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 WOODEN BOATS ENJOYING SUMMER CRUISING

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THETIS – HAURAKI GULF
GAY DAWN – HAURAKI GULF
ROA -HAURAKI GULF
WAIARI – HAURAKI GULF
AOTEAROA – HAURAKI GULF
JUANITE & MARINUS – Oneroa
ARETHUSA – BOI
KOROWAI – BOI
POSEIDON – BOI
KAIKOURA – BOI
SOUTH SEAS – BOI
RATBAG – BOI

CLASSIC WOODEN BOATS ENJOYING SUMMER CRUISING

Over the 2025/26 xmas / new year period a couple of woodys have been sending in photos of classic craft that they have seen out and about. Angus Rogers onboard the motor launch CENTAURUS has been mooching around the Coromandel / Bottom End of Waiheke Island and Murray Deeble on his Townson yacht MORGANA in the Bay of Islands. 

The evil weather we had around the 27th >31st keep a lot of boats in the marina and those out were not moving around much . Angus recorded winds of 68 knots in Te Kouma at anchor. 

Quite a few washed ashore and sales of SaltAway will be high this month with a lot of dinghies / outboards flipped over in the high winds. 

PHOTO BELOW FROM ABOARD CENTAURUS

BAY OF ISLANDS – RUSSELL  – CLASSIC LAUNCH PARADE

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VIDEO EX IAN HOLT

https://www.facebook.com/groups/316224205161973/permalink/25652234717800906/?mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=KPLPuWDP0YaaYW1o#

BAY OF ISLANDS – RUSSELL  – CLASSIC LAUNCH PARADE

Yesterday (Friday 9th) saw a group of woody classic boat owners participate in a parade of classic craft as part of the Russell Boating Club – Tall Ships Regatta weekend.

Great turn out with an even mix of launches, ex game boats and ex work boats, looked like perfect conditions and a great time by all. 

Part of the event was a log rally which my spies tell me was a tad too long and my lips are sealed but maybe a few skippers may have been using the smart phones for more tha just phone calls……..

Photos thanks to Hilton Ward onboard SPINDRIFT.  (as always click on photos to enlarge)

Today (Saturday) will be a biggie on the water with the running of the 50th Tall Ships Sailing Regatta.

WINNERS ARE GRINNERS – The winner of the log rally was the Owen Woolley built launch – KORAWAI, owned by Tania and Matt Cooper. Photo below of Matt (R) and cabin boy Grant Gibbs. I suspect they won it fair and square – I know both well and both are luddites when it comes to technology 🙂

12-01-2026 UPDATE BELOW – ex Margo & Jamie Hudson

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – LORNA – WHAT BECAME OF HER

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – LORNA – WHAT BECAME OF HER

Back in Oct 2025 WW was contacted by John Vague in regard to a a launch name the LORNA that when John was very young was owned by his uncle R.W. Hutchinson.It was on one of the five moorings at St Hellers Bay., Auckland, approx. year 1948. John recalls she was about 28’ long. Back on Oct John was hoping one of the WW readers would be able to supply more intel on the vessel. I was for some photos and John took on the task of tracking some down.

Fast forward to this week and John advised the son of Reg Hutchinson uncovered and sent in the two photos above.
So woodys can we help John out.

UPCOMING EVENTS – CIRCLE THE CALENDAR

TANIWHA 1950’S QUEENSTOWN LAKE RUN-ABOUT

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TANIWHA 1950’S QUEENSTOWN LAKE RUN-ABOUT

Earlier in the week WW was contacted re the above c.1950’s wooden lake day boat – TANIWHA. Her owner was having to move the craft from Queenstown to Dunedin and had an insurance question.
They commented that she has been in a watertight garage since the late 1990s/early 2000s where the conditions are bone dry. 

It is believed that the craft hasn’t been near Lake Wakatipu since about the same era. The photo are all from the same period.

The run-about was home built by the owners grandfather and father.

It’s a long shot but do the photos ring any bells from the past. TANIWHA was quite a looker so should have been a memorable sight, so fingers crossed.

UPDATE – THEY SUCCESSFULLY REMOVED HER TODAY AFTER 20+ YEARS IN THE GARAGE

UPCOMING EVENTS – CIRCLE THE CALENDAR

CLASSIC 1955 WOODEN RUNABOUT – LITTLE HONEY UPDATE

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CLASSIC 1955 WOODEN RUNABOUT – LITTLE HONEY UPDATE

Back in March 2025 WW ran a story on a1955 17’ Mason Marlin runabout named LITTLE HONEY that owner James McConnell was restoring – link to that story here – https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/03/17/little-honey-1955-classic-wooden-runabout/

Over the xmas/ny break James sent in photos above and commented that after managing to dislodge the transom on the 2nd voyage after the initial rebuild, he had now completed the repair.

James pulled the transom back the 1/2 inch it had moved when the motor hit the submerged log.  Cut the buckled veneer off, cleaned it up and epoxied it back in place followed by 8 coats of varnish.

He then put 4 threaded rods from the transom to the next structural point as he felt the motor put a lot of load on the transom.  Lastly a layer of fibreglass tape along the bottom of the transom just in case.

In James words itt’s a goer now and the new perma-trim meant no need for a new prop” 

CLASSIC WOOLLACOTT YACHT GETS A SECOND CHANCE

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CLASSIC WOOLLACOTT YACHT GETS A SECOND CHANCE

In mid December we ran a story on the Woollacott yacht – JANACE ANNE and reached out for some help saving her from the land fill. Link to that story https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/12/21/classic-woollacott-yacht-jance-anne-needs-a-helping-hand/

Chris Leech sent in the update below – “Great progress has been made over the break on Janace Anne. Below the waterline is just about ready for anti foul, the topsides have been stripped back, and given two coats of primer. The cabin top has been water blasted and ready for attention. Down below is has been tidied up, but the current plan is to only get the engine running. We have had the offer of a complete running engine (Bukh 10) if required. The original was handled by Moon Engines.
Please visit woollacott.org.nz for more photos in info + some below.”

Janace Anne – Terry WilmerDownload
Janace Anne – Malcolm DickensDownload

— WAITING ON A WW T-SHIRT ? – A few orders over the break went into the spam file – so if you think Im rude and have not got back to you – sorry – can you re0send your email – thanks

CIRCLE THE CALENDAR

CAN WE PUT A NAME TO THIS WAIHEKE ISLAND CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT – NORTHSTAR

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CAN WE PUT A NAME TO THIS WAIHEKE ISLAND CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT – NORTHSTAR

Just back on dry land after 9 days mooching around Waiheke Island, a mixed bag of weather but you quickly forget the bad days, and there were a few.

Full trip report in the next few days – but today I’m keen to put a name to the launch I spotted in Ostend , near the Waiheke Island Boating Club. 

Looks familiar but the brain is fried , so can we learn more about her.

06-01-2025 INPUT ex MARK MACHAUGHLIN – ITS North Star

https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/12/19/north-star/

SUMMER CRUISING ONBOARD CLASSIC YACHT RANGER

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SUMMER CRUISING ONBOARD CLASSIC YACHT RANGER

During a deep dive in the WW files I rediscovered an email received from Paul Garnham concerning the classic yacht RANGER. Refer below (edited)

“It was suggested to me that you might be able to assist me locate the current owner of Ranger.  I’m currently digitising my Grandfathers old photos slides from the 1960’s and 70’s and discovered a bunch of photos of Ranger and crew sailing in the Bay of Islands as best I can tell.  The owner of Ranger, Mr Tercel? features in a couple of them.  I wonder if the current owner of Ranger might be interested or even your website?

I assume it was my Grandfather, Charles Garnham, who took the photos, and I can also identify one of the crew as Mac Redmond, who is my father’s cousin”.

Now I’m hoping I did connect the two, but if not hopefully todays story will.

RANGER also made an appearance on the cover of the Dec/Jan 1961/62 issue of Sea Spray magazine (photo below via K Ricketts)

CLASSIC WOODEN BIG GAME BOAT – DOROTHY – FLASHBACK

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CLASSIC WOODEN BIG GAME BOAT – DOROTHY – FLASHBACK

Back in July 2015 WW ran a great story on the Oliver & Gilpin built launch DOROTHY, link below. At the time we only had one every stunning b/w photograph  https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/07/01/dorothy-2/  There is lots of chat on DOROTHY at the link.

Fast forward to late Dec 2025 and woody John Dawson sent in the great photo above .

Can we learn more about where she is today.

05-01-2025 – INPUT ex CRAIG OGLE – My old mate Wayne owned her in the 90s he sold her to a couple fellas in Wellington as far as I know.

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – ACHERON 

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – ACHERON 

ACHERON was built in 1968 by Owen Woolley and is apex. 44’ in length, has a beam of 12’7” and draws 3’6”.

Forward motion is via twin Commer 135hp engines. Owen W was a big fan of these engine, no doubt based around the sideways configuration which allowed for ender floor installation. 

Probably best described as fitting the modern classic mould, she’s a tad too busy up top for my eyes.

She recently made an appearance on tme which gives us a good look below decks. She did appear on WW back in March 2023 https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/03/14/acheron/

Hopefully a new owner is enjoying this rather large launch this summer.