Yearly Archives: 2019

Valerie – Gets A Birthday

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VALERIE – Gets A Birthday
During my recent trip up north, aboard Lady Crossley I visited the Opua Marina to attend the launch of Lady Ellen. While mooching around the hard-stand I spotted the 1929, Lane Motor Boat Co. built, 35’ launch Valerie. I last saw her in early 2018 in Whangaroa.
Valerie has had a change of ownership and is getting a ‘make-over’. When I spotted her at Opua , boatbuilder Ian Wood was hard at work getting her ready for a pre-xmas re-launch. The work would be best described as a ‘rollin restoration’. Included in the work to date is a re-power – out with the 65hp Ford and in with the 115hp Yanmar, check out her new prop – me thinks his old lady will be able to lift her skirt and dance 🙂

Read / see more on Valerie here:

Waitangi Wharf Mystery Event

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WAITANGI WHARF MYSTERY EVENT

Todays photo ex Ross Griffin and from the Jim Shaw’s collection show several woody launches rafted up alongside the Waitangi Wharf.
In terms of the date of the photo, Maurice Sharp has commented that the bridge opened in 1933 and in the photo it appears to not be finished, so the likelihood is that its pre 1933. The assembled crowed are very well dressed so the photo must have marked some occasion of note.
Can anyone help us with the event and with ID’ing the launches?

LENORA – Woody Runabout

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Mystery  LENORA – Woody Runabout

John Wicks sent in the above photo of this very cute woody. John spotted her at the West Harbour marina launching ramp, mid December. John’s first thought was an early Mason Clipper, but the shape isn’t right for that. 
The blokes with her thought she could be an import, possibly from the US, and that she’d spent some “lake time” (Taupo?). She’s certainly been looked after.
John couldn’t tell how she’s planked, but it’s over stringers on web frames. The Volvo Penta engine and stern drive are apparently original gear. 
Anyone able to enlighten us on this woody?
Input from Angus Rogers – It is Lenora now back on Waitemata Harbour owned by John Stephens. It was a home build by Mr John Tonkin who was a dental surgeon. He built it on his basement in Auckland and then used it at his holiday home in Taupo for many years.

The Folly of Buying A Fixer-Upper With Mates

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The Folly of Buying A Fixer-Upper With Mates

Click the link below to read / view this great tales from ABC News – Australia, about 6 mates that took on the restoration of  – Southwinds (previously named Valhalla), a 70 year old, 18m, Hueon pine built classic ketch.
Thanks to Andrew Christie for the heads up on the story.

Kaheno

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KAHENO

The above photo of the 1966 Roger Carey designed ex work boat – Kaheno. 45’9″ in length, she is built by Sinclair and Melbourne using plank kauri on steam bent frames (ribs) & powered by a 135hp Gardner 6LS engine. She has been converted to a live-aboard
This photo was sent in by Baden Pascoe. Taken just after just after relaunching in the upper Tamaki river last week.
You can read / view more on Kaheno at the WW link below
Update – photos below ex Peter Grant, early 2000
After 2 days of cooking, entertaining, drinking and the hardest job – being nice to everyone – we have survived the Christmas / Boxing Day festivities and can now go boating.
Anyone get any cool boating related presents ? – I’ll share a few with you in the next few days 🙂

Kingfish Lodge – Whangaroa – Old Movie

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KINGFISH LODGE –  WHANGAROA – OLD MOVIE
 
I was sent todays movie by Sam Jaffe, whose grandparents Kevin (late) and Wendy Gilligan ran the Kingfish Lodge for several years in the 1970’s and owned the launch – Tuatahi. The movie is actually a 12 minute promotional movie for Marlin depth sounders, made in c.1975/76. Sam and his Nana (Wendy) had it converted from an old 16mm film earlier this year. As you’ll see, it’s set in Whangaroa and Sam is fairly certain their old launch Tuatahi is visible at 2:46 and at several other times – Sam also spotted – Margaret Anne and Lady Doreen.

At 3:26 Sam’s grandfather Kevin (known to most as Kev) is the guy who steps out of the plane and later is seen reeling in the ‘marlin’. The whole playing of the marlin was made up – Kev was just playing a bucket for the cameras according to Sam’s Nana because they didn’t catch anything the day they went out. Nana is visible at about 10:14 with Sam’s Mum pulling in a small fish on their speedboat. 
 
Its a great movie for a chilled out Boxing Day – enjoy 🙂

MERRY CHRISTMAS

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MERRY CHRISTMAS

Hello to all the waitematawoodys readers – merry christmas and best wishes for the holidays. Where ever you are in the world I hope you are taking the opportunity to reconnect with friends and family.
To me Christmas is not a date, it is a state mind – that hopefully lasts 2 > 3 weeks. People generally are nicer to each other, more considerate and forgiving. I’m a giver, always have been, I love the whole process of choosing gifts for people and almost always get it right, except when I bought the wife a lifejacket (there were other items) one year.
I’m a fan of trying to live my everyday life in an amusing, enjoyable way – that way you do not need to look forward to holidays to escape everyday life – life is a holiday, easily said but it works for me. The Pooh Bear cartoon below from A.A. Milne portrays it perfectly.
Enjoy the break, safe travels 🙂
Ps I’ll try to keep the WW stories flowing but forgive me if I miss a day, life might just get in the way 😉
Pooh Bear copy
My photo of 2019 below (so far, years not over yet) – says everything about woody life – a happy bloke and his boat
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All I Want For Christmas

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ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS

Is another clinker, but not much chance of that – Mrs H doesn’t read WW 🙂

Woody Alan Sexton spotted this very smart dinghy being built in Lees Boatbuilders boat shed. Alan commented that it is not common to see any new dinghy being built from timber these days, let alone clinker construction.
Chatting with Greg Lees he told me it is being built by his foreman, Dale Collins. The 8’ dinghy is based on Roy Parris patterns. When complete she will be for sale – so woodys who is looking of the perfect tender for their woody?
 
To view examples of the stunning work undertaken by Greg and his team – click the link below
 

CONNIE V – Saved

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CONNIE V – Saved

It makes me happy to be able to announce that Connie V the 1949, Lane Motor Boat Co. built launch has been purchased and is now in very woody ownership. She will be restored to better than as-launched, more details in the New Year, but we will follow this restoration in detail.

In todays photos / videos (ex Jason Prew) we see her being relaunched at Panmure after a lengthy period on the hard. Lots more of photos and history at the WW link below

https://waitematawoodys.com/?s=Connie+V&submit=Search

Photos below ex Gavin Cook and Harold Kidd of Connie V looking a lot smarter.

Well That Was A Short Splash – Now out again in her new home (photos ex Nathan Herbert)

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Classic Launch Race Announcement 

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If you are a woody launch owner and like to open the pipes up i.e. race against other woodys – Auckland’s Anniversary Day Regatta wants you and your launch.

In 2019 we saw the re-birth of classic launch racing to the regatta after an absence of some 100 years. 2020 is the 180th anniversary of the regatta. So woodys, if you are going to be back in Auckland on January 27th, after the world famous Mahurangi Regatta, click the link below to learn more about the regatta and the handicap launch race. Plus read how you could walk away with prize money including a $1,000 cash prize if you enter by 31 December, plus spot prizes including a Hawaiian holiday.

https://www.regatta.org.nz/enter

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ASTROLABE – A Peek Down Below

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ASTROLABE – A Peek Down Below

I had the pleasure recently to inspect Astrolabe, the 51’ 7” Bruce Clark designed, John Salthouse built 1974 sloop. As you would expect from any craft from John Salthouse’s hands, she is a work of art – 1 3/8” kauri, splned and glassed. She has had a serious amount of blue water under her keel and has enjoyed 27 years of continuous ownership.
Sadly her owner has reached a stage in life where he would like the yacht to have a new caretaker – not just anyone, you would have to be a passionate woody to be in the running for stewardship of Astrolabe.
I post todays story to give you something to think about over the Christmas break. The boat was not ‘dressed’ for photos, these are  just ‘snaps’ from my iPhone.
If you are a serious woody looking for a classic cruising yacht that ticks all the boxes – looks, designer and builder creds, blue water capable and maintained for the last 27 years to an extraordinary standard – in the first instance,  contact us at the email below. waitematawoodys@gmail.com
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