Category Archives: 1910’s

Miami > Queen Victoria

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Miami > Queen Victoria

I have a few questions re the above photos. To be honest, I’m a little confused so I have drafted the details below from info supplied ex her current owner and ask that those of you with more / better knowledge than me, give me feedback.

In 1915 Dr. Rayner of Moose Lodge, Lake Rotoiti, commissioned the Bailey Boatyard in Auckland to build a launch named ‘Miami’, when Rayner sold Moose Lodge to Sir Noel Coles Miami was replaced with the 28’ launch – ’The Moose’. The Moose was built in Feb 1939 by Collings & Bell. The Moose is shown in the top photo being transported to the Lake. The next two colour photos I believe to be the same launch at a later date.
The next three photos show the launch Miami, now named Queen Victoria, that Lake Rotoiti boatbuilder Alan Craig is about to start a re-furbishment on, during this work her Yanmar engine will be rebuilt. Her current owners in 1985 replaced her Redwing engine with the Yanmar, this being her 3rd engine – previous owners, the Armstrong family of Gisborne Point, fitted the Redwing during their ownership period. Bob Armstrong is on record as saying the launch was hard to moor and had a history breaking away which resulted in the Armstrong selling her to an unknown person, who kept her on Lake Rotorua for approx. a year.
Miami was then purchased by the Lewis family of Te Puke and kept at Otaramarae near the Harris boasted. Many years later it was sold to Bert Goulding a Tauranga surveyor, who kept her in a boatshed in Te What Bay next to his lake house (house now owned by ex MP Mr McLean)
Miami’s present owners had always admired her and regularly enquired if Bert Goulding wanted to sell the launch – his wife always replied “not ready yet”. Then in 1979 at the grand old age of 93, Bert Goulding decided it was time to sell. Her present owners jumped at the chance and purchased her. In 1985 she was sent to a Tauranga boatbuilder (Bill Visser) and altered to what we see today.
So woodys – is the above story factual and can anyone supply photos and more details on the past life of Miami > Queen Victoria ?
Input from Harold Kidd – The top left pic is OKATAINA built by Sam Ford in August 1938 for Beamish-White of Okataina. (oops – since moved to the bottom of this story. AH) The top right pic is MOOSE; same Ford truck though!
As for MIAMI, I just can’t find her being built by Chas Bailey for Dr. Rayner although 1915 had a lot more news going on than pleasure boating! Gallipoli, for example.
The first mention I have of a launch MIAMI is in 1924 when she was owned by G W & E L Best of Tennyson St., Northcote. She appears to have been sold to Whakatane in 1927, owners H West, F Prideaux and D McKenzie. In 1937 -1940 she was owned by H Dunton of Bowentown. Maybe she gravitated to Rotoiti from there or maybe there was another MIAMI at the same time?
The Bests had another MIAMI themselves in the 1950s.
I suppose Dr Rayner would have used the name MIAMI for a launch as, apart from being an enterprising dentist with his “American Dental Parlors” in Auckland, he was a developer of resorts like Turangi, Rotoiti etc obviously inspired by the contemporary conversion of Florida sandhills into the resort of Miami.
Just the same I’m eager to establish his connection with the launch MIAMI.
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Sterling Girl – Bailey & Lowe 1913 Bridge-deck Launch

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Sterling Girl – Bailey & Lowe 1913 
The above boat has a couple of features that ring my bell – a wood fire and a Ford Model T wheel / helm. On top of this she appears to be a very well loved woody.
Her length is 35’ with a beam of 9’6” and draws 4’. She was built in 1913 by Bailey & Lowe, from of course kauri.
Her engine is a 120hp 6cyl, Ford diesel that gives her a speed range of 8>11 knots.
As with most Southern boats she is very well fitted out.
And surprise surprise the broker (trying) to sell her, has again chosen to not list her name. Never mind one of our southern Woodys will supply that and hopefully more details.
Thanks to Ian McDonald for the listing heads-up.
Harold Kidd Input – STERLING GIRL was built for Robert Taylor of Birkenhead and was named after her Sterling engine, a high-quality American marine engine of the time for which Bailey & Lowe were the agents. When Taylor had the big schooner LADY STERLING built in 1920 by Bailey & Lowe he sold STERLING GIRL to Capt G H White and he sold her to Roy Henderson in 1924.

Auckland Anniversary 1919 Regatta

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Auckland Anniversary Regatta 1919

Todays photo is a gallery of photos from the 1919 Auckland Anniversary Regatta (Jan 29th) . A great collection, including the Walsh Brothers (Mission Bay) flying boats – what interests me is the two launches, centre left and right. Both look like they have a good turn of speed.
Can anyone ID them for us?
Photos appeared in the Feb 6th 1919 issue of the ‘Weekly News’ and come to us via Keith Humphreys fb
.
Harold Kidd Input – Nathan Herbert was right when he commented about the right hand launch, she’s the Lane DEFENDER, formerly SCRIPPS III, now with a dodger over the cockpit. The left hand launch is clearly Bailey & Lowe and I’m sure is WINSOME (I) although I can’t figure out her racing number. She’s too small for MANU.

Haku

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HAKU

I know very little about the above launch Haku but given she is reported as being a Bailey & Lowe and built in 1912, she with be on HDK’s radar for sure.
The photo is ex a gent by the name of John Lowe’s fb page and he commented that this photo was “after I had finished her”. I will try and find one (photo) of before I started”
Keen to learn more about Huku and lets hope John sees this WW story and emails more photos to  waitematawoodys@gmail.com
Input from Harold Kidd. –
Because HAKU = Kingfish , there have been many launches of that name.
1. HAKU built by Colley Bros of Devonport in 1909
2. HAKU built as DOREEN by Arch Logan in 1912 and renamed HAKU by H H Partridge in 1913
3. HAKU built by Bailey & Lowe in September 1914 for H W Hudson, a 28 footer with a canoe stern which is this boat. She went to the Manukau in 1920 and is now in Tauranga. Her upper works have been changed and reverted to an earlier style of dee-front cabin top.
Input from Dave Stanaway
Photo below is Haku 2008 before McCallums sold her. The Peter is alongside her and was also sold.
I think Pony More’s son bought Haku. The photo location was McCallum’s yard at Westhaven. The McCallum’s kept her down near Kawakawa Bay to use as transport to Karamaramu Island.
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Mahurangi Regatta 2019 – Classic Wooden Boat Movie

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Mahurangi Regatta 2019 – Classic Wooden Boat Movie

The weather forecast is for a very average day today so I decided to share some serious eye candy with you. The video above comes to us from the very talented Roger Mills via his drone camera.
Once again Roger was out and about over the regatta weekend and captured some amazing classic woody footage.
I have to comment that it was very pleasing to see the classic woody launches featured, thank you Roger. All to often people forget there are more wooden motorboats afloat on the day than the stick and rag boys 🙂
Enjoy the video – its a goodie.
To view a high res / quality version of the movie – us the link below.

The Marine Photographer’s Eye, Benjamin Mendlowitz – OCH Video Featuring Kiwi Classic Wooden Boats

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The Marine Photographer’s Eye, Benjamin Mendlowitz – OCH Video Featuring Kiwi Classic Wooden Boats – The best photos of our fleet you will have ever seen!

Today’s story is rather special as the team at offcenterharbor.com have given waitematawoody readers access to their latest video that features woodys from this years Mahurangi Regatta. The OCH site contains over 500 videos (& 500 articles) that range from boatbuilding, to trimming sails, to a complete course on understanding every aspect of your marine diesel engine. There’s even a 42-part series on how to build a Caledonia Yawl camp cruiser. The collection of videos features mariners and craftspeople at the very top of the boating field, showing exactly how they do things, and which products they use in their work.

One of the OCH founders is Benjamin Mendlowitz who, in my eyes, is the worlds finest photographer of classic wooden boats, this January, Ben and his co-founders escaped the US winter and headed down under. Whilst in NZ their #1 mission was to attended the Mahurangi Regatta and to this end on the Saturday Jason Prew with My Girl & myself with Raindance hosted – Maynard Bray, Benjamin Mendlowitz & Steve Stone for a Regatta photo shoot.

In the 11 minute video, Ben talks us through his day on the water filming woodys. In the opening section when Ben is commenting on our classic fleet he says “I was newly inspired in my photography”. When a photographer with as much experience as Benjamin Mendlowitz says that – that is saying something about our woody fleet. Plus the video is a master class for anyone interested in marine photography.

CLICK THE LINK BELOW AND SIT BACK AND ENJOY + CHECK OUT THE COOL OCH OFFER BELOW

https://www.offcenterharbor.com/videos/marine-photographers-eye-benjamin-mendlowitz-in-new-zealand/ww190523

SPECIAL 50% OFF – LIMITED TIME OFFER

The OCH site is 100 percent membership driven, and they do not accept advertising. Not lining their pockets with advertising enables them to provide OCH members with the unvarnished truth, straight from legendary masters of their craft – without worrying whether they piss off an advertiser 🙂

In addition to allowing WW woodys to view the video at no-charge, they have also put together a one-off subscription offer for WW readers.

They are offering 50% off the annual rate – thats an amazing US$24.50 – BUT woodys be quick it will not last for long + there is a Risk Free Guarantee – try it for a few days, if your not happy they will provide you with a 100% refund. I’m a subscriber – I love the site, I have watched one story probably 10 times.

JUST CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE  

https://www.offcenterharbor.com/join-now-2450-ww/

WHAT YOU GET:

  • FULL ACCESS to everything on the site for 1 full year (including our growing library of over 1,000 videos and articles)
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  • You can get your questions answered in the “comments” section under each video and article
  • Join our community of “off-center” boating enthusiasts around the world

 

 

Rosemary M – Insurance Salvage

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Rosemary M – Insurance Salvage

Rosemary M is a 1915 Lanes built launch, constructed of carval planked kauri hull and top sides. Powered by a 1986 Yanmar, 80 horse power, 4-cylinder, diesel inboard engine,
She was appeared numerous times on WW and features today due to her suffering an impact (from another vessel) on the starboard side near the midships area, while berthed.
Given its an insurance sale – the boat will sell and from dockside chat I have had, the damage is easily repairable eg “a couple of broken ribs and a few planks” – someone could get a very low cost entry into the classic wooden boating scene.
Ps I’m told she did not sink or suffer any water damage.

Don’t normally included tme listing links but will this time

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a.aspx?id=2047671539&tm=email&et=47&mt=845C75FD-6402-4775-8D92-61B560DF1E26rosemarym

05-07-2019 Update –  Photo below ex Cameron Pollard of Rosemary M going back in the water 🙂

Rosemary M July2019

22-07-2019 Update ex Cameron Pollard – Rosemary M relaunched and underway

Morning Star – There’s A Mullet Boat Hiding In There Somewhere

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Morning Star – There’s A Mullet Boat Hiding In There Somewhere
 

According to her trademe listing, Morning Star started life as a Logan 28ft Mullet boat yacht. The exact date of her build is unknown, but thought to be around 1910.

Hull of kauri carvel construction, the ‘new’ cabin are of marine ply. 

Powered by Ford D-Series 120hp diesel, that pushes her along comfortably and economically at 8 knots @ 1200rpm. Currently moored at Kaipara Cruising Club Marina, Helensville. 
 
Can anyone confirm the bloodline and add any info on her conversion to motorboat?
Harold Kidd Input – 28ft mullet boats were quite rare. The Logan 28 footer CORA is now sadly defunct. I suspect this one was the Crossley-built MERMAID or one of the several 28ft fishing boats built by people like Burgess at Judges Bay or Harvey & Lang.
BUT PLEASE may we refer to mullet boats as “mullet boats” or “mulletties” but not as “MULLETS”. According to people under 50 that I know, that term refers to a particular men’s hairstyle and was never used to debase mullet boats until recently and then only by ignorami. (done AH)

Jeunesse Awaits A Letter From the Queen

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Jeunesse Awaits A Letter From the Queen

John Wright’s woody – Jeunesse, built in 1919 (most likely) by Dick Lang has hit the ton, she turns 100 this year and John is in the process of giving her a wee tart up, which any old girl of this age deserves.

John is a master craftsman’s who has the eye and skills to turn a woody from a good looking woody launch into a stunning classic launch.

Jeunesse measures 39’, with a beam of 11’ and draws 3’. Tucked away down below is a 180hp Hino so when asked she can lift her skirt and dance 😊

You can view a gallery of b/w photos from her early days here https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/11/30/jeunesse-2/

https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/09/17/14170/

UPDATE 02-03-2020 Photos below of John Wright’s – Jeunesse in the 2020 Auckland Anniversary Day regatta. Sent in by Brett Evans.

Jeunesse 1

Jeunesse 2

 

Ranoni Revisited

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Ranoni Revisited

The 1911 35’ classic launch Ranoni (Z38) has just popped up on trademe (thanks Ian McDonald) – you have to wonder about how serious some people are in selling their classic woody – other than telling us she is powered by a Ford Sabre 82hp engine you won’t learn anymore about the craft.

Ranoni has appeared on WW in the past and the story covered a lot more on her history, including photos. You can read it here.   https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/05/12/ranoni/
But in a nut shell she was built in 1911 by Charlie Gouk at Beaumont Street, and measured 35’
x 8’6” x 2’6”.
In 2014 she underwent repairs in Opua by local boatbuilder Graham Ridge, who had bought her after a mooring mishap with a another vessel.
As presented she looks a very smart woody. I’m keen to learn what the two additions as to her hull under the belting strip – that’s a newbie to me ?