Author Archives: Alan Houghton - waitematawoodys.com founder

About Alan Houghton - waitematawoodys.com founder

What is Waitemata Woodys all about? We provide a meeting point for owners and devotees of classic wooden boat. We seek to capture the growing interest in old wooden boats and to encourage and bring together all those friendly people who are interested in the preservation of classic wooden vessels for whatever reason, be it their own lifestyle, passion for old boats or just their view of the world. We encourage the exchange of knowledge about the care and restoration of these old boats, and we facilitate gatherings of classic wooden boats via working together with traditionally-minded clubs and associations. Are you a Waitemata Woody? The Waitemata Woodies blog provides a virtual meeting point for lovers of classic and traditional wooden boats.
 If you are interested in our interests and activities become a follower to this blog. The Vessels Featured The boats on display here (yes there are some yachts included, some are just to drop dead stunning to over look) require patrons, people devoted to their care and up keep, financially and emotionally . The owners of these boats understand the importance of owning, restoring and keeping a part of the golden age of Kiwi boating alive. The boats are true Kiwi treasure to be preserved and appreciated.

Komutu + What To Do On The Long Weekend

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KOMUTU

Woody Ian McDonald has been on a wee road trip up north. Ian sent in the above photos of Komutu hauled out at Whangarei. All we know is she was built in 1950 by Curnow & Wilson in Motueka.

Komutu is 44’ in length , single skin and powered by a GM 6/71 diesel engine.

Can anyone tell us what she has been up to in the last 69 years ?

Input from Brian Kidson – Komutu was designed by Cliff Nalder for himself and built by Curnow and Wilton of Port Nelson. Cliff was the Nalder of the Nalder and Biddle, marine engineers with Curnow and Wilton, next door on the same 200ton sidways slip way. Komutu was launched in the December 1952 at 42ft x 12ft x 3ft 6inches. Komutu hull was seam batten carvel planked white pine from Golden Bay over rata frames with hollow sections frd running aft to a straight flat transom. Her original engine was a 165hp 6/71 GM said to have come out of a Sherman tank. Cliff used her between Nelson and the Marlborough Sounds where he had a bach, until he sold her about 1967 to a Keith Robson. Has had five or six of owners since then.

Further Input from Brian Kidson – Brian sent in the photos below (ex Bill Nalder & Phil Robson) The shows her under construction, then post launching and lastly c.1960’s.

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Komutu(Phil Robson) 1

 

BUSY WEEKEND ON & OFF THE WATER THIS LONG WEEKEND

  1. Friday – sees the start of the annual Coastal Classic Yacht Race to Russell in the Bay of Islands. The start is always a great spectacle, best viewing spot being up North Head, Devonport. Follow the race on-line, details here  https://www.coastalclassic.co.nz/watch

2. Saturday > Monday  – the Tino Rawa Trust are again hosting the classic yacht and launch exhibition at Te Wero Island down at Auckland’s Viaduct. This year the event celebrates the contribution immigrant boat builders had on Auckland’s maritime history. Particular focus will be on the Logan and Bailey boat building dynasties. Event open each day 10am > 4pm – Entry is free. Read more on the event here https://tinorawatrust.co.nz/events

3. Its Labour Day long weekend – time to load the boat up and get out there 🙂

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CENTAURUS – A PEEK DOWN BELOW – Before she is sold

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CENTAURUS – A PEEK DOWN BELOW – Before she is sold
Recently we featured on WW the magnificent motorboat Turongo and she will be bought by someone looking for the pinnacle of classic wooden boating, one of only 5 vessels of her size and grace – but at  56’ she is a ship and not everyone wants a woody that big. So today we featured  what I believe is the best sub 45’ classic motorboat available for purchase – the 1967 Bailey & Sons built CENTAURUS.
There are lots of boats supposedly ‘on the market’ but none in the condition of Centaurus or with a realistic, motivated vendor. Centaurus is a genuine turn-key vessel, just add food and water and you will be boating this summer.
Centaurus is what I call a lucky boat – her first owner had her for 45 years and since then there has only been 3 custodians, each passing her on in better condition than when purchased. I have been on most classics and with out a doubt Centaurus has the largest main cabin – seating for 12. She spent a long period in the South Island so has been ‘off-the scene’ in Auckland until returned home to the Waitemata a few years ago.
PLUS – in todays tight marina market – Centaurus has the bonus of a 14m Westhaven marina.
I would encourage anyone looking for a iconic classic motorboat to contact waitematawoodys immediately, Centaurus will be snapped up before the start of the summer season. Expressions of interest, initially to  waitematawoodys@gmail.com
Snapshot
• 42’ x 13’3” x 4’
• 1.25” heart kauri carvel planked
• Cummins 215hp V6
• 6 berths
• 800L Fuel / 800L water
• Webesco cabin heater
• Uroxsys varnished
WW Links

Woody Classics Weekend – Stillwater Picnic – 26 Classic Wooden Boat Photos 

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Woody Classics Weekend – Stillwater Picnic – 26 Classic Wooden Boat Photos 

All week, the weather gods have been saying that Sunday was going to be the best day for boating – well folks that it was 🙂
Barbara Cooke summed it up perfectly in an email  – “Great day today team! Great to see people enjoying the good weather, relaxing and lolling about on picnic rugs, some with pooches. Interesting bikies! Nice boats too! “
 
Today’s story is just really a photo gallery of the day – the boats and bikes, the venue and the people + a few woodys I spotted along the way. 
A hell of a lot of work goes into organising these events – and I would like to acknowledge the team that bring it all together, without their help and input there would be no Woody Classics Weekend events. Barbara & David Cooke, Sue & Mark Edmonds, Nathan Herbert, Jason Prew and lastly yours truely.
 
Lots of chat about the next event in November – just working thru the logistics, more details ASAP.
 
The day was made extra special by the inclusion of a display of classic motorcycles ( see below) and their owners were big admirers of our classic woodys.
 
Enjoy and as always, click on photos to enlarge – alan houghton

Jaguar – mini me

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JAGUAR – mini me
 
John Bullivant is a very talented man, one of his talents is building classic boating models – not the kit-set ones, we are talking about drafting them by eye from what ever resources are still around. John had mentioned he was keen to build one of the 40’ Jaguar, which he had wanted to build since back in the days when she was moored down the road from John’s place at Bucklands Beach in the 1960’s > 1980’s, (the photo of her on the hard at Bucklands in the 1970’s below). 
John didn’t have a plan to go off, just this photo, some movie grabs from Ken Rickets and some info from on-line sources. The model is R/C and powered with two water cooled (pump) 540 brushed motors and has independent motor control. It also has twin sound units (unfortunately they haven’t got Detroits in the program, but they make a reasonable sound – check out the youtube link below.
Has the usual lights etc, and cooling water comes out of the exhausts and side telltales. Model is glass over planked balsa with a ply deck and balsa coamings.

Youtube video of the model –https://youtu.be/VqUNmWlKdGw

 

 Previous WW story on Jaguar.  https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/08/16/looking-for-jaguar/

 
Its the 2nd Woody Classics Weekend today – 20+ boats cruising to the Stillwater Motor Camp for a picnic – lots of photos tomorrow 🙂
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UPDATE: Photos below showing John’s attention to detail – the one of the original boat under way (ex Ken Ricketts video footage, filmed in the 1970’s) and the one of the ‘as launched’ model (also ex KR) – shows matching colours on the deck and dinghy.
Plus more from KR of the launch day.
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Valerie

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VALeRIE – A Work In Progress
Valerie was built in 1931, in Milford. 31’ kauri planked with an oregon cabin top. As you will observe from the photos she really is a project boat crying out for someone to take her on and completer the restoration / rebuild. She comes with a 1990 Ford 60hp diesel.
Currently hauled out on Aucklands North Shore – any Woodys looking for  project?
Her trademe listing is light on details- does anyone know more about Valarie?
UPDATE 22-10-2019 ex Nathan Herbert – Valerie was built by W.Kendall and H.G. Lodge at Milford, c.1938. Photo below
Valarie 1938
Woody Classics Weekend – Stillwater Picnic- This Sunday – Weather Looks Spot On – See you There 

Governor

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GOVERNOR
I got a subtle dig in the ribs yesterday that (a) I hadn’t featured anything very quick of late and (b) there had been a noticeable lack of varnish – So todays woody is a very ‘fresh’ restoration / rebuild i.e just launched (2019).
Governor started life back in the 1960’s, with the hull being built by Brin Wilson, her trademe listing comments that she was originally built following the lines of Chris Craft boats.
The project saw her totally rebuilt (in fact lengthened by 6’ – now 21’3″), glassed and a reconditioned 2016 4.3L 214hp Mercuriser TKS engine installed. One of the lake boys needs to buy her……….
Thanks to Rod Prosser for the elbow in the ribs 🙂

34’ Swanson Launch

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34’ SWANSON LAUNCH

We do not know a lot about the above 1964 launch, except she was built by Bob Swanson, is 34.5’ in length, with a 10’9” beam and draws 3’7”.
The trademe (thanks Ian McDonald) listing will tell you all about its cabin heater and solar panel but there is no mention of her having an engine 🙂
Some people really make selling their boat hard and its a brokers listing……………
I’m guessing from the phone number that the boat is located somewhere in Blenheim.
Anyone able to tell us more about this woody?
Input from Mark McLaughlin – It’s “Maritza”. The orignal configuration was the same as Silver Dollar but a new cabin was built in the 1990’s when she was in Havelock. Currently at Waikawa Marina. Power is a 6cyl Ford diesel I believe.
I Have Emailed Out The Details For This Sundays Woody Picnic Cruise to Stillwater, if you have not RVSP’ed – its not too late, but do it now.