven & will go on trademe next week with a reserve of $500 unless a keen woody wants a bargain.
She is powered by a 90hp Ford diesel, including hyd box.
The hull has been re ribbed, and appears in good nick, no visible electrolysis, top is glassed, original foredeck under the ply and glass. Hull extended
under boarding platform, bigger fuel tanks, no water tanks, and galley has been removed as it has only been used as a day boat for many years.
To quote Phil ‘her bones are great, but the makeup has run a bit’ – all offers considered.
Would be great if we could find a new home & return her to Auckland’s classic woody fleet – or even Lake Rotoiti 🙂
Contact Phil at.   phil@gilbertmarine.co.nz

Malibu II

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MALIBU II

The above photo of Malibu on Lake Wanaka comes to us via Len Redwood’s fb page.
Ken Ricketts has commented that from her looks, she is almost certainly a late 1940’s > 1950’s Ship Builders design.
Can we ID her & find out what became of her?
Harold Kidd Input – She’s actually MALIBU 2, built by Shipbuilders in 1952 for Graham West and shipped down via Dunedin by WAIPIATA in 1955. She operated on Wanaka until December 1968 when she was relocated to Stewart Island. Her dims were 40′ x 12′ x 3′ and she had a Perkins 6 cylinder diesel. Corrected. AH

Lady Mavis

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Lady Mavis

Ray Sutcliffe

LADY MAVIS
WW was recently contacted by Kathy Makan asking for help in her quest to track down the launch – ‘Lady Mavis’ for which she has been searching for some years now.
Lady Mavis was built by her grandfather Ray Sutcliffe and Kathy spent every moment of her childhood from the day she was born into her 20’s on her.
Lady Mavis started out at 32′ built in Ray’s back yard and was launched in 1954 at Browns Bay (North Shore, Auckland). In 1958 she was lengthened to 42′ at her grandfather’s factory at Barrys Point Road, Takapuna where he built flat bottom boats for flounder fishing and dingys for HC Kitchen Ltd.
Her radio number for calling Music Point was Z.M. 2117.  Kathy believes she was built of kauri with two six cylinder engines.  Ray was appointed an ‘Honorary Launch Warden’ in 1963 under the Harbours Act 1950 by the Minister of Marine.
During summer months she was moored at Waiake Beach in Torbay where they lived and would then be shifted to the Milford Marina during winter. The family cruised extensively to Rangitoto, Tiri, Rakino, Motutapu, Wade River, Kawau Island, Mahurangi River to Warkworth, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel and their favourite the Bay of Islands.
In the photos above we see Lady Mavis & Ray Sutcliffe. Ray’s family were friends with the Fullers from the Bay of Islands and used to go fishing with Mr Fuller on his first launch ‘Udine’.  From his late teens into his twenties Ray used to catch the steamer ‘Clansman’ from Auckland up to the Bay of Islands where he spent his holidays  out on the Fuller’s launch ‘Knoxie’ and going out on the ‘Cream Trip’ as well as other special trips.  He used to stay with the Bullen family who was Mrs Fuller’s sister. Below is a photo of Ray with a kingfish caught on Mr Fuller’s launch ‘Udine’, as well as photos of ‘Knoxie and the ‘Clansman’.
Greatgrandfather Sutchliffe