RUAHINE – Ex 1908 WORK BOAT
Todays woody is RUAHINE, an ex Lyttleton Harbour Board work boat, built by Charles Bailey c.1908.
And that woodys is all we know, Russell Ward spotted her on tme and before he noted any more details she was sold and the listing gone.
Russell is keen to learn more about RUAHINE, and hopefully who bought her and what the plans are.
WHAT BECAME OF THE WOODEN LAUNCH – HOPAI
Back in mid 2024 the owners of the 32’ Chas Bailey Jnr, 1926 built bridge-decker launch – HOPAI were looking for someone to step up and take over the rebuild of the vessel.
The rebuild had been an ongoing project for an extended period and her owner was unable to complete the project. I believe her hull has been f/glassed…..
Does anyone know what happened to HOPAI, hopefully now in the care of someone finishing the work, or is she still in a shed in Kaukapakapa.
REMEMBER SAT 7TH FEB – LAKE ROTOITI CLASSIC & WOODEN BOAT PARADE
Details here https://www.woodenboatparade.co.nz/wooden-boat-parade/
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE CLASSIC LAUNCH – NGATEA
Recently WW was contacted by Jeff Giddens concerning the launch NGATEA – best if I let Jeff tell the story
“Have attached a few photos of my good friend Alan’s boat – Ngatea.History……builder unknown apparently. Rumour has it, way back in the day she may have been some sort of mail boat to Kapiti Island. Ngatea is over 100 years old and was owned for a long time by well known boat builder Reg Saunders of Paremata. She was his pride and joy.
For the last 15 or so years she has been owned by another well-known Paremata identity, and ex fisherman Alan Codyre. As much as she needs a good clean up and TLC in her paint work, she is in outstanding condition for her age.We recently removed the old Perkins and refitted her with a wee Yanmar diesel. It would be great if anyone out there knows more about her history and where she was built and by whom.She is currently on a swing mooring in Ivy Bay Paremata.”
So woodyscan we help Jeff and Alan out and fill in the gaps re NGATEA’s back story.
CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH LADY LUCK
Recently WW was contacted by Robert Williams concerning the launch – LADY LUCK. I need to take a deep breath when I read the email – why?, well turns out LADY Luck is a 38ft Vindex built by Jim Young, (unknown year). But a quick glance at the attached photos and I was pleasantly surprised with todays top photo – quite a looker in her day.But too sure about the look after someone got tired of sanding and varnishing.
Some background ex Robert – LADY LUCK was owned by Bert Hammer in the1970’s to mid 1980’s. Prior to this period Bert owned another launch named LADY LUCK featured on WW (linked here) at Thames. https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/01/17/lady-luck-a-peek-down-below-4sale/
She was part of the Auckland Volunteer Coastguard main rescue ‘Cutter Group’.
The photo showing the varnish sides was as she was leaving the Tamaki River after a thorough clean and repaint. The photos of her in mainly white colours was taken many years later in possibility Half Moon Bay Marina during the 1990’s.
Can we learn where LADY LUCK is these days.
INPUT ex BILL UPFOLD – Up until late last year Lady Luck was sitting outside a panel beater’s on Union St. Howick. it had been sitting there for a few years then disappeared. Not sure if it has been moved into a shed on the property or moved elsewhere.
INPUT ex ALAN SEXTON – Lady Luck is not a Vindex, she was a design from Jim that predated Vindex, he told the story in his self published memoirs
THE PARADE
CLASSIC WOODEN MOTORBOAT RACING ON THE WAITEMATA HARBOUR – Auckland Anniversary Regatta
After the disappointment of a cancelled Mahurangi Regatta weekend I was chafing at the bit to get out on the water.
Being Auckland Anniversary Day yesterday , I secured a spot aboard Jason Prew’s classic launch MY GIRL – WW readers will be aware that MY GIRL holds the title of fastest classic wooden launch on the Waitemata.
So at 11am we were on the start line for the classic launch inner harbour race – start off RNZYS > down to Orakei Bouy > across to Devonport area > back up the harbour to the finish line (aka the start line). Conditions were best described as ok, certainly better than the previous 4 days, overcast, the occasional shower and westerly >20 knots.
This year we were lacking a few of real quick woodys so Mr Prew had the race in hand after 10 seconds. Some close racing with the ‘recently’ re-powered woodies – NGAIO and LUCINDA. Do not have the handicap results but line honours went to MY GIRL / NGAIO / LUCINDA. All serviced at The Slipway Milford yard so a nice trifecta.
Earlier in the morning the tug/workboats put on their normal spectacular performance – see below.
The parade of sail was bolstered by several classic woodys that did not race – parade photos second group above.
Enjoy the photo gallery, light on the winning boat, always is when the bloke with the camera is aboard the favourite 😉
As always – photos can be enlarged by clicking on them.
RACE RESULTS – MY GIRL collects line and handicap honours
TUGBOAT RACE
BELOW – ON A GOOD DAY
DO NOT STOP LOVING YOUR CLASSIC WOODY
A wise old wooden boat builder told me once varnish on boats is like a house with a swimming pool – looks great, helps sell it but you soon get tied of the upkeep.
Well things have changed / improved with the development of some of ’new’ wonder products on the market but they still regular TLC, even if it’s just putting the covers on.
Today we see what 12 mths of neglect can do – sad, very sad. But dockside chat says that a tin of white paint could be on the horizon , so maybe its a work-in-progress.
AND WOODYS – REMEMBER TO GET DOWN TO THE WATERFRONT TO CHECK OUT TODAYS ANNIVERSARY DAY MOTORBOAT INNER HARBOUR RACE – 11 am – RACE START IN FRONT OF RNZYS CLUBROOMS – Course is down to Orakei Buoy and back to finish off RNZYS – so good viewing from most city-side waterfront locations. I’ll be there onboard the rocket ship seen in the photo below, hopefully defending the title – first across the line 🙂
1942 EX OTAGO HB CLASSIC WOODEN WORKBOAT – MARORO
When I get an email that has the boat name MARORO in the subject panel, it gets opened straight away – lots of classic boating history surrounding that name. Turns out todays woody is an ex Otago Harbour Board workboat, that started life as a tender to a OHB dredge.
MARORO was launched c.1942 and she is 30’ x 9’3” x 3’ and built from kauri carvel planks and rebuilt in 1990 and still owned by the family that rebuilt her. Powered by a Mazda 4cyl HA 76hp diesel engine, she has a cruising speed of 7>8 knots.
Home is still Dunedin and she looks like she could handle a sporty weather day + very well fitted out.
Each to there own but the mahogany interior doesn’t get a tick from me – a tad too perfect for an 80 yr old classic. (Thanks Ian McDonald for the tme heads up)
Remember – if you are at a loose end tomorrow (Monday), head down to Westhaven / waterfront to watch the Auckland Ann. Day Regatta – Classic MotorBoat Inner Harbour Racing.
WAS THIS MAHURANGI REGATTA OUR BEST CLASSIC WOODY EVENT EVER
As some of you will be aware todays Mahurangi Regatta was cancelled sadly for all the right reasons – the safety of our craft and people must always come first.
So today we flash back to 2020 , the biggest and best classic woody weekend on record – check out below and enjoy a vicarious regatta 🙂 https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/01/28/mahurangi-weekend-biggest-on-the-water-wooden-boating-event-down-under-200-classic-wooden-boat-photos/
MYSTERY CLASSIC LAUNCH – CAN WE ID
Earlier in the week I was sent the photo above with a very short note – “Found an old photo. Not sure of the boats name but if anyone wants the picture they can have it.”
So woodys can we ID the craft and hopeful learn where she is today and then we can offer the photo to the current owner.
MAHURANGI REGATTA – CANCELLED
A LEFT FEILD QUESTION
WW was contacted by the owner of a vessel named WATERHORSE – message below.
“I was wondering if someone can give me information on a boat I bought. It was built around 2006 for the movie ‘Waterhorse” for Weta Workshop designed by Bruce Askew. It was the PT boat during the later part of the movie. It is a glass over ply construction 32 feet long. Any help would be greatly appreciated.”
CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH MOEHAU
In late December 2025 both Ian McDonald and Brook Sommers drew attention to the classic wooden launch MOEHAU that had appeared on tme. Brook commented that she was built by Jim Young and Brooks father rebuilt the sedan launch many years ago. MOEHAU was the family boat and made regular trips to the Coromandel and Great Barrier.
Sadly after his passing the boat fell into disrepair in Westhaven Marina.
Interested to learn if she sold and if so, where she calls home now.
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