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.

Orakei Hard Stand

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ORAKEI HARD STAND 1920’>1930’S

Today’s photos come to us via Lew Redwood’s fb, and show a selection of launches & yachts hauled out. The probate date is somewhere in the 1920>30’s.
The 2nd photo shows a magnificent collection of rear ends 🙂 Whilst I would never be able toID them, a woody like Simon Smith (convalescing at home, should be able to 😉
I’ll give a 2019 Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Calendar (see below) to the woody that correctly ID’s the most bums 🙂
I’ll have to get outside help to judge the winner. Entries (this time) via the WW comments section.
Closes Jan 7th, 2019.

How Can We Help

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Need Some Advice

waitematawoodys has a great following among the marine trade and talented ‘amateurs’ – most of these people are very happy to provided guidance when asked. So if you have questions relating to things like – how do I / where can I find / who is good at etc. Just ask away in the LEAVE A REPLY link at the bottom of this page 🙂

Almost A Woody – Lucille

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ALMOST A WOODY – LUCILLE
Lucille was built in 2004, in Whangarei, by Eric Knight and sits in the ’spirit of tradition’ category, being a fibre-glass version of the Logan wooden 33’ launch – Coquette.
She is powered by a 40hp, 4 cyl Lombardini diesel.
Her owner Alan Good is one of the most fastidious boaties you could find and has tweaked and upgraded almost everything to make Lucille perfect for his use. Even the interior follows through with the Logan concept of tongue & groove ceilings and panelling. Alan has also replaced all her fittings with bronze to enhance her look.
A very practical launch that gets used a lot.
Hard stand photos ex Ken Ricketts, rest Alan H & owner.
You can read more on the original Logan 33 Coquette here.   https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/04/15/coquette/

Lady Doreen – B.O.I.

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LADY DOREEN – Bay Of Islands

A story for the Woodys mooching around the Bay of Islands over the New Year.
Woody Dean Wright visited Snooks and Lola Fuller last week and came away with (another) box of old photo negatives to scan. There are some goodies, which Dean has ok’ed sharing with you all. More soon 😉
Today’s photos are of Lady Doreen.I love the wheel, no doubt from a Ford Model T.
 Enjoy
And Happy New Year 🙂

Varuna – Sailing Sunday

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VARUNA – Sailing Sunday

I have been following the re-fit of Varuna on James Dreyer’s fb page (Seven Oceans Boatworks) for several months. Varuna is owned jointly by Barry, Judy & James Dreyer.
 
Varuna is a 1939 Yankee One Design, by Starling Burgess. She was built by the well known yachtsman/ boat builder – George Andrews at Redcliffs, Christchurch in 1938/9. She is two skin kauri french carvel construction, unlike her sister ships, the US built Yankee One Designs that are single skin.
Varuna has undergone a major re-fit at the Shelly Park Cruising Club, yard in Howick, Auckland.
 
You can see more of the project by clicking the link below 😉

Southern Cloud

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SOUTHERN CLOUD
Southern Cloud is a 1927, 40’ Lane (Picton) built kauri double ended ex commercial fishing vessel converted to pleasure cruising / live-aboard.
The engine is a 90hp, 371 GM.
Included in her trademe listing is a survey / summary of the vessel so I have reproduced that below.
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Tiromoana

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TIROMOANA 4 Sale
I have featured Tiromoana several times on WW, mainly because she is just such a gorgeous classic woody. One of those vessels that looks just right from any angle.
She was designed and built in 1937 by Bill Couldrey, from double skinned, diagonal planked kauri, and measures 38′. Current zoom zoom is from a 60hp Gardner 5LW
Tiromoana has an interesting background – having served as a Naval patrol vessel during WWII and later as Aucklands first police launch.
Below decks her layout is very original and features anything and everything one would want and expect of a vessel of her class.
She is for sale on trademe and includes a 12m marina – which are as rare as hens teeth in Auckland these days.
Anyone looking for a very smart classic woody should check Tiromoana out 🙂
To view more on her – click this link   https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/08/15/tiromoana-2/
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Mystery Ruakaka Launch

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MYSTERY RUAKAKA LAUNCH
Todays woody is 32’ in length and powered by a 45hp Lees Ford diesel. Built in kauri, with carvel construction, approx. 20 yrs ago the hull was filleted and f/glassed. In her trade listing (thanks Ian McDonald) her owner comments that he believes given the style / construction used, the boat may date from the early 1900’s period.
Currently located at Ruakaka.
Can anyone give us the name of the vessel and anymore details on her?

Lady Ellen Restoration Update – December 2018

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Lady Ellen Restoration Update – December 2018

Owner Bruce Mitchinson sent in the photos above & report below:

“The focus over the last few weeks has been on the exterior and cockpit. We have gone through 65 litres of high-build surfacer, and sanded half of it off, to get the topsides and below waterline fair.
Barrier undercoat applied to the topsides and another round of sanding to take out minor blemishes.
The above photos show polyurethane undercoat going on the topsides last Friday, the wet look gives a taste of what’s to come after the finishing sand and the top coat goes on later this week.
While we are on a roll, the cockpit will be painted, the deck head will be undercoated, and the interior bulkheads finished off before interior work kicks off again.
Everything is ready for the bottom paint so we might get this on before my painter goes on holiday.”
To see/ read more on this restoration project – enter Lady Ellen in the WW search box 😉

Merry Christmas Woodys

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MERRY CHRISTMAS WOODYS
Wishing you all a safe and Merry Christmas and happy New Year, hopefully you will get to spend some time with your family / love ones and ideally in your happy place – where ever that may be.
Remember – a wave or a smile and the words “ good morning” costs nothing and we have no idea what’s going on in other peoples lives, you simply being nice to someone, might make a big difference to their day. Try it – it works 😉
A know quite a lot of you will be finding a WW t-shirt under the Christmas tree this morning, I’m touched that so many of you want to be part of our amazingly cool wooden boating community. On a personal note, I have rubbed shoulders with a lot of you this year and I never cease to be amazed by your friendship and generosity. The feedback and input I get from people is what keeps me motivated to write a new woody story everyday. To those that have sent in stories and photos, I thank you for sharing them with us, without you WW would not be what it is today – 4,100,000+ views.
2018 was a great year for the wooden boating movement and the future looks even better, with more and more vessels either being restored or ear-marked for restoration at a later date.
The real important thing is to use these old girls – varnishing and polishing the bronze can wait – just get out there and enjoy yourself.
It is my intention these holidays, technology and wifi access allowing, to keep publishing the daily waitematawoodys stories. But if for some reason I miss a day, just check in again the next day.
I ask that if you see anything woody related over the festive period you take a photo and send it in to   waitematawoodys@gmail.com  I’m always looking for content.
My Favourite Photo From 2018? – well its several photos and a video. The blood sweat & tears that went into the rebuild of Jason Prew’s launch – My Girl was unbelievable, then to see her sitting alongside Nathan Herbert’s freshly re-fitted Pacific on the slip at Milford Cruising Club was very special – the video below says it all, a very happy woody.
Enjoy 🙂
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Raindance turned 90 this year and I opened up the wallet – some serious TCL in terms of the deck, tram top & doghouse + new canopy + stove + electric dunny and holding tank / electric pump upgraded, and lots of other bits & pieces that most would not pick up but were bugging me from day one of ownership. RD & myself will miss Geoff Bagnall when he closes the yard doors in late January – he has been very good to RD & I enjoy his banter 🙂

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