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.

Moana + William C. Dalby To Be Scrapped

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MOANA

In the photos above we see the game launch – Moana under tow from the yacht Bounty, the photo is dated February 1965 and comes to us from the Tauranga Library collection via Dean Wright.

Moana is an unknown to WW so would love to learn more about her.

UPDATE – No Longer A Mystery – Ian McDonald has pointed out the previous WW stories on the launch – can not understand why the WW Search Box didn’t pick those up 🙂

Links below

WW May 2023  https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/05/14/mystery-launch-14-05-2023/ WW Oct 2016  https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/10/01/the-moana-mutiny/

UPDATE – Photo below of Moana ex Brian Worthington via Ken Ricketts

QUESTION OF THE DAY – does Auckland care about its waterfront heritage?

How can the below even be a consideration 

Woodys On Tour – UK

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Woodys On Tour – UK

While most Kiwis heading to the northern hemisphere had France on the radar, Murray Deeble was swanning around Britain feeding his other addiction in life – classic automobiles eg the Silverston Classic Festival and the Goodwood Revival. 

Luckily Murray took a few wrong turns and ended up in Windermere in Cumbria. Lake Windermere is found in the Lake District National Park and is Englands largest lake, more importantly it is home to ‘Windermere Jetty – an on-the-water museum of boats and steam launches built at a cost of 20 million pound.

Murrays photos above are just a snap shot – checkout the displays here

https://lakelandarts.org.uk/windermere-jetty-museum/

STILLWATER WOODYS WATERFRONT PICNIC – OCT 7TH – RSVP NOW waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Vanessa – A Peek Down Below

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VANESSA – A Peek Down Below

Vanessa made a very brief cameo appearance on WW back in April 2018. Given that under her tme (thankx Ian McDonald) ‘Hull Type’ tag it says ‘Other’ I’m not sure if she is a woody* and with a build date of 2005 differently slides into the spirit of tradition category. It is claimed that her design was inspired by Carey workboats and her builder was Rob Robson.

At 46’ in length and powered by a 210hp Caterpillar diesel Vanessa was built for extended off-shore cruising.

Today we get to have a gander down below and the abundance of wood sure makes her a woody in my eyes 🙂 Note: *just read the previous WW story again and see Vanessa is built from 2 skin kauri ply.

STILLWATER WOODYS WATERFRONT PICNIC – OCT 7TH – RSVP NOW waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Snow Goose

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SNOW GOOSE

The 24’ launch Snow Goose was built in 1963 at the Salthouse yard, and recently popped up on tme (thanks Ian McDonald). The forward propulsion is via a marinised 3L Mazda Titan diesel engine.

And that woodys is all we know about her – can we learn some more about what she has been up to for the last 60 years. Home is currently Tauranga.

STILLWATER WOODYS WATERFRONT PICNIC – OCT 7TH – RSVP NOW waitematawoodys@gmail.com

NZ Airforce Maritime Craft

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NZ Airforce Maritime Craft

The owners of the very fine 36’ Colin Wild 1939 built launch – Rehia were recently going thru a family photo album and uncovered the photos above from one of their grandparents. The grandfather in the late 1940’s > early 1950’s was a mechanic based at the Hobsonville airbase servicing the fleet of maritime support craft.

In my eyes in the photos above there are 3 different craft but it has been suggested that the top 2 photos are the same boat. Also the size of the airforce insignia on the bow of the top craft looks very large , maybe not a NZ vessel?

Can we ID the craft.

INPUT EX John Bullivant – The top 2 photos are of US built 63ft Maiami class crash boats. The RNZAF had a few of these operating from Hobsonville and Laucala Bay in Fiji . The class was originally powered by 4 Kermath 500hp ‘Sea Raiders’ (linked nose to nose in pairs) but later were powered by twin 630 hp Hall Scott ‘ Defender engines as standard, – some with V drives. A number of variants were made. Top speed was around 36 knots (16 model 168s were built with twin Packard 1250hp for a speed of around 48 knots) Boats were used by Russia, UK, Australia, Sth Africa, NZ and the Dutch.

INPUT EX Mitchell Hutchings – the two photos below show the two vessels featured above. The first one is of the 63’ Rescue Launch 276 and the second of 313, both at RNZAF Hobsonville.

INEAWA – A Peek Down Below

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INEAWA – A Peek Down Below

The 34’ Ineawa was built c.1926 by a Jimmy McLaren to a Clyde Boat Builders design, possibly in Onehunga, Auckland. Constructed from single skin full length kauri planks, sourced from Gt Barrier Island. Her beam is 9’ and she draws 2’5”.

Forward motion is via a 150hp diesel, but back in April 2014 when she last appeared on WW (link below to that story) the engine was recorded as a 105hp AEC – comparing photos it appears the same engine, maybe a typo. WW April 2014 https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/04/03/6721/

STILLWATER WOODYS WATERFRONT PICNIC – OCT 7TH – RSVP NOW waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Gale

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GALE

Back in June 2022 WW was contacted by the owner of the 1949 36’ yacht – Gale C4

Her story goes something like this – Gale was designed by Charles Bailey Jnr., but not built till 40>50 years later, possibly in Titirangi West Auckland, builder unknown. Construction is two skin kauri on Oregon stringer.

At the time WW was contacted her owner was going thru the ‘do I – dont I’ stage in regard to either a restoration or selling Gale as-is-where-is.

Do we know what happened – hopefully it was a ‘I Do’ decision and Gale is tucked away in a shed somewhere.

HEADS UP – OCT 7TH – STILLWATER WATERFRONT WOODY PICNIC – ASAP TO waitematawoodys@gmail.com

WHANGAREI MARITIME FESTIVAL

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R Tucker Thompson

WHANGAREI MARITIME FESTIVAL

Today I wanted give you a heads up about an upcoming woody event – the 2023 Whangarei Maritime Festival , October 14>15th, at the Town Basin.

The venue is already a very cool destination for anything maritime based, but over the weekend it will buzz with non stop activities – 30+ boats on display, free boat rides, food and entertainment, trade displays, talks and movies, arts and crafts market. Check out the Festival Sound programme below + the link to the festival website.

https://www.whangareimaritimefestival.co.nz

Check out a previous WW story on the venue https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/03/27/wooden-boats-whangarei-town-basin/

Saturday is a big day for NZ – hopefully the nation awakes up and heads off to a polling booth. Depending on the result I’ll be at the festival on Sunday, if the worst happens on Saturday night, probably best I’m not behind the wheel of a vehicle – I’ll be investigating setting up bryonbaywoodys 🙂

FESTIVAL SOUND PROGRAMME

Downloadable Event Booklet Below

updated-promo-bookletDownload

WHANGAREI FLASH BACK

The photo below has appeared many times on various social media sites, but this is the best reproduction I have seen – comes to us ex Dean Wright via the Tauranga Library collection.

Waimarie

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WAIMARIE

The two b/w photos above show the 32′ Oliver & Gilpin built launch – Waimarie being launched c.Sept 1964. She was built for a RG Falconer.

The b/w photos came to WW from Dean Wright via the Tauranga Library collection. 

MYSTERY WORKBOAT

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MYSTERY WORKBOAT

Dave Stanaway connected me recently regarding a tug boat that he would like to identify. Dave was sent the photo by Ray Morey, and all we know is that shehe was in Whangarei early 1960’s.

In the 2nd photo we see her off Whangarei with the Bounty replica.

So a call out to the workboat woodys – can me help Dave with a name and details.

Today we also get another tour of the recent Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival 2023 – sit back and enjoy.