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 YACHT – CELOX H8 –  A Look Back In Time

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CLASSIC WOODEN YACHT – CELOX H8 –  A Look Back In Time

I’m constantly sent via email and post details on classic boats that people have owned or rubbed up against – which is great.

Yesterday was different, one of the gents, Bruce Buccanan, that frequents my regular coffee shop, handed me a USB data stick with the gallery of photos above, all centred around the 26’ mullet boat – CELOX H8, built by Logan Bros and launched in 1908

I think the old school term jaunty best describes the gents that sailed or crewed on CELOX back them. Bruce’s father (a part owner or owner) is the gent in the last 2 photos , and thats all son Bruce knows about the photos.

CELOX has made several appearances on WW and the yacht had an eventful life, which may have ended in 2015 – WW would love to learn what finally happened to the yacht, we know she or parts of were salvaged but thats where the story stopped.

2015 WW STORY LINK + more intel in the Comments Section https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/02/01/celox-sos/

And Can We Name The Launch In The Photo Below – alongside CELOX at Mansion House, Kawau Island

Wooden Boat Beached at Sulphur Point – 1930’s

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Wooden Boat Beached at Sulphur Point – 1930’s

Todays photo comes to us from the McLeod collection at the Auckland Library Heritage Collection via Nathan Herbert. We see a launch in the configuration of a tram top + dog house, has to a 1920’s build most likely a flat top with the later (1930’s) additional of the tramtop and dog house.

The photo is tagged ‘ Launch beached after storm at Sulphur Beach, Northcote (Auckland) , 1930/39.

Can we put a name and builder to the boat.

CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT APACHE – Looking Very Sad

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Kawau Island

CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT APACHE – Looking Very Sad

Earlier in the week I was in Thames and dropped down to the Thames Sailing Club marina. I have covered on WW before most of the residents that inhabit the marina.

 One that caught my eye was the1939 launch – APACHE, she appeared to be ’stuck’ in her mud berth i.e. I visited at low and mid tide and she had not risen with the tide.

APACHE has made several appearances on WW and sadly is looking very tired and in need of a new caretaker, there was a 4sale note on her window. 

From previous stories we have learnt that she was probably built by a Mr. McCallum, with the help of a Lou Burn. 

In 2020 Bryce Strong sent in several photos of her – the b/w photo of her above before the addition of the rear dodger, seen in the cockpit photo. Byrce also later supplied the colour gallery of her looking very smart. Ken Rickets supplied the last photo showing (L>R) GAY DAWN, ALOFA, APACHE at Kawau Island.

UNKNOWN CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH ON THE MOVE

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UNKNOWN CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH ON THE MOVE

Woody owner Mark Russell (MV KARANGA) sent the photo above of the launch he spotted in Te Hana heading north yesterday. No visual name, two props so most likely twin engined and in my eyes its got Oliver and Gilpin, Tauranga, written all over her.

Can we put a name to the launch and learn where she is heading.

WOODY ON TOUR – VENICE

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WOODY ON TOUR – VENICE

The owner of the 36′ classic launch IONA II currently midway thru a total refit at the Slipway Milford is currently mooching around in Venice and sent in the above photo gallery of the hard working Venetian woody water taxis. Nice to have window into the other side of the world and to see the sun 🙂

The scope of the work on IONA II is next level and includes conversion to electric powered – there will be no combustion engine or generator i.e. not a hybrid. Really looking forward to following the project. IONA II was designed by Bruce Askew , and built in 1994 from strip planked wood + some f/glass, all good on a 1994 craft. Link below from when the work first commenced. I’ll get down there later in the week for an update, or maybe Jason Prew could put the tools down for a minute and send in some iPhone photos 😉 https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/05/28/iona-ii-gets-a-birthday/

MOANA SOS

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MOANA – SOS

Yesterdays winner of the quiz to name the launch – TEINA , John Dawson returned the favour and sent me the above photos of the launch – MOANA.

John commented that it was on tme late last month with a $1 reserve. According to the listing she was built in 1930, is 33’ in length and powered by a Ford 40hp engine. Located in Rawene, Northland.

As we can see she is looking very sad and probably beyond restoring.

Keen to hear what became of her and any known history.


CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – TEINA

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Off Ponui Island – 1952
Westhaven – c.1950/59
Bayswater – 1922

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – TEINA

Yesterday we ran a ‘mystery’ photo of TEINA at Kawau Island, the winner of the name the boat quiz was – John Dawson.

As promised today we get a photo bomb of images of TEINA, all from her original owners – the McLeod family via the Heritage collection at the Auckland Library. Thanks to Nathan Herbert for the heads up re the photos.

TEINA was designed by Glad Bailey and built by Ted & Ray (maybe Roy) McLeod at Bayswater, Auckland and launched in Feb1922.

She was kauri planked and when launched powered by a 90hp Detroit 351diesel engine.

For a woody classic launch that was photographed as often as TEINA was its amazing that she has only popped up on WW once before. She was one of the boats photographed by John Bullivant on a tour of the Tamaki River back in Feb 2019. Photo below.

Would be nice to learn more about the period between 1960 and now + an update on her present location and condition.

Tamaki River – Feb 2019

MYSTERY CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH QUIZ + Win A WW Burgee 

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MYSTERY CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH QUIZ + Win A WW Burgee 

Todays photo is very cool, cool enough to be my screen saver on the laptop.

I know the boats name and the location is probably Kawau Island. The photo is a bit of a tease to Mondays story that will be a photo bomb of images of the launch. She would have to be a contender to knock MY GIRL of its perch as the most photographed classic launch on WW 🙂 All disclose the source of the photo etc in Mondays story.

All correct entries go into the draw – cut off is 6pm Sunday 7th July.

ENTRY VIA EMAIL ONLY to waitematawoodys@gmail.com

CIRCLE THE CALENDAR – UPCOMING CLASSIC BOATING EVENTS

MARLIN – Can We Learn More About This Wooden Boat

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MARLIN – Can We Learn More About This Wooden Boat

The photos above of the 17’ MARLIN were sent in by new owner Brian Thomas. MARORO is built with two skin, possibly in the South Island (top end). Currently powered by a Yanmar 2QM engine.

Brian plans to ’tidy up’ (his words) to use as his river boat on the Waihou River. I meet Brian and his family back in April 2022 when a group of woodys under the command of Jason Prew (MY GIRL) ventured up the Waihou River to the Paeroa Maritime Museum. The Thomas family launch – MARORO made the trip and I got to have a tour – link below – so when Brian says ’tidy up’ I suspect thats an understatement https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/04/25/maroro-a-peek-down-below/

Brian is keen to learn more about MARLIN – can anyone help out.

(photos below of MARORO at Paeroa)

UPCOMING CLASSIC BOATING EVENTS

SAD END TO A WOODEN BOAT

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SAD END TO A WOODEN BOAT

South Island (Waimate) woody – Russell Wallace reported in earlier in the week of a sad sequence of events at Oamaru Harbour. Russell tells the story below –  “Oamaru harbour has been the refuge of a number of old small double ended fishing boats which have over the years succumbed to both their age and the elements.

The above photos show the latest sad victim which I took from the Oamaru Today Facebook page (credit to Oamaru Live and Oamaru Today for details and photos) Maybe some of your fans may know of this particular boat” edited

The story ex the fb posts goes like this – she broke her mid-harbour mooring and drifted to the inside of the breakwater and sank. From there she was towed to the Stanford’s berth.

From the photos a decision must have been made to hoist her out – the question is – was the breaking up intentional or was there an oops with the lift ?. Either way it is a very sad end to what looked to be a pretty woody double-ender needing restoring.

CIRCLE THE CALENDAR – UPCOMING CLASSIC BOATING EVENTS