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.

Lady Joan

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Kaipara photo

LADY JOAN

Ken Rickets took the b/w photo of Lady Joan c.1948>1950, owned at the time by Mr Stan Headland, an insurance broker, whom Ken knew.

In the mid 1940s she had a Ford flathead V8, with 2 side exhausts initially, which were sited well up each side of the hull, below the bridgedeck, with no mufflers. The engine sounded terrible, as you could only hear 1 at a time & as all V8 engines must fire 2 cylinders from the same bank one after the other, it sounded as if the engine was missing badly. The set up was later replaced by 1 stern exhaust in the late 1940s.

Headland then bought Lady Claire in the1950s & sold Lady Joan. She is now in the Sounds, owned by Tony Ryalls who purchased her from Nelson. Currently powered by a new 3cyl. Lombardini which replaced an old 4cyl. Ford. There was a recent write-up on her in Boating NZ.

Any more details from her past would be appreciated.

Update (& photo)  from Zach Matich

Lady Joan was on the Kaipara, owned first by the Mockett family then by Cyril Powell.

Unsure on the dates but I can find out as I know Cyril and his son Royce.

She was powered by a 4 cylinder Ford Ebro and had a good turn of speed.

Going off the photo’s Royce showed me of when they did her up she was

a pretty classy old ship.

Harold Kidd Update

Lady Joan was taken over by NAPS in 1942 with the following crew; CPO Stan Headland (owner and skipper), PO Max Vipond and Stan Thomson (deputy skippers), A.V. Hardley, R.A. Johnstone (AB6690), H.Rees, T. Taylor. Her number was Z11. Her duties were Boom Patrol and Boom Control vessel. Her early history is somewhat enigmatic. I think it’s likely that she was a pre-WW1 34 footer renamed Lady Joan post-WW1.

My first record under that name is in 1921 and there are sporadic entries from then on with owners like J. J. and F. Mackay of Bayswater (1926-1936), the Cashmores some time in the 1930s (although that may have been Lady Jean) and then Stan Headland just before WW2. Headland converted her from a straightstemmer to a raised-foredeck, flared-bow bridgedecker.

Headland kept her until at least 1950. During his ownership she had a 95hp Palmer marine engine (probably a conversion of the Ford Mercury V8 by Palmer). Later owners include W.L. Beattie, J Caulfield, and then on the Kaipara, Bill Woodcock, Pouto (1968), Ivan Mockett, Ruawai (1975) and Cyril & Doug Powell (1985). She was in Helensville as recently as 1995.

Unfortunately there were at least 2 Lady Joans in these parts, which confuses the trail somewhat. I have no images but the National Maritime Museum has some wartime movie footage of her.

Esme

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Esme

ESME

photo & details ex Ken Ricketts

Esme belonged to Henry Allen in the 1920s & 30s prior to him buying Tiromoana. The above photo was taken in 1924 & was as published in The NZ Aquatic magazine Friday, March 14th 1924. Not sure of her engine at this stage. She was named after his daughter Esme.

H.A. spoke of the boat when ever Ken saw him in the 1940s & 50s. He undoubtedly was very fond of the old boat. Ken never ever saw Esme, always wanted to, & now with this photo his curiosity is answered.

Harold Kidd Update

ESME was built by Joe Slattery for Pop Allen in August 1921. I’ve no info on engine fitted but it must have been fairly potent as she was fast. Allen raised her cabin top and put on a dodger in 1930. She was for sale on TradeMe three years ago in desperate condition. Kevin Hussey had owned her at Half Moon Bay in poor condition for some time before that.

ESME IN AQUATIC MAGAZINE 14.3.24

ESME IN AQUATIC MAGAZINE 14.3.24

Ranginui

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RANGINUI

photos & details from Harold Kidd

The photos above of the bridge-decker RANGINUI, a good-looking craft.

All Harold knows about her is that she was owned in 1952-3 by H D Hall, in 1973 by L A Boswell who sold her to Keith and Betty Bankart.

Does anyone know more about her, particularly who built her and where she is now?

Update from Ken Rickets –  RANGINUI was built for the Halls, who were building contractors, in the late 1930s or early 40s & as you can see in the 2 pics, she was lengthened in the later 40s & am almost certain the addition was done by Roy Lidgard -but it may possibly have been Shipbuilders – the Halls had her for many years & she was a regular at Kawau at Christmas. The tuck had a special shape as I recall — looked a lillte bit long &narrow after being lengthened I thought.

Harold Kidd Update

Betty Bankart thinks she was built in 1947 by Chas. Bailey & Sons Ltd, which seems plausible.

07-01-2016 Photo ex Peter Croft of Ranginui at Ponui

Ranginui

08-05-2017 Update – Peter Croft the owner of Ranginui was working on her & uncovered this ‘note’ written on the hull, in the loo (head). As Ranginui was launched in 1946 or 1947 it could have been written by one of the boatbuilders, or someone who didn’t rate one of the builders 🙂

Ranginui Message

Tawhiri

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TAWHIRI

photos & details below ex Ken Ricketts

Built c.1946 by Roy Lidgard in their shed, at Smelting House Bay, Kawau Island. Note similarities to Ted Coopers Awarua. Tawhiri is a little shorter at approx. 36ft. & AWARUA 37ft. Unsure who she was built for, Harold Kidd might be able to help here?

Tawhiri originally had a 4 cyl Lister diesel, (painted bottle green) installed in a box which formed the table in the middle of the main cabin area. Roy Lidgard installed Listers in quite a few boats of that era, another went into the Wainunu for Clive Power, to which Kens father later fitted an electric self starter system for Clive c.1949-50.

At one stage she belonged to a Euan Berger, ex Air NZ cabin crew, whom Ken knew in the1970s-80s. Berger replaced the Lister with a 6 cyl. Ford diesel, (after which she floated about 6 inches higher in the water in the bow, the Lister must have weighed a thousand tons) Tim Lees may have done the engine change.

Ken last saw Tawhiri a couple of years ago, in a scoria & building merchants yard in Karapiro Drive at Whangaparaoa, where she sat for a few months.

Ken took the photo in the water at Christmas 1948, in Mansion House Bay, Kawau Island. The other was taken on a slip, adjacent to the Panmure Yacht Club, by the look of the background, (which Ken can identify well with, as his father was commodore of that club), Ken recalls the photo was sent to him for I.D. , possibly by Harold Kidd & is not sure when it was taken but it was long time ago as the area is quite different there now.

Ken is interested to hear if anyone knows anything more of Tawhiri’s life.

Harold Kidd Update

Lloyd’s Yacht Register says she was built by Lidgards Shipyards in 1947 and was named TAWHIRI II. However I think 1946 is right as because her first owner,  Jim Inkster, registered her with the Squadron in the 1945-46 year. Jim Inkster had owned the yachts DAISY, SCOUT and had the 38 footer TANGAROA built by Percy Vos in 1936, so TAWHIRI was TANGAROA’s postwar replacement. Her original engine was a 1945-built 3 cylinder 30hp Lister diesel, about all you could get at the time, and that stayed in her until at least 1964. Her official APYMBA dimensions were 35’x33’x10’6″x2’9″ which vary from the Thames Measurement dimensions given in the LYR entry. In 1964 Stuart Clark registered her as a British Registered Ship under #191807 from which I have drawn her engine details.

Jim Inkster sold her to A.J. Noakes in 1950-51. Later owners I know of were D.D. Brown (1962), Stuart G. Clark (1964) and Muir (later Sir Muir) Chilwell QC (1970). Berger must have been after Muir.

Classic Yacht & Launch Exhibition – Tino Rawa Trust – Oct 4>6

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CY&LE 2012
CY&LE 2012
CY&LE 2012
CY&LE 2012

Classic Yacht & Launch Exhibition – Tino Rawa Trust –  Oct 4>6  

Tino Rawa Trust is again hosting the CYA Classic Yacht & Launch Exhibition at Karanga Plaza (next to the Viaduct Events Centre) from 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 will be an amazing collection of classic yachts & launches, classic dinghies, small yachts & picnic boats on display. This years event focuses on the acclaimed designers Jack Brooke & Bob Stewart & will include a selection of their vessels.

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

For details on all events click links below

http://www.yourwaterfront.co.nz

http://www.tinorawatrust.co.nz

http://www.classicyacht.org.nz

The Gull Story

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The Gull Story

Now this is a hoot, a bunch of yachties with way to much spare time on their hands 🙂 The ‘boat’ does not really qualify to be a waitematawoody but the Seagull does.

The movie was actually the ‘secret’ first test of their Seagull racing boat, shot down at Henderson Creek Rowing Club, end of Te Atatu Peninsula. The boat was built for next years ‘Great Waikato Seagull Race’, the 30th anniversary of the race.

Credits:
All editing & production by: Nina Wells @ Working Edge Pictures
Facials in boat guy: Adrian J Thompson
Girl in boat: Nina Wells
Motor carrying guy: James Leddingham
Boat builder/crew: Adrian Pawson

Adrian Pawson Update: We’ve decided that the boat is a keeper for the moment. So we’ve made some performance enhancing mods, added a foredeck, some minimal framing and even entertaining the possibility of a paint job. Taking her down to Whangamata next weekend for her debut race. A round the island off-shore event…. So got a couple of weeks to grow a beard, take up smoking a tobacco pipe and source a yellow PVC raincoat. Standard entry requirements apparently.

 

Tamure

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Tamure

TAMURE

photo ex ken ricketts

Looking for any details on the above, for once even Ken has drawn a blank.

Update from Harold Kidd

She’s been called TAMURE in this configuration at least since A R Gifford owned her in 1952 and is allegedly Lanes-built. Subsequent owners were F Innes-Jones of Pakuranga, Keith Archer of Takapuna and Steven Ford who told me she was built by Lanes c2000. There was an earlier TAMURE, built by David Reid as WAIATA in 1913 and renamed TAMURE in 1920. She spent some years in Whangarei, I think. It’s possible that this is the same boat, modernised and attributed to “Lanes” generically. After all, who remembered David Reid after he left for Queensland to cure his asthma?

Update from Dennis Rule -Tamure is berthed at Pine Harbour and is owned by Stephen Ford.

Update from Paul Drake – I remember this boat as Rothesay at Taupo in the 1950’s and 60’s. Owned by a Don McLeod and operated commercially. I always thought she was a Collings and Bell, but am not sure why I thought that.

Harold Kidd Update #2

I checked photos last night. Unless there were massive changes, she’s not the former TAMURE, ex-WAIATA. However, the ROTHESAY comment by Paul opens up a new line of thought. If this TAMURE is a 40 footer then she could very well be the very last ROTHESAY built for H D Heather (there were 4 of them) by Bailey & Lowe in 1920-1. Heather died in April 1922 which obscures her subsequent movements

#3 

The site “HISTORY SITE FOR BOATS OF TAUPO” says that the ROTHESAY that Don McLeod had during the 1950s was a 32ft 1911 Bailey & Lowe-built boat. Heather did own a ROTHESAY in 1912 which had been built by Bailey & Lowe in 1911 but as MAVIS. Heather sold her to Cape Runaway in 1912 and it may have been this ROTHESAY that is now TAMURE. There were 4 other ROTHESAYs so my head is spinning…….

There are some comments on the site which are highly dubious such as “during WW1 she was used as a patrol boat by the Navy”. That didn’t happen.

I wonder what the dimensions of this TAMURE are? That would help with the minefield of information, much of it conflicting.

An update from the current owner – Stephen Ford

Tamure was named Belinda when we brought her but we put her back to the original name. We have owned her for 29 years and we have only changed the aft deck shape by squaring it off instead of a semi circle and lengthen the dodger sides. She was supposedly built by Dick Lang in the mid to late 1920’s and the wheel house or focsal were added post build. We have been lead to believe she spent a good part of her early life game fishing around  Mayor Island. The people we brought her off, found and used her on the Kaipara for a number of years before relocating her back to the Waitamata. We found her in the Tamaki River as a very run down old girl.

Paul Drake Update #2 – I am overseas at the moment but when I get back to Taupo I will dig out an excellent photo of Rothesay at Taupo for consideration! I think she was about 40 feet. She is fairly distinctive forward I would say, and to my eyes the wheelhouse is perfection. The dodger sides were canvas in those days and she had a mast. Don McLead owned two Rothesays. The first was a  32 foot Bailey and Lowe, ex “Government” boat which Don bought as a near wreck when he returned from WW2 and ran commercially before upgrading to the larger Rothesay.

Leitner

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Leitner
Leitner c.1947

earlier photo ex Dave Jackson

1. Update from Ken Ricketts – The Leitner was owned by the late Trevor Davis who’s father Sir Earnest Davis bought her for him, in the later 1920s & sold her when he bought the Glenifer for his son, in 1932. — Ken’s father Ralph Ricketts sailed on her on most trips.

2. Update from Adrienne – Built 1913 by Harvey & Lang with a Buffalo engine supplied by David Reid.

Research in the NZ Past Papers, reveals that she regularily raced around the Auckland Harbour (Ak Anniversary Regatta) from around 1913 thru to early 1930’s and the skipper was a certain Colonel White.  She raced as a Bona Fide Cruiser in the 8 to 10 knots division and on one occasion finished a 10 nautical mile course in 3hours 41 minutes and 46 seconds.

3. Harold Kidd Update

The Buffalo didn’t last in her long. It was replaced by a Mason & Porter-built 5″ x 7″ 4 cylinder 50hp engine in January 1914. F Restall and H L Rees owned her from 1926 to 1937. She spent a while at Paremata before she came back to Auckland and was owned by Dr. P A Restall for several years from 1959.

4. Update & c1947 photo from Robin Elliott

Leitner is currently owned by Roger Clark and partner and cruises out of the Whangarei Cruising Club. At some time she was ‘converted ‘ to a sort of bridge decker-type. The hull and trail boards are still original and some of the windows were used in the conversion.

Photo added 15-10-2015. At anchor at Fanal Island (Mokohinau Group). Photo ex Mac Taylor Collection

Leitner at Fanal Is Mokohinau Group 1

06-04-2016 photo below ex Hylton Edmonds of Leitner at Kissing Point, Whangarei.

LEITNER @ KISSING POINT WHANGAREI Feb2016

 09-04-2016 Update & photos below from owner via Ken R

Leitner is presently owned by Roger Clark of Whangarei & is moored at Kissing Point. Roger purchased her approx. 5 years ago from Half Moon Bay, Howick. She has a Perkins 6-354 which is an identical replacement fitted about 3 years ago, of the engine she had when Roger purchased her.

LEITNER AT WHANGAREI - c2015 -1