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.

Kiwi – Sailing Sunday

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Kiwi 1
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Kiwi 8

KIWI  – Sailing Sunday
photos & details ex Peter Midegly

Following up on last Sundays post on the royal p-class yacht ‘Tui’, Peter Midegly sent in the above collection of photos of the 14’ sailing dinghy ‘Kiwi. She was built at the Devonport Naval Base by his late father, Eric Midgley, a shipwright, with the assistance of an apprentice, both employed at the dockyard. ‘Kiwi’ was built in Auckland for members of the royal family, this being the occasion of the wedding of the then Princess Elizabeth to Prince Philip in 1947.

Unlike the ‘Tui’, ‘Kiwi’ was well used, as is outlined in the letter below from G.A. Vince of the Sea Training Establishment at Botley, Southampton. This letter describes the workmanship of the boat as first class and her success in racing with other Naval 14 footers. In 1952 George Vince, Director of the Southampton Sailing Centre, also won first prize racing ‘Kiwi’ during Cowes Week that year.

Peter does not know whether the Royal couple sailed ‘Kiwi’ to any great extent, but from the 1950’s she was used by a number of sailing organisations & Sea Cadet Units .

Some years ago Peter made enquiries as to what had happened to ‘Kiwi’, and eventually located her at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall, Falmouth. At the time they told him she was in their offsite store in Falmouth.

Peter’s father started his boat building apprenticeship in 1923 with Joe Slattery. He later worked at Percy Vos’s during the building of the ferry Korea and from 1938 to 1950 at H.M. Dockyard, Devonport. His final employment was with the Auckland Harbour Board as a shipwright in Beaumont St. before retiring in the 1960’s.

Elma

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ELMA
photos & details ex Bruce Pullan

In Thursdays post on ww of the Onehunga Basin, Harold Kidd commented on the launch Elma owned by Bruce’s grandfather, Reg Pullan. Bruce was told that his grandfather was not the first owner of Elma & that her original name was Huia. She was 22 foot & the original engine was a single cylinder De Dion. The suggested builder is Bailey & Lowe (looking for confirmation). The photo above is when she was with a later owner, but still on the Manukau.
Below is an invoice from John S. Gibbons of Onehunga for engineering work in 1923 for work on Elma.

Harold Kidd Input

ELMA was probably the HUIA first owned by W Partridge of Onehunga in 1909 although the raised foredeck is early for 1909. Partridge sold her to T. Higham in 1911 and she disappears from the reports after 1918, probably when Reg Pullan bought her and changed her name probably after his wife-to-be Elma Welch.
There were just so many HUIAs that it’s almost impossible to establish who built this one. Bailey & Lowe built at least one, the 40ft steam launch HUIA for the Seagar Bros in 1902, but I can’t match HUIA / ELMA one to any builder.

A Few Photos From The Start of the 2015 Coastal Classic (click on photos to enlarge)

Motunau

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MOTUNAU
photo ex Nathan Herbert

The above photos of Motunau were taken in Okahu Bay, Nathan reports that Harold Kidd says was built for the Chamberlains & that she is probably a Lidgard. Interested if anyone can supply more details on her. Nathan has a sneaky feeling that her lines show a hint of Colin Wild i.e. a smaller type Haunui.

11-04-2017 Update ex Nathan Herbert – photo below from the G. Riethmaier collection of  Motunau getting her new top 😉

Among the yards at Westhaven G. Riethmaier

Onehunga Launches

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Onehunga & Launches 22-10-2015
photo ex Nathan Herbert ex MYMBC

I suspect that today’s photo will be a challenge for woodys to ID. Initially all I’ll say is that it is Auckland.
Eight+ years ago when I purchased Raindance (then Nona C & previously Lady Gay) & was in discussion with Harold Kidd as to her provenance, I was staggered when Harold told me that in the early 1900’s there were 100’s of sub 35′ launches, most following a very standard design, built in & around Auckland both as workhorses & pleasure craft. When I see a photo like the above I can understand the difficulty ID’ing those that survived 🙂

Bruce Pullan Input

Onehunga Basin prior to the reclamation, now motorway. Manukau Hotel to the left, Tearooms in the centre, Wharf in the background.

Woody Weekend

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Waters Fine ww

WOODY’S WEEKEND

At last a long weekend 🙂 Always seems such a long time between the last & the first long weekends. I know my log book says its over 5 months since I went past North Head but in my defense Raindance has had a winter of mechanical maintenance.

For woodys looking for some boating this weekend there are a couple options, which hopefully will not be too disrupted by the weather.

Myself & a few others will be mooching around Waiheke Island & at this stage plan to get together somewhere for a catch up on Sunday afternoon (late). Nothing cast in stone & will post something here on ww on Sunday.

For those looking for something further afield its the Kawau Boating Club season opening weekend – plenty to do & I imagine the AB’s game will be screened at the KBC clubhouse. More details below.

And – photos please. Pack the camera & take a few classic woody photos & then email them in to ww.

Islington Bay, Rangitoto Island

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Islington Bay, Rangitoto Island

photo ex Scott Taylor ex ‘Old Auckland’

Today’s photo shows a collection of craft anchored in a bay with a wharf & waterfront baches. The land does have a Rangitoto Island look to it but the baches appear too substantial for the island.

Who can ID the location & some of the boats?

 

Taranui

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TARANUI

The above photos were taken by Pam Cundy & George Emtage in early January 2010 at Fitzroy on Great Barrier Island.
Looks a pretty launch with a good amount of cabin space.

What more do we know about her?

Harold Kidd Input

 She was designed by Bob Salthouse and built by Salthouse Bros in 1966 as PETALYN. She had a Lees Marine Ford 2700E installed in 1989 and is planked in totara. Recent owners (probably still) were Murray and Christine Hood. First owner was G. Henwood.

19-01-2016 Photos at Gt Barrier (Jan 2016) ex Alan Sexton

Lidgard 52′ Launch

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LIDGARD LAUNCH

Built c.1965 by Lidgards, three skin heart kauri & solid teak. Powered by twin 130hp Ford Dovers. Her specs are length – 52’5”, beam – 15’5”, draft – 5’2”.

Underway photo ex Ken Rickets, interior photos ex web. Her name is unknown to me.

Tui – Sailing Sunday

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Tui – Sailing Sunday

I have had to photoshop the above photo as there were a few visible clues.
So the question today is – whats the boat & why she it famous?

After she has been ID’ed I will supply more details on the how I received the photo 😉

Update: The above P-Class is in fact Tui, built in Auckland by David Marks in 1952 and given to Her Majesty the Queen with the suggestion that Prince Charles might like to learn to sail in her. She is presently on loan to the ex Royal yacht Britannia from Portsmouth Naval Base. The photo was sent to me by David Balderston who visited Britannia recently while on holiday.

19-10-2015 Photo below of Tui’s display card was sent in by Greg Fenwick

12-09-2017 Input from Christopher Deane

Last month when we were in Edinburg, Scotland we went for a tour on the Royal Britannia .

I must say it is a very interesting tour. The first Yacht I have been on which carries a Rolls Royce as standard equipment.

Another interesting find was this P Class sailing yacht Tui that was presented to the Queen, during her tour in 1953 .

 

As a bonus today click the link to view some eye candy from the Panerai Regatta in Cannes. Photos courtesy of Classic Yacht / Guido Cantini / Officine Panerai

Regates Royales, 2015 in images

Ratanui

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RATANUI

Last year there was a lot of ww chat on Ratanui & her provenance. You can view that here & also more photos of her as she is today. https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/08/06/ratanui/

We are told she is 31′ kauri carvel planked, but as to her designer / builder & build date that is a little ‘soft’ – a plate on board indicates a build date of 1928 but Harold Kidd feels a more likely build date is 1910-1914 & possibly by Bailey and Lowe in Auckland. She most likely has had a name change. She is powered by a Ford D-Series, model 2722E giving 7-8 knots cruising speed. Currently based at Lake Rotoiti & used for cruises on the lake, both pleasure & commercially.

Just recently I found in the ww files the above photo of Ratanui before the make-over. Maybe this photo might spark a woodys memory & we can uncover more about her.

Photo below as she is today.