Author Archives: Alan Houghton - waitematawoodys.com founder

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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.

Classic Woody Summer Cruising – A Game Of Two Halves

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WOODYS AFLOAT

Classic Woody Summer Cruising – A Game Of Two Halves

Happy New Year Woodys – WW is back ‘live’ so no more oops boating photos 🙂

On Saturday when I was reviewing and editing the above photos I struggled to believe that we had a xmas/ny cruise, but as they say the truth is in the photos 🙂

I decided to break todays story into two parts:

1. Raindance related

2. Woodys Out & About 

Mostly from my camera but assisted by Barbara Cooke (Bay of Islands), Mark Edmonds (Waiheke), Russell Ward, Jason Prew (upper harbour) and Alan Gilder (Woody Bay Rakino)

Raindance’s cruise / tiki tour mainly consisted of bouncing between Rakino Island and Waiheke Island. Left on 27 Dec and the weather was just stunning with crystal clear, warm water. On 01 Jan the forecast was starting to look very average and most concerning was all 3 weather platforms that I follow were saying the same thing. So early morning on 02 Jan we made the call to up anchor and head home. Turns out that was a good call because for the next 5+ days if it wasn’t raining it was drizzling non-stop + ugly seas and high winds.

So woodys the second half of our planned cruise was sent at home enjoying good food, wine, movies and watching almost every wooden / classic boating video on YouTube.

Very grateful we had 6 days of great weather before we pulled the pin. As an old salt told me once – when it comes to happy family boating – better to have a handful of fabulous days than an abundance of average days – very sage advise.

Enjoy the gallery.

UPCOMING ON-THE-WATER WOODY EVENTS

Circle the calendar:

28 January – Mahurangi Regatta launch parade – more details closer to the day

25 February – Stillwater Picnic + Dockside Raft-Up – more details closer to the day

Waitematawoodys Burgee – Good Idea > Bad Idea

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WAITEMATAWOODYS BURGEE

I was chatting to John Dawson last week and he asked why so few boats flew pennants / burgees these days. Back in the good old days, no matter what size your vessel you ‘ dressed it’. As proof Bruce emailed me the above photo of the launch – Raurangi., built c.1915 by Deeming in the Bay of Islands.

20-01-2023 Harold Kidd Input – RAURANGI, Deemings, Opua, December 1912.

In the above photo there is a not insignificant amount of canvas flapping around. Looks great – 2023 could be the year we produce a WW burgee, watch this space………..

Here’s an idea – Do a poll – would you fly a waitematawoodys burgee if there was one? 

Adi Kutla  / Ma Cherie Flashback

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Adi Kutla  / Ma Cherie Flashback

The 50’ Lane Motorboat Co. 1962 built launch – Adi Kutla  / Ma Cherie has appeared several times on WW, links below. Lots of photos and details there. Today thanks to Eric Sanderson we get a peek back in time – location is Auckland but no dates.

WW August 2014 https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/08/22/adi-kuila/

WW October 2016 https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/10/21/ma-cherie/

Pandora NLD319

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PANDORA NLD319

The workboat Pandora was designed and built by Alex Baxter in Whangarei. 

Used extensively thru-out the Pacific and Australia, do we know what became of her?

(Photos and details ex Lew Redwood fb)

Johnny Wray’s Essentials Cruising List

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Johnny Wray’s Essentials Cruising List

I’m sure all of you are aware of Johnny Wray’s book – ’South Sea Vagabonds’ , if you aren’t – where have you been 🙂

In the December 1949 issue of Seaspray magazine there was an article on Johnny’s 2nd boat – the 1946 launched – 44’ Waihape. As part of the story Johnny lists his 6 key essentials for extended cruising.

Link below for more details on Waihape ex previous WW story https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/12/15/waihape-johnny-wray/

Rangiora Sinks Off Waiheke 21-09-1973

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Rangiora Sinks Off Waiheke 21-09-1973

The McGeady designed, 1964 built by Ben Hipkins, Gary Wheeler and 1st owner Gordon Collie launch – Rangiora struck the Ahaaha Rocks north of Waiheke Island on the night of 21-09-1973. A combined rescue effort of the police launch Deodar, Coastguard and 2 commercial vessels managed to save her before see went under. More details in the press clippings above from the NZ Herald.

These days she calls Wellington home, photo below. You can read and view more on her here https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/03/26/rangiora-2/

Paterangi Sinks In Shoal Bay – April 1973

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INPUT EX ALAN DEMPSEY “Oh God.. this article tears at my heartstrings.. MV Paterangi was my parents’ launch.. and summers were wondrous upon her. That partial sinking was a failed skin-fitting,but strangely there was evidence of out outside impact in it ( suspected tanalised pine pole that was found washed up on shore later). We spent that following winter on Okahu Bay hardstand getting her back seaworthy, and finely dressed. Huge respect to Keith Wyllie ( the ultimate Hauraki Gulf Old Salt) for doing srtrip-down and rebuild of motor , in situ. That’s a Good Mate eh?.. I learned  a lot about Ford Ds , all of 16 years old as I was, just handing him tools and watching and listening.  Sadly in ’78 a cyclone hit that dropped a neighbouring yatch’s rig on to Paterangi’s fordeck  that smaskedout the bollar, and she was blown ashore onto the seawall and smashed to bits , the waves blowing the bits all across the Harbour Bridge toll plaza… I was living in Devonport and we had solid water hitting the house,100 yard away from the beach.  Riding my motorbike into Auckland at 8am was the biggest traffic jam ever, and when I got to the toll-plaza area, I was pondering my stupidity in attempting the Bridge in  those winds, when I saw the wreckage all over the road.. and recognised the bits . Saddest moment of my life to that point. That afternoon was the first time I’d ever seen my father cry. Vale BJD, and MV Paterangi… two stalwart Woodies of yore. Cheers.”

This Is A Loyal WW Follower – woody Michael Park (MV Lady Jan) is a recent recruit to the classic wooden boating movement – in the photo below Michael is sporting his recent tattoo – I assume copied from the WW site. Also in the photo I spy a WW t-shirt. Photo ex David Cooke.

Mason Clipper – Alibi

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Mason Clipper – Alibi

Just prior to Christmas the owners of Alibi, a rather elegant Mason Clipper, quietly slipped her into Greg Lees shed at Sandspit. I understand that she’s in for a minimum of 3 months for a ‘makeover’ – we have seen some stunning makeovers from the shed in recent times. – Trinidad, Mahanui, Arohanui – so we look forward to following with interest – nudge nudge Greg Lees, photos please 🙂

(Photos ex Mason Marine Clippers fb)

Photo below Oct 1979 – Sea Trial on the Waitemata Harbour ex fb via K Ricketts

INPUT EX ALAN SEXTON – Copy of original Sea Spray article below + more photos from her recent haul out at the Sandspit yard.

You will note the she still has her original engines twin straight 6 Chrysler Mitsubishis.

21-04-2023 UPDATE – A PEEK INSIDE THE WORKSHOP – lots of Awlwood (Uroxsys) being applied 🙂 photos ex Mason Marine Clipper fb

PACIFIC GETS A TICKLE UP

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PACIFIC GETS A TICKLE UP

Happy New – todays the first story for 2023 and Pacific is a very fitting woody to welcome in the new year with – during the winter of 2022 Pacific sent time on the hard having some delayed maintenance issues addressed and some creative comforts added. I’ll let owner Nathan Herbert tell the story:

“Bit of an update is due after Pacific’s most recent haul. In past attempts, the prop shaft wasn’t able to be drawn out more than 150mm so I had always been nervous about the situation up there. This time with the help of Seagar Marine and The Slipway Milford, we by brute force and a makeshift large slide hammer removed the shaft. It was found to be pitted, and then very badly pitted in one section where she ran in a highly noble bronze bush about tube centre. Three bearings were subsequently rammed out; one lignum vitae, one fibrous and one bronze. The Tube was found to be thin walled gunmetal and had almost completely de-zinced to mush. The mystery bitumen bath on the keelson was found to be a crude repair some decades old, hiding bad corrosion. A boring bar was made from the old 3.6m tail shaft extended to 5m and with unholy effort the remnants were removed and the hole gradually bored out to accept a fibreglass stern tube. This tube was epoxied in, with two Vesconite and one rubber  cutless bearing installed, topped off by a Chatfields  blue water dripless seal. 

Interior works included re-configuration of the saloon to cater for modern(or at least 1970s) needs and finished in kauri and honduras mahogany. A lightweight cradle was made for the RIB when in commission, and a Francis  searchlight fitted to the bridge deck.

There are always extras attended to along the way such as minor/insidious leaks but they fade in the memory compared with the newfound smoothness of a new, dry drivel ine”

2021 saw major updates to the zoom zoom – link here https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/01/27/pacific-the-105-year-old-woody-get-a-new-heart/ https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/02/03/pacific-sea-trial/

29-10-2024 INPUT ex JOHN DAWSON – JD sent in the photos ex fb below of PACIFIC’s new cockpit refit