Hokianga Mystery Wooden Boat – Seabird
WW was sent the above photo by Alistair Rowe, who took the photo earlier in the week from the deck of the Boathouse Cafe in Rawene. As we see her above, there is an interesting mix of lines and styles – and one would have to assume she started life as a work boat. Her colour scheme indicates that someone loves and cares for her.
Keen to learn more about this old girl.
Input & photos below from Cameron Pollard – SEABIRD. Been on Hokianga for eternity. Powered by a 100hp Hino noise maker.
11-12-2020 Harold Kidd Input – SEABIRD was built at Motukaraka by Kelsey Bros to their own design for their own use in April 1912 with a 6hp Automatic engine. Another clone of Chas. Bailey’s MILKMAID.
WAITEMATAWOODY CHRISTMAS PRESENTS
Just a heads up, we have almost sold out of WW merchandise, orders have been coming in think and fast over the last month, even without any promotion – on Monday we sold 16 t-shirts to a very big visiting yacht – seems all the crew are getting one in their Santa sack 🙂
The WW cupboard as of today looks like this:
Mens short sleeve dark blue – size 2XL – 8 in stock
Mens short sleeve dark blue – size 4XL – 1 in stock
Mens short sleeve dark blue – size 5XL – 2 in stock
Mens short sleeve orange – size 2XL – 1 in stock
Mens short sleeve dark brown – size L – 8 in stock
Mens short sleeve dark brown – size XL – 4 in stock
SOLD OUT of hats
T-shirts are $34.95 + $5 p&p. Email me the size / colour you are after and I’ll get back to you with availability and payment details. waitematawoodys@gmail.com
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Hello there I think Jamie Maxwell was the person who restored this Boat in Rawene . He may still own it ? My dad was Dick Slade and we owned the Waima , she was a working vessel carrying school children, Cream cans to the old Dairy that closed and doing the Mail run for many years.
I’ll send some pictures of the Waima and other family boats we owned . Ngaire Slade
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Funny that, we were over at the Hokianga two weeks ago. Seabird, and a catamaran the only two boats moored up off Rawene. Had afternoon tea with our friend Dave, at his place, and there was a picture of Seabird on his fridge. He mentioned that he had bought her a few months back and was now the proud owner of a very important part of Hokianga history. She has been in the mangroves recently, having a birthday, ready for summer cruising.
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SEABIRD was built at Motukaraka by Kelsey Bros to their own design for their own use in April 1912 with a 6hp Automatic engine. Another clone of Chas. Bailey’s MILKMAID.
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SEABIRD
Been on Hokianga for eternity.
100hp hino noise maker.
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Looks a bit like a Chas Bailey hull apart from counter stern similar lines to the old Auckland Harbour Board work boats and BlueBoats.
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Hokianga boat, I cant recall her name yet, she is owned and maintained by the man who maintains the Rawene car ferry, she is one of Harolds settler launches and probably the oldest in use and afloat boat on the Hokianga . (He also has an interesting collection of vehicles)
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