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 Woodys at Sandspit Marina

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Classic Woodys at Sandspit Marina

A couple of weeks ago I was up Sandspit way & spent an hour or so mooching around the new (ish) marina. Very impressive set up & with the yacht club’s haul-out facilities its a prefect spot to keep a woody. The real win win factor is the proximity of the ‘Greg Lees Boatbuilder’ yard, in recent years Greg & his talented team have rubbed the magic wand over some of our finest classic woodys. Just type Greg Lees in the WW search box to see the level of workmanship & perfection.

I have included a few photos of the motor camp where I stayed with my ex woodys boater – Chris Miller in this stunning motor home. 

A real bonus was the amazing meal & service we had at the Sandspit Yacht Club on Saturday night – I was expecting burgers & fries but no – everything – décor, service & the food was superb – check it out if you are up that way. The scallop entree was as good as anything you would get in Auckland City. Photos below.

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Update: I have been sent by Dean Wright the photo below of the dinghy ‘Tiki’ in happier times 🙂

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Very Cool Classic Sailing Clinker Dinghy 4 Sale

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Very Cool Classic Sailing Clinker Dinghy 4 Sale

I was contacted last week by CYA buddy Dan Renall who pointed me in the direction of a woody that was looking to off load one of his dinghys. Wise man, very few that get bitten by the bug are able to let them go.

Owner Drew Hayward has a classic launch that he keeps in the creek on the way out of Kawakawa Bay. He also has another clinker so has decided to part with this one. 

Details are – 14’, built by boat building tutor, Keith Aitkenson of Carrington Tech. Kauri planks with steam bent hardwood ribs. Her sails are by Boyd & McMaster. Mast is solid Oregon, as is the boom & gaff. Drew commented that as pictured above the hull needs a little clean up – mainly mould.

Anyone interested in this woodys should initially contact Drew Hayward via email  drew1949@icloud.com A very cool gift for a young woody, so come on dads & grandads – its the perfect way to start the kids off in woody boating. 

Below is a photo from Lew Redwoods FB page that is titled ‘Yacht Racing, Auckland Harbour, NZ – any of the woody yachties able to advise the class of boat & which part of the harbour?

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Mystery Tourist Launch

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Mystery Tourist Launch

Todays photo created some chat from Harold Kidd when it appeared on Lew Redwood’s facebook page. Harold commented that the location looked like Lake Rotorua & the launch could have been one of the Bailey & Lowe purpose built tourist launches, built in the 1900>1910 period for Robinson & McIntosh of Rotorua. Harold pointed out the steering position as the giveaway – “not open sea gear” were the words used.

I have enhanced the photo a little to show more of the launches features – can any of the woodys tell us anymore about the launch?

Update 31-05-2018 – I have been contacted by Alice Morrison who is moored beside the vessel pictured below in Tauranga. The vessel’s name is Presto and according to the owner, was built in 1898. She is approx. 40′ (that’s a guess) and made of kauri.  Alice is of the view that she looks similar to the mystery tourist launch above . What do the woodys think?

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The  Hottest Trend In Classic Boating?

The answer is ……… owning two boats 🙂

CYA launch dynamo Nathan Herbert (Lucinda) has now joined the 2 boat club. Photos below of the new addition – Pacific (photos below ex Nathan’s fb), being hauled out at Miford Marina. One of my bucket list classics. 

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Stardust

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STARDUST

Stardust is a 36’ Athol Burns Kauri built woody. 

Her trademe listing states she was built in 1962 & zoom zoom is via a 80hp diesel.

Home is Motueka, Nelson.

Anyone able to tell us more about Stardust?

Mystery Classics On The Waitemata

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Mystery Classics On The Waitemata

Steve Horsley recently sent me the above photo – it came from a collection of old albums that Steve has been loaned. The album photos cover – Auckland, Sydney & England.

The only one that Steve can shed any light on is the V-Class on the left (is the sail # 16 or possibly 36?). Her name is AVOO or AVDO?

Anyone able to ID the motorboats on the right?

Kingfish

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KINGFISH

Anyone looking for a bargain classic woody? Kingfish is listed on trademe (thanks Ian McDonald) with a $1 reserve & an oh to familiar tale “its leaking and sinking and due to a marriage breakup its not getting the love it needs” 

I can tell you she was built in 1914, is double skinned kauri, measures approx. 33’ in length, & powered by a 120hp diesel.

The owner is after a quick sale as the bilge pumps are shot. Listing details here https://touch.trademe.co.nz/motors/listing/view/1639329557

Sorry about the quality of the interior photos – but thats all that was available.

Interested to learn more about Kingfish – anyone able to help?

Input from Harold Kidd & photos below from Cameron Pollard

I’m certain KINGFISH has been on here before. She was built by H.N. Burgess at Judges Bay in 1914 as a hybrid yacht/launch, expressly for game fishing and spent her early life based in Gisborne and Tauranga. Unrecognizable from her original configuration with quite a big rig.

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27-05-2018 Input from Dave Butler – Kingfish was owned by Jack Peat from Te Puna who had it moored in Tauranga harbour in the 60’s. He was a member of the Tauranga game fishing club and I have numerous photos of him and crew with marlin, makos, and threshers caught near mayor island. Kingfish was powered by a Gadyver engine? which Jack replaced. He gave me the old prop because the new engine revolved the drive shaft in the opposite direction. Jack sold her in 1972 and she was moored at the new marina in Tauranga harbour for several years after that.

11-06-2018 – Update. I can report that Kingfish has joined the Pollard fleet & has already been given some TLC , refer photos below hauled out + photos of her being retrieved for the trip ‘home’.

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Update 13-08-2020 ex Cameron Pollard. Kingfish hauled out for a ‘full’ restoration 🙂

Moata & Caprice

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MOATA & CAPRICE

Todays photos are from Bruno Redwood’s facebook page & show the 1937 Moata anchored in the Clevedon River c.1965, the river was ‘in flood’ at the time. The 2nd photo also shows the 34’ launch Caprice, built in 1916 by the Grandisin Bros. 

The last photo, just of Caprice c.1966, again on the Clevedon. 

You can view / read more on Caprice here https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/04/29/the-launch-caprice-silver-bay-waiheke-island/

And Moata here https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/04/04/moata/

A Visit to Colin Brown’s Omaha Boat Shed 

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Anita > Maharitia

 

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A Visit to Colin Brown’s Omaha Boat Shed 

A coupe of weeks ago I gave mate a hand to take his clinker dinghy to Colin Brown’s yard at Omaha. Steve inherited the dinghy from his father-in-law & she was in need of a little TLC. I intro’ed Steve to Colin & as they say the rest is history 🙂 Forgot to say – Colin originally built the clinker.

While at the yard we had a look around the numerous projects under way. The c.1950, Chris Robertson built yacht Susan Jane is nearing completion & you can view the project at the link https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/10/30/susan-jane-sailing-sunday/

In numerious sheds/shelters were:

Anita > Maharitia – the biggest Lidgard built at Kawau Island. A lot of work happening to her & a very OTT re power, check out those Gardiners.

The vessel in the shed is Andromeda, a Townsend yacht that has been stripped for conversion by Dave Walker to a launch.

Of most interst to me was Josh Hawke’s 26′ carvel launch, Waiere. Built in c.1913 Josh restored her over a 6 year period that saw the replacement of her ribs, keel, stem, hood ends, interior, decks, cabin top & re-caulking. 

All Josh knows about her past is at one stage she was on the Kaipara as an open flounder boat. 

A 21hp DaeDong pushes her along very nicely. Any one know more about her past? You can see more photos here https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/01/02/mystery-launch-3/

18-08-2018 UPDATE The clinker in the 1st few photos (Steve Finnigans – Mayflea) is back from Colin Browns yard looking be swish 😉

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Awatea – Sailing Sunday + Woollacott 4 Sale

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AWATEA – Sailing Sunday

The above photos of Awatea come to us via Bruno Redwood’s facebook page – & show the yacht Awatea in a tributary of the Henderson Creek c. November 1931.

Awatea was but in 1886 by Charles Bailey Snr in Auckland. She was sold to a Henry Swan c. 1897, & there is an urban legend that in1901 Swan reputedly told his friends that he was embarking on a solo world navigation, when in fact he sailed Awatea to the creek & spent the next 30 years living aboard or nearby. Harold Kidd has advised the story is “total bollocks” – Swan being a wealthy, retired solicitor, who owned a large property on the banks of the Whau River, on which he had large commercial orchards. He was also chairman of the Roads Board.

He died in November 1931.

Jason Prew had advised that these days Awatea is in storage at Whangaparaoa.

04-07-2018 Input from Colin Brown – Colin was a part owner of Awatea for a few years with Pete Mcurdy & his wife. Colin is in the process of building a scale sailing model (photos below). Colin confirms Jason’s comment above re her current whereabouts.

WOOLLACOTT Looking For A Home

I have been contacted by Phil Parks the Dockmaster at Sandspit Marina about a little Woollacott (photos below) on the hard at the Sandspit Yacht club.

Her present owner inherited her but has come to the realisation the project is too big for him so she is for sale for giveaway price.

She is complete, 6 winches, solar panels, alloy rig. Phil commented that she is a pretty little boat. She needs to be saved. So woodys – any one want a project?

Viewing at Sandspit or more details Phil can be contacted on 027 2828249

 

 

Mystery Launch at Lake Rotomahana

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Mystery Launch at Lake Rotomahana

The above launch is obviously a tourist / charter boat but the styling is very ‘out there’. Photo comes from Lew Redwood’s facebook page. Nathan Herbert has commented that she has a nice looking hull, the question is from whom & when did the top 1/2 arrive?

The caption states: Steaming Cliffs, Waimangu, Rotomahana.

Lake Rotomanhana, Rotorua, is the North Island’s deepest lake & increased it size x20, as a result of the 1886 Mt Tarawera eruption.

Any woodys able to shed some lift on her background > & what became of her?