Yearly Archives: 2019

The Launching of Eileen Patricia – 1933 classic motor boat – 50+ photos

Posted on by
15

P1060140

 

P1060128

P1060195

P1060159

P1060163

 

P1060198

 

IMG_1255

IMG_1258

 

 

 

 

IMG_1262

THE LAUNCHING OF THE CLASSIC WOODEN MOTOR BOAT – EILEEN PATRICIA

It was an early (8.30am) start yesterday morning for the classic woodys that gathered to witness Jenni & Peter Mence re-launching Eileen Patricia at The Milford Slipway (ex Geoff Bagnall yard).
The 1933 Arnold Couldrey designed and built motor launch has just undergone a 4+ year restoration at Marco Scuderi’s – MCN Shipwrights yard.
WW has followed the restoration and the links below will take you back to her early days (as launched) and as ‘rescued / saved’ by Peter, thru to leaving Marco’s yard.
The weather forecast didn’t look good, but as always for classic woody events, the sun shone at the right moments and Eileen Patricia was launched in a style befitting a 86 year old lady – Jazz band + Champagne and scones.
Several guests arrived in period costume and the ‘Best In Show’ ribbon would have to go to Paul Powney who sported an original Auckland Motor Yacht Club blazer (photos below).
A special touch was the attendance of several descendants of Eileen Patricai’s builder A. Couldrey.
Links to older WW Stories on Eileen Patricia
The Big Event Launching Video (turn up the volume, nice music)

 

Two of our finest woodies My Girl and Pacific were on hand to escort Eileen Patricia out of the marina and home to her new marina.
Best In Show Ribbon Winner 

 

Update – video footage of Eileen Patricia underway just after launching. Ex Nathan Herbert.

Update2 – Link below to the restoration – amazing collection / essay of the total restoration – a must view

https://www.mcnshipwrights.com/eileen-patricia.html

Update3  – Video of Pacific, Eileen Patricia and My Girl leaving the Milford Marina / creek. Sent in by Paul Powney.

Restoration of Te Uira begins

Posted on by
6

FB_IMG_1539727408050

20181016_081930

 

FB_IMG_1539641729372

RESTORATION OF TE UIRA BEGINS 
 
Pleased to announce that the restoration of 45’ C & W Bailey built (1896) Te Uira has finally begun in Australia.
During the week I was contacted by Colin Grazules with the news – I’ll let Colin tell you the story.
 
“We have constructed a new wee shed to house the old girl and the steel and iron keel has been removed.
At this stage we are envisioning that the restoration back to her original condition should take 2 to 3 years all going well.
The owners wish is to return her to as close to her launch configuration as possible.

We will begin by removing the ribs that were added to stop her leaking in 1898.

But we need your help.

We need if possible a detailed plan of where the original stringers were installed and the triangular beam that sat on top of the floors?
A plan or photos of what the original keel would have looked like would be greatly appreciated.
I have a copy of Robert Brooke’s book ‘Beautiful Boats’ but unfortunately the plans in the book have little detail on this. 

A deck plan would also be of great assistance including including where the original mast step would have been installed etc.

Well this is just the start and I’m hoping this will become an ongoing conversation to ensure that we can do justice to Te Uira and her heritage!!

I intend to post the restoration on the NZ Classic Yacht Forum and on the Cygnet Wooden Boats FB page and will keep you appraised of the progress.”

 

Below are two videos of the keel removal.

Previous Input From Harold Kidd

TE UIRA (usually shortened in Oz to UIRA) was built by C.& W. Bailey and launched on 17th October 1896 for Gidgeon Palmer of Melbourne as a 5 rater.
She was taken across by the steamer TARAWERA with Chas. Bailey Jr going with her to settle her in.
She was quite successful in Melbourne but came up against SAYONARA, the bigger Fife-designed cutter.
She raced in Melbourne with the St. Kilda club for many years, converted to a Marconi rig in 1925.
 
You can also eat / see more here  https://wordpress.com/post/waitematawoodys.com/13298

Mystery Launch 18-05-2019

Posted on by
5

 

IMG_3631

MYSTERY LAUNCH 18-05-2019 + Win A WW T-shirt

I was recently sent the above photo by one of the woodys. The first person to correctly name the boat, builder and year of launching – WINS a WW T-shirt (to be sent post next print run). Entries via e-mail (below) The current owner of the boat, the woody who sent me the photo are not eligible to enter 🙂

waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Screen Shot 2019-05-17 at 8.47.55 PM

Off to a woody re-launch tomorrow – I have been wearing a gag for several weeks, lots of spy photos being sent in, but we will have to wait till Monday to see photos of a very stunning woody 😉

Very Cool Redwing Engine 

Cameron Pollard dropped me a line to say they have a 6 cyl American Redwing petrol engine that they no longer require. They brought it for a re-power but no longer require it. Its 90hp at 3000rpm and is fitted with 2 to1 gearbox. Only ever been used in fresh water. Cameron said they have run it and it sounds amazing.

If anyone is looking at doing a period perfect restoration it would be perfect. Back in the days they were fitted to the likes of Zane Grey and Avalon etc etc.

Screen Shot 2019-05-17 at 5.08.26 PM

Screen Shot 2019-05-17 at 5.08.37 PM

 

 

Celeste

Posted on by
4

Screen Shot 2019-05-16 at 10.12.22 PM

Screen Shot 2019-05-16 at 10.10.18 PM

CELESTE
This very salty looking launch just popped up on trademe (thnx Ian McDonald). All we know is that Celeste was built in 1965 and is 18’ in length.
Powered by a 20hp 3 cyl. Shibaura diesel engine, she gets along nicely at 6 knots and only sips one litre of fuel per hour.
Home port is Motueka, Nelson, South Island –  but I can just see her joining the fleet of woodys on Lake Rotoiti in the North Island.
Can anyone tell us more about her?

Nevada

Posted on by
5

IMG_2026

 

NEVADA

The photos of Nevada above were sent in by David Stanaway and shows her recently hauled out on the slip at Dargaville.
Dave believes she may have been built as a towing launch on the Kaipara.
While smaller than yesterday’s WW feature boat – Miss Betty, she appears similar and to quote Dave , has that Roy Lidgard look about her.
Dave also recalls that there was a longliner in Auckland named Nevada -same boat?
Maybe Zach Matich can help us out on more info on her?
Ps nice railway slip 🙂

Miss Betty > Kalua

Posted on by
5

Screen Shot 2019-05-14 at 8.45.33 PM

Screen Shot 2019-05-14 at 8.45.17 PM

Screen Shot 2019-05-14 at 8.45.04 PM

Screen Shot 2019-05-14 at 8.44.39 PM

Miss Betty > Kalua

Today’s wooden started life back in 1952, named Miss Betty and built by Lidgard as a purpose built work boat for Rope Shipping to tow timber barges on the Kaipara Harbour.

She was sold c.1970 to a doctor who renamed her Kalua and had her converted into a pleasure launch. She was then sold approx 17 years later to Jock McKenzie from Clevedon who had her for 10 years until the current owners father (Mike) brought her. Mike went everywhere in her. She was a great sea boat and approx. 12 years ago Mike gave her a birthday which was a major makeover by boat builder Peter Reynolds.
Kalua is 2 skin kauri, measures 42’, 11’ beam and a 4’ draft. Power comes from a Ford 180hp turbo, that sees her cruising at 8-9 knots.

As a result of her trade listing (thanks Ian McDonald) the seller, Todd (son of Mike) was contacted by Steve Parker those uncle Gordon Brown (still alive at 103) was the second owner. He purchased her from their uncle Dick Rope & brought her over from the Kaipara. He owned her for 21 years. Steve was an apprentice mechanic & helped install the 120 hp Ford. Kalua featured on TV in an ad for Farmers Trading Co. His daughter Lynette featured in the ad. Gordon sold the boat to the doctor, Gordon changed the name to Kalua, not the doctor.

FYI re the name Miss Betty – Betty was Dick Rope’s wife.

Another visual case study in the evolution of an old woody as styles and usage changed over the year.

Input from Harold Kidd – For what it’s worth, the APYMBA records show her builder as “Rope/Warmington”, date of build 1950 (perhaps a Lidgard design?). Owner in 1964 was G.W. Brown of 35 London St Ponsonby with a Fordson then W. Curtis, 28 Cornwall Park Ave in 1966 and then back to G.W. Brown by 1973. Query, is this the KAHLUA that was pinched from Shoal Bay by a bank robber in 1982?

 

Lady Ellison

Posted on by
9

Lady Ellison b:w

LADY ELLISON

Yesterday I was sent the above photo of the c.1952 launch – Lady Ellison by Murray (Mudge) White.

Murray commented that in 1953 he owned the classic yacht ‘ Scout’ and wishing to learn coastal and celestial navigation he went to classes held by Captain Warrick Dunsford at the RAYC and he asked Murray if he would help deliver the Lady Ellison to Wellington.

The skipper and old coastal skipper and an engineer and the boy (Murray) those job was mainly using a drum pump to pump petrol from the two 44 gallon drums in the aft cockpit to the main tank. Murray thinks the engine was a Scripps V8 conversion. After a 4 hour stop in Gisborne to refuel and have the radio checked (AZCI)  they made Wellington in calm conditions in 77 hours. The previous owner was Bert Hammer but Murray doesn’t know who brought her.

Harold Kidd has previously commented on WW that the hull was built by Sam Ford c.1952-3 for Albert Ritchie Hammer of 22 Dommett Ave Epsom. Hammer worked on her for 6 months at Sam’s yard and she was launched at Okahu Bay. HDK also said that the treatment of the coamings and Sam Ford trademark windows were a bit clumsy compared with Sam’s usual treatment of them, but probably a combination of the current owner raising the center cabin by 9″ & Hammer’s handy work rather than Sam.

Her specs are LOA 36’, beam 11’4” and draught 2’9”. Currently powered by a Ford 120hp diesel. Home these days is Motueka, where her owner, Steve Simms, lives aboard.

Colour photo below ex Mark Jarvis – 2015

You can see and read more on Lady Ellison at the long below – remember to read the comments section, lots of chat there.

Lady Ellison

 

Screen Shot 2019-05-13 at 5.26.40 PM
Bronze Stuffing Box Wanted
Does anyone have 2nd hand, rudder gland tucked away that they want to sell?
Or can point Daniel Thomas in the direction of a source for a new one?
Daniel is currently undertaking some serious work to the back end of the 1914 Charles Bailey Jnr built ex work boat – Ronaki at Sandspit.

TAUFALE – A Peek Down Below

Posted on by
Reply

Screen Shot 2019-05-12 at 3.26.50 PM

Screen Shot 2019-05-12 at 3.52.03 PM

Screen Shot 2019-05-12 at 3.51.25 PM

TAUFALE – A Peek Down Below

The 32’ Les Coulthard built (c.1933) launch Taufale has featured before on WW, see link below, and appears in numerous layout / styles. Now thanks to her trademe (ex Ian McDonald) listing we get to have a peek down below. 

Taufale is powered by a 1965 Ford Lees 70hp diesel. Her tme listing states she has 2x 300L fuel tanks – if thats the case she should be able to lap NZ without a bowser stop 🙂
 
Make sure you read the WW comments section – there is lots of chat on her. Video viewing also, below
 

Awa Iti

Posted on by
4

Screen Shot 2019-05-10 at 10.26.22 AM

Screen Shot 2019-05-10 at 10.26.40 AM

AWA ITI 

Awa Iti is a 26’ Gladden motor sailer that has been in one extended family for the past 40 years, but now it is time to pass on to someone who has the energy to keep this lovely old boat going. Her trademe listing says she’s a comfortable stable & safe boat that is easy to sail and handle. She draws under 3 ft and with her bilge keel she can sit on the mud flats upright. Its a classic Gladden which means for its length there is lots of room for a family to enjoy the inner gulf.  

This boat needs some TLC, but is currently sailable. Cabin top, varnish and hull painted and anti-foul done 2018.

 Powered with a “WaterMota Sea Wolf” petrol motor (based on Ford Escort motor) with a heat exchange unit Waterline length 7.1m 23.3ft – Beam widest point 2.775m 9.1ft  – Draft 863mm 2’10”. Currently moored at Northcote Point swing mooring. 

Currently the bidding sits at c$2000 & the reserve has been met so Awa Iti could be a very good buy for someone entering the classic woody movement 🙂

 

Phantom

Posted on by
7

Screen Shot 2019-05-10 at 11.22.33 AM

Screen Shot 2019-05-10 at 11.24.54 AM

Screen Shot 2019-05-10 at 11.20.25 AM

PHANTOM

Ok, Phantom isn’t a Kiwi woody, in fact lives in Newport Beach, California , but she sure is a looker. And she is / was for sale, and I know I leave myself open to criticism, but I don’t care 🙂 she has to be bargain at around NZD $190k it would be a great buy.
Phantom is no old woody that has been allowed to deteriorate at its marina – she is in magnificent shape and is powered by twin 2006 Yanmar 240hp diesels that have only done 430 hrs. She cruises at 14 knots, with a max of 21.
Built in 1936 by Astoria Marine and measures LOA = 52’. Beam = 12’. Draft = 3’8″
She is a well maintained e.g. new fuel tanks 2011, new inverter & batteries in 2017, new covers 2017, new heating system 2017.
So Woodys – have a look a Phantom, getting her to NZ might rule buying her out, but she is a wonderful example of a 1930’s classic wooden motorboat. (Thanks to Andrew Christie for the heads up the listing.

More input below (click link) from Andrew Christie on her history and WW2 war service + photos

IMG_5621
IMG_5622
Screen Shot 2019-05-11 at 9.57.11 AM