BOAT LESS THIS LONG WEEKEND – PROBLEM SOLVED
Today’s WW story is a flash back to the 2014 Mahurangi Regatta for all the boatels woodys sitting at home this long weekend. Enjoy and remember to come back on Tuesday to see this years event :-)2024 Mahuranghi Regatta Launch Parade Flash Back https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/01/30/2024-mahurangi-regatta-classic-woody-launch-parade-130-photos/
The zoom zoomers arrived late avo on Friday.
CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – ROSELLA
Todays woody is the launch – ROSELLA. I was sent the above photo by John Dawson who saw it in a classic yachting newsletter. Accompanying the photo was an update on the craft from her current owner – Danvers Devereux.
“We rescued ROSELLA a few years ago due to our connection with Great Barrier Island, producing the Great Barrier Island Bee Co range of body care products. We were fascinated with the island’s history as well as classic boats.
ROSELLA was built in 1928 by the Voss boat builders at Westhaven for the Blackwell family. She became well known for carrying the Barrier Island honey and produce back to the wharfs in Auckland to be traded. Because of this she became known as “the honey boat”
She also made many mercy missions with Adam Blackwell to help the sick or injured off the “Barrier”. She was like the Westpac helicopter back in her day!
We found her by chance and luck, high in the Coromandel ranges, ironically next to some beehives! No trucking company could assist due to 4WD access, so it was down to some Kiwi DIY, a long trailer and a Land Rover, followed by a 7-hour drive back to Matakana. She is now parked outside our Great Barrier Island honey gallery/museum.We hope to explore opportunities this year on how we can go about possibly restoring her.”
Back in Oct 2022 W ran a story on a launch also named ROSELLA,, as seen in the photo below. At the time we were trying to learn more about her – ex a Lew Redwood fb story we learnt that the photo was from the Auckland Library Heritage collection and was tagged 1930>1939. The location was Falls Park, Henderson, West Auckland. Sadly we learnt no more.
So woodys – todays question is – are these two craft the same or just share the same name.
24-01-2025 input EX HAROLD KIDD – I think that the Falls Park launch is the 24 footer ROSELLE (not ROSELLA) built in May 1914 by/for Peter A Smith of St Mary’s Bay for Reeves Currie with an Alpha engine.
CROSSING THE BAR
Pretty short post today – lacking a bit in motivation.
Yesterday afternoon we celebrated the life of David Cooke, one of the classic boating communities seriously good guys.
I had the pleasure of spending a lot of time with David on and off the water and any conversation with the man always made me smile.
The photo above of David aboard his motor launch – TRINIDAD was taken in the Marlborough Sounds in February 2018 , the Cookes had invited myself and Jamie Hudson to share the Whangaroa > Picton leg with them on their circumnavigation of New Zealand. Probably the best time afloat I have had. This photo is David in his happy place – peeling the spuds for dinner, a glass of chardonnay nearby and tray of snacks.
Link to the cruise here – so many memories https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/02/26/my-big-woody-adventure/
David and Barbara were one of the tightest couples I know and there is a quote that I think goes like this – “Death ends a life, not a relationship”, so woodys to those that had the pleasure of knowing David and Barbara, going forward don’t be a stranger, make the effort to keep Barbara in the communication / invite loop.
RIP David Cooke 04-12-2024
WOODEN LAUNCH – SCUFFY
Todays woody is one of the many classic wooden craft from Picton that have recently appeared on tme for sale (thanks Ian McDonald) – must be something in the water down there…….
There is no mention of a launch date, but its safe to assume that being named – SCUFFY, that she has had a name change along the way.
What we know is that she is approx 24’ 6” in length, built from wood and s powered by a 30hp Yanmar 3 cyl diesel engine.
It’s commented that she was the vessel featured in the NZ story ‘ Herbert The Brave Sea Dog’.
Her Picton marina berth (pole) is available for $210 a month – that figure will make most Auckland boaties weep.
Can we learn more about SCUFFY.
26-05-2025 UPDATE ex Joel Gillespie (new owner) – Earlier this year I purchased Scuffy – I’m keen to learn more about this boat. Approximate build date? Boat builder? Photos prior to 2016? Where she started life?
I purchased her in pile birth in Picton, but this past week had her relocated to Duncan Bay, Tennyson Inlet. She handled the 12 hour trip around Cape Jackson & Aligator Head very well, commented the commercial skipper that drove her. She seems to cut through chop well, though she doesn’t have much of a chine so does tend to feel a fraction tender, especially at rest. I’m keen to hear from those that know how I can reduce her inclination to be tender, some lead has been added to the bottom of the hull but isn’t solid.
She presently sleeps 2 in the fore birth, I plan to slat her aft bench seats to sleep 4 total. She has a basic galley, portable gas stove, 3 way fridge, sink. Stainless diesel and fuel tanks with baffles. Capstan, plotter VHF, etc . Still has her Yanmar 3QM30 running well. I intend to use her as a cruiser through Pelourus sound, a weekend at a time.
CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – ARAB
I stumbled across todays woody photo during a search of the the Auckland Libraries Heritage Collection – the photos is ‘credited’ to the McLeod Collection, date and photographer unknown. The location is probably – Kopu Wharf, Thames.
What we do know from previous WW stories on ARAB (links below), that she is 32’ in length and built / launched in 1913 bu boatbuilders Collings & Bell.
Lots more re past owners and photos in the links .
WW Aug 2013 https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/08/23/3911/
WW March 2021 https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/03/30/arab/
VERY COOL MARITIME AUCTION – check out at link below https://auctions.mccormackandmckellar.co.nz/208/catalogue?page=1#0051
CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT – GEMINI – A Peek Down Below
Todays woody is the Lanes (Picton) built double ender – GEMINI. Built in 1932, kauri carvel construction , her specs are 33’ x 8’6” x 4’. GEMINI is powered by a 75hp Perkins Sabre diesel engine that gives her a 7>8 knot cruising speed.
Home port is Picton. Marlborough and like most ’Sounds’ boats GEMINI is well fitted out for year round cruising.
Thanks to Ian McDonald for the tme heads up. Anyone able to tell us more about GEMINI.
IS ANYONE BUILDING REAL WOODEN BOATS IN NEW ZEALAND
I’m a big fan of The Wooden Boatshop in Sorrento, Melbourne, Australia.Tim Phillips OAM and his team turn out the most amazing craft – both traditional and spirit of tradition.If you haven’t already checked out their website, do it now. Every post is classic boat porn. Link below + sign up for their e-newsletter and follow on fbook.https://woodenboatshop.com.au
Back to todays headline – I hope I’m wrong but is anyone (professionally) working to this standard? We kill Australia when it comes to the size of your classic movement both in terms of numbers and boats on the water, but sadly we have a very small number of artisans doing mainly restorations and repairs.
Today on WW we showcase the recent (late 2024) launching of – BETTY , a Couta boat built by The Wooden Boatshop.Read more on Couta boats and TWBS at this link https://woodenboatshop.com.au/Couta-Boat
Tim Phillips is even a fan of WW (photo below es 2023 AWBF) – or maybe he just needed a clean, dry shirt after crossing the Bass Straight on his 1925 built ex workboat – STORM BAY
Check out the 10 year conversion / restoration here https://woodenboatshop.com.au/Storm-Bay
CLASSIC 1948 WOODEN LAUNCH – MAKURA
In late November 2024 WW attended the relaunch of the very salty 24’, 100 year old ex workboat named – MARISSA at the Te Atatu Boating club. While there her owners, the Monaghan family, very generously shared an old photo album. One the woody craft included in the album was the Collings & Bell built bridge-decker – MAKURA. Seen in the first two photos above.
MAKURA last made a cameo appearance on WW back in 2013 when Harold Kidd and Russell Ward contributed to a WW story titled ’The Collings & Bell Bridge-deckers’ – link below https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/07/09/the-collings-and-bell-bridgedeckers/
In the story we learnt that MAKURA was built in 1949 for W D C & C H Leighton and fitted with a 6 cylinder Chrysler Crown. They sold her to Phil Seabrook of Seabrook & Fowlds in 1957. He fitted the Nordberg a year or so later. Phil Seabrook had Billy Rogers design and build LADY DIANA for him in 1950 and fitted her with the Austin Skipper from new, replacing it with a 155hp Nordberg sleeve-valve engine in 1956 shortly before he sold LADY DIANA to Monte Winter and bought MAKURA.
Later owners were V F Adams (1966) and W G Boughtwood (1973). Back in 2013 she was in Picton.The photo of MAKURA above was taken by Russell in 1961. Russell commented at the time that she was a fine looking ship. Also shown is a photo of MAKURA as built from the July 1951 edition of Sea Spray magazine.
I KNOW ITS NOT WOOD – BUT IT CERTAINLY LOOKS THE PART
Last week we ran a story on the Okura Gig clinker dinghy that the owner of the the Logan launch NGAIO had just restored and ‘fitted’ to the launches stern.
Todays story is in response to the number of emails I received asking for more details on the dinghy, and in the fact I got tired of sending responses.
Back in 2016 we ran an extensive story on the Okra Gig craft, which included an extensive back school on how them came to be. Link below https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/02/28/okura-gigs-sailing-sunday/
MOLLYMAWK – CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT
Today thanks to tme and Ian McDonald we get to view the Wellington based canoe stern wooden boat – MOLLYMAWK, built in c.1930 in Nelson by Jack Guard. Her original name was – VALETTA.Built from kauri her specs are 31’6” x 8’4” x 3’. Powered by a 20hp Hupeh engine.Current owner has had her for 25 years and commented that he has made 50+ Cook Straight crossing in the boat.
A PRODUCT PLUG – (I bought it, no trade bribes) Recently discovered a great boat wax, called ‘Meguiars Flagship Marine Wax’. Not cheap $85 for 475ml but so easy to apply and no residue white marks on fittings etc. The photos tell the story. Just had my boat out for some TLC at the Slipway Milford, her bottom was the worst ever, a sad reflection on the amount of use in 2024 ……….
AND SPEAKING OF PAINT JOBS / SHINE – check out the Couldrey clinker dinghy in the shed at the Slipway Milford, in the final stages of a high-end refurb – soon to be paired up with her Couldrey mother ship 😉
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