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.

What became of this 1928 Charles Bailey built launch

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What became of this 1928 Charles Bailey built launch
 
The photo of the above launch was sent to me by Mark Jarvis and Mark commented that it was the boat that started his love of launches in the late 1950’s. Unfortunately Mark omitted to tell me her name…… Mark – can you enlighten us in the WW comments section 🙂
 
She measures 26′ and came with a Ford flathead motor in the front cabin then a new crate Fordson 60hp was fitted by his father.
Mark’s bunk was a shelf in the enclosed engine room. She was built by Charles Bailey in 1926 and was supposed to have started life as a pilot boat for Patea Harbour but Mark has found no evidence of that. 
 
This photo is from the 1950’s on the slip in Paremata. The slipway is still serviceable but the boat hasn’t been seen in a very long time. 
Mark’s family of six would cross Cook straight every year for 3 wks and cruise the Marlborough sounds.
Mark commented that it was a beautiful time in superb natural scenery when fibreglass boats still hadn’t arrived and the Cod came up 2 at a time on a piece of string wound onto a stick. 
 
Mark is hoping to uncover what became of this launch and whether she really was a pilot boat
Input from Harold Kidd
Sounds very much like RELIANCE built by Tom Le Huquet in 1913 for the Manukau which was used by the New Plymouth Harbour Board as a pilot boat the the Patea Harbour Board from 1938 and was in Paremata owned by Fenton in the 1950s then sold to B Bullock & Co of Wanganui. However RELIANCE was a 35 footer so maybe the histories of both both boats have been run together.
Whatever, she is terribly old-fashioned for 1926-8 with that dee-front cabin, although Chas Bailey did cling to that form for workboats for some time after they had become out of fashion for private craft.
 
 
 

Westport Work Boat Wednesday

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Westport Work Boat Wednesday

Todays photos come to us from Andrew Hewitt and were taken in December 2018.
A nice collection, including a few laid up old woodys whose fishing days look over.
Any of the woodys owned, worked or rubbed up against these old girls?
Input from Harold Kidd – Great pics of great boats! ANTARES is surely the Roger Carey ANTARES of 1963?
Update – photos below ex Cameron  Pollard

Aquarius – Saved?

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AQUARIUS – SAVED?

Back in Sept 2018, I reported on the launch Aquarius that was wasting away on Waiheke Island, awaiting someone to save her from an appointment with a back-hoe.

Well I can report that the first step towards saving her has been achieved – last week Aquarius came back to the mainland, not under her own steam – on the back of a transporter / barge.
You can see / read more on her here   https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/09/01/aquarius-sos/
I’m unaware as to who owns her now and what the plans are for her. A WW reader named Johanne, commented on WW on Saturday that Aquarius is now on the hard at Half Moon Bay marina.
Thanks to David Browne for the above photos.
Can anyone update us on what’s happening with this 38′, c.1955 Supreme Craft  built ex Bay of Island game-fisher  launch?

CYA Double Banger – Riverhead Launch Cruise + Vintage & Veterans Yacht Race

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Achilles

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My Girl

Little JimA16 + Raindance
Oke Bay
Summer Wine
Monterey
Manapouri + Altair
Manapouri
Achilles
(F) Volantis (R) Altair + Tasman Star + Nana

 

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My Girl + Raindance

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Monterey, Te Arahi, Altair, Manapouri

CYA Double Banger – Riverhead Launch Cruise + Vintage & Veterans Yacht Race

While mooching around under the Harbour Bridge waiting for the launch stragglers , I snapped a few photos of the yacht fleet tuning up for the start of the annual Vintage & Veterans yacht race – Photos below
The weather for the launch cruise was almost ideal, after we had arrived at the Riverhead Tavern and had planted ourselves in the bar, the rain started, so while we by dinning and chatting – the old girls got a fresh water wash down – perfect.
A good turn out for late in the season – 16 woodys – made up of 12 CYA members and 4 woodys that joined us for the day. I convinced one to join, but Jason Prew tells me I need to improve on my 25% conversion rate 🙂
Nice to catch up with those that made the trip by motorcar.
As always the food was excellent, just a wee hick-up with a power oops slowed the service down a tad but all good.
Sorry if I missed your woody with my camera – the fleet were very spaced out, so arrive times didn’t suit the need to sustenance 😉
As always, click photos to enlarge.
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Rawhiti A2 + Rainbow A7 + Waitangi A6

Arcturus K8638
Rainbow A7 + Rawhiti A2 + Ariki A3 + Little Jim A16
Rainbow A7 + Waitangi A6
Spray II. 725
Katrina II. K100
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Arcturus K8638

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Little Jim A16

Photos below of Thelma sent in by Simon Smith

Russell Boating Regatta – 1952

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Russell Boating Regatta – 1952

Today’s photo comes to us from Lew Redwood’s fb and shows an impressive crowd gathered on the foreshore in front of the Duke of Marlborough Hotel at Russell in the Bay of Islands to viewed the December 1952 regatta. What an eclectic mix of craft – centre boarders, speed boats & even a hydro plane.
Hopefully tomorrows CYA woody launch cruise to the Riverhead Hotel will see similar numbers turning out 😉
Remember 11am @ the Harbour Bride – 12pm off Lucus Creek – eta hotel at 12.30pm 
And woodys lets all follow the leader, then you won’t embarrass the rest of us woody boaters – lets leave it to the plastic boys to take the short cuts 🙂
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Royal Saxon 1939 Game Fishing Cruise 

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Royal Saxon 1939 Game Fishing Cruise 

 I was recently contacted by Martin Howson in regard to the existence of a journal documenting a 1939 fishing cruise aboard the 36’, Colin Wild built 1930 bridge decker – Royal Saxon to Mayor Island, Bay of Plenty. The journal was penned in 1997 by a friend of Martin’s late uncle – Harold C. Clark. Harold crossed the bar not long after writing the story.
At the time of the game fishing cruise Royal Saxon was owned and skippered by Claude Kendall of Hamilton – the crew on the trip consisted of Claude Kendall, Jack Kendall (Claude’s father), Bert Craike, Harold Clark and a friend of Claude’s named Sam.
You can see / read on Royal Saxon here
Enjoy the read it is a cracker.

Royal Saxon 1

Royal Saxon 2

Royal Saxon 3

Royal Saxon 4Royal Saxon 5

Royal Saxon 6

Royal Saxon 7

Royal Saxon 8

Royal Saxon 9

Royal Saxon 10

Royal Saxon 11

Royal Saxon 12

Royal Saxon 13

 

Input from Mark Jarvis – photos below of Royal Saxon in her winter berth in Riwaka.

 

The Restoration of Rehutai

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The Restoration of Rehutai
 
The 43’ launch Rehutai was built by Sam Ford in 1926 and has been owned by Tony Whyman, of Wellington, for the last 25 years, having bought her in November 1994 in Picton, off Lex Parkes, who Tony believes, had her for many years. Tony sailed her to Evans Bay, Wellington, where she still lives.
 
Post purchase Tony took her ashore and commenced a major refit & refurbish, from 1994  to 1997, the work we see above was undertaken by Tony and a boatbuilder working full time, with the help of others working part time.
When purchased she was powered by a ‘tired’ 6 LW Gardner diesel, which Tony replaced during the re-fit with a new John Deere diesel, derated to 186hp.
 Post the work, Tony and family ended up with a very smart woody that they use frequently and should be around for many more years to come.
(Photos and details ex Tony Whyman, via Ken Ricketts – edited by AH)
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Last Chance to Check Out the Logan A Class Guff Fleet

If you haven’t yet seen the A Class Gaff Classic Yacht Exhibition – make the effort to visit the Viaduct this Saturday from 10am to 4pm. Details below & a sneak peek via one of Roger Mills stunning drone videos.

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Gay Dawn – A Peek Down Below

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Gay Dawn –  A Peek Down Below
Thanks to GD popping up for sale on trademe, we get to have a peek down below. Her listing states she is 36’, if this is the case she has been stretched a tad because previous WW posts have her at 34’.
Search Gay Dawn in the WW search box to see read / see a lot more on this very tidy bridgedecker.

 

She was built by Bill Waters in 1950 in Auckland, kauri planked, hardwood ribs, kauri decks and glassed.
The zoom zoom comes from a Ford 120hp diesel underfloor in wheelhouse.

WOODY WEEKEND COMING UP – SCROLL DOWN TO VIEW

Woody Weekend Coming Up

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WOODY WEEKEND – THIS SUNDAY
This Sunday (14th) sees the CYA’s last launch hurrah for the summer – a cruise to the Riverhead Tavern. Conditions and timing are perfect and very civilised for a Sunday – 3m High Water @ 2.30pm, so we will be sliding up the ‘creek’ at 12>12.30pm. Leaving the hotel around 3.30.
For those leaving from the city and further east – there will be a gathering in the vicinity of the harbour bridge around 11am , with a re-group off Lucus Creek at approx. 12pm.
The occasional person comments to me “what Riverhead again” – but these trips are a great boating day and we get to mix & mingle at a cool venue, it’s also perfect for inviting friends and family that normally wouldn’t attend events ‘at sea’. If you are boat-less, its only a 1/2 hr drive from the CBD, so no excuse for not making an appearance.
The food is very good – from a simple burger & fries to sometime a little more up market 🙂 all tastes and budgets are catered for, and you don’t even have to dine – just enjoy a fizzy beverage and chat on the deck.
Remember to bring your dinghy, and if your unsure as to the best spot to anchor, just follow someone who looks like they know what they are doing.
See you there.
If you’re reading this and you’re not a current Classic Yacht Association member, tag along and find out what you have been missing.
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Woody Lake Boat Project

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Woody Lake Boat Project

I’m pretty sure this woody was a trademe listing for a very long time, so when I received a note from Rachel Jamieson from the Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat group telling me Micheal Booth had bought an old wooden kauri 4 seater, carvel construction speedboat for restoration and attached the above photos –  I was so rapped that she had a new owner and her restoration would be completed.
 
I’ll let Micheal Booth tell the story 

“She  belonged to Andrew Lang the previous Harbour Master who now skippers in the Med. Andrew bought the boat in Rotoru and tracked the motor down in Rotoiti which he then restored. He had started restoration but because of his circumstances has elected to sell.

 I believe the boat was used by the Rangiheuia sisters on Lake Tarawera in the early days. It is of kauri construction and has an oregon ply transom. It is powered by an Austin 7 Thetis motor. Apparently the local historian knew of the boat but has unfortunately passed away. Andrew thinks this boat was designed by the  Logans and built by Lidgard. The boat is thought to be around 1934-36.
The boat builders I have taken it to aren’t convinced and wonder if the boat was of an American design but built locally. It measures 4850mm long, 1600mm wide and 1250 wide at the stern.”
 
Michael is wondering if anyone may some more information on the boat.