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.

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – ARISTOS 

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2015

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – ARISTOS 

Back in 2015 I took the top photo of the 36′ launch – ARISTOS at the  Classic Launch & Yacht exhibition, she is a very fine looking woody but with her probably being the only Des Townson designed launch to be built, we would not expect anything less. Built by Noel May and launched in 1985.

Over the weekend I had cause to be mooching around the Sandspit Marina and I spied ARISTOS, nice to see she is still presented in grand condition. The davits on the stern are an unusual design, with the ability to swing back. Wouldn’t suit a lot of classics but ARISTOS carries it well.

See and read more here https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/10/03/the-des-townson-story-aristos/

And here https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/03/09/aristos/

Photo below that I’m sure Des Townson would feel more comfortable with 🙂

CLASSIC EX GAME BOAT – SAPPHIRE – A Peek Down Below

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CLASSIC EX GAME BOAT – SAPPHIRE – A Peek Down Below

Back in August thanks to Dean Wright uncovering a launch day photo (see below) of the 48’ Oliver & Gilpin built ex game boat – SAPPHIRE, we got an insightcintohow she looked back in 1972 and we also uncovered a recent out-of-water photo.

How thanks to Ian McDonalds hawk eyes searching tme we get to have a gander below. Enjoy.

(L) Sapphire, (R) Lady Lynn


WIND ROSE – Sailing Sunday

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WIND ROSE – Sailing Sunday

The 53’ Phillip Rhodes designed yawl – WIND ROSE was built by the Salthouse yard and launched in 1967. 

WIND ROSE has spent a large chunk of her life doing laps of the Pacific, Australia and NZ. Recently the Robertson Boat Yard has given her a refresh.

And she has just changed hands – and woodys if you wanted an indication of the boat sales market favouring buyers – WIND ROSE sold for sub $200k. That would have to be the buy of the last 2 years.

Enjoy the photo gallery.

RSVP To waitematawoodys@gmail.com

WAITEMATAWOODYS GEAR

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WAITEMATAWOODYS GEAR – LIMITED SUMMER OFFERING

Historically we have ordered bulk stock and had it printed / embroidered with the WW logo, this results in a significant upfront outlay of $$ and also we end up with a collection of odd sizes that do not sell.

So for the 2024/25 Season we have turned the process upside down. You tell us what you want and we will order and deliver. You don’t have to pay until we despatch the item/s. This new process also allows for all sizes from XS > 5XL

CAPS – Cotton, embroidered logo – 3 colours – black / camel / mushroom – $42

BUCKET – Wide brim, embroidered logo, lightweight, quick dry, recycled nylon + chin strap  – colour = Storm –  $48

BUCKET – Wide brim, embroidered logo, light/mid weight cotton + chin strap  – colour = Dark blue –  $45

BURGEE – cotton, screen printed 2 sides $45

T-SHIRTS s/s – DARK BLUE – $39

NOTE: In the last 12>18mths everything has increased in cost – printing and embroidery has almost doubled and post/courier charges are up 50%+ – We do our best to keep prices down but there are some small increases. 

ORDERING IS SIMPLE

1. Send in an email with item/s – quantity – size – colour   waitematawoodys@gmail.com 

And there’s always a boat story – ROMANCE II out recently for some overdue TLC – looking very smart 🙂 And its for sale  https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/11/20/quick-classic-launch-4sale-romance-ii/

CAN WE ID THESE TWO CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCHES

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CAN WE ID THESE TWO CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCHES

Woody John Dawson sent in the top photo that he came across on fb, originally posted by John Newman.

The haulout area at Westhaven will be very familiar to a lot of our readers, the tagged dates is c.1970’s.

Can we put names to the two craft indicated in the 2nd photo.

WW MAGIC – one of the cool sides to WW is connecting the dots – I was recently contacted by a gent looking to find a home for a very impressive flagpole. One conversation and its done – yesterday we visited to check on measurements and logistics etc – More details soon when its in its new home 😉

Ex WOODEN GAME BOAT – ODYSEA (SUSAN ROSE)

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ODYSEA (SUSAN ROSE)

The 34’ wooden launch – ODYSEA, previously named SUSAN ROSE is a recent tme addition. The listing states that she was built c.1960 in Mangonui, Northland and took 10 years to build.

At on stage in her life she was based in the Bay of Islands as a game fishing charter boat, refer last photo.

Current propulsion is via twin 90hp Ford 4cyl. 2722E diesel engines. In recent (6>8 years) significant work has been done to systems and creature comforts.

Vendor says all she needs is a lick of paint and an oil change……………… maybe needs a top chop as well 😉

INPUT EX TOM FAHEY – Tom sent in the photo below of himself dated 18-02-1989 standing alongside a 199kg marlin he caught aboard SUSAN ROSE

WHAT BECAME OF THE WOODEN WORKBOAT – LADY EVA

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WHAT BECAME OF THE WOODEN WORKBOAT – LADY EVA

The 60’ workboat LADY EVA was built in 1913 by Bailey & Lowe. The last we heard about her was back in a 2018 WW story where Ron Shugg commented that LADY EVA had been at one stage berthed at Helensville on the Kaipara Harbour. She was later hauled out and her two Gardner engines were removed and the hull sold. So the question woodys is – sold to who and where is she now.

There is lots of chat around Lady Eva in the comments section in this WW story  https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/03/30/lady-eva/

The second photo above, dated 1917,  is from a previous WW story on the overloading of craft – the PC police would have a field day if this was repeated today 🙂 

15-03-2025 – UPDATE ex Lew Redwood and Richard Joseph – photos below are dated Jan 2009, so she has probably gone down hill even more since then. (great photo of the river)

RSVP TODAY TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT ON THE BEST WOODY DAY OUT OF THE SEASON – just need – your name, boat name & approx # crew – email to waitematawoodys@gmail.com

WOODEN LAUNCH – DESIREE + Free Boating Magazine Access

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WOODEN LAUNCH – DESIREE

Last year WW was contacted by Darren Critchley regarding the launch. – DESIREE, which Darren had acquired and was undertaking a ‘rebuild’, Darrens words.

He purchased the boat a couple of years ago in Tauranga and knows very little about her. Does the top photo spring anyones memory, would be nice to learn more about her.

Input from Nathan Herbert – Amatuer built cabin on most likely a Shipbuilders hard chine kit set hull, although the sheer line aft looks a bit unusual in that angle

A HEADS UP – DO YOU OWN AN AUCKLAND LIBRARIES CARD? If so do you know via their online hub you can access and read most of the boating magazines in the world – AND ITS FREE – CLASSIC BOAT,  PRACTICAL BOAT OWNER, SAILING WORLD,  SAIING TODAY, POWER & MOTORYACHT, TRADEABOAT, SUPERYACHT, PASSAGEMAKER and even BOATING NZ

No need to pay the big $$ for these magazines and they appear on the day they are released overseas e.g. I’m currently reading the November issue of Classic Boat – see below as to how it appears on screen – no gutter join spacing ✔️

WOODEN LAUNCH – AMANDA LEE – A Peek Down Below

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WOODEN LAUNCH – AMANDA LEE – A Peek Down Below

Todays wooden launch – AMANDA LEE fits into the spirit of tradition category by way of her 1978 launch date. Built at Greg Lees Boatbuilder, Sandspit to a Lidgard design.

30’ in length, carvel planked and powered by a 120hp Perkins diesel engine.

And that woodys is all we have learnt from her tme story (thanks Ian McDonald)

The marine canopy company that did her canopies and solar tower didn’t do the boat any favours or maybe her owner is 7’ tall ………… 🙂

Can we learn more about her past

RSVP TODAY TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT ON THE BEST WOODY DAY OUT OF THE SEASON – just need – your name, boat name & approx # crew – email to waitematawoodys@gmail.com

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – TANTALUS – A Peek Down Below

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – TANTALUS – A Peek Down Below

THE 36’ Classic Wooden Launch- TANTALUS made a cameo appearance on WW back in late Dec 2021. The top photo above I took then, now today thanks to a recent tme appearance and Ian McDonald’s hawk eyes, we get to have a gander down below.

What we know about her is that she was designed by Tim Windsor and built c.1963 by Tim Wilson and Jack Taylor at the Shipbuilders yard. Construction is kauri plank, her beam is 9’ and she draws 3’3”.

These days her forward motion is from a Ford 120hp diesel engine.

Anyone able to tell us more about her past.

How Cool Is This Bed

https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/10/16/buying-or-selling-a-classic-boat/