CYGNET – CLASSIC 1931 WOODEN LAUNCH
The 32’ classic wooden launch – CYGNET recently popped up on tme (thanks Ian McDonald). A Sam Ford design built in 1931, but not sure is also built be Sam Ford. As per most Marlborough Sounds craft she is very well spec’ed and was re-powered in 2006 with a new 53hp Yammer 4JH5E engine that gives her an 8 knot cruising speed.
Can we learn more about CYGNET (if thats her correct name) and where she has been most of her life.
CLASSIC WOODEN MOTORSAILER – ASTROLINDA
WW was recently contacted by Matthew Montgomery regarding his 34’6” motor-sailer – ASTROLINDA, and whether she passed the classic woody test – short answer yes.
ASTROLINDA is an Athol Burns design, built for charter at the Morgan yard in Picton in 1966. Matthew has owned her for approx. 8 years.
Matthew commented that he doesn’t know if ASTROLINDA has been north of Wellington, but there are charts of Otago on board , so maybe she’s been south. Matthew bought her ex Nelson, at the time her exterior was in reasonable condition but a worn interior and an engine bay that was a nasty rusty mess and engine not working.
Current home is Waikawa marina, but there are plans to get to Northland and Auckland later in the year.
Matthew has good woody credentials being a past owner of PIKO in the 1970’s in Auckland , KORAMA in the 1990’s (brought to Picton). He was also a broker at Vinings in Picton and sold THETIS to Paul Harris in the late 1990’s, who asked if Matthew would use her to keep her functioning while he was away flying airplanes for Royal Brunei, before relocating her to Auckland with Paul.
INPUT ex MARK MCLAUGHLIN – Below is a design article by Athol Burns from Sea Spray for Astrolinda. She was built to the alternative configuration by Jack Morgan:
INPUT ex JOHN GANDER (via Dean Wright) – ASTROLINDA was designed as stated by Athol Burns for Trevor Johnson of Wellington. Built by Jack Morgan and launched as MANUTAI in 1966.
In about 1970 she was purchased by Bill Rutherford and Jack McMath who petitioned parliament for a law change regarding surveyed vessels to enable them to hire her as a sail yourself charter vessel, the first vessel to do so in New Zealand. Her survey certificate was for 15 passengers but reduced to 6 when hired to an uncertificated master.
Wife Bev and I together with Frank Derbyshire, purchased her in 1973 and along with the yacht ASTROLABE ran our business as ‘Charter Yachts Ltd.’
When launched ASTROLINDA was fitted with a Coventry Godiva 4 cylinder 30 hp engine, we changed the engine for a Volvo Penta in about 1975.
There are many boat owners around who’s first boating experience was on ASTROLINDA or ASTROLABE.
CLASSIC MASON CLIPPER – CAPRI V – Check Out The Trailer
Todays story is more about the amazing trailer that we see in the video of the Mason Clipper- CAPRI V launching at the recent Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade. It’s believed that there is only one other trailer left working like it. Considering the design of the trailer is nearly 50 years old it must have been something back then. I wonder why it never took off else where.
Owner Phil Davidson commented that CAPRI V was built in 1978 and her original owner was Graham Lincoln. In the last photo ex the Mason Clipper FB page we see the craft at the Auckland Boat Show. Graham Lincoln’s son told Phil that she won some award at the show.
CAPRI V is powered by a 1996 350hp Chev V8 with Volvo Penta gear drive.
Phil is the seventh owner and she mainly spends her time on Taupo Tarawera and Lake Rotoiti. In the 2nd photo above CAPRI V is seen in Honeymoon Bay on Lake Rotoiti.
CLASSIC IAN OUGHTRED WOODEN CLINKER DINGHY NEEDS A NEW HOME
WW doesn’t normally do stories like this but the owner of this stunning clinker dinghy is a good friend and a long time passionate classic wooden boat owner. So here goes, in the owner words.
“It’s an Auklet designed by Iain Oughtred (was one of the worlds leading small boat designers, now deceased). 7ft2in long. It was built in the South Island I think in Nelson. There is a builders plate, that says Walker boatbuilder. There is a boatbuilder Richard Walker at Brightwater just out of Nelson who has done some beautiful restoration work on Elray (see https://boatingnz.co.nz/2018/05/restoring-elray-iii/). I don’t know when it was built. I bought it from a bloke in Blenheim who had too many boats and had to make room at home. It had hardly been used. I revarnished it with Altex Timbercoat. I’ve had it under cover for 3 or 4 years and used it for a sail when the urge took me and also for grandchildren.
Comes complete with all sailing gear, oars and US alloy beach tailer that comes apart for stowing. Also the custom cradles for onboard deck mounting.
Selling as I’m getting older so with some regret I’m selling this bit of furniture”.
So woodys what ever the reason – embellishing your existing classic wooden vessel / rewarding the grand children or just treating yourself – this is the best opportunity to own what is probably NZ’s finest spirit of tradition clinker dinghy – and the price is a steal at $5,500
I dont like publishing personal contact details so if interested drop WW an email at waitematawoodys@gmail.com and I’ll join the dots.
CLASSIC WORKBOAT – L’AVENIR TO GET A 2ND LIFE
Over the weekend I received a repot from Dean Wright (owner of MV ARETHUSA) that he had spotted the fishing boat – L’AVENIR moored in Doves Bay for a few days.
L”AVENIR was designed and built by Roger Carey and launched in 1958. Her spec’s are 50’ with a 14’ beam.
Dean had a quick chat to the new owner Dan, who advised they were on route to her new home port in Whangaroa.
Dan has plans is to take the fishing gear off her. Now Dean Wright is a very clever chap so he did a before and after shot of what she might look like for Dan.
Dean also ‘coloured’ an old photo of her when she was new.
Fingers crossed that Dan follows Dean’s suggestions and we end up with another stunning workboat conversion.
Anyone of the workboat group able to tell us more about L’AVENIR.
Observation – workboats are probably the most active sales category in the classic wooden boat movement at the moment – seems everyone wants something they can live aboard and have the ability to do laps of NZ.
TANDARRA – A Peek Down Below
The Lidgard built 42’ launch – TANDARRA has made several appearance on WW , links below, lots of chat so be sure to read the comments sections.
Today thanks to Ian McDonald and Alan Sexton we get to have an updated look at her.
Quick overview – 42’ x 12’5”, built from triple skin kauri (+f/glassed), currently powered by twin 300hp 6 cyl Ford Sabre engines.
With a build date of 1976 and those varnished coaming she sneaks into the spirit of tradition category. Her original owners were the Opperman brothers.
Sure to get a rise from the Lidgard fan club but its been commented that there is some Salthouse influence in her profile, she looks very similar to a Corsair 😉
WW Aug 2017 https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/08/30/tandarra/ WW Jan 2023 https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/01/19/tandarra-2/
ARTEMIS – A Peek Down Below
Todays woody is ARTEMIS, built by Orams in 1971 though some elements of her do look older than 1971 and some look newer than 1971.
Her specs ar 40’ x 11’3” x 2’11”, forward motion is via Perkins 120hp diesel engine.
Home has been Picton, Marlborough but the craft hs recently sold and will be heading north to the Bay of Islands, don’t they all these days 🙂
Keen to learn more about ARTEMIS’S past life and how and when she ended out a southern gal.
CLASSIC EX WORKBOAT – WAIRANGI – Then and Now
The 1933 Miller & Tunnsge built ex workboat – WAIRANGI has made several appearances on WW, links below.
Now franks to a social media story by Rakiura Herzhoff we get to see her in her early configuration. We also learnt that when launched she had twin masts and was powered by a Thornycroft engine.This was replaced c.1948/9 with a Gardner 6L3, which she may still have.
WW October 2014 https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/10/01/1934-millar-tunnage/
WW March 2016 https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/03/05/wairangi-3/
WW April 2017 https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/04/18/wairangi-4/
CLASSIC WOODY WAIHEKE MOOCHING
Last weekend I did three things – looked at the long range weather forecast, looked in Logbook to see how many days I’d used the boat since xmas and decided to head away for a week.
Solo trip – needed to clear the head and say hello to the boat.
Did a lap of Waiheke Island, including a trip to Rotoroa Island. In the end it was 6 days, as I ran out of LPG and I’m not a happy camper without several cups of coffee and a hot dinner 🙂
As always there was some serious food involved – big ups to Man o War Vineyard , their midweek lunch was ✔️✔️.
Spotted a few woodys but the bottom end of the island was very quiet , which was perfect. The run-about is owned by Tobias Forsyth (also owns MV CALLISTO) and from memory is powered by a 350 Chev V8, if your are into zoom zoom and I am – 50 mph ……..
I haven’t been to Lake Rotoroa in probably 10+ years , this trip was very different – only person other tha myself was the ranger – slightly eerie, the cemetery particularly. But glad I visited – great set up and walks are easy.
MYSTERY CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – 193O’s Photos – LADY VI
Earlier in the week thanks to Rosemary Wakeman we had the great story on the launch – ESME.
Rosemary also sent in several other photos from her uncles (Ernie Sisson) 1930’s photo album.
Two of them show a bridge-decker alongside a docked Clipper flying boat, location most likely Auckland.
Can we ID the launch. My guess is TASMAN, but I’m sure Nathan Herbert will have the answer 🙂
INPUT EX KEN RICKETTS – the launch is LADY VI – more here https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/04/14/mystery-launch-1404/
08–3-2025VINPUT EX OLAF WIIF – The photos of the flying boat are so cool. It is NC18602 (number 18) and named California Clipper, the very last 314 flying boat to be retired from service at Pan Am. One of only 12 made, it had clocked up over a million miles in service. It dates the photo as being taken between March 1939 when Pan Am took delivery of its first 314 and 1946 when California clipper retired.
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