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.

Around The Yards – Neptune

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NEPTUNE WINTER HAUL-OUT

Over winter, Neptune the 1956, 30′ motor sailer built by Fred Lidgard on Kawau Island, has been hauled out at the Whangateau boat yard for some TLC & some major work to realign her drive shaft. After buying Neptune, owner Greg was my marina neighbour at Bayswater last summer & on numerous occasions relayed that over a certain rpm Neptune was not the the most relaxing classic to be aboard 😉 Now it would be an understatement to say Greg is a perfectionist so at the earliest opportunity he slipped her & set to correcting the problem.  I’m sure Greg will added to this post the exact details of the work – hint hint Greg 🙂
Neptune slid down the ramp 2 weeks ago & is looking magnificent, see photo below on her mooring. Neptune has always been gifted with wonderful, caring owners & its awesome to see that Greg has taken her to a new high. Check out the ww link (blue) below to see more of this woody.

Neptune

(todays post photos ex owner)

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Ngahi

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NGAHI

I first spotted Ngahi over the Easter 2015 period (photo above) in Waikalabubu Bay, Motutapu Island. Then recently Ken Ricketts snapped 2 photos (below) of her at Milford Marina on one of his ‘walk-abouts’. Given the Ngahi MCC name board on her stern, one of the Milford woodys should be able to provide us with more details.

Mystery Launch 13-07-2016

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Mystery Launch 13-07-2016

Today’s post is a going to test the talents of you woodys. Baden Pascoe sent me the above photos of a launch that is ‘parked’ outside Horopito Motors (central North Island). Baden commented that he was told by a Barbara Cole that it last floated at Whakatane, given its condition – that would have been a while ago 🙂

Barbara thinks the vessel may have been called ‘Gay Lee’.

So woodys what are the collective thoughts on her.

Update from Andrew Pollard –  I have a poor quality photo of this boat, i found it online sometime ago. See below.
I have it under the name Gay Lee also.

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Harold Kidd Awarded Life Membership of the CYA

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Harold Kidd Awarded Life Membership of the CYA

I’m pleased to be able to report that at last nights Classic Yacht Association of NZ AGM – Harold Kidd was made a life member of the CYA. Below is the presentation speech given by CYA Patron – Hamish Ross.
photo (sorry out of focus) L>R Harold Kidd, Rod Marler & Hamish Ross.

Harold Kidd – Life Membership

 We will not see in our lifetime anyone who will make greater an impact on Classic Yachting in New Zealand, than Harold Desmond Kidd.

 It is through his meticulous research and extensive writings that New Zealand’s pleasure boating history will live on, not to be forgotten or become a twisted mixture of fact and fable. With Robin Elliot, his frequent co-author, Harold has been responsible for many books and articles detailing the history of our craft, their builders, their owners and crew. I have been a witness to a little of their hard work, the detail of their research, as well as their generosity in sharing that information with so many others. The timing of their work has been critical as we lose knowledge and their memories as people pass away. For example, to speak to someone who worked with or knew the Logans or the Baileys is becoming rarer and rarer as each year passes, if not now extinct and soon the knowledge be rather like an old 1920’s song “ I’ve danced with a man, who’s danced with a girl, who’s danced with the Prince of Wales”

 The influence of Harold’s work has lead many of us, and many more, not only to appreciate the rich history of our vessels, but also, perhaps most importantly, to regularly part with our hard earned money, to restore them and keep them afloat.

 Harold has been involved in many classic craft, but for me the by far the most important has been the Jessie Logan, the crack craft and the genesis of the House of Logan. His doggedness in tracking down of the vessel, rescuing it as a children playhouse, transporting it by road from Nelson to Auckland with a woefully under powered vehicle, storing it for many years until he found the right people to help him to restore her, and afterwards securing her future is just one example of his dedication.

 Mention must be made of his Rescue Trust, which has help rescue derelict vessels threatened with destruction.

 Harold regularly assists the Dept. of Internal Affairs in protecting NZ’s historic vessels from being lost to this country through export.

 There are many more achievements and contributions that could be mentioned, but Harold, on behalf of all members of the Classic Yacht Association, please accept this very small token of our esteem and gratitude from your fellow classic yachtsmen and yachtswomen.

I cannot think of anyone who has done more for or is more deserving of Life Membership of the Classic Yacht Association of New Zealand.

 Hamish Ross –  CYA AGM 12th July 2016

Why Is Classic Sailing Stuck In The Doldrums?

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Why Is Classic Sailing Stuck In The Doldrums?

Now here is an idea – may be the Classic Yacht Association should change its name to something like the Classic Boat Club – why? well given that over 50% of its boat owner members are launch owners & in physical numbers the classic launches out number classic yachts, maybe the ‘yacht’ name is not reflective of the movement.

If you want further proof, in the latest addition of the CYA newsletter, Sheerlines (see below), the new (to be elected tonight) CYA chairman + a ex yacht captain + the out-going launch captain – all have their latest classic boating projects featured & guess what? – they are all motor boats. Sure 2 out of the 3 people also own a yacht, but the trend for the last few years has been launch ownership. The out-going CYA chairman owns a motor boat & has his classic yacht on the market.
Even a blind-man could see there is a huge shift to classic launch ownership & the more relaxed, social activities associated around launches. Today the ‘sport’ of racing a classic yacht has less & less appeal, the yachts look magnificent but there is no queue of people to own / sail them. Just look at the asking / sold prices for classic yachts these days – that alone tells the story.

Aside from the name, the real issue facing the CYA is membership retention – has been for the last few years. No shortage of people joining up but an un-healthy number continue to drop off at the other end. Despite record numbers joining in the last 3 years (would be in excess of 100 individuals) the total membership number almost remains static.

There will be a change of guard at tonights CYA AGM – lets hope they are open to welcoming new thinking in terms of the classic boating movement & what it offerers up to retain members. The days of the CYA being a yacht club with its primary mission providing yacht racing for classic yacht owners, is over – that role needs to be handed over to the numerous classic yacht ‘trusts’ that these days directly or indirectly control 68%+ of the active classic yachting race fleets.

If your a CYA member, make the effort to come to the AGM tonight – 7.00pm @ the RNZYC, Westhaven.

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Valsan

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VALSAN

Today’s photos, from the Tudor Collins collection, are of the 1938, 45′ Lidgard built bridgedecker Valsan. Harold Kidd commented previously on ww that Valsan was built for Alex Harvey Jr as a 38 footer with twin 90hp Grays. She was lengthened (as were so many of these big bridgedeckers) to 45ft by the time she went into NAPS as Z10 in 1942-3, possibly during the time she was being repaired after going up on the Castor Bay reef in February 1940. Peter Annan bought her when she was de-mobbed in 1944 and renamed her Lady Edith. Annan had been the long-term owner of the big Logan cutter Thelma. In 1948 Annan sold her to Arnold Baldwin who changed her name back to Valsan.

Lots of photos of Valsan on ww, just enter Valsan in the ww Search box to view.

Lucinda Nearly Ready To Splash

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Lucinda Nearly Ready To Splash

ww has been following Nathan Herbert’s restoration of the 1930 L. Coulthard bridgedeck launch ‘Lucinda’ since early in 2014 when Nathan asked me who owned the what looked like abandoned 28′ launch moored off the Devonport Yacht Club (photo below). Post purchase, Nathan is on record as saying that he was hauling her out at Milford Cruising Club for a quick clean up & a lick of paint – well 2 years later, splash date is fast approaching & all the shiney bits are going on.
I dropped down to MCC over the weekend & the old girl is looking very smart.
When she slides back into the creek I’ll do a full post. Today’s one is more to keep the pressure on the boy to finish the job & start enjoying her.

Q: Whens the duck board going on Nathan ?, you will regret not putting one on 😉 and what is the car spot light doing on the cabin top ………….. 😦  I’m some one of the woodys must have a more suitable light gathering dust in their shed ?????

You can read / view more on Lucinda here

Lucinda Hauls Out

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31-07-2016 Update

Was driving home via Milford & took a wee detour to check on the progress – just in time to see the mast being stepped – looking very smart (excuse the photos the light was disappearing fast)

And the curtains are up 😉

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Weather Bomb Hits Whangateau Boat Yard

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Weather Bomb Hits Whangateau Boat Yard

Early Saturday morning, a weather bomb hit the Whangateau boat yard & the 1926 classic launch Nereides, moored there for some seasonal maintenance,  has been damaged. I’ll let the words & photos on the yards facebook page, link below, tell the story.

Update- seems the internet fairies are playing games & the ability to view the facebook link is missing, so sorry folks – no link.

Nereides owner, Mark, is a good bloke & doesn’t deserve this (again) but Nereides is probably in the best spot possible for the repairs, the work that Pam & George are doing at the yard on a collection of our classic’s is 2nd to none.

Mark – if you need a hand, just ask 🙂

ANDROMEDA – Sailing Sunday

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ANDROMEDA – Sailing Sunday

Todays’s post is a tad different – it not often (these days) that we see a yacht being converted to a motor boat. Ken Rickett’s emailed in these photos of the Townson 26′ Serene -Andromedia that he spotted while on a visit to Colin Brown’s yard in Omaha. She was built in 1960 of 2 skins of kauri on opposite diagonals & is now owned by Dave Walker, of Warkworth, who recently bought her off Dave Jackson. She had been keep out in the weather, in DJ’s garden, in a semi derelict state, for about 3 years, with her coamings completely past their use by date.  Reports are that she was in a very sad state in general, but with a sound hull.

Dave Walker decided to remove all her interior & coamings & start again & convert her to a displacement launch, to be powered by a smallish diesel. You will see in the photos he has already fitted a deadwood with shaft log.

The work is being undertaken in a shed at Omaha, as per the photos. Dave anticipates having her in the water within approx. 18 months.

Ken was told she had been moored on a pile mooring at Westhaven originally, for many years, & was virtually unused, with someone just going aboard to pump her out, every now & again.

So woodys can we shed some light on Serena’s yachting past

Work-in-progress photos – April 2018 ex Ken Rickett’s

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ANDROMEDA

Dolcina

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Dolcina ( no longer a Mystery Launch)
photo ex Carol Stewart

Carol Stewart passed the above photos onto Ken Ricketts. Ken has commented that with the advantage of being able to enlarge the photo supplied to him, he is “fairly confident” the name on her side reads Dorcina. I’ve also enlarged it & would not be be betting the house on it reading Dorcina, its just too fuzzy to read.

So woodys anyone able to put a name to this launch ? The canoe stern must help in the ID process.

Update from Hylton Edmonds

“Close, but no cigar!! She’s Dolcina (original name?) and  resides in the Bay of Islands on a mooring to the outside of the Opua Marina.
She is normally very spick and span, the 2014 photos below were taken late season, show a regularly used boat, which when underway looks really great too.
Don’t know any more other than the fact you always get a friendly wave from the ‘crew’.
A very similar looking launch (may even be the same one?) when I was a boy, used to moor over by the railway embankment/bridge in Whakatakataka Bay (Orakei).
That particular  boat,  reputedly built (as a vague recollection) by an AHB employee to the same (but scaled down)  design of the  58’ foot (Bailey and Lowe 1912) Pilot Launch Waitemata.
When I see anybody aboard  Dolcina,  its usually in the Tug out pushing barges, so a bit hard to give chase and catch her (!), but if and when I do, I will see what I can find out.”

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25-07-2016 Input from Ted Sharpe

“I owned DAUCINA for 21+ year’s in Thames Coromandel, when i purchased her, her name was Daucina not Dolcina,we believe she was built in Wellington Island Bay in the 1950’s we bought her off Rob Wilson Who worked and lived at Kawau Island, The owner before Rob was the harbour master in Wellington and retired to Kawau Island with DAUCINA , i did quite a bit of work on her as she had been stripped out inside to carry building material from Sandspit to North Cove Kawau, i raised both cabin’s. i sold her to Allan Martin and William Owen so they could use her to update the book ..William Owen’s Hauraki Gulf 2nd edition…there is a picture of them coming out of Happy Jack Coromandel , ( page 176 ) hope this is helpful information , p.s. we had many great holiday’s with family and friend’s cruising the Hauraki Gulf .”

18-05-2022 UPDATE – new photos ex Baden Pascoe