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 Wooden Launches + Classic Sailing Regatta Photos

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Help Needed Identifying Classic Wooden Launches

The above photo shows three launches (+ a peek on a 4th on the far left) moored in Hobson Bay, Auckland. The photo is from the Edward Double Collection (1930-1940), and comes to us via Maurice Sharp’s fb.
Can we ID the boats?
2020 CYA Classic Yacht Regatta
The annual 3 day sailing regatta is in progress and yesterday I crewed on Jason Prew’s 1904, Logan built gaffer – Wairiki in Race 1.
Now I have always heard dock chat that Wairiki was a wet boat, well folks I can confirm thats an understatement,
I think you would be dryer on a sail board 🙂 Water aside (it was warm) it was a great afternoon with nice people – Jason Prew, Steve Horsley, Micheal O’Dwyer and Joyce Talbot.
In-between waves and spray I managed to snap a few photos – a taste below – more tomorrow. Enjoy.
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Ariki – 1904 Logan

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Windhaven II – Colin Wild

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Wairiki – Onboard foot spa

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Jason Prew & Steve Horsley (L>R)

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Race HQ @ RNZYS

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Mike O’Dywer, Steve Horsley, Alan Houghton

Lady Ellison

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Lady Ellison

The photos above of the 36’ c.1952/53 possibly Sam Ford built – Lady Ellison were sent in by John Burland and show her at Nelson Marina.

The lady has made two appearances (July 2015 and May 2019) on WW, links below, from the photos above its obvious that she is now a well used, semi commercial vessel. Read the links and comments sections –  lots of chat on her past.

Two photos below – b/w = as launched. Colour = 2015 (click to enlarge)

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Kotare – 4sale

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KOTARE
 
Over the Xmas / NY (2020) period Barbara and David Cooke were cruising aboard their launch – Trinidad and anchored near the ex work boat Kotare and as you do, introduced themselves to her owner, Laurence Ryan.
The photo gallery is a mix of photos from Barbara Cooke and her owners.  
The story below was sent to Barbara by Laurence and is reproduced unedited.
 
“Kotare was designed and built by John Miller who was a boat builder who worked for Miller and Tunnage in Dunedin. However, I am told he is not one of the Millers, as such. She was built in 1940. Solid oregon plank construction, hull and decks. 15 m OA, 13.8 m on the waterline, 2 m draft, 31 tonnes fully laden. Beam 3.66 m. She was built as a trawler and fished out of Dunedin and possibly Lyttleton. She fished at the Chathams and features in the book “Shipwrecks of New Zealand”. She was in a convoy of some six fishing boats making the trip to the Chathams in extremely bad weather. Two of the vessels were lost with all hands – Kotare made it!
 
She was first converted into a pleasure boat in 1987 by the owner, John Liddell, from whom I bought her. The conversion was undertaken by Careys in Picton. A further variation was completed in 2000 where the final configuration occured.  John Liddell had her in SSM and she spent most of her new life in the Marlborough Sounds doing some fishing charters. John took her to the Chathams, Stewart Island, Fiordland and she circumnavigated NZ twice.
 
She is powered by a Detroit GM 6/71 2 stroke diesel, 225 hp de-rated to 195 hp, Alison 3:1 gearbox.  The whole engine was rebuilt in 2006.
 
I purchased her in September 2016 and we sailed her up the east coast from Mana that Labour weekend, 72 hours non-stop!”
 
Below is a photo of Kotare, before the alterations – trolling off the Otago coast.
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Ajax

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Ajax
AJAX
Duncan McKee dropped me a note recently to let me know the 1937 Lanes built launch Ajax is alive and well and moored in Evans Bay Wellington at present.
 
Owned by the McKee family, Ajax is in regular use and enjoying Wellington Harbour and Cook Strait as she has done for the last 80 odd years.
 
Back in 2018, Ajax made a cameo appearance on WW when woody Dean Wright snapped a photo of Ajax while mooching around Mana Marina – WW link below
 
Can anyone tell us more about this very smart looking motor boot?
 
UPDATE 07-07-2023 – Video below of AJAX leaving Evans Bay Wellington to cross Cook Strait in March 2023. Cruising at 6 knots it takes 5 hours to Tory Channel entrance. On board Brereton and Duncan McKee (who sent in the video)
 
 
 
 
 

Yesterdays Quiz – ID The ‘Hidden’ Boat Winner was Bill Brown of Mt Eden, Auckland. And woodys there was a new record number of entries and 90% had the designer right (Des Townson) and the entries were split 50/50 between 28’ / 32’ re the length.

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Ponui + Win A WW t-shirt

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Ponui

I spotted Ponui anchored in Oneroa last weekend, the name has popped on WW before in regards to other woodys – can anyone tell us about this one?

Update photos below ex Nathan Herbert. Nathan floated the question – could she be Ponui II ?

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ponui ii

A Quiz – Win a WW t-shirt – first person that can correctly tell me what the craft pictured below started life as – designers name and length – all entries via email only to waitematawoodys@gmail.com

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Mystery Launch At Waiheke Island

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Mystery Launch At Waiheke Island

Mooching around Sandy Bay I spotted the above woody – it looks familiar. Not anchored, on a mooring so maybe she is an Island boat.
I’m sure someone smarter than me can ID her.
Woodys Classics Waiheke BBQ & Pizza Lunch – Trip Report
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Another great turn out for Saturdays gathering at Little Oneroa – I counted 16 woodys in the bay, rowing past a couple I may have detected a whiff of PVC but they were lookers and all had a healthy mix of timber and bronze. Attending boats tagged in the story.
Most people decided to order lunch from the wood-fired pizza caravan and were not disappointed – very yum.
The timing seemed to work for everyone – several boat travelled long distances to participate and 1/2 the fleet were just there for the day. Also dog friendly venues are appreciated – again 1/2 the boats had pooches aboard. Perfect weather and very low numbers of what the islanders call ‘day trippers’.
As proof that all you need to be welcomed at a Woody Classics event, is a passion for wooden boats – my boat of the day was Allan and Pam Hooper’s – Katherine. Her dinghy (built by Allan) gets her a 10/10 tick in my book.   You can read more about Katherine here https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/02/03/katherine/

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Katherine

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Little Oneroa – Waiheke Island

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I spotted Allan’s dinghy ashore on Sunday morning  at Oneroa – now Allan is a perfectionist, so his score drops to 9.9/10 – he left the stickers on the oars 🙂
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Simpatico

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Hopefully when you read this I’ll be enjoying breakfast aboard Raindance somewhere near Waiheke Island, having had an enjoyable day / evening at the Woodys Classics BBQ & Pizza lunch at Little Oneroa,

Today’s woody has been sitting in my files for a while, waiting for a lazy day e.g.when I’m afloat. So here goes…………
Simpatico was built in 1968 to a Henry Shield design. She measures 42’ in length and has a Ford 120hp diesel pushing her along at a cruising speed of 7 knots.
For sale on tme, she is a very big girl BUT woodys………………… that hothouse has to go 🙂
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Patina

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PATINA
Thanks to Ian McDonald we get to have a peek at the 39’, 1913 ex Oxley Hotel, work boat. Built in and for the Marlborough Sounds. In the 1950’s she was converted to pleasure use.
Built for double planked kauri, these days a 54hp Yanmar diesel pushes her along at a leisurely cruising speed of 8>9 knots.
Home port is Wellington. Currently for sale on tme.
Can any of the Southern woodys tell use more about Patina?
HEADS UP AUCKLAND WOODYS – PERFECT WEATHER FORECAST FOR TODAYS WOODYS CLASSICS BBQ & PIZZA LUNCH AT LITTLE ONEROA, WAIHEKE ISLAND.
DON’T WORRY IF YOU HAVEN’T RSVP – JUST ROCK UP . ANYTIME FROM 11.30AN >
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Woodys Waiheke BBQ & Pizza
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Nancy

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NANCY

Today’s story features another woody spotted by Andrew Hewitt during his recent trip to Tasmania , Australia – the launch Nancy is one of the lucky ones as she is in the ‘Living Boat Trust’ collection. The trust is based in Franklin on the Huon River, south west of Hobart.

Nancy was built in 1917 by well known Hobart builder – AA ’Tucker’ Abel. Was used as a ferry on both the Derwent and Huon Rivers, until at least the 1950’s. Sent time also as a flying boat tender on the Derwent River.

Andrew commented that Nancy’s continued existence is much thanks to the generosity of the donors Martin and Judy Krynen, who took her to Noosa in Queensland, restored her and then decided she really belonged in Tasmania and donated her to the Living Boat Trust, including paying for road freight  to return her to Franklin. (Judy  is an ex-pat South Islander and both lived in NZ for many years)

Nancy is available for hire to LBT members, and based at the marina in Franklin. More info at  http://lbt.rfoster.org/about-us/boats/nancy

Andrew also wishes to acknowledge his contact (and LBT member) Martin Riddle

Is that a St Ayles skiff alongside?

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Woodys Waiheke BBQ & Pizza

My Girl Mini Me

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MY GIRL MINI ME

The WW poster woody (for almost too long) just won’t go away.
On Monday, master model boat builder craftsman – Murray White called into The Slipway at Milford Marina to show My Girl’s owner Jason Prew the amazing model he has build of My Girl.
In the photos above thats Murray holding the model with My Girl in the background. That boat speeds more time out of the water than in, the perks of running a marine railway slip 🙂
Now woodys Murray just doesn’t build pieces of maritime art – his models are the real deal – this one is powered by an electric drill motor. Check out the video below to see her in action.

And just when you thought we have seen enough of My Girl – she is the cover boat on the 2020 edition of the CYA Classic Register 🙂   🙂     🙂
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