TRADITIONAL CLASSIC BOATS MOORED ON THE WAIROA RIVER 

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TRADITIONAL CLASSIC BOATS MOORED ON THE WAIROA RIVER 

Following on from yesterday’s story on the annual Classic Wooden Boat Cruise to the Clevedon Cruising Club, as promised today we share the wooden craft passed moored on the Wairoa River.

Many are semi permanent residents and its interesting to see what (if any) work has been undertaken in the previous 12 months.  All too often these back waters can become parking lots for owners that object to lining the back pockets of the Auckland marina owner fat cats.  So it was nice to see most skippers are keeping up the maintenance on their craft, and pleasing to see a lot of ’new’ arrivals. 

Enjoy the gallery – photo quality varies as the first click was at 6.30am and the light improved as the journey progressed up river. As always click on photos to enlarge.

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6 thoughts on “TRADITIONAL CLASSIC BOATS MOORED ON THE WAIROA RIVER ”

  1. The boat I mentioned is the ex Northland pilot boat Ngapuhi. Same vendor still has her on TM after three years on offer. Lovely boat but needs a real workboat man with lots of energy and ability.

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  2. Seventh picture down in the local residents stream of pix was a pilot boat that was in Trade Me for $100K+ with a vendor who was steadfast in holding his price. She looks in quite good nick so if he still has her he is doing a good job keeping her up. Sadly, you sometimes have to be a bit flexible these daze especially when selling a commercial workboat however good its provenance and machinery.

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  3. Yep, Rob. She was built by Des Donovon with the occasional unwilling assistance from his daughters’ boyfriends who apparently called by to pick up the chosen girl (there were quite a few Donovon daughters). Des button -holed them for holding planks or dolly work maybe. This may be an apocryphal tale but I recall some laughter (I used to listen in) about this in my father’s boating circles. Took the best part of 10 years to build and launched in the 60s.. An heroic build.

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  5. Interesting photos thank you

    As featured on WW, (with photos) I have owned what I challenge to be the oldest ‘going‘ launch in NZ, ……….possibly in all of Australasia??

    M.V. Presto, launched 1893 in Waitemata Harbour

    Moored for the last few decades on its swing mooring (TAA2) in the town reach in Tauranga Harbour .

    The original steam engine remains in a museum in Auckland, MOTAT from memory, Presto having been re-powered by a GM (4/71) many decades ago.

    Presto is well due for a tidy-up (this summer).

    ALSO……

    Confusion exists throughout New Zealand with the many doubled-up maori place and river names

    Eg: We have a Wairoa river here in Tauranga, with another obviously in Clevedon in which the photos feature.

    Maybe time NZ had a revamp on maori place names??

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