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.

House Boat

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House Boat
photos by Jose Campos

Ok its not a classic but its very cool & given its a long weekend, a few of you will be away at the bach or better still afloat so I thought it would be a good time to post this floating home.
It is a modular design that lets you choose a cozy studio or a fully-furnished three-bedroom house, all of which float. Living in a cool, modern house would be pretty great, but imagine taking that house and placing it in the water so you can have your very own waterfront property with 360 degree views. The house boats come in a range of sizes from 10 to 18 meters (approx. 33 to 59 feet) with a set width of 6 meters (19.6 feet) Propulsion comes from two small outboard motors that give you the flexibility of moving it to a new place every day. It’s even built so that it can easily be stored in two standard containers and shipped to you anywhere in the world.
Simply charge the boat and your house is self-sufficient for at least seven days. It produces up to 80% of its own energy needs for the year. It was also designed with a reduced carbon footprint using materials and technologies that have little impact on the environment.The kitchen comes fully equipped for all your daily needs. The house is also outfitted with a heat pump and AC generator, and a barbecue on the upper deck.

Tomorrows ww post will feature another ‘house’ boat but this one was built in 1901 & has the impressive ‘Built by Logan Bros’ builders plate.

The Kiwi Version 🙂

photo ex Dean Wright of Bay of Island marine scientist, John Booth’s ‘Waka’ 😉

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Sanders Cup Yachts – Sailing Sunday

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Jellicoe Class Sanders Cup Boats

Sanders Cup Yachts – Sailing Sunday
photos from ex Mac Taylor Collection

The above photo shows three Jellicoe Class Sanders Cup boats ( X28 – X34 – X45) in full flight on Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour. I have included below the original photos as the resolution weakens on the cropped version above.

Harold Kidd Input

X28 is DESIRE built by Trot Willetts for Ed Croad in 1948ish. Never outstanding.
X34 is BETTINA built by Sam Mason for himself in 1946. She won the Sanders Cup in 1948.
X45 is WHITE HEATHER built by Jim Young for himself in 1949. She won the Sanders Cup in 1949.

My guess is that this is the Auckland Sanders Cup trials of 1949.

Robin will probably be more encyclopaedic than me.

Jellicoe Class Sanders Cup Boats 1

29-03-2016 Input from Jim Young
Confirming photo probably taken in Nov 1948  during the Sanders Cup selection trials.  X45 White Heather J.Young, L.( Wagger)  Riley, .R Lamb , F.(Snow ) Swanberg. All of Northcote.  X34  Bettina,  Sam Mason of Stanley Bay, X28 Desire Eddie Croad of Pt Chevalier.

Buzzard

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BUZZARD

Buzzard is 1989 22’6″ spirit of tradition launch with a Holmes displacement hull, ply glassed 😦
Powered by 21hp Volvo Penta diesel motor that pushes her along at 5>6 knots. A perfect speed for her home waters of Lake Taupo.

Any of the lake woodys able to tell us more about her?

Launch at Leigh

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Launch @ Leigh

Launch at Leigh
photo ex Leigh Historical Photos (Paul Wyatt)

All I know about the above photos is that its possibly from the 1940’s, Can we attempt to ID the launch?

Sorry the ww post was a little late going live today – was out on the town last night………………. If you like Bluff oysters the trendy thing around the waterfront eateries is Oyster Happy Hour, normally 4>7pm, a dozen for $20, great value & the taste is to die for. Given how many we had, that just might happen 🙂

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Mystery Launch 24-03-2016

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MYSTERY LAUNCH 24-03-2016
photo ex Robin Elliott

Another mystery launch from Robin’s collection of photos from the Whangarei Cruising Club Collection, as far as Robin knows, all are from the 1940’s early 1950’s & and were taken by Palmer Photography in Whangarei (1910-1999). Most by the late Graeme Palmer and possibly some older ones by his father.

So woodys who can ID this one?

Reproduction of advertisement below ex Robin Elliott

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Sirius

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SIRIUS
info ex Les Sharman via Ken Ricketts

Sirius was built by Owen Woolley in 1956. She is 32′ long & is powered by a 4 cyl Ford diesel, which owner Les says is 90 hp.
Les bought Sirius in 1999 off a retired car dealer called Fraser Chapman. She was moored in Thames at that time.

Les spoke to Owen Woolley before he died, when he lived in the  Warkworth area &  Owen told him she was the first boat he built, after he completed his apprenticeship & she was built at Panmure. Sirius is berthed at Gulf Harbour

Any of the woodys able to supply more info on her earlier days?

Harold Kidd input

According to APYMBA records this SIRIUS was built by Owen Woolley in 1956 with dimensions 32’x29’8″x10’4″x2’9″ and had a 52hp Fordson diesel. Her owners in the period 1960-73 were G.D.B. & J.M. Chambers of Hinemoa St., Birkenhead. There seems to have been another SIRIUS in 1957 owned by D.H. McMillan of Lunn Ave., Mt Wellington, with a different registered number but it could be the same boat, I suppose.

Off Gt. Barrier 2003

SIRIUS OFF GREAT BARRIER 2003

17-04-2016 photos c.1990’s, ex past owner Fraser Chapman via Ken Ricketts

CYA Cake Day

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CYA Cake Day
photos Alan H & Daniel Renall

Last Saturday was the annual CYA ‘Round-Rangi’ yacht race + post race BBQ + Cake Day. The tradition of the Cake Day goes back a long way when women did not take part in yacht racing & once a year the men folk would invite women out for the day but they had to ‘bring a cake’. The cake day tradition lives on but these days its a competition to see who has the best looking & best tasting cake & more often than not, the cakes are made by the blokes.
The weather was a little fresh & the sailing fleet numbers were low, in fact only 3 yachts sailed the course 😦  this did not stop a great late afternoon raft up in Islington Bay which saw the cake judging happen afloat this year, I arrived later on & missed the announcement of the winners but if it was up to me Daniel Renall’s carrot cake would have won. Given how good it was I suspect wife Alex made it 🙂

A good turn out from what I call the ‘Gang of 8’ – the loyal launches who support the CYA events. We had in the bay – Wirihana, Lucille, Florance Dawn, Raindance & Kumi. Great to see Kumi back on this side of the island, owner Haydon Afford has just returned Kumi to the Waitemata after 2 seasons on the Kaipara.
I did see the recently relaunched Maria heading back up the Harbour when I was heading out so maybe Nick Voerman had been in the bay earlier in the day. BUT over all a poor turnout from both yachts & launches.

And a message from the yacht crews to the skipper of W1, slow down in the bay. Thats two complaints in 3 weeks………… 😦

The rebirth of Juanita

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The Rebirth of JUANITA
photos Greg Lees & Alan H

Yesterday I was privileged to be asked by Greg Lees to attend the re-launch of the 32′ classic launch Juanita, a 1951 Allan Williams (Milford Creek) built beauty that has  just spent the last 4 months in the Lees Boatbuilder shed at Sandspit. In Greg’s words she was in for a ‘refresh & to bring her back to her original appearance’ – well Mr Lees, I do not think she has ever looked this good before so you have exceeded the brief, but we have come to expect that from the yard. Greg commented that Juanita’s new owners (Nick & Anna Davidson) contribution to the work was huge, every weekend for the 4 month period.

Juanita has had a busy life having called numerious places home – Auckland, Whangarei, Lake Taupo, Whitianga & now Sandspit.

Juanita’s past has been well documented on ww – some links below for details & photos

Juanita

Juanita

I took the photo of her below late last year, moored off Greg’s wharf looking very sad & tired as she awaited her turn in the shed. Arohanui was in-residence at the time mid restoration. One of the reasons Nick chose the Lees yard was the long association the yard & Greg personally has had with Juanita, in fact Greg told me that he once got very close to adding a flybridge to her, luckily that never happened 🙂

Again I’m so pleased to see so many of our classic launches being returned to their finery – so woodys who’s next in the shed?

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Took the opportunity to have a  peek at Karros hauled out & chat to Dave Jackson, with a 14′ beam she is a rather pretty big bottomed old girl 🙂

Carina – Sailing Sunday

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CARINA @ GH 29.1.16 - 1

CARINA – Sailing Sunday
photos ex Ken Ricketts

Photos above are of the yacht Carina hauled out at Gulf Harbour, the ‘Gypsy’ sail/boom cover is a little confusing. What do we know about her & is she (hopefully) out for a make-over?

Speaking of makeovers – Mondays ww post showcases the stunning re-birth of a classic launch.

Input from Graham Russell – owner

Sorry for the confusion, she is in fact the Tabuteau designed C18, but sporting Gypsy’s pre collision cover ,which John Pryor has kindly lent me. She, Carina, had got to the stage where she could have been the major sponsor of the Coromandel Mussell festival, much to my shame.  With the help, which is such an inadequate word in terms of the effort, of a number of good friends, we achieved the impossible and stripped, caulked and repainted her, in just over 5 weeks. What was a daunting and overwhelming exercise became a wonderful example of what can be done by a energetic team. Peter and Ron Mence, Mike McGuire from the Marina, Tony Frost from work, my wife Julie catering, colour consultant Daughter Abi, beers from the in laws, motivation from Iain Forsyth ( thanks for the very informative discussion on terodo and the sleepless nights that followed). And one very special person, Jeff Cook. ( Huge thanks to Sally for sparing him). A true godsend for Carina, as Jeff’s skill as a Devonport Naval Base trained boat builder has made her good for another 60 years. Jeff raked,primed, caulked and puttied the seams. Offered advice and show us the techniques.Twisting the cotton, hammering it to just the right feel, mixing the special concoction of special recipe putty, and showing us how to fill the seams. It was a hard 5 weeks but very rewarding. And despite the offer of a chain gang from the skipper and crew of a K Class that shall remain nameless, but starts with a T and ends in an A, and has a L and M in the name, she only leaked for 30 mins when she went in.The bilge pump has run once on auto in the following week and she is drier than she has been in all my ownership of her. Admittedly a few seams are showing but the plan is to have her out in 6 months time and dress them up. It has been wonderful lesson in what can be achieved, and for me the realisation that traditional boat building is art, science, patience, hard work and humour. And after watching Jeff work, something, that no matter how much you read about it, there is no substitute for the skill of a properly trained traditional boat builder. Thanks everyone.

Mystery Launch 19-03-2016

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MYSTERY LAUNCH 19-03-2016
photo & details ex Robin Elliott

The above photo is another ex Robin Elliott’s Whangarei Cruising Club collection. Photo most likely from the 1940’s > early 1950’s period and taken by Palmer Photography in Whangarei (1910-1999). Most by the late Graeme Palmer and possibly some older ones by his father.

With the swordfish graphic on her bow she has a slightly familiar look to her but my memory bank isn’t sparking today, so woodys – anyone able to ID her & the two vessels in the background? The #38 might help – race?, fishing comp?.