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.

Mystery Launch – Kawau 1963

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Mystery Launch – Kawau 1963

The question today is can anyone ID the launch on the right in the above May 1963 Mansion House Bay, Kawau Island?
Thanks to Len Redwoods fb page for the photo.

Steam Boats At Warkworth
Woody boatbuilder Colin Brown sent in the photos below of the recent steam gathering at the Warkworth Basin.

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Stop Stealing Our Harbour

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 A 2nd WW post today – to draw your attention to what your friends at Auckland Council are up to with YOUR harbour. This is a shout out asking you to do 3 things.
1. Read this email 
2. Sign the petition (link below) to help save our harbour for future generations and stop Auckland Council selling it off for a few extra dollars, most of which will end up in the pockets of foreign-owned shipping corporationsand share it far and wide so we can reach the goal of 10,000 signatures. The petition will be handed to Auckland Council Representatives at the Protest Rally on Sunday, 10th March at 3pm at Queens Wharf.
3. If you own or have access to a boat – join the protest flotilla the Sunday (10th) at 3pm off Queens Wharf. No boat? Meetat the northern end of Queens Wharf.

Old Jack’s Spray

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OLD JACK’S SPRAY
 
I returned late last night from 4 days in the upper South Island, attending the Antique & Classic Boat Show at Lake Rotoiti (Nelson Lakes) – there are over 300 photos in the camera that need to be downloaded and edited so the show story will be a few days away. It was stunning, both in terms of the venue and the craft on show – we arrived early on Sunday morning so I got some photos before the lake ‘filled’ up – below are  couple to show you the location wow element.
We did a lot of stuff in 4 days, including a 4 hour walk in the Abel Tasman National Park – now that was special, if you are ever down that way – do it. I bumped into a couple of woodys during the walk so I’ll post more on them and the walk later. One photo below.
 
Todays story features a yacht that I spotted berthed at the Riwaka Wharf, which is located between Motueka & Kaiteriteri. She would be the pick of the woodys sitting in the mud in the creek. Very very salty and well cared for.
Can any of the southern woodys tell us more about her?
I would suspect a name change (or 2) along the way.
Input from Brian M – she is a replica of Josh Spray. Built by the late Jack Guard (boat builders) in Nelson. Hence the name “Old Jack Spray”.
Now owned by the Wilson Family.
2015 Photo below sent in by John Burland
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 UPDATE 27-02-2020 John Burland sent in the photo below of Old Jack’s Spray hauled out at Port Motueka for some TLC.
Old Jacks Spray
 
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Lake Rotoiti

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Lake Rotoiti – early morning

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Abel Tasman National Park

Ione

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Ione

Australian woody – Andrew Christie sent me details on this 34’ 1900 Logan launch he spotted for sale in NZ.

Don’t know her name, she may have appeared on WW before but doesn’t ring any bells with me, I think I would have remembered the large flat screen plasma TV’s on her cabin sides.
Zoom zoom is via a 60hp Ford diesel & single skin carvel planked.
 
Anyone able to put a name on her & confirm she is in fact a Logan?
In the comments section we have uncovered she is called Ione and Harold Kidd puts her as a 1909 Bailey & Lowe.

A Woody Tour Of Helensville / Upper Kaipara

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Florance M

La Vega
La Vega
La Vega
Morning Star
Unknown 1
Unknown 2
Nevada (4th out)
Nevada (center)
Nevada
Nevada
Nevada
Nevada
Unknown 3
Unknown 4
Unknown 5
Waimiko
Witch Way (3rd out)
Witch Way / Unknown 6/Scud
Witch Way
Wooden Mullet Boat ?

A Woody Tour Of Helensville / Upper Kaipara  

Following on from last Mondays stunning story on the boats resting in the Tamaki River (link below if you missed it), woody John Bullivant has been out & about again – this time his focus has been the Helensville & Kaipara Cruising Club. I have ID / tagged the photos where known, just scroll over to view the name). Again I’ll let John tell the story 🙂

“I did another boat hunting tour to Helensville on 6 Feb and found a few more wooden working boats and others parked on the mud at the fishing wharf and Kaipara Cruising Club . They are a friendly bunch at the club and allowed me to go onto the private jetties to take some photos, even unlocking a gate for me which was much appreciated. The couple I spoke to have a converted ex fishing boat (Waimiko I think ) with a 185HP Nissan and all the gear, which they say makes a perfect solid pleasure boat. 

The big Miller & Tunnage canoe stern La Vega ? also is Nissan powered but U/S at the moment and may be for sale ( hull looks in good nick and built like the proverbial BSH) and would make a great pleasure convert and sea boat. There are a number of interesting boats there including the nice looking bridge decker further up. Couldn’t get a good pic but looks like she’s having some work done? Also found Florence M (now with M painted over) on the hard there, back to the side she started on ? 

One thing that was of particular nostalgic interest (sort of ) was the little plastic ‘Scuppers tug’ (think that’s what the called them) tucked in the corner. If I’m not mistaken, this little boat resided at Half Moon Bay Marina way back in the early 80s when new, and I have an idea it was their little marina work boat, (I’m pretty sure it’s not from the other Half Moon Bay but would be a weird coincidence if it was). I even contemplated buying one when they came out (under $12,000 from memory) Stange place to find it.

The interesting little boat on the drums and the old planked Mullet boat? are on the Northern end of Helensville over the rail lines. All in all a great day out and finished of with great local fish and chips (found out the shop owner lived not far from me at Whangaparaoa before moving to Helensville,)  NZ is small,- once stayed overnight in the Hunterville motel, and the people who had recently bought it had lived not far from me in Bucklands beach, we Kiwis certainly move around along with our boats.”

SS Mary Rose

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SS Mary Rose

I know two steam boats in one week, Russell Ward will be beside himself 🙂
The photos above of Mary Rose were sent in by Alan Sexton, he spotted her at the Sandspit Yacht Club ramp during the week.

Mary Rose resides in Wanganui these days. The owner told Alan that she is/was one of 2 built for a campground at Ngongotaha circa 1946.

Any ‘steamheads’ able to enlighten us more on Mary Rose?

CYA Classic Yacht Regatta 2019 – Race #1 – 37 Photos

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Rawhiti & Ariki

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Ranger

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Little Jim

Leda
Namu
Achemar
Ranger
Princess
Polaris
Innismara & Ta’Aroa
Little Jim
Katrina II & Arohia
Tawera
Katrina II & Arohia
Katrina II
Arohia
Arohia & Tawera
Katrina II & Arohia
Aramoana
Rawhiti
Rawhiti
Ariki
Rawhiti & Ariki
Rawene
Ngatira
Thelma
Waitangi
Wairiki
Waitangi
Corona
Tucana
Nomad
Arawa
Jonquil
Spray II
Frances

 

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Rainbow

CYA Classic Yacht Regatta 2019 – Race #1 – 37 Photos

At the end of the day I shot down to Devonport Wharf with the tele-lens & just caught the fleet sliding down the harbour, a little overcast but that would have been a + for the crews.
I’ll attempt to ID the yachts – scroll over the photos to see names – if I get it wrong, let me know 😉
 
As you read this I’ll be winging my way south to Lake Rotoiti (Nelson Lakes) for the 20th NZ Antique & Classic Boat Show, mooching around Nelson for a few days so should have some good southern content next week.
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Southern Star

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SOUTHERN STAR

Southern Star has made the odd cameo appearance on WW in the past but now  thanks to Dean Wright’s camera, we get to see her ‘in-the-flesh’.
SS is owned by Craig Pippen and for a long period she lived at the Milford Marina, Auckland but these days home is Opua in the Bay of Islands.
SS would slide into WW via the Spirit of Tradition category, but unfortunately I can not tell you much about her – hopefully today will be a quiet day at Cater Marine in Opua where Craig works and he will jump on-line and share some details with us 🙂
If you are in the city later today (5pm >), drop down to the RNZYS Dinghy Locker bar for a post race drink with the CYA yacht fleet. Its day 1 of the CYA 3 day Classic Yacht Regatta and most of the fleet will be rafted up at the rear of the Squadron, so it’s a great opportunity to see some of the classics up close, with a beer or glass of Lawson’s Dry Hills wine in-hand.
Input from Murray Deeble – Southern Star ex Ma Cherie from Smelting house bay Kawau , Dave Jackson design and build

Input from Craig Pippen (owner)“Looking to transition from sailing to motoring after the big OE we found southernstar for sale at Kawau (in an unfinished condition). Having previously commissioned Dave Jackson to build a smaller version, the 32ft Telstar, it was an easy decision to purchase her.

As Kathy’s father, sailmaker Sandy Harold had owned a yacht named Southern Star(and to keep the “star” theme going we renamed her. The name change was done in the correct time honoured manner.

Powered by Gardner 6LXB, the dimensions are35ft x 11ft x 3ft10”. She is a capable comfortable vessel.

Thanks to Dave Jackson for building such a good boat and to Dean Wright for the great photos.
Cheers Craig. PS- it is always busy at Cater Marine”

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SS Alice

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Steamboat Alice

If we believe her trade listing (thanks Ian McDonald) the 26’ steamboat Alice was built in 1879.  Between 1991 and 2000 she underwent a total rebuild in Taupo, where she still resides.

In private use now, she once was in survey, doing tours of Lake Taupo.

Her current zoom zoom is via ‘hybrid’ set-up i.e. a combination of steam (25hp) and electric. The boiler is wood fired and I can just imagine the wonderful smell of ti tree burning as you cruised the lake – in my eyes a low cost floating bach at the lake 🙂

 

 

 

 

Doris

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DORIS
Baden Pascoe sent in the above photo of the Collings & Bell designed / built launch – Doris. Once owned by Jack Allan (Allen?).
Baden commented that she was one of several motor boats was taken over by the RNZAF and used at Lauthala Bay, Fiji during WW2.
Can any of the woodys tell us more about Dorris?
TAMAKI BOATS UPDATE:
Yesterdays story on the boats ‘resting’ up the Tamaki River blew me away in terms of viewing numbers e.g. 25% more than the coverage of the Mahurangi Regatta and almost neck-‘n-neck with the recent Hobart Wooden Boat Festival. Again many thanks John Bullivant 🙂