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.

Alcyone

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Alcyone

ALCYONE

photo & details ex Ken Ricketts

Built by McGeady c.1947 for a Mr Stewart, an accountant of Suddley St. Orakei, (right opposite Henry Allen owner of ‘Tiromoana’) she was to have had 2 Redwing petrol engines, but Stewart changed his mind during construction & fitted 1 Ailsa Craig instead. Stewart sold her in mid to late 1950s to Aubrey Webster, the founder & owner of Trimol Laboratories, who replaced the Ailsa Craig with a 6LW Gardner, about 1960, which Ken thinks she still has today. He owned her until the mid to late 1960’s & sold her to Humphrey Beale, who owned until at least the late 1980s or early 1990s. Beale was a real estate agent, who used her extensively for taking clients to Rakino, Waiheke & Gt Barrier. Ken lost track of her after he sold her. Webster was a family friend of Ken’s, as also was Beale, who Ken shared the same occupation with (real estate) for many years.

Harold Kidd Update

ALCYONE was built for Noel Stewart of Sudeley St Orakei by Supreme Craft (McGeady) and launched in January 1951, fitted originally with a 6 cylinder Ailsa Craig diesel engine. Stewart sold her to A.A. Webster of Takapuna some time before 1964 when Webster had her registered with Lloyd’s Yacht Register, still with the 1950-built Ailsa Craig. Webster still owned her in 1973 according to APYMBA records.The image above was taken during the welcome for the GOTHIC on its arrival in Auckland for the Royal Visit, 23/12/1953, when the AMYC was out in force.

30/03/2015 New photo ex Sea Spray ex B Worthington ex Ken Ricketts

Mandalay

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MANDALAY

photo from Dave Jackson

It is very hard to design a sub 36′ launch (I’m guessing on her length) that looks ‘right’ i.e. that all the bits work together, in proportion. This very smart launch (in my eyes) ticks most of the boxes.

Input from Dave Jackson 16/11/13

Mandalay

Built by Dave Jackson & Graham Christian

Devonport, 1957

For Ken Quinton

Original – 4 cylinder Ford

Designed by Brin Wilson

Mapuna

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MAPUNA  – yes again 🙂  but I was sent today a wonderful collection of old photos by her current owner (Mark McLaughlin) that he received courtesy of the Robert Brooke family collection.

The young lady breaking the champagne over the bow on launching day is Elizabeth Brooke, daughter of the original owner A.R (Bill) Stephenson. A.R Stephenson was the principal of Avondale College at the time. As mention in the post below, Robert Brooke built her at Snow Waters’ yard and then married Bill Stephenson’s daughter after proposing in the forward cabin during construction!

Mark believes Snow Waters’ yard in the photos was located near where the Mitre 10 Mega store at Wairau Park is now. Jack Brooke is the man wearing the tie walking past Mapuna as she is being extracted from the shed. Snow Waters is crouching down next to the cradle, nearest Brooke.

CYA member Neil Chalmers (Gleam) sent me the Nov. 1963 Sea Spray article.

Mapuna

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MAPUNA

Designed by Jack Brooke for A.R. (Bill) Stephenson. Built by Allan (Snow) Waters & Robert Brooke at Snows’ Takapuna yard. Robert later married Bill Stephenson’s daughter,Elizabeth, I understand he proposed in the forward cabin of Mapuna. Fast forward many years & Elizabeth is on the stern in the photo above taken at the 2013 Classic Yacht & Launch Exhibition – which celebrates the work of Jack Brooke.

SEE MAPUNA THIS WEEKEND (5TH & 6TH OCT) ON DISPLAY AT THE CLASSIC YACHT & LAUNCH EXHIBITION AT THE VIADUCT – scroll down 2 postings for details

Karina

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Karina

KARINA

photo & details from Winston Jacob (owner)

Designed by Parsons & built in 1959 in Tauranga. Carvel planked hull, powered by twin 120hp Fords. LOA 38’6″ x B 11′ 6″ x D 3′ 6″. Winston purchased her in 1999, any further info on her past would be appreciated.

Woody Weekend

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If you are at a loose end this weekend I would encourage you to attend the Classic Yacht & Launch Exhibition.

The Tino Rawa Trust is again hosting the Classic Yacht & Launch Exhibition at Karanga Plaza (next to the Viaduct Events Centre) this Friday 4th to Sunday 6th October, 10am – 4pm daily. The event is run alongside the 2013 Auckland Heritage Festival ‘Maritime Heritage On The Waterfront (Sept 28 – Oct 13) promotion.

There is an amazing collection of classic yachts & launches, classic dinghies, small yachts & picnic boats on display. Plus some wonderful Robert Brooke line drawings of our classic fleet & models on display. This years event focuses on the acclaimed designers Jack Brooke & Bob Stewart & will include a selection of their vessels. I have included above a few ‘quick snaps’ I took today as the vessels were starting to arrive.

Remember to check out the CYA’s permanent on-the-water display at the CYA Marina, Heritage Landing, Silo Park at the Wynyard Quarter.

Cheers Alan

waitematawoody talks on our maritime heritage

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As part of Auckland’s Heritage Festival, Harold Kidd – NZ’s leading maritime historian & waitematawoody spoke at the RNZYS tonight on the topic ” Explore the Waitematā Harbour’s commercial and recreational maritime history”

I have attempted below to summarize Harolds talk – this is just the overview, his narrative & supporting photos made the evening one of the most informative & enjoyable talks I have been to. There was not a spare seat in the room & everyone left with a smile on their face – well done Harold & Pauline.

1. The Early Period – 1840 to 1870, which saw the the european reliant on the maori for fish & produce, the development of the boat building industry & the arrival on the scene of regattas & match races.
2. Between 1870 & 1900 with the first pure yachts (versus work boats) we saw the emergence of yacht clubs & proliferation of ‘organised’ regattas.Competition was fierce in the yacht building industry & the export of yachts was happening. We also saw the increased use of kauri & the arrival of the diagonal construction method.
Open sailing boats & the rise of the mullet boat as a ‘type’ were new to the scene.
3.The 1900’s to 1920 – this period was noted for the racing of mullet boats as a class, the first centre boarders & the building & launching of over 3,000 motor boats / launches. This period was also ‘effected’ by WW1 & the influenza epidemic.
4.The 1920’s to 1945 – a post war boom & bust & then boom again marked this era. We had the rise of the one-design & restricted centre board classes. Launch & keel boat building continued to boom in the 1930’s.
5.1945 – 1965 – period marked by the postwar boom & the arrival of new materials. This saw a boom in keel boat construction for racing & offshore cruising. Yachts clubs continued to proliferate. Designers took advantage of the new materials. We started to become more involved in International contests.
6. 1965 + Increasing sophistication in design & use of materials. International racing success. The America’s Cup. All this saw NZ at the forefront of the worlds yacht design & construction.

Another Unknown Launch

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Another Unknown Launch

Unknown Launch

photo ex Ken Ricketts

Venue looks like Milford Creek??
Any ideas on the vessel ??

Harold Kidd Update

I’m sure this pic originated from me. (you are correct Harold, I think you sent it several years ago to Ken R – Alan H)  It’s not a Williams boat as he started building well after WW2 and this launch is 1920s or earlier. It’s not VIVEEN, Percy Mason’s first boat (see my column in this November’s Boating NZ). I suspect it’s MAIEBE, ex-MARY M, ex-REGINA, built by Lanes in December 1912 as a flushdecker which had a very similar “bridgedeck”, tramtop and dodger put on in the latter part of her life.  She went ashore and broke up in the violent storm of early February 1936 when owned by Bert Prosser. That storm was often talked about in my family because my father’s yacht WAKANUI went up on the beach at Waiwera during it, while my mother was at home 8.5 months pregnant with me! He got hell for years.

I’ll check with pics at home tonight. I would think Warkworth River too, and I’m sure the original image I have at home has a Tudor Collins backstamp.

Mystery Launch

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Mystery Launch

Mystery Launch

photo ex Ken Ricketts

Ok – can anyone ID the launch closest to the camera? The back one is almost certainly the Lady Una. And while you are at it what about the yacht?

Harold Kidd Update

I haven’t a clue about the launch, but the yacht is intriguing. She’s clearly an early 1890’s two and a half rater that’s been bobbed at the bow. The giveaways are the non-faired stem post and the cabin top/cockpit treatment. I’m not really up with what progressive “modernisations” each of these yachts suffered. A pity her underbody comes out so murky. However I would plump for GLORIANA (but I think she’s too fat) or a Bailey boat like DAISY. I would love a high-res image to play with the contrast and brightness and see if the hull below the waterline could be brought up.

Gloriana lines ex HDK

gloriana