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.

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

Woody Ho Ho

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WOODY HO HO

Wishing you all a safe and Merry Christmas and happy New Year. I hope you get time with family and friends – after all, that is what its all about, the boats are #2.

As we rolled out of the nanny state control of Covid I imagined WW might take a dip in viewing numbers from the heady figures we hit during the enforced downtime. Well totally the opposite – new visitor numbers have continued to grow and more importantly the amount of time people are spending on the site has over trebled. 

When I started WW the primary intention was to create a daily blog on and about wooden boats – it is still that, but its morphed into a resource tool for just about anything associated with the wooden boating movement.

As with most things in life, they are only as good as the people that rub up against them – so thank you to those that reach out with content, comments and even abuse 🙂

As per previous years it is my intention these holidays, technology and wifi access allowing, to keep publishing the daily stories. But if for some reason I miss a day, just check in again the next day.
I ask that if you see anything woody related over the festive period you take a photo and send it in to   waitematawoodys@gmail.com  I’m always looking for content.

Thanks to my good friend Dave Giddens we will have a slight theme to a lot of the stories over the break – a lot of ‘BUGGER / OOPS’ moments.

Stay dry, safe and wear your PFD when you have been enjoying the good life afloat.

Warmest Regards Alan

Ti Point – Then & Now

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TI POINT – Then & Now

A good friend owns the land we see in the above photos and came across the photos (Hamilton Library, strange location but it happens) while researching the original site / location of the Ti Point Wharf. 

A stunning piece of coastline then and today – see photos below. Also home to award winning Ti Point Olive oil.

If you have behaved during the year, Santa will be sliding down your chimney tonight – I have high hopes my hints have been picked up on 😉 

DCIM\100MEDIA

Waitangi Hotel – Mystery Launch – Quiz

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Waitangi Hotel – Mystery Launch – Quiz

Todays photo comes to us via Lew Redwood’s fb and the quiz is – name the launch in the middle of bay, out from the Hotel Waitangi.

All answers to waitematawoodys@gmail.com closes 6pm today (23-12-2022) All correct answer go into the draw – PRIZE is a 2023 Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Calendar.