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.
Back in late 2020 woody Barrie Abel contacted me to update me on a new addition to his fleet, Barrie owns the classic launch – Matira, photo below. Barrie had just purchased a 1965, 16’ Sea Craft clinker run-about named Touchwood. We first saw her in the flesh when Barrie piloted us up the Wairoa River to the Clevedon Cruising Club.
Fast forward to 2 weekends ago and Barrie was back on piloting duties, this time the clinker had received some TLC and was looking very smart – refer photos above.The Sea Craft woodys are very much in demand these days as they offer a very affordable classic wooden boating experience, with the advantage of being able to taken home and care for it.
IRRESISTIBLE Today’s woody is only part woody, the main build material is steel and she was designed and built by Serious Yachts in the Netherlands. The Dutch have a long history of steel construction, probably as a result of lack of suitable trees.
I discovered this stunning craft on Tad Roberts fb post and then checked out the builders website that showcases several other craft upwards of 75’ in length. Link here https://seriousyachts.nl/en
Irresistible is a ‘Gently 36’ Hardtop’ and with a beam of 12’ she is incredibly roomy. Powered by a single Vetus diesel DT44 114hp, she slots into the displacement category with a cruising speed of 9 knots.
Tad Roberts has a wonderful eye for a salty boat, so to get his tick of approval – means a lot. I would have to agree, and I suspect if Colin Pawson wins Lotto he will be placing an order 😉
Interestingly the NZ Classic Yacht Association, I’m sure would accept her as steel is ok with them and it certainly fits the ‘spirit of tradition’ mold BUT no way would it be allowed anywhere near the new Heritage Basin, then again I suspect neither would the stunning 1948 Colin Wild built Lady Crossley ………. or the Percy Vos built Te Arahi ………… or the 1923 Chas Bailey Jnr built Prize …….. or the 1938 Arch Logan designed Aramoana ……… or the 1934 Arch Logan designed Little Jim……..
Classic J-Class Racing Up Close Today we link to a very cool video filmed aboard the J-Class Shamrock V as she races against a fleet of seven other J’s, the first time they have all raced together. Toby Hodges from Yachting World is the host aboard. One comment was that to get a true perspective of the size of this yachts, 20sec into the video focus on the guy in front of the jib on K6, he looks so tiny.
The above photo, ex Bob Brown’s fb would have made a great mystery launch story, but seeing we have probably one of the best written and most accurate stories on the boat, I thought I’d just link to it below – its a terrific read + lots of photos.
A quick overview – Manapouri, designed and built by Frank Ewen for Hector Alexander Parks, at 43’ she is a scaled down version of a 53ft “Thorneycroft Gentleman’s Cruiser.” With the upper structure changed by Frank Ewen to avoid copyright issues, and it did make a better-looking craft. She was built in Hector’s converted brooding shed on his poultry farm at 66 Anzac Rd, Whangarei, Northland.
MILFORD CREEK QUIZ WINNER – The winner of the WW bucket hat is Nathan Herbert, and very appropriate as only Nathan ID’ed two launches (1) Lady Mavis (4) Koala/Amaryllis. Which gave him two chances in the draw.
Milford Creek 1960’s – IDThe Boats & Go In The Draw To Win
Today’s photo comes to us from Glenn Martin and shows the Milford Creek c.1960’s. An eye-opener to see the degree of mangroves and ‘mud’ that must have been removed to make the expended marina that is there today. Can’t see anyone getting resource consent for that these days 🙂
WIN WIN
Seeing most of us are in covid lock down, could be a good time for a quiz – I’ll keep it simple and give everyone a chance to win. All you have to do is correctly name the launches that are circled in orange (click top photo to enlarge) – each correct entry equals one chance in the draw eg if you can only ID one boat, that is one chance. ID 3 , that is 3 chances etc. Winner gets a WW bucket hat – have gone with army (karki) green this year. Entry closes at 8pm 20-08-2021. ENTRY VIA EMAILONLY – to waitematawoodys@gmail.com
El ALAMEIN > RANUI – On Lake Taupo The 32’ launch El Alamein, later renamed Ranui, that was built and launched by Supreme Craft in 1945 and has made several appearances on WW (links below to those stories).
Recently I was contacted by Paul London, in regard to Noel East, a previous owner of the launch. Paul has many fond memories of times on the launch at Lake Taupo. Paul was motivated to contact WW to re-connect with a Terry Arnold, a ‘distant’ cousin of his and grandson of Noel East. Terry Arnold made contact with WW and shared the photos above El Alamein during Noel and Grace East ownership period. In the first photo the lad with the red cap holding a trout is Terry, as Terry commented the trout in those days were both plentiful and stout.
In the photo below we see the Lake Taupo marina, where El Alamein / Ranui was berthed when owned by Noel & Grace East. There are some grey area’s as to when the name changed from El Alamein to Ranui but the boats know places of residence are summarised below:
• 1945 – Lake Rotoiti • 1949 – Lake Taupo. Possibly when the name change occurred
• 2020 – Hokianga Harbour. Presently a inner-harbour charter boat.
The clinker dinghy photo sees the grandchildren Terry, Clfiton and Raewyn Arnold out on Lake Taupo in the launches tender.
I Deny TheRumour I’m A Boat Builder A ‘friendly’ woody boat builder sent me the above photos and asked if I had started an adult boat building apprenticeship – the joinery he said “had my name all over it” – cheeky bastard 🙂
After yesterdays tidal wave of photos from the weekends Woody cruise, we come back to earth with the above b/w photo of a launch. There is a name on the rear of the photo print, but I’ll leave the reveal until after you all get a chance to engage the grey matter. I can say that its a mystery to me and to the best of my knowledge hasn’t been on WW b4. Photo comes to use via the Andrew Donavan collection
Anyone brave enough to put a name to the boat? Or even better details on her past.
Photos below ex MV Buccaneer (Michelle Bostock & Tim Ord
Woodys Clevedon River Overnight BBQ Cruise
The weekend forecast for the woodys classic cruise up the Wairoa River to the Clevedon Cruising Club was a mixed bag, but as almost always is the case with woody events, it all came good and other a few light showers the 15 launches and one yacht had a ball. We were meet by CCC member Barrie Abel in his classic Sea Craft run-about who piloted the fleet up the river, only one oops that I know of, they were following Raindance and clipped a maker pole, but blamed me as I was taking photos and ‘diverting’ a tad.
Big thanks to all the CCC members that turn out to lend a hand with the berthing, no easy task with a mix of craft and ’skills’ 😉
The afternoon was spent catching up with old and new friends via a spot of boat hopping, followed by a BBQ dinner at our hosts club house.The chef, Bazza was the best, how he remembers which food on the BBQ belongs to who and how you want it cooked is beyond me. A few of us watched the All Black v Australia rugby test (on an iPhone) so the AB’s big win capped of a great night.
Sunday dawned with a perfect day, but the sun might have been a little too bright for one of two of the revellers but conditions were agreeable for the trip home.
Again many thanks to the CCC members for the hospitality and friendship extended to us – we will be back. (Make sure you view the videos, some great dockside footage + thank you those that emailed in photos from the weekend – and as always click on photos to enlarge)
DISAPPOINTING CLASSIC BOATING NEWS On the topic of the Classic Yacht Association’s new 40 berth Heritage Basin marina,12 days have passed and all we see is a CYA email > website link to a presentation that we are told was presented at the AGM, from my recall a lot of what is in this ‘just released’ written presentation was not mentioned on the night, in what could best have been described as verbal chat. The Chair of the CYA states ‘Just to reiterate – nothing is confirmed, it is still being negotiated’. We get that, thank you – but there is still no clarification or confirmation of what the CYA general committee > sub-committee is negotiating on behalf of CYA members and their classic vessels. So could someone answer this simple question below –
WILL ACCESS TO THE NEW 40 BERTH MARINA BE OPEN TO ALL CYA REGISTERED BOATS -OR WILL IT BE YACHTS THAT MEET A PRESET DEGREE ?
As you read this, 18 classic woody launch owners will be waking up berthed alongside the dock at the Clevedon Cruising Club after a BBQ ashore at the clubhouse on Saturday night. Hopefully on departure the skippers will be better behaved than the yachts in the above photo. Check out WW tomorrow for a full trip report and photos 🙂
