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 Yacht – Sailing Sunday

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Mystery Yacht – Sailing Sunday

Barbara Cooke sent me the above photo of this very cute yacht moored in Barrys Bay, Akaroa Harbour.

Snapped from on-board Trinidad as she mooches her way back North.

Any of the southern woodys able to ID the yacht & supply details?

MANUTARA

Pictured below is the 1946 Salthouse designed & built yacht Manutara, she built with the intention of racing the Sydney to Hobart race, but this never eventuated. These days she is owned by Ray Shoebridge & earns her keep doing charter work out of Akaroa – details & photo also ex Barbara C.

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GLEAM 

I popped down to the Salthouse (ex) yard yesterday to catch up with some of the steam boat crowd & while there spotted Neil Chalmers old yacht Gleam at the wharf – looking very smart – Neil will be very chuffed to see her being loved & back in the hands of the family of the designer / builder – JB Brooke.

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Input from Barbara Cooke – Manutara was designed by Jack Muir in 1946. And built by Salthouse Boat Builders in 1962. John Salthouse remembers her being the second full build after setting up the yard at Greenhithe in 1960.
Gleam is now owned by Chris (Curly) Salthouse.

Pakeha

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PAKEHA

I was recently contacted by Bruce Pearson, who is trying to track down the old wooden launch named Pakeha, pictured above, which belonged to his late Grandfather Dr. Gordon Campbell of Nelson.

Bruce is light on any details about the boat as he was just a child when his Grandfather took his family out on it, around the late 1960’s, early 1970’s (Bruce is aged 55 now).

Bruce’s mother told him that her Dad (Gordon Campbell) had the boat since the 1940s and he renamed it to Pakeha, she thinks it was formerly called Elsie or something similar.

Pakeha was double ended and had a lower berth cabin with a semicircular front and a taller wheelhouse. Her length is unknown.

Bruce has been told that it was later owned by a farmer near Motueka somewhere and that it was partially restored when the farmer passed away. No info available as to what happened to it since that sighting.

Bruce would love to hear what became of Pakeha.

 

 

Photos Of 1904 Logan Yacht – Ariki Back In The Water

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PHOTOS OF 1904 LOGAN YACHT – ARIKI BACK IN THE WATER

After an 8-month refit at Okahu Bay, Auckland, the 1904 Logan Bros. classic yacht Ariki was dropped back into the water yesterday at Westhaven.

Still needs the stick & rigging but she looks a treat.

You can see / read more on the refit here  https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/08/14/ariki-restoration/

(photos ex one of my waterfront spies 🙂  )

 

 

 

Royal Falcon Restoration

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ROYAL FALCON RESTORATION 

Some news on the 38’ Cox & Filmer 1934 built bridge decker – Royal Falcon from her owners Steve & Colette Pople.

Having languished on the Waipuna River for the last 10 years and now 20 – 25 years behind in maintenance its owners have moved her into a shed at Waipuna.

They have a long road ahead of them, as they plan to almost completely rebuild from the deck up plus some hull work. I’m very pleased to say they have already removed the flying bridge, due to rot, and intend to return the exterior to its 1940 shape as per the WW photo at Mansion House Bay Kawau Island (see below).

RF’s engine, a Commer TS3 has already had extensive work done it but is being further worked on by TS3 specialist Mark Erskine and will be good for another 20 years.

WW will follow this project & keep to updated.

You can read more on her here, make sure you read the comments section – lots there    https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/04/22/royal-falcon/

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15-07-2018 Update ex Steve Pople – photos below

The stern tube has been rebored to remove the 20 mm whip in the shaft, apparently from when the cockpit extension went on.

She has had 47 broken ribs replaced with new spotted gum steamed in ribs, and we have nearly finished replacing 1800 copper nails and roves !!

Engine beds have been replaced, and a new anchor locker and bulkheads are about to me made.

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And a couple of photos ex the NZ Herald , as she was launched – very smart looking launch.

Royal Falcon 1934 Martin boat 1

Royal Falcon 1934 martin boat 2

Yard Visit Update – 27-06-2019

I dropped into the Leader Boat Yard today to see how RF was coming along – boatbuilder Dave and owner Steve, gave me a ‘guided’ tour. The boat has been completely gutted and her cabin top removed. Lots of new ribs and almost 100% re-rivated, then the hull has been splined and glassed. New decking and beltings are complete and you will see from the photos below the new bulkheads – don’t panic about the height, once the engine is reinstalled these will be trimmed to size. The yard / boat shed is situated on the Panmure River waterfront.

We will be following this project – its estimated to be approx. 2 years before splash date.

If she looks longer than in so of the b/w photos above, thats because 6′ was added to her stern – many years ago.

Royal Falcon is a very lucky boat – not just in having Steve Pople as an owner – she was once owned (briefly) by ‘Tom The Torch’, so that was a lucky escape 😉

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Update 24-07-2019 – reconditioned engine (& box) ready & waiting

Royal Falcon engine

Update 21-09-2020 Photos below ex owner Steve Pople , as found in the vessel’s log + one from the Andy Donovan collection

Moata

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MOATA

The above photo shows Moata alongside the old Clevedon Wharf on the Wairoa c.1960.

What became of her & details on her past life would be a nice – workboat woodys??? (Photo ex Lew Redwood Facebook)

05-04-2018 UPDATE

Input from Harold Kidd & Cameron Pollard – MOATA was built in 1937 by W.G. Lowe & Son for Nobel Explosives to bring explosives from the stores at Maraetai to town. She replaced the cutter REWA. 

Currently owned by Fin Horder and fishing out of Westport/Greymouth and further. So she’s not a “captain calm water” boat. Gardner powered of course and she is kept in perfect condition.

Geoff Brebner Input – For years she was kept on a mooring at Kawakawa Bay, not far from the ICI explosve magazine at Waitawa Bay.

Easter Woody Cruise – 36 photos

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Easter Woody Cruise – 36 photos

Wow – I can not remember when we last had 4 days back-to-back of stunning Easter weather. Not sure about the rest of the country but the Hauraki Gulf was near perfect. Each day the cloud / haze disappeared mid morning & the from then on it was 10/10, even the stick & rag boys would have been happy – enough breeze to push them along.

Above is a collection of random photos from over the weekend – on a personal front I had two highs – 

1. Anchored briefly in Oneroa on Friday & bloke came over in his dinghy & said (to me the magical words) “I used to own your boat years ago”. Turns out he bought her off Blair Cole (boatbuilder), who rebuilt her after she sank (late 1980’s). She was keep in the upper Harbour near Riverhead & he confirmed that her original name was Lady Gay.  Lots of chat & I was rapped to hear about a period of her life I was unaware off . I even forgave him for now owning a Riviera  😉

2. Second highlight was at last visiting Garden Cove, Waiheke Island. Every time I have attempted to enter the very small cove, it has been packed with plastic fizz boats. On Sunday morning the gods smiled on Raindance & we spent the day in this very special spot catching up with Sue & Mark Edmonds on Monterey. Even overnighted there. The entrance is very narrow & we witnessed a few fizzies enter via the wider side – luck must have been with them , as the dodged the bricks (the red arrow on the last photo shows the narrow entry point)

Garden Cove photos below, as always click to enlarge 😉

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photo – Mark Edmonds

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Phantom 4Sale

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PHANTOM 4Sale

The 1925, 16’ day launch “Phantom” has a carvel planked kauri hull, and cabin. An electric start Yanmar YSB 8hp marine diesel engine with reduction gearbox, driving a small (10×7) 3 blade prop through original 1955 “Stuart Turner” stern gear. All this sees her get along at a comfortable 5 knots. I have photographed her numerous times at the Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade, she is a very pretty craft & with a little TLC she will be back to her best (the photos are 12mths old & she needs a paint). Currently located in the Tokoroa / Putaruru area.

The added bonus of being on a trailer makes the Phantom a very usable classic woody. 4 sale on trademe.

Does anyone know more about where & what the Phantom has been up to for the last 93 years??

Input from Mick Jones 

“I purchased “Phantom” from the late John Goudie of Otautu Bay in 2007. He found “Phantom” wrecked in Tukituki Bay before the Second World War, and it considered an “old hull” at that time. The purchase included a “Stuart Turner” 4HP engine and sterngear which dates it back to the mid 50s when the engine was originally purchased. I suspect the cuddy cabin and engine were fitted then Phantom” was the family settlers launch operating out of Colville Bay in the Coromandel for many years. She was taken out of the water before 1985, and stored in a series of sheds as a bare hull. I had her trucked to Tokoroa, sat her upside down on three 60l oil drums, and proceeded to recaulk and pay the seams, fit a second hand diesel, strip back the kauri cabin and finish bright- as it should. The transom hung rudder was replaced with modern thru hull steering gear and tranverse seating fitted. Phantom has been negotiating the waikato hydro lakes over the past 7 seasons , and an annual trip to Rotoiti for the Classic Boat Parade.”

Leisure Hour – Update

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LEISURE HOUR

I have been contacted by Don & Teresa Windley, the new owners of Leisure Hour. Teresa & Don purchased Leisure Hour from master boat restorer John Wright and sailed her from Westpark Marina Hobsonville to her new home at Mahurangi Marinas. Built some 82 years ago she is built strong and has strong standing rigging. Her little Arona diesel engine performed well and didn’t miss a beat on the trip. Don told me that they will continue with the good work John Wright started in keeping this lovely old sail boat in good sailing condition, 1st project being rewiring all the internal electrics. This winter a planned haul out will include masts out which need re-varnishing.

Don thanked WW for publishing Leisure Hours story a little while ago that included some of her history from Harold Kidd. The WW story and the trademe ad helped them to make the decision to purchase a classic they could manage to sail together, as they had been looking for some time. It is always nice to hear that WW is helping people discover the classic wooden boating movement.

You can see/read more about her here https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/12/24/classic-vintage-1936-ketch-leisure-hour/

09-01-2021 Update from Angus Rogers – photos below taken at Gt Barrier Island 2020-21 xmas/ny period

 

As a bonus today –  below is a link to a 30min video of the Melbourne based classic yacht Sayonara, in Sydney for News Eve 2001 , sent to me by Alan Good – enjoy it’s a cool look back at yachting 17 years ago.

 

 

Mystery Launch – Dargaville

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Mystery Launch – Dargaville

I was contacted by Dennis Rule the other day, who was just back from a two-day cruise on the Kaipara Harbour, overnighting at Dargaville.  Dennis took the above photos on the slip at Dargaville while waiting to board the Kewpie Too for the return journey to Helensville.  All spruced up ready for the water, but no name.

Any woodys from the dark-side able to tell more about this vessel?

Input from Jeff  Norris

The name is Waima and is owned by Rodney W ilson who is the commodore of the Northern Wairoa Boating Club I helped put her back in water yesterday all ready for todays regatta all I now about her is she powered by GMC and is quite fast also she has been lengthen at one time

 

 

 

Tuatahi

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TUATAHI

The photo above shows the launch Tuatahi alongside the wharf at Kingfisher Lodge, Whangaroa in 1954.

Anyone able to shed some light on her?

Photos below ex Brian Worthington

I’m out & about over Easter, if my dinghy is looking a little low in the water it is because I have found spotX, that the boys below had  🙂     (both photos ex Lew Redwood)

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