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.

Juliana

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JULIANA; Built 1930 by Sam Ford owned by Ralph & Wyn Ricketts from 1946 to 1956. She originally had a 4cyl “T” head Thornycroft petrol engine circa 1920s, this was replaced by Ralph in 1947 with a 6 cyl Leyland Cub Diesel, & again in 1956  with 4 cyl Buda Diesel. She went to Whangarei for a few years when sold & then to the Algie family at Algies Bay from about 1972 to 1995 — they replaced the Buda with a 6 cyl Ford. She was sold to a fisherman in New Plymouth for several years & ended up back at Tamaki River about 2006 as a bare hull absolutely nothing in her. Bought by present owner Fraser Wilson who is in the final stages of major restoration /rebuild on her with an unbelievable transformation. One pic of her is taken in Judges Bay by the Parnell baths in 1947, by Ken Ricketts, a few months after his parents bought her & had given her a fairly major refurb at that time & the other is of her a few months ago during her restoration, in the boatbuilders, Tony Mitchell’s shed at Lake Rotoiti where she will live, when back in the water.
photos & copy by Ken Ricketts

Waitangi – the motor launch

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Waitangi - the motor launch

Waitangi, the motor launch was built by Bailey & Lowe as Karamana in late 1923 to a design by Hacker and originally had a Green 6 cylinder aero engine. As you can see from the photo she was one of the ‘quicks’.

Photo as Karamana below – read H Kidd reply for details

Karamanaa

Zoom Zoom – Hogan runabout

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Garth Hogan restored Runabout Jan 29 2013Zoom Zoom - Hogan runabout

The runabout above was built by Ted Hogan & recently restored by his grandson Garth Hogan. The Hogan family including Garth’s Dad Ron, have a long history of preparing the Ford flathead V8 engines that power the boat. In the past most of the go-fast speedway race cars at Western Springs & Waikaraka Pack were running engines tuned by the Hogan’s.

Harold Kidd commented on the CYA forum that his “1930 Ford roadster pickup was putting out 85 bhp at the back wheels on a dyno with standard carb and exhaust manifold. Unbelievable power and torque for a side-valver. It had a wild cam, lightweight invar strut pistons and huge valves and looked like a bog standard 40 bhp Model A engine at a casual glance (apart from the finned alloy Hogan head) but had that really magnificent Model C truck block with fully circular webs. I had it balanced at Air New Zealand so it revved like a banshee and was turbine-smooth.”

Castaway (Islander) & Alofa comparison

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Castaway (Islander)
Alofa

Interesting comparison Castaway (Dick Lang) was launched in 1947 as “Islander”. Her sister ship Alofa was built by Sam Ford. Note the different bow, “Islander” has a clipper bow. photos – Castaway ex Alan Houghton, Alofa ex Ken Ricketts

Apache

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Apache 1
Apache 2

APACHE Had a 90 hp Chrysler Crown petrol engine, amateur built, in Captain Springs Rd Te Papapa in 1939, by the original owner, circa 1949 in Islington Bay, owned by Harold Parkinson a monumental mason of Symonds St Auck City.

text & photos by Ken Ricketts

Update 10/04/13 –  Harold Parkinson bought Orari II after selling Apache. A very nice boat and a bit unusual being such a large sedan launch. Most boats that size tended to be bridge deckers.

Ship in a bottle – still amazes me how they do it.

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A very talented friend (sadly owns a tin boat) in his words “knocks these out when bored”, I just do not have the patience or hands to do something like this. I’m sure he missed his forte in life, would have been better at delivering babies than an investment banker 🙂

I have one my Dad made during the war, one of the few items of his I treasure, even more so after I discovered wooden boats.

How to – secure your dinghy on deck

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Dinghy Straps

I was told off a few months ago for the very un-shippy method I had deployed to secure the dinghy.
The above, from the bible – ‘The Finely Fitted Yacht’, tells/shows how it should be done. Click image to enlarge.
The ‘TFFY’ is a must have, out of print but  a lot of libraries have it or pick up a 2nd hand copy on good old amazon.