Category Archives: 1900’s

Pania

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PANIA
Pania has had the same owners for over 25 years. She was built in 1973 using triple planked mahogany.
The get up & go comes from twin 90hp 6LW Gardeners & she measures approx. 50′.
She looks a very sea worthy vessel, no doubt one of the reasons her home port is Bluff, Southland.
Thanks to Ian McDonald for the trademe listing heads up 🙂

Can we expand on her details e.g. designer / builder & where was she from 1973 > early 1990’s ?

Input from Dick Hall

‘Pania’ was built by Jack Morgan for Rex Baldick of Picton off the extended ‘Hawaiki’ design. She was launched with a single Allis-Chalmers diesel that came out of a local fishing-boat but later when back to Jack and converted to twin screw with two four cylinder Fords. You can see the original strut with shaft hole through it in underwater photo. Rex had the Baldick families ‘Prima-Donna’ before building ‘Pania’

SIERRA 100th BIRTHDAY DAY

Sierra was designed and built by Joseph Fell of Kohukohu (Hokianga Harbour) & launched 3 May 1917. If she was a human, Sierra would be getting a letter from the Queen – as the old girl has just celebrated her 100th birthday. Owner Dennis Christopher is having a wee party for her this Sunday at  the Panmure Motor Boat & Yacht Club, 104 Kings Rd, Panmure.
Sierra will be alongside the jetty from 2.00pm on-wards. It’s a just drop-in event & any one is welcome. So woodys, if you are out & about on Sunday, call by. (photo below ex Tom Kane).

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Seacraft Woodys

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SEACRAFT WOODYS

I was recently contacted by Chris Laird & his first words were “are you guys interested in small woodys?”. My answer was ‘if its wood, its good’ 🙂

The above photographs show two dinghies that Chris restored  a couple of years ago. The 12ft 6in Seacraft Tuna has been stripped back and had new rib sections, one or two splines to cracked planks, seats, foredeck trim and beltings before being painted up to original Seacraft colours with original badging.

The varnished 12’6″ Brin Wilson has been stripped back, seats  etc removed, some rib sections scarfed in, several splines to cracked planks and varnished / painted up to original colours.
Chris commented that it is a lovely boat to row.

Also included are photos of a 6hp Norman and original cone clutch that is in a 16′ Seacraft cabin boat that Chris is currently rebuilding. I have asked Chris to send in photos of that project.

OOPS THAT IS EMBARRASSING
Over the Anzac weekend a lot of the classic fleet headed north to Kawau Island. Anchoring room near the Kawau Boating Club is always at a premium on long weekends & no one likes a long row in the dark……….. but even the old salts can get it wrong – the crew on the  1905, Logan Bros, ex pilot boat ‘Ferro’ must have been in a hurry to make the KBC as they anchored rather close in. As it turned out, too close in – the below photo was 1/2hr before low tide & mid Sunday morning – would have been a long / embarrassing day waiting for the tide 😉

Ferro @ Kawau April2017

Bondi Belle – Relaunched

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BONDI BELLE – Relaunched

A couple of days ago I was alerted by Baden Pascoe to the recently relaunched Bondi Belle, ww readers may recall that back in February 2014 Baden alerted us that her owner at the time Ted Carter was looking to sell the old girl. Well she was bought by Dan Abernethy, the photo below of her resting on the poles was taken on the day Dan bought her from Ted at Sandspit.

I’m pleased to be able to report that she has undergone a very sympathetically rebuild at Pine Harbour & looks wonderful. Dan asked that I give a special mention to his brother-in-law’s father, John Waterman, seen in one of the photos above. John’s has spent numerous hours on the boat doing all filling and fairing and spray painted the boat. Happening this week will be the addition of her mast 🙂

Bondi Bell was built as S.S.Whakapara, at Whakapara (North of Whangarei) by Charles Bailey Jr. for the Foote family who were saw millers at several Northland locations . Launched in 1901, initially she was a steamer and was converted to diesel in the 1920’s. You can view / read more details on her past here https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/02/17/bondi-belle/

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15-11-2024 UPDATE – photo ex John Sloane below of her hauled out at Half Moon Bay marina for some TLC

Primadonna

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PRIMADONNA

Primadonna is a 36′, 1905 whale chaser built by Lanes for a family with a farm in Tory Channel. Was used as a whale chaser until the end of the whaling era and then became a farm transportation boat for the same family who owned her till her current owner bought her.

She is built out of double diagonal kauri and powered with a 72hp Ford. Cruises at about 8 0r 9 knots at 1500 revs. She has accommodation for 2 and a small wheel house which you can steer from inside of the weather goes bad. Currently 4sale on trademe- thanks to Ian McDonald for the heads up.

Harold Kidd Input
There’s a bit of manufactured history here. Ernie Lane didn’t come to Picton until 1907 and doesn’t appear to have built PRIMA DONNA. Most authorities say she was built by Alf Baldick between 1910 and 1915 for himself and Derbyshire as a whalechaser to compete with the Peranos. She remained in the ownership of the Baldick family until at least 2001.
She’s been on WW before; see https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/02/27/welly-woodys/

PS the “second generation” of whalechasers used by the Baldicks were SUSSEX and PEERLESS, in competition with the Peranos’ CRESCENT, BALAENA and CACHALOT. Ernie Lane built SUSSEX and PEERLESS for the Baldicks in 1916. Lane built the Peranos’ CRESCENT and BALAENA but CACHALOT was built in 1916 to a design by Chas. Collings by Kensitt at Picton. She was the THIRD generation of whalechaser and had a 130/150 hp Van Blerck, typical Collings’ concave-convex hard chine planing hull.

Update 24-05-2020 photos below added ex trademe listing

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Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade 2017 – 160+ photos

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Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade 2017 – 160+ photos

Another stunning long weekend weather wise & also on the woody front – this weekend I was down at Lake Rotoiti (Nth Island) for the annual classic & wooden boat parade. Holding hands again on the trip with Chris Miller. For the last few years we have positioned our selves in one shore based spot & snapped the boats as they have passed, this year we were very kindly offered the use of a RHIB to get out on the water & get amongst the fleet. The RHIB was provided by LRC&WB Association Rear Commodore Fraser Wilson, Fraser deserves a lot of credit for the above photos 🙂 . Given that CM is a professional photographer we decided that I would be the boat boy & helm the boat & CM would snap the photos, that was a good call because he is rather good 🙂
Being afloat meant that we could get a lot closer to the boats & the crews. So woodys the photos above are CM’s & below are a few of mine + a collection that I took while ashore for the post parade picnic.
I was asked to judge the awards for 7 categories, these awards are highly contested as they are only handed out every 5 years. The winners are featured at the end of todays story.
I would also like to like thank LRC&WB Commodore Grant Cossey for his help & support & as always the LRC&WB Secretary & event registrar – Rachel Jamieson, who is the real hero of this event & the association.
You can also view more on the event at CM’s blog – http://www.buggeritweareoff.com
Remember to click on photos to enlarge. Enjoy – we did 😉
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20th Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade 2017 Winners
BEST ORIGINAL WOODEN BOOT – CARVEL
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BEST ORIGINAL CLASSIC BOAT – WILD HORSES
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BEST CONVERSION – PIKO
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BEST DECORATED BOAT – HAUMOANA
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BEST DRESS CREW – ALBERTO
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BEST REPRODUCTION – SUZY Q
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MOST QUIRKY – MAGGIE
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Queenie – Whangaroa Harbour

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Queenie On The Whangaroa Harbour

Woody Robin Elliott sent in the above photos of Queenie sailing on the Whangaroa Harbour over the xmas / ny period. Queenie was built by Logan Bros & launched January 1904 for James Kirker.  She is a ’25-foor Linear Rater’.  Her current owners are Henry and Theresa Roberts of Whangaroa.

REMEMBER AUCKLAND ANNIVERSARY DAY REGATTA TOMORROW, GET OUT & ENJOY IT. ON THE WATER OR FROM ONE OF THE MANY VANTAGE POINTS 🙂

Tibbs’ Beach – Sailing Sunday

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Tibbs’ Beach – Sailing Sunday

The above photo, from the A. Turnbull Library, was taken by William A Price in the early 1900’s & shows a collection of yachts & a small motor boat hauled out on cradles for maintenance at Tibbs’ Beach, Ponsonby.

Got to love the father & son + old boy with the walking stick, bowler hat & pipe in the center of the photo – that is what its all about-the 3 F’s – fun, friendship & fraternity 😉

So woodys todays questions – what is Tibbs’ Beach known as today ? And can we ID the boats?

Harold Kidd Input

From the left is ROMP alias CHARIE but built as EHOA by Tom Le Huquet in 1892, winter-quartered at Tibbs Beach when owned by Fred Rule. I can’t positively id the little double-ended launch. Next is, I reckon, QUEENIE, hauled out at the beach when owned by Tom Hill. Next is, I think, SCOUT when owned by the Ewen brothers who lived in Shelley Beach Road. Possibly, however, it’s MAYO which also pulled out there until she was damaged and broken up in late 1913 but I think MAYO was smaller although of the same general form. The bow of the boat on the right doesn’t tell us much except that she’s a small straight-stemmer. My pick is NEOLA which was owned by Treanor and hauled out here at this time.
I reckon the date is winter 1912 plus or minus a year.

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“Aquatics” correspondents of the newspapers and magazines of the time were fond of producing copy from a wander along the haul out areas around the harbour to fill their columns in the winter, so you can pretty well flesh out the boats hauled in each spot, season by season. The key to this image is the presence of EHOA aka RHONA/RONA/CHARIE (not CHARLIE), but ROMP at this time and that puts the dates to 1910-14 at the outside either way.
The other yachts which used Tibbs’ Beach for winter haulout within that period were (alphabetically) ARIKI, HEARTSEASE, LITTLE JIM (the first), MABEL, MAYO, NEOLA aka ALOFA/AWATEA, QUEENIE, ROSE aka MOUTERE, SCOUT, the 16 footer SURPRISE and VALDORA, then a big centreboarder.
The only candidate for the #2 yacht from this dramatis personae to my mind is VALDORA, then owned by W.T. Matthews but she was only 26ft loa. MABEL, now WAIATA in Wellington, has a raked stem and is 33ft, but no “spoon”.
Any other ideas?

A Call For Help

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HAUITI – 1929

A Call For Help

I was recently contacted by John Ellingham, a kiwi now residing in country Western Australia. Johns inquiry centered on two little ships (Iranui & Hauiti) that were built in Auckland in the early 1900’s. Johns interest is mainly on Hauiti, because of a family link. This Grand father Alf Hassall was a shareholder in this vessel with Faulkners and was killed aboard her off Whakatane in 1931.
John has researched as many avenues as he can but I would like the gaps filled.
Any photos of the Hauiti / Manurere / Morocotcha / Three Kings would be appreciated.

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HAUITI – 1929

HAUITI / MANURERE / MOROCOTCHA / THREE KINGS

Built 1906, possibly by Logan Bros, for  either the Tolaga Bay Lightering Co., Gisborne Sheep Farmers Company or Messer’s Glover Lockwood and Holder.

Length 47.75′ x 11.75′ x 3.66′ with a 21.32 Gross Tonnage / 5.92 Reg Tonnage. Originally Powered by two Standard Frisco petrol engines each 24 BHP. Used as lighter for transporting wool bales to vessels anchored off shore. Sister ship to “Iranui”

Sold in 1929, according to reports by the Gisborne Sheep Farmer’s Company Ltd to Barley & George Falkner and Albert Edward Hassall of Tauranga -‘Mount Ferry Co’ & renamed – Manurere. Converted from cargo vessel to passenger. Only made one trip found unsuitable. Converted to (a) Seine boat. (b) Trawler depending on which report you believe. Re engined with twin Gardner Diesels.

First registered 1932 – ID 153993 – 13/1932 – 06/12/1932  Port of Auckland (IR). Registered to Esther May Hassall (John Ellingham’s Grand Mother, John’s  Grand Father was killed on board Manurere off Whakatane on 29/03/31, dragged into winch by coat tails).

Sold again in 1933 to Mrs Bertha Robinson Auckland & renamed Morocotcha. Possible engine change 03/01/1934

Sold again in 1937 to McFarlanes Fisheries  (mussel / oyster farmers ) & renamed Three Kings. Reg  AK 516    06/03/1937

Registry closed 17/05/1948 – Believed to have foundered in Firth Thames with wreck located 15/12/62. Salvaged by Bert Subritzky 16>30 December 1962. Engines salvaged, hull scrapped.

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IRANUI

IRANUI

Built  1900 possibly by Logan Bros, Auckland for a Mr Glover of Tolago Bay. Delivered to Tolago Bay as deck cargo aboard “Flora” 23 October 1900. Records also show the ownership as Glover Lockwood and Holder. Later articles refer to “Iranui” being owned by the Gisborne Sheep Farmers Company. The full title of this company was Gisborne Sheep farmers Frozen meat and Mercantile Co who had a store in Tolaga Bay.

Her use was as a Wool Lighter and Towing. Mainly out from the Uawa River to larger vessels anchored off shore. She measured 42 ft O/A – 10ft beam – Draft 2ft 3 inches aft  Carried 10 – 15 tons cargo under hatches. Power came from a 10hp Union Oil engine ( Supplied by Messers Ryan & Co)

The last known reference to “Iranui” is in 1918 (Papers Past Poverty Bay Herald 6 May 1918) where it is reported that she had been slipped at Gisborne and was returning to Tolago Bay.

NOTE: This “Iranui”  is not to be confused with the vessel “Settler” wrecked at Tairua. Confusion arises via the article ex NZ Museums web site reference Kelvin engine gifted by David James Mays Mason with comment by Daniel Hicks “MV Settler was ex “Iranui ex “SS Settler“ build 1905 by C. Bailey Jnr Auckland.

The Restoration of My Girl

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.THE RESTORATION OF MY GIRL

While there are few of us with the courage to even consider a project of this scope, there are even fewer with the skill set to do it. That makes Jason Prew a tad special in the classic woody boating community. A lot of us would be worried that a restoration (re-build) project like this would grind to a halt 1/2 way thru – well folks I can tell you this one won’t & as proof check out at the bottom of this story, Jason’s last project – Wairiki, his 34′ 1904 Arch Logan designed gaff rigged classic yacht.

Mr Prew is a member of the fastest growing group in the CYA – woody’s that own a classic yacht & classic motor-boat.  There are a lot of photos today but I really wanted to get across the magnitude of the job Jason has bitten off:-)
Whilst I did not pickup a hammer or a piece of sandpaper during my visit to Jason’s workshop, I have contributed – a while ago I was gifted a pair of very cool bronze nav lights & as I’m a big believer in the ‘pay-it-forward’ concept, these will be gracing My Girl on launch day 🙂
My Girl was built in 1925 by Dick Lang for C.B. “Tui” Waldron of the Wade River who commuted with her. Her square bilge design was based on one by W.H.Hand. Waldron later took her to Whangarei & she was in NAPS as Z32 out of Whangarei in WW2.

Jason purchased My Girl from the Davies  family of Te Atatu, West Auckland in December 2014, Derek & his Father Trevor were long term caretakers of My Girl, keeping her in the Whau River for many years.  After a spell on the hard where she fell into dis-repair, Jason finally persuaded Derek to part with her.

When launched she was powered by a 6 cylinder 90hp Scripps engine & was capable of over 18 knots. When purchased by Jason she had a BMC Commander engine of dubious health.  When re-launched she will be powered by a 100hp Volvo Penta, so she should be a bit of a zoom zoomer 😉

The work to date has seen 76 ribs in, 3600 copper rivets riveted, 5 new floors and 2 engine beds. As you will see in the photos there is still lots of hole filling, sanding & painting in the near future.

You can read & view much more on the restoration project at the links below – the ww one has some historical photos & the mygirl link has the whole story so far. Make sure you click on the Archives link to see everything. https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/12/12/my-girl/           http://www.my-girl.co.nz/mygirl/Welcome.html

Below is a peak at Jason’s yacht Wairiki, his last restoration project. Click this link to view more http://www.wairiki.co.nz/Wairiki1904/Welcome.html

Input from Jason Prew

Thanks for the injection of smoke up the posterior Alan but I can’t claim too much credit for Wairiki, Marco Scuderi did the bulk of the work. I was mostly the destruction/wrecking department.  My Girl is also a collaboration, especially the ribs stage.  Nathan, Steve, Andrew, Tom, mostly my brother Daniel, either holding dolly or doing the peening. Robert Brook and Paul Tingey for always being encouraging on the end of the phone when i was having an OMG I can’t work this out day, (which is quite often)  I don’t have a moaning chair perse, but i have a squab that gets utilized a lot to do the same job.

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Trinidad > Raindance > Wairiki

Dec 2016 Staring to look like a launch again versus a canoe 🙂 Bit worried about the headroom.

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Puawai

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PUAWAI

Today’s story is on the 33′ launch Pauwai,which was built by Arthur Eli Forrester at Whakapiru in 1908. Its been commented that the boat is similar to a Logan as Arthur worked for Logan Bros and built five boats himself. She served many years on the Kaipara Harbour. D/D kauri plank construction & powered by 60hp BMC Commodore diesel giving 9-12 knots.
From the photos she appears to have a nice timber interior, quite roomy with big forward cabin, dinette.

Puawai sold last week on trademe for $5,620 to a Tauranga buyer, given that the seller (deceased estate on Great Barrier Island) paid $30,000 for her in 2013, someone got a good buy.

Do any of the woodys know more about her past?

Harold Kidd Input

Owners include Wilson of Helensville (1), Logan McLeod, Pouto, H.B. Bradley, Dargaville, W. Hansen, Bruce Carter (1985), then a name change to WAIWERA and transfer to the Waitemata. Louise Brewer 2004 did a revamp.

28-02-2018 ‘New’ photos added + she is for sale – view comments section for details.

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