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.

Chalyn

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CHALYN
 
Being built in 1978 Chalyn certainly slides into the Spirit of Tradition category, and there are not a lot of those on WW – what twisted my arm was the 1 1/4” kauri planked hull, with ribs every 6” – she is built like the proverbial brick out house. 
She is listed for sale on trademe and being sold as her two aging brother owners have reached a stage where maintaining a 52’ wooden boat with a 14’ beam is too much for them. 
Power is via a 318hp Detroit diesel that sees her cruising at 10 knots with a 12 knot top speed.
 
I know everyone has their own view on beauty and practicability but Jason Prew with a battery powered tungsten tipped mini skill-saw could do wonders for her looks 😉

Lady Jane

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LADY JANE
Lady Jane has appeared on WW before  links below. Now thanks to trademe (via Ian McDonald) we get an another view & a peek down below. Her listing states she was built by Lanes in 1915 and is powered by a 23c Massey Fergusson diesel. Her hull is single skin kauri . Read & see more at the WW links
Enjoy.

https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/01/07/mystery-launch-070114/

Harold Kidd Input – I think we’ve been through all this before, complete with the false Colin Wild connection. I think she is pure Deacon. The APYMBA registration in 1958 when first owned by John Senior said she was built by L. Deacon in 1955 with no attribution of designer. She’s more Sam Ford than Colin Wild for a start. I knew John Senior very well. If Wild had been the designer John would have ensured that was in her APYMBA spec.
The German song “Happy Wanderer” was a hit in 1954. It was a jolly hiking song but pretty cringeworthy for musicians like me who had to play it at dances over and over again. I later bought a DH94 Moth Minor called “Happy Wanderer” and had considerable pleasure in painting the name out and reverting to plain ZK-AKM.

A Woody House

My mate John Burland sent me the photos below of this house in Island Bay, Wellington. Check out that view 🙂

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Lady Mary > Happy Wanderer > Lady Margaret

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LADY MARY > HAPPY WANDERER > LADY MARGARET
 
Woody Mark Jarvis sent me the above 2 photos of one of his families old boats – the top photo, in Auckland, was taken during their ownership c.1964/65. When they owned her, she was called Happy Wanderer, later changed to Lady Margaret. In the bottom photo, taken recently by Mark, we see her in berthed in Picton.
Mark commented that the 38’ boat was a 1948 home build, but to a high standard to a Colin Wild design. Zoom zoom was / is via a Ford 6 cyl. diesel.
 
Aside for sharing the photos of a beautiful woody – the main reason for todays story is point out how aesthetic trends change the look of boats e.g. the character gets bleached out of them as time passes even if the condition is maintained. Comparing photos you will see that there has been a number of useful additions but still the same cabin albeit minus a few tasteful styling details but in both our eyes still a good looking boat even in nice monochrome condition 🙂
 
Any woodys able to enlighten us more on LM’s past?
Input from Bob Deacon – “My father built this beautiful craft inMt Albert Auckland. Launched in 1955 at Okahu Bay then named Lady Mary unfortunateatly father passed away 1956 The Lady Mary was sold to Mr John Senior senior of aboat building company. the name was changed by Mr J Senior to the Happy Wanderer. When launched it was powered by a 6 cylinder Perkins later changed as stated.If further info is required I am more than happy to oblige as I was with my father thru the whole build. I am sure photos will be found of and during the build even of the timber for the keel {which was 42ft long} arriving.”
 

Lily + Woody Events

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LILY + WOODY EVENTS

Todays vessel is the ex work boat Lily, seen in the above Nelson photos, ex John Burland, on-route to getting some TLC and post the TCL awaiting the tide.
Can anyone tell us more about Lily?
NZ ANTIQUE & CLASSIC BOAT SHOW – MARCH 2>3
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This year the Lake Rotoiti – Nelson Lakes event celebrates its 20th Anniversary and organisers are predicting a record turnout. Everything going right I’ll be there with the camera so if you are not ‘down south’ rest easy, you will get to experience the show vicariously 🙂
CYA RIVERHEAD TAVERN CRUISE – THIS SUNDAY (24TH)
A quick heads up for CYA launch owners – this Sunday we have a brunch cruise to the pub.
High water is approx. 12:07pm so we will be sliding up the creek around 10:30am.
For those who keep their boats citywide of the Harbour Bridge, there will be a gathering near the bridge with a departure from there at 9:30am
Normal rules – Indian file up the creek & bring a dinghy to get to the pontoon. Its a big tide i.e. 3.5m BUT that also means a very swallow low water.

Eileen Patrica Restoration Update

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EILEEN PATRICA RESTORATION UPDATE

Last Sunday we went for a drive out west, well more nor-west, to Helensville. The destination being Marco Scuderi’s classic boat yard to view the almost complete 1933 Arnold Couldrey designed and built motor launch Eileen Patrica.
EP first appeared on WW back in November 2014 as Linden  https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/11/11/9603/  and then she was desperately crying out for a new owner. With the help of Nathan Herbert we identified that she was previously named Eileen Patrica and in her as launched style was a very pretty woody. I encouraged any Woodys looking for a project to step-up.
Peter Mence did just that and quickly purchased her and trucked her off to Marco’s shed. Fast forward 4+years and a launch date is looking imminent. As you would expect from Marco, Peter and Jenny the standard of work is just faultless – some would say OTT but not me – EP is perfect in every way.
So today we have a sneak peek at her as she nears completion. I didn’t take a lot of photos as we will save that for the launching.
Also got to catch up with the other projects Marco has underway – an almost total rebuild of a Riva Super Aquarama (the varnish work on her is amazing) + a new build of a Rozinate day sailer (photos below) and the next cab off the rank – the 1906 Logan 38′ A-Class Keeler – Victory A8.

HELP WANTED – Does anyone have one of the below in their shed?

Woody Baden Pascoe is looking for one to fit a 16′ dinghy.

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Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade – 2019 Photo Gallery

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Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade – 2019 Photo Gallery

For the first time in yonks I missed this years Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade, but thanks to the Jason Prew and Rod Prosser we get to see a cool collection of photos from the day ( 9th February 2019) . As always it is a huge day with a diverse collection of craft fronting up for the parade and most event picnic. It would have to be one of the most fun woody events on the calendar.
As always – click photos to enlarge – Enjoy 🙂
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Auckland Is So Close To Having a World Class Working Traditional Boatyard – But Also So Close To Stuffing It Up

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Auckland Is So Close To Having a World Class Working Traditional Boatyard – But We Are Also So Close To Stuffing It Up
The hottest topic around the waterfront & has been for way too long is – what’s happening with the Percy Vos yard. Everyone has a different story & reckons their version is fact.
All I can tell you is that we are dangerously close to mucking it up. It is almost a joke, the issue has been around for over 15+ years, I have reproduced below a submission that was produced back in Feb 2005……… thats exactly 14 years ago. It shows what the yard could look like & examples of successful working wooden boat yards.
So woodys the question today is – whats wrong with Auckland Council and its many public facing departments? They do some wonderful work across the city & at times move fast e.g. they decided what the America’s Cup bases will look like & approved them in a few years – so why is this project dragging on?
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