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.
SEA FEVER – Gets A Visit To The Classic Wooden Boat Parlour
Earlier this year SEA FEVER the 34’ 1958 John Salthouse design / build wooden launch changed hands The Wooden Boat Bureau worked with owner Doug Reid to find a new custodian. The buyer ticked all the boxes on Dougs wish list, and if Doug is reading WW today I’m sure he will be very chuffed to see SEA FEVER getting TLC she deserves. (when launched her name was Onetaunga.)
I’ve commented many times that one of the reasons particular craft pass the half century mark is good old luck – luck in terms of having the right owners who value these classic craft, SEA FEVER has had a succession of good people caring for her and it shows.
In the next few days Jason Prew will be applying his skills to SEA FEVER and another one of our classic woody fleet will have a JPPJ (Jason Prew Paint Job)
SEA FEVER below in 2022 at anchor in Chamberlains Bay
No Names (and not SEA FEVER) – But the decal is a little OTT 🙂
CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – OKAREKA – A Peek Down Below
The classic wooden launch OKAREKA popped up recently on tme (thanks Ian McDonald for the heads up) The listing states she was built in 1952 by Colin Wild, is 36’ in length and powered by twin 75hp Ford 2704 diesels.Being sold as-is-where- is. Can we learn more about her past.
Morning woodys – there was a typo in the spelling of the boats name it wasn’t Orareka its OKAREKA, previously named FERG AND FERGY. Sorry for the confusion – you can view and read more about her here https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/08/17/okareka-2/
30-01-2025 INPUT ex BARRIE ABEL – photo below of OKAREKA moored off Brooklands Boating Club on the Clevedon River.
THE REAL REASON FOR TODAYS STORY – Sadly plans are a foot to close the winter haul out area at Little Shoal Bay, Northcote. Yeap another one under the axe of Auckland Council. So woodys have your say, click the link below to sign the petition. https://www.change.org/p/save-little-shoal-bay-boatyard
During the week I received an email from Otto Schuttle with the great news that the Athol Burns designed 26’ cutter – TAIROA had been relaunched after her unfortunate 2015 accident. Read below-
Back in June 2015 we ran a story on the yacht being swiped onto the rocks during a fierce storm in Wellington harbour. From the ‘news’ photos things looked grim but Athol Burns built his craft like the proverbial brick out house.
Thanks to the efforts of Russell Ward and family we received photos of TAIROA being salvaged. Then in Oct 2018 we received an update from her new owner (Otto) with some work in progress photo.
Otto’s note covers off the news and his happiness at finely getting her back afloat – I’ll hand over to Otto –
“It was a tremendously emotional day for me on Saturday 27th July 2024 when many friends and family gathered at the Evans Bay Boat yard to see TAIROA relaunched.
This has been a long journey with a vast amount of research and learning ,many hours watching YouTube. Trying things and scraping them locating materials online to find it wasn’t exactly what I wanted or it didn’t quite fit. . at times things went wrong and had to be redone, or just pack up and go home and come back another day and have another go with fresh eyes and mind. OH and going to work when things were going really well on a project and wanting to get back to it. having to pack up and go away and wait for the glue, varnish or paint to dry,
She is now afloat in the Evans Bay marina looking as if she belongs
I still need to have some sail modifications done to suit the furler, permanent mooring lines fitted to the berth and some interior work done but its a boat always work to do and things to buy don’t you just love BOATING”
Photos below from 2015 and 2018
2018
UPDATE: Todays story prompted two woodys to contact me re a photo of the yacht , not long after launching – the amazing thing was it was the same photo – below. Brian Peet commented – the photo was taken by my father John in the 1960s. Alby Bland was a member of the Glendowie Boating Club and he built the boat in his back yard. I used to walk past it everyday on my way to school. Russell Ward commented – the photo of her was when new. It was sent years back by the builder’s daughter. Fabulous ship. The spirit of Athol Burns.
Todays photo is another from the Tauranga City Library collection and is tagged ‘ Launch of LADY ROSALINE’ and woodys is all we known. Given the location and style of the vessel possibly a Oliver & Gilpin craft. Can we learn more about her.
Todays 45’ woody comes to us via a James Donald fb post.
The launch was built in 1918 (launched Dec, thank you Harold Kidd for the intel) by Bailey& Lowe, named IMANOTA.
James grandfather, J Donald bought the launch in May 1921 and changed her name to MARION D.
When launched she was powered by a 3 cyl. Twigg engine. James commented on the stern on photo that illustrated how beamy the vessel was.
Some time later her name changed again to JOAN, as she is known today. These days JOAn is powered by a Gardner engine.
The colour photo of JOAN I took in Nov 2014 at anchor in Isslington Bay, Rangitoto Island.
The link below is to a June 2018 WW story that as well as an amazing gallery of photos from her past, there is produced a 10 page diary/log from a 1932 Bay of Islands big game fishing trip – its a great read.
The photo below of the angler is most likely to be James grandfather.
04-11-2024 Input ex Steve – I have that rod and reel, A Hardy Bros 7 inch Sea Silex and the Tanekaha rod my Grandfather said his father made himself. I am searching for history on James Donald OBE, My Great grandfather. I have found out this reel was made from 1925 to 1927 and it was his first reel. That photo has to be post 1925 at least
CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT CAROUSEL – Launch Day & Present Day
Bay of Islands based woody and professional photographer Dean Wright and his partner Deb have just returned from a couple of weeks afloat in Fiordland, thats another story.
Today we see the 1967 Oliver and Gilpin launch – CAROUSEL, on her mooring in Te Anau. Dean also sent in the b/w photo from her launch day (Nov 1967) on the Wairoa River. Which solved a mystery for me, I had the same photo but no reference to the boat name.Links to previous WW stories below.
CAROUSEL resides these days on Lake Te Anau and operates as a charter boat.
CLASSIC WOODEN LAKE BOAT – HEATHER DAWN – A Peek Down Below
Thanks to the eagle eyes of Ian McDonald who spotted the 21’ ex workboat – HEATHER DAWN on tme, today we get to have a gander at this craft that has an interesting back story.
Built in Glasgow Scotland in 1950 by Darroch and Espie Boat Builders, she carries the serial no 1666. D&E were famous boatbuilders, particularly lifeboats for major shipping companies back in the day. So HEATHER DAWN started life as a lifeboat, built from oak and was bought off a tug called DASHER in Auckland. Her wheelhouse and decking a later (NZ) addition, being made from kauri.
Powered by 30hp Yanmar 3 cylinder shaft drive, giving a cruising speed approx. 6 knots. Very well fitted out – the diesel oven / heater caught my eye.
I can just see HEATHER DAWN fitting in very well with the Lake Rotoiti (Nth Is) flotilla.
Todays classic wooden launch is the c.1965/6 Oliver & Gilpin built 48’ launch – LADY VEE , named LADY MAY when launched.
The top b/w photo is from the Tauranga City Library collection and was taken not long after launching.
In the 2nd photo ex Jason Prew (date unknown) we see her in Chamberlains Bay, bottom end of Waiheke area.
The 3rd photo was taken in Jan 2019 by Peter Loughlin and the location is Great Barrier Island. Peter at the time commented that he had been aboard and she was post a recent refi and looking very smart.
Todays photos come to us from Max Arthur and date back almost 100 years. Max came across the WW site while research his father – E.W. Arthur and grandfather – H.R. Arthur.
The photos record a cruise to Kawau Island inc.1929.
In the 1st photo (and other) Max believes the flush deck launch is – WANDABYNE. Which is a newbie to me , but in a previous WW story we identified a launch named WONDABYNE (LOLITA) , link below. At first I thought typo but in my eyes not the say boat. https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/06/24/wondabyme/
Can we learn more about WANDABYNE and keen to ID the other launch shown in a couple of the photos.
A CLASSIC WOODEN TRAILER-SAILER YACHT – Yeap You Read That Right 🙂
As covered many times on WW the cost of a marina berth is the #1 deterrent to owning classic wooden craft. I have speculated that smaller trailerable woodys will be the future of the classic boating movement in NZ.
MERLN – todays 22’ clinker kauri built, gaff-rigged sloop is one such boat that ticks all the boxes. And most importantly MERLIN is a looker and we like that.
Built c.1902 as a motorboat she was converted in the 1920>30’s to a yacht (deadwood/keel added etc). Then in the late 2000’s restored by professional Christchurch boat builder – Davie Norris.
MERLIN received another birthday in 2015/16 with restored gaff-rig and ‘converted’ to tabernacle set-up, plus new sails and all rigging. Also included was a new custom trailer and new 4-stroke 6hp outboard.In the last 10+ years MERLIN has been shed stored and only used on Lake Hood, Canterbury, South Island.Her current status is in storage and as with all traditional built clinkers may need some tweaking / re-caulking to the garboard seam.
So woodys if you’re considering stepping up to life as a classic woody owner, MERLIN is the vessel for you and at the end of a days sailing you get to take her home. Interested parties to initially contact Andrew andrew@siseed.co.nz for more details. And almost forgot – she will sell for around $25k – a bargain.
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