William Whithell

William Whithill

William Whithell

The photo of todays woody was sent in by Andrew Pollard and shows the launch William Whithell.
The photo was taken in Motueka, just after WW2, at the time she was owned by Kelvin Wilkinson.
AP commented that apparently she was a bit of a speed machine. She certainly looks it, even sitting on the transporter.
Can anyone tell us more about William Whithell?
Input from Brian Kidson
It was built in Motueka by a Sid Gilbertson as a fishing boat. Built of white pine and had a Redwing petrol engine at one stage. The boat was built out of Sids head, as in no plans. William Whithell bought the boat and changed the name and named it after himself. A Charlie Stade owned it in the 1950s. It did have a larger cockpit till the cabin was extended

Tua Tai

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Tua Tai

I was trolling thru my WW archives and the above woody popped up, sent to me by Luke van Vliet back in Jan 2019. At the time the launch was for sale on Trademe and Luke was an ‘interested’ party.

Don’t know if Luke went ahead and bought the launch……… but at the time he commented “she is located in whangarei Heads, up north and is 32’ in length. All I know is that she has been owned by the current owners for the past 20 years, I was told she was named Too Tai but I could be wrong”
 
Do we know anything about this woody?

Korara at the Milford Slipway

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Korara at the Milford Slipway
The 1962, 37’ Snow Waters built motorsailer Korara is currently hauled out at Auckland’s only true railway hail out facility – the Milford Slipway (previously owned by Geoff Bagnall)
Owner Anatole Perry in his words hauled her out for a ’tickle up’, well already thats grown into stripping the decks and resealing them – I’m sure the TO DO LIST will get even bigger 🙂
Korara has been fortunate to have had some very salty owners in her past, who will be very happy to see that she is in good hands with Anatole (with Jason Prew looking over his shoulder)
A couple of WW links below to see / read more on this woody.

https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/06/18/korara/

Photos below ex Nathan Herbert of Korara in the Milford Marina on-route to the The Slipway.

Rosemary M – Insurance Salvage

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Rosemary M – Insurance Salvage

Rosemary M is a 1915 Lanes built launch, constructed of carval planked kauri hull and top sides. Powered by a 1986 Yanmar, 80 horse power, 4-cylinder, diesel inboard engine,
She was appeared numerous times on WW and features today due to her suffering an impact (from another vessel) on the starboard side near the midships area, while berthed.
Given its an insurance sale – the boat will sell and from dockside chat I have had, the damage is easily repairable eg “a couple of broken ribs and a few planks” – someone could get a very low cost entry into the classic wooden boating scene.
Ps I’m told she did not sink or suffer any water damage.

Don’t normally included tme listing links but will this time

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a.aspx?id=2047671539&tm=email&et=47&mt=845C75FD-6402-4775-8D92-61B560DF1E26rosemarym

05-07-2019 Update –  Photo below ex Cameron Pollard of Rosemary M going back in the water 🙂

Rosemary M July2019

22-07-2019 Update ex Cameron Pollard – Rosemary M relaunched and underway

Monowai III – Southern Cruise

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MONOWAI III – Southern Cruise
Todays WW story is part 2 of Dean & Deb Wright’s recent 2 week Fiordland cruise aboard Monowai III, owned by Andy and Brenda Bell. Today we focus on the launch Monowai III. The photos above also include some from last years (April) cruise > Port Pegasus, Stewart Island, the shots of hail on the foredeck, were when the temp dropped a bit post a front that came through.
Interesting Info:
 
  • 47’ Saunders
  • 11’10 beam, 4’9” draft
  • Carvel kauri construction
  • 15t light ship mode, 18t heavy (Fiordland mode)
  • 8V71N GM diesel, twin disc 2:1 box
  • 2” shaft, swinging 29×21” 4 blade
  • Built by Harold Saunders, Tory Channel, launched 1976
  • Built as a fast cray boat for Cook Strait, capable of 21 knots when launched.
  • Dave Duff was the 1st owner, he kept the boat moored by the Mana Bridge.
  • 2nd owner was Peter McManaway, who did his apprenticeship at Saunders yard and worked on the original build of Monowai III. Peter extended the hull 3’ and did a major conversion, changing the aft fish hold to accommodation and completely changing the wheelhouse to the current configuration. He also added two planks to the height of the hull.
 
She carries 1200 litres of diesel with an additonal 480 litres in portable containers. 600 litres of freshwater. Cruise speed approx 8 knots with a fuel burn around 2 litres per nautical mile.
 
Past Owners:
Dave Duff
Peter McManaway
Syndicate from Wellington
Ron Legge / Richard Downer ( sold to Andy and Brenda Bell in June 2013)
 
 
Below is a video (drone footage) Dean took of the boat going through North Port, Chalky Inlet. That’s the hulk of the Stella lying beached. Built in 1875 and was the first purpose-built lighthouse ship apparently.

Rangi B16

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RANGI B16

I have recently been contacted by Andrew Mason who while going thru a collection of old photos, came across the one above by H Winkelmann, sporting the sail number B16. Andrew was asking if anyone knew if she was still around and if so, what became of her.

I was able to point Andrew in the direction of a comment by Harold Kidd from back in April 2015 where HDK commented on a story / photo ex Chris McMullen on a mystery ship (yacht) wreck.
HDK advised that B16 was the Bailey & Lowe keel yacht Rangi, which had broken up when she came ashore at Norfolk Island in 1951.
Anyone able to tell us more about Rangi prior to 1951?
Harold Kidd Input – She was built as the fishing boat or “schnapper boat” for line fishing by Bailey & Lowe in 1903 as SCHOPOLO for a Greek fisherman called Nicholas. She was very like if not a twin to the Bailey & Lowe fishing boat WHITE HEATHER built for J. Wheeler. Logan Bros’ VICTORY and FRANCES were the same sort of boats. Motor fishing launches made them uneconomical very shortly after and they were converted to most satisfactory yachts because of their extra beam.
SCHOPOLO was sold out of the fishing industry and became LORELEI in 1919, changed hands and was renamed RANGI around 1923.
She took part in the 1931, 1948 and 1951 TransTasman races but was lost at Norfolk Is on her return in 1951.
Input from Jim Lott – Rangi was owned for a number of years by Con Thode’s father. Con learned his early sailing on board and spoke often of his time on board, and his sadness when she was wrecked after his father sold her.

I have been away overseas on “Victoria” (another Auckland ‘woody’, since 2011 and am now back living in NZ.
Currently we won the Camelot “Mokoia” (Stewart) and also owned “Vectis” (Woolacott) in the 1970’s.

Mason B – Bay of Islands Woody Launching

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Mason B – Bay of Islands Woody Launching

 The caption on the photo / press clipping (ex Lew Redwood) reads “A new fishing launch takes the water from the builder’s shed. Mr W. Mason Bayly is the owner”

It was also tagged “Early preparations for the forthcoming dee-sea fishing season at Russell, North Auckland”
The date is August 1926.
Can we put a name to the boat, designer/builder, location?
Harold Kidd Input – She is MASON B, designed and built for W. Mason Bayly by Leon Warne and launched in August 1926 from Warne’s shed at Russell. She was30′ x 8’6″ and had a 30/40 hp Kermath. She replaced Bayly’s GISPA (ex-GLADYS).
Help Wanted
Any one have a base like the one circled below, tucked away anywhere? Or something similar. A woody friend has a spotlight but no matching base.  Any condition ok.
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A Woody Fiordland Cruise 

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A Woody Fiordland Cruise 
Todays photos are from Dean Wright who has just spent 2 weeks mooching around the Fiordland aboard Monowai III, owned by Andy and Brenda Bell. The Bell’s are part way thru their fourth circumnavigation of the South Island. I will do a feature on Monowai III, soon.
Dean & partner Deb have tagged along on their adventures twice now, last year two weeks exploring Stewart Island, and this year two weeks in Fiordland.
Above is a collection of mostly work boat woodys that Dean photographed on the trip – below is a photo of a 65’ fibreglass bad boy snuck in there, punching its was around to Preservation Inlet  🙂
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Artono + Mystery Launch

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ARTONO + MYSTERY LAUNCH

The launch on the left is Artono, owned at the time by Arthur, Tommy & Nole Cole. The location is the Puhoi River.
What more do we about Artono and the mystery launch on her right?
Photo ex Lew Redwood’s fb

Morning Star – There’s A Mullet Boat Hiding In There Somewhere

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Morning Star – There’s A Mullet Boat Hiding In There Somewhere
 

According to her trademe listing, Morning Star started life as a Logan 28ft Mullet boat yacht. The exact date of her build is unknown, but thought to be around 1910.

Hull of kauri carvel construction, the ‘new’ cabin are of marine ply. 

Powered by Ford D-Series 120hp diesel, that pushes her along comfortably and economically at 8 knots @ 1200rpm. Currently moored at Kaipara Cruising Club Marina, Helensville. 
 
Can anyone confirm the bloodline and add any info on her conversion to motorboat?
Harold Kidd Input – 28ft mullet boats were quite rare. The Logan 28 footer CORA is now sadly defunct. I suspect this one was the Crossley-built MERMAID or one of the several 28ft fishing boats built by people like Burgess at Judges Bay or Harvey & Lang.
BUT PLEASE may we refer to mullet boats as “mullet boats” or “mulletties” but not as “MULLETS”. According to people under 50 that I know, that term refers to a particular men’s hairstyle and was never used to debase mullet boats until recently and then only by ignorami. (done AH)