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.
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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.
WW was sent the above photo of the double-end, bridge deck launch – Moeroa by David Campbell – Morrison, those son recordered the mage via a drone camera.
Moeroa is permanently moored off Laingholm beach. Can any one tell us more about the vessel?
TIME TO RSVP FOR THE NEXT WOODY EVENT – RIVERHEAD TAVERN LUNCH CRUISE SUNDAY 20TH JUNE. MEETING OFF HERALD ISLAND @ 12.30pm – ARRIVE HOTEL AT 1pm – Lunch @ 1.30pm >>> DEPART TAVERN @ APPROX. 4pm
Hine Moana II Todays woody is named – Hine Moana II. She is 35’, carvel planked kauri and built by Jorgensen & Sons, Picton in 1963. Powered by a 145hp Perkins T 6.354 engine. Her owners are Phil Hogg, Tony Bishop and Murray Cederman – who share the maintenance and upkeep. Her home berth is the MYCC, Port Motueka, where she has resided for the last 21 years.
Hine Moana was built originally as the Commodores launch at the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club.
ROYAL FALCON – FYI – Fantastic response to yesterdays story on Royal Falcon, the 3rd largest viewing day for the year – and almost no varnish 😉 For the petrol (diesel heads) below is a short clip of the Commer TS3 being fired up for the first time post re-build. Owner Steve commented that the puff of smoke is the residual lube oil from the new cylinder sleeve installation 🙂
It is almost a year since I popped into the Panmure boat shed to check on the progress of the restoration of Steve and Colette Popie’s 38’ bridge-decker – Royal Falcon.So last week I accepted the invitation to view the 1934 Cox & Filmer built launch and woodys its a thing of beauty – check out the finish on the hull 🙂
Launch day is a few weeks away, then the final touches will be done on her berth. The attention to detail is 10/10 but in Steve’s words “its the best of both worlds – classic and modern systems, in terms of safety and ensuring she lasts another 80+ years. Links to previous WW stories below
For the petrol (diesel heads) below is a short clip of the Commer TS3 being fired up for the first time post re-build. Owner Steve commented that the puff of smoke is the residual lube oil from the new cylinder sleeve installation 🙂
Details on the Royal Falcon – Rootes TS3 engine below ex Mark Erskine:
Some basic engine info and specs are as follows:
The engine is a Rootes TS3 2-stroke diesel, model 3DB-215 as used in Commer Trucks from 1967 to 1972-ish.
Designed and manufactured by Rootes Diesel Engineering Division of Rootes Group, UK.
Commonly referred to as “Commer TS3” through their connection to Commer trucks.
Three cylinder, opposed piston (2 X opposing pistons per cylinder), scavenge blown 2-stroke, twin rocker beam, diesel engine (see video of operating cycle https://www.commer.co.nz/other-stuff/videos)
215 cu in / 3.562 litre.
Known around the world for their legendary reliability and extreme engine life, high power density and fuel efficiency.
This engine was extensively reconditioned and restored to new condition / factory specifications by Rootes Engine Services, Auckland (www.commer.co.nz)
This engine produces from 65 HP @ 1,000 rpm, to 140HP @ 2,400 rpm.
Maximum torque is 340 ft lbs at 1,250 rpm.
Most economical running between 1,200 to 1,800 rpm.
Rootes heat exchanger for engine oil cooling.
Water cooled exhaust manifold for marine use.
Lees type heat exchanger for engine coolant.
Savage heat exchanger for gearbox oil cooling.
Diesel fuel consumption (liters per hour) in “Royal Falcon” to be advised, but will be extremely low.
Maximum speed with current prop to be advised.
Designed as an “under-floor” engine for Commer trucks, these engines have a very low engine height above the crankshaft center line, allowing for a flat cabin floor with no engine box intrusion in the cabin.
Gearbox is a Borg-Warner Velvet Drive 26 spline 72C model (1.91:1 ratio).
The 35’ motorsailer Hinemoana II was launched in the late 1960’s (c.1965) who for is unclear but possibly for Mr. P. W. Anker of Wainuiomata Wellington.
Six months after she was launched in July 1966, she ended up on the beach at Eastbourne, just short of the seawall, during a severe Wellington storm, having broken her new mooring, refer top photo. Reports are that she sustained no serious damage.
Fast forward to 2018 and she pops up at Gulf Harbour, Auckland receiving some TLC. B/W photo comes to us ex Sea Spray magazine and the GH ones + details via Ken Ricketts. Do we know what became of her between 1966 and 2018?
Now if you believe the tme listing for this Picton boat – it sold, which really surprises me – she would have to win the award for the worst present vessel for sale :-)The listing states that its believed that she was built by Ernie Lane in Picton c.1940’s. 30’ in length and carvel kauri built.Powered by a Perkins 152 Diesel engine. (Tme heads up ex Ian McDonald)
SURPRISE Mooching around the Milford Cruising Club yard I spotted the 33’ Logan replica launch (yes -its f/glass) – Surprise hauled out. Once owned by an old friend – Dennis Wilde, sadly deceased.
Surprise I understand was one of the early boats out of the mould and doesn’t have the enclosed cockpit, but I’m a fan of those drop-down sides , shades of a long-wheel base African safari Landrover :-)Sadly the Logan 33 moulds were sold to the USA and I understand have never been used. These boats were decades ahead of the market and are in high demand on the 2nd-hand market.
Hopefully an owner (Alan Good) will comment more on the the various models launched.
Now thanks to tme (and Ian MacDonald) we get to have a peek down below.She was built in 1919, is approx. 33’ and powered by a 35hp BMW engine, that gets her along at 8 knots.
Another woody spotted at Tutukaka Marina by Dean Wright -anyone able to tell us more about Lady Jess?
Input ex Scott Macindoe –
“Lady Jess was commissioned by an Auckland commercial fisherman, Gus Viskovic as a snapper longliner in 1961. She was designed and built by John Gladden at Milford Marina. The kauri came from half of a tree milled in the Coromandel. The hull is carvel planked. The planks are full-length, 32mm. Some demolition kauri from a church in Hamilton was also used in the bulkheads.
Not long after launching, the boat was sold and moved to Whitianga. She was spotted there by Harry Bannister from Whangaroa. Harry bought her and took her north. Since then Lady Jess has been a charter boat based in Northland. Since the 1970’s she has been based out of Tutukaka, owned successively by Doug Schlegel, Trevor Williams, Mike Airey, Peter O’Brynne, and since 1988, Pete Saul.
An open-topped flying bridge was added in the 1970s, with a folding Bimini top and clears. In 1997 Pete added the hard-top bridge. She still has the original dry stack arrangement. Lady Jess was powered by a single six-cylinder Ford for much of her life to date but for the last four years has been powered by a 200hp John Deere with Twin Disc gearbox.
The engine is well forward, in the galley, giving good access to the motor but necessitating a 5.5-metre drive shaft. The forward engine and flared bow make Lady Jess a great head sea boat. Top speed is 9 knots with 8 knots cruising. Fuel consumption for a day’s game fishing averages 8 litres/hour. Diesel capacity is 900 litres, allowing extensive cruising without refuelling. Pete retired from charters in 2019 but kept the boat for family use.“
Woody Moon Engines Workshop
Great turn out last Sunday for the Wooden Boat Bureau hosted-woody workshop at Moon Engines, the MC for the day was James Mobberley who ran a master class on diesel engine maintenance and servicing. 33 boat owners turned out and I will not embarrass him by naming him but this email feedback summed up the day perfectly = “Thank you for organising this enjoyable visit – an articulate, experienced and forthright speaker made James an ideal host for subjects one can never be over-informed about.”
Post the workshop – attendee Alan Sexton sent in to WW a list of minimum spares to carry on-board from YNZ’s safety rules for offshore motorboats that almost exactly per James’ advice. See below.
Alan also supplied the links below for the engine ‘junkies’ amongst us – enjoy. Seaboard Marine as recommended by James: https://www.sbmar.com/tonys-tips/
Just A Fu@king Work Boat Just before Easter (approx. two months ago) I did a two hour in/out haul out at The Slipway Milford for a quick bottom clean, as I was leaving the Milford Creek I passed the 1920 built ex Auckland Harbour Board vessel – Te Hauraki on-route to the Slipway, for a few week weeks TLC.
On Friday owner Rodger Moore proudly re-launched – Te Hauraki after an an extensive refit. Joe Average standing on the dock would struggle to spot most of the work undertaken because to quote Rodger “It’s just a f@cking work boat”, so everything gets covered in paint 🙂 and kept as close to original as possible. But having spent the last 10 days alongside her on the slip I can tell you these days she is a very special work boat and very loved by Rodger and family. Another happy owner and her photo will proudly grace the lunch room wall at the yard. Well done Cam and Jason 🙂
09-06-2021 UPDATE – Te Hauraki owner, Roger Moore, was pleasantly surprised recently to receive a ph call from his son giving him the heads up on a model of Te Hauraki on display / sae in a gallery on Waiheke Island. It was very quickly snapped up and now takes pride of place in Rogers ‘den’
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