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.

MANSION HOUSE KAWAU ISLAND 1971

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MANSION HOUSE KAWAU ISLAND 1971

Todays photo comes to use from ‘Timespanner’ (Auckland Library Heritage collection via Maurice Sharp fb. 

The caption reads ‘Muriel Clark on the balcony at Mansion House, KAWAU ISLAND. 1971, Ron Clark (the photographer I assume).

An unusual light number of boats in the bay, and mostly launches. Maybe the yachts were out racing.

Can we put names to the 4 classics in the bay – refer below enlarged image. And for a change rather than WW merch, I’ll gift a bottle of my ‘ world famous in Devonport’ homemade tomato sauce to the first woody that supplies the correct answers. I’ll rely on Nathan Herbert to be the oracle on ID’ing the boats – Entry via email only to waitematawoodys@gmail.com – closes 7pm 23/04/24 Conditions: Winner must be Auckland based, NZ Post doesn’t like glass bottles 😉

NOTE: as pointed out by K Ricketts todays photo has been developed incorrectly – I have flipped the image toshown the correct orientation – refer below

Screenshot

AWANUI – A Glimpse Back In Time & As Today

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AWANUI – A Glimpse Back In Time & As Today

Back in May 2016 we ran a story on the launch – Awanui – link here  https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/05/25/awanui/

Fast forward to early 2024 and Les Nelson contacted WW with an update on the vessel in regard to his parents owning Awanui for a number of years in the early 1980’s at the time based in Picton.

Les supplied the black and white photo (1st photo above) of Awanui that was most likely from when she was first launched c. early 1900’s (unconfirmed). Les commented that the backdrop (hill outline) looked familiar, probably the foreshore of Picton. A short time later Les unearthed the above colour photos from when his family owned her.

Also as a result of the story her present owner – Carmel Bradley made contact  and advised the launch was still in Motueka and used regularly in and around the Abel Tasman. Carmel sent in the photos below.

Love it when a WW story sparks a few memories and we roll into a bigger story 🙂

Still do not have any intel on who the designer / builder was, both owners are keen to learn more.

2024 🔻

Torrent Bay Lagoon 
Kaiteriteri Beach
Bark Bay Beach Abel Tasman. 

A DORA BLU

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Today we are state side to have a tour of the 1933 Stephens Brothers built 43′ classic woody – A Dora Blu. I was sent the youtube link by John Dawson – now I ask that you ignore the youtube fluff at the start and the obvious sales pitch – trust me its worth checking out. I was very envious of the boat shed, must make caring for a classic a breeze. Her owners attention to maintaining the boats heritage looks and fit out is wonderful, but when they lift the engine bay covers the sight is a very big wow, twin Yanmar JHC120hp engines, proof that you do not need to weigh these old girls down with huge engines.

(note: some confusion on the build year – the nav light boards say 1931)

ID The Russell Yachts Friday Quiz Winner – Ken Fyle. WW burgee on the way – the yachts were – (L) XANTHO & (R) IIEX. As I thought a lot picked IIEX but only 2 correctly had XANTHO.

Woody Fathers & Grandads

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Woody Fathers & Grandads

Be an instant hero and take the kids out for a day trip – this weekend the Matakana School are hosting the – Matakana Model Boat Show. Over 200 boats static and afloat + races.  And if there are no siblings around, even better – more time to enjoy it. See flyer below for full details.

If you go Saturday – take in the Matakana Market, I was there last weekend – great food, produce & coffee. Opens at 8am. And the new express way makes the trip a doddle 🙂

Special thanks to Mark Lever (MV Nereides) for the heads up + photos

CAN WE NAME THESE YACHTS – Prize To Be Won – XANTHO & ILEX

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CAN WE NAME THESE YACHTS – Prize To Be Won – XANTHO & ILEX

Must be overdue for a quiz – the photo above was taken on Christmas morning 1905, location is Russell in the Bay of Islands. ID’ing the two yachts will be a challenge to most of the WW crew but I’m sure the stick & rag woodys will work it out. So to make it slightly easier – correctly ID’ing each yacht equals a chance in the draw i.e. get one right = one chance, two right = two chances. Close off is 8pm 19-04-2024. ENTRY BY EMAIL ONLY to >>>>

 waitematawoodys@gmail.com

23-04-2024 INPUT ex HAROLD KIDD – The 40 footer XANTHO was launched as XANTHE in Wellington in 1888 by Henry Berg using timbers from the dismantled yacht MINNEHAHA. She was traded in to Robert Logan in part exchange for WAITANGI which he sailed down to Wellington and won the NZ Championship in January 1895. He sailed XANTHE back to Auckland in the smart time of 7 days and put her up for sale. There were no takers until 1897 and she lay off Devonport with the rig out when one Spraggon bought her. She was driven ashore at Devonport and badly damaged soon after. She was sold in April 1898 to G. Cook of Whangarei. The pic with ILEX was taken at Russell around 1905. I have no clues on what happened to XANTHE/XANTHO/ZANTHE/ZANTHO after that. Possibly she was converted to a launch?

She was considered incredibly old fashioned by the time she was launched and had the cod’s head and mackerel tail of earlier yachts and a large camber on the deck.

PRIZE: A WW burgee 

LAUNCH DAY MYSTERY – MANAIA

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LAUNCH DAY MYSTERY – MANAIA

Another photo sent in by John Dawson – to some of the WW workboat group the answer to ’Name the boat’ is probably very easy. Not for me however – things that help –

• 1st three letters of the name are  – MAN

• home port is shown as Whangarei

• lack of varnish suggests a workboat

• style suggests pilot boat• funnel may have the letters WHB on it > Whangarei Harbour Board

So what say the workboat brains trust

UPDATE – Thanks to several woodys we have confirmation that the vessel is Manaia – Designed by AJ Collings and built at the P. Los yard in 1963, for the Northland Harbour Board as a toilet boat.  LOTS of photos and detail in the links below https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/01/26/manaia/ https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/04/05/manaia-a-peek-down-below/


MYSTERY MAHURANGI WORKBOAT – RURU

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MYSTERY MAHURANGI WORKBOAT – RURU

Todays woody comes to us from Dave Balderston via hid cubby Dave Stanaway. 

Dave B. spotted the boat hauled out at the Cement Works Marina up the Mahurangi River in Warkworth.

The Daves and myself are keen to learn more about the boat and what the plans are for her.

18-04-2024 Input ex Ari at the Quayside Boat Yard – Yes, Ruru was designed and built by Chris Robertson for John Spencer to help them transport gear and maybe the odd animal between John’s island farms in the Coromandel and the mainland. As can be seen by her condition, she had been left unused for years, with the Spencer’s having larger barges to do this kind of work nowadays. One of Chris’ Son’s, Martin, has since acquired her and collectively with the crew here at Quayside Boatyard, plan to bring her back to her former glory and utilise her as a river/harbour work boat.

WAITERE II SOS

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WAITERE II SOS

Looking for a very cool winter project – 1913, Joe Slattery built 26’ Mullet Boat is in need of a new guardian. Her tme asking price is $1 but its more about finding the right person/persons to take her over, so her owners are open to all offers. Originally an H2 class. Has been in the same family for the last 50 years.

A lot of repair work has been completed and the current plan is to relocate the boat to Westhaven marina very soon. To view and read more about her just search Waitere II on tme.

The gallery of photos above are from varying time periods, reproduced to give you an insight into what she once was and her current presentation. 

COMPASS ROSE _ A Peek Down Below

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COMPASS ROSE – A Peek Down Below
The launch Compass Rose popped up on tme nearly a year ago and at the time we ran a story on her that generated a lot of discussion / chat in the comments section around her DNA. We never really established her origins but I tend to lean on the side of Allan Keane’s input – i.e. her builder and as launched  name is unknown but c.1986/88 her name was changed to – Arthur Daley. c.1995 she was sold again and renamed – Compass Rose. Allan’s ‘knowledge’ comes from having sold (brokered) the boat 3 times.

In the previous WW story – link here https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/05/02/lady-fay-arthur-daley-compass-ros/  there was speculation her launch name was Lady Fay and built by Orams & Davies in Whangarei in the early 1960’s. As often happens the collective memories get a little mashed up over the years so very keen to be able to clear up the question marks hanging over her. Thanks to woody John Dawson for the photos.

KAWAU ISLAND – The Hauraki Gulf Woody Mecca

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KAWAU ISLAND – The Hauraki Gulf Woody Mecca

Recently I was sent the above photos the trial goes like this – sent in by Ken Fyfe via Ruth Thomson from Jim Tatterfield.

The top one is tagged Squadron Weekend and the 2nd one Lady Gay, but I can not spot LG in the photo – both photos are ‘located’ at Mansion House Bay, Kawau Island.

Rather a lot of familiar woodys gathered in those photos.

Below the top photo is another from Jim Tatterfield of Little Jim (A16) in full flight. A looker when launched and still is today. The bottom photo of LJ is ex Mahurangi Regatta a couple of years ago.