OLD JACK’S SPRAY
I returned late last night from 4 days in the upper South Island, attending the Antique & Classic Boat Show at Lake Rotoiti (Nelson Lakes) – there are over 300 photos in the camera that need to be downloaded and edited so the show story will be a few days away. It was stunning, both in terms of the venue and the craft on show – we arrived early on Sunday morning so I got some photos before the lake ‘filled’ up – below are couple to show you the location wow element.
We did a lot of stuff in 4 days, including a 4 hour walk in the Abel Tasman National Park – now that was special, if you are ever down that way – do it. I bumped into a couple of woodys during the walk so I’ll post more on them and the walk later. One photo below.
Todays story features a yacht that I spotted berthed at the Riwaka Wharf, which is located between Motueka & Kaiteriteri. She would be the pick of the woodys sitting in the mud in the creek. Very very salty and well cared for.
Can any of the southern woodys tell us more about her?
I would suspect a name change (or 2) along the way.
Input from Brian M – she is a replica of Josh Spray. Built by the late Jack Guard (boat builders) in Nelson. Hence the name “Old Jack Spray”.
Now owned by the Wilson Family.
Now owned by the Wilson Family.
2015 Photo below sent in by John Burland
UPDATE 27-02-2020 John Burland sent in the photo below of Old Jack’s Spray hauled out at Port Motueka for some TLC.
Lake Rotoiti
Lake Rotoiti – early morning
Abel Tasman National Park
waitematawoodys.com #1 for classic wooden boat stories, info, advice & news - updated daily 
Old Jacks Spray was built by my father Brian Troy. I was 10 years old when parts of this boat were moved over to 6 Marsden road Stoke Nelson and sat in the back yard for many years when my parents marriage was over my dad moved the Spray. It was at one stage at Willets yard in Richmond then got moved to the slip at Port Nelson. When dad decided to move to the Cook Islands in the 1980s he sold the Spray to Jack Guard at port Nelson. Jack finished the Spray but not as dad has planned it to be as Joshua Solkum built it. I have 10 brothers and sisters who can verify this information
LikeLike
Pingback: Black Swan – Riwaka Inlet | waitematawoodys.com #1 for classic wooden boat stories, info, advice & news – updated daily
New photo added. Alan H
LikeLike
Patrick Maisey (owner of “Lily”) says that Old Jack’s Spray was started by Brian Troy in Nelson who then headed off to the islands prior to completing the job, which was picked up by Jack Guard.
So it should really be “Old BRIAN’s Spray” Says Patrick.
LikeLike
Photo (Alan has it) in the local Motueka/Riwaka Guardian newspaper from 2015 has John Wilson supervising a boom replacement and confirming that it’s a 1970s replica of Joshua Slocum’s “Spray”.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua_Slocum
LikeLike
would like to get more details of old jack spray, inside photo’s engine, etc, she looks as if she is well looked after cheers terry
LikeLike
Yes she is a replica of Josh Spray. Built by the late Jack Guard (boat builders) in Nelson. Hence the name “Old Jack Spray”.
Now owned by the Wilson Family.
LikeLike
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.
LikeLike
Bit hard to tell for sure from the pics (You should of course have dragged her up into an open space and got clearer shots 🙂 ) but she appears to be a copy or replica of Old Josh’s Spray — Old Josh Slocum, that is.
LikeLike