With the opening of duck shooting season only a few weeks away now seemed a good time to run the photo above of the 1910 launch – Sybil II.
In the photo which comes to us from a Lew Redwood fb post, we see the launch post a very successful mornings shoot. Must have been no ‘bag’ limited back then, today I think its 8 birds pre shooter.
Harold Kidd has commented that Sybil II was built by Bailey & Lowe for a WR Twigg.
Back in August 2018 Cameron Pollard sent in photos of Sybil II on the move to a new storage location. At the time Cameron had owned the launch since 2004 and she was being ‘stored’ in anticipation of a restoration in the future – any update Cameron?
Over the weekend Dave Stanaway was passing through Awanui, the historical river port in the far north of New Zealand. Ray parked up and checked on the launch – Oleo that is berthed in the river. Dave commented that she was an ex towboat in Whangarei.
Back in December 2019 we had the photo below of her hauled out at Awanui and Harold Kidd at the time commented that Oleo was built for R H Harnett of Whangarei by Tyler & Harvey in December 1910. Her original engine was a 20hp Union. R H Harnett lived at Parua Bay and was a trader on the harbour. He sold Oleo to R B S Hogwood in 1915 and owned Moerangi for passenger and mail work from 1912 until he died in 1936.
Dave also mentioned Ray Morey knows all about her so hopefully Ray will join in and tells us more about her more recent activity. Dave’s older brother Jim knew her then as well.
INPUT ex Hylton Edmonds – Oleo was owned and operated by Larry Walker as a workboat and contracted a lot with her to the former Whangarei and latterly Northland Harbour Board(s), as inner harbour barge and general assist. Larry and son Tommy (great Kiwi blokes) have both now sadly passed (and a lot of Far North history with them too), but I believe Oleo is still in the Walker Family who live nearby at Unahi. Oleo runs a 6 Cyl Ford, and like of small workboats of the day- punched well above her weight.
I had cause to spend sometime last week/end in Queenstown and made the effort to take a ‘cruise’ across Lake Whakatipu on the 1912 built coal fired steamer – TSS Earnslaw. I have visited Queenstown a lot in the past but mainly for business related events and was always running to a tight agenda – not so this trip.
A wedding invitation was the excuse for a visit, so while the rest of the family went for a long walk I boarded the ship, at nearly 160’ in length she is a ship.
Trip included a brief stop at the Walter Peak farm – a very impressive looking complex.
The conditions were perfect and woodys I would encourage you to do it if you are down that way. Enjoy the photo gallery.
And the wedding was a stunner – the best of everything – people, venue, food, wine and music. I think I danced more in one night than in the last 20 years, hopefully no one was filming 🙂
Hi Alan – nice to see Skipjack, nee Sea De’il featured in a recent post. Perhaps I can clarify re your question about whether James Hoey’s boat is in fact Skipjack? You are quite correct that the length has changed. Many things have changed with this boat since she was launched! The owner/guardian before me, which is pre-2016, was Brent Gribble of AkzoNobel Paints. Brent and his father had a major stern modification carried out by Glenn Burnnand of Burnnand Marine in Auckland. This increased her length to 10 metres, with a square, step-through transom and with a fish cleaning s/s basin built-in. Prior to Brent’s ownership, Sea Devil, as she was called then, was a restoration project for Captain Vern Tonks in Whangarei. I received the boat’s original history from Winston Hoey, via Brent. Winston recorded that Sea De’il was built and designed by Chas Bailey circa 1918, for James Hoey and his son Cecil (Born 1901). The boat was used for transport from Whangarei to Reotahi Meat Works, near where the family bach was located. She was powered originally by a flat head Dodge or Desoto gear, and the first doghouse was added in 1928.
Cecil Hoey in stern of “Sea De’il” in Whangarei Harbour
Subsequently, Dec 1951 – ship wrights Angus Henderson and Bill Naggs – built a new cabin to create more head room. They also created the step-up foredeck, and added the lead board on the bow. This was built of Kowhai timber and each rib in the boat was replicated – doubling the ribs in the hull to strengthen for the extension, and a bronze rudder was cast in Whangarei. At this time too, a 4-cylinder Ruston Engine was fitted.
After the refit and new topsides in 1952
In 2005, after hearing she was destined for the tip, Captain Vern Tonks took her on as his “passionate hobby”. Captain Tonks was quoted saying, “She’s a piece of Whangarei’s history that requires restoring. It’s quite amazing really how many of them are lying around the country, sticking out from under covers, in various states of disrepair. We are a very strong nation of boating people and unfortunately a lot of these crafts have become non-existent and some of them are nice classic vessels”
Vern expected that he had a two-year project. He completely gutted her and started rebuilding the structure, keeping the original portholes, installing a new wheel house with the engine under the floor and a couple of bilge keels to dampen rolling. “Three or four trailer loads have gone to the dump out of her. She’s been derelict for so long and from what I’ve found there was a lot of things that weren’t up to spec in the construction. Someone somewhere along the way has put a lot of veneered Rimu custom wood into her, which is allergic to water and of course it all went rotten. So, I got to the stage where all the timber I’ve had sitting around is coming to good use”
Vern also changed the name back to the English meaning of Sea Devil. Sadly though, one month before finishing her, with plans to compete in the Classic Boat fishing completion in Whangaroa Harbour, Vern passed away in 2008.
This is when Brent and Sarina Gribble took over the project, and with the help of widow June Tonks and close friend of Vern’s and Brent’s – Steve Ekman, they completed the refit, and in June 2008, she was launched on the beach at Oakura at low tide – going back in the water for the first time in 23 years. After a time, Brent took her to the Outboard Boating Club, onto a swing mooring in the Okahu Lagoon, and as mentioned, I purchased her and kept her there before moving her in 2019 to her current berth in the Waikawa Marina in the Sounds.
June 2008, Oakura Beach Whangaruru, Peter Gribble in foreground
Like all classic boats, and especially those of considerable age, Skipjack has had lots of work done to suit the inclinations of the various owners and simply to keep her seaworthy. Since I’ve been taking care of her, I’ve concentrated primarily on improving the mechanical side of things – which has included all keel-bolt replacement (which you reported at the time), new prop and shaft, new gearbox shaft and universal, new steering, all engine seals and engine mounts replaced (Ford Dover 80hp), new water-pump and tanks (replacing an old copper hot water cylinder!), new stove, Eberspacher diesel heater (which in the Sounds makes winter cruising a doddle…), replacement of all topside decks, new mast, large holding tank and shore pump-out fitting, new electric toilet, new oil cooler and all hosing upgraded, all s/s exhaust system and dry riser…you get the picture! Something always needs to be done. But these days, Skipjack is very seaworthy and much loved! The pic below shows her recently, in Greville Harbour on the western side of D’Urville Island – a trip of around 250kms. Skipjack cruises at 7.5 knots at the engine’s optimum rpm of 1,800.
Todays woody was spotted by John Dawson on the UK site ‘Classic Wooden Boats on the Broads’ and was promoting the 2024 Thames Traditional Boat Festival.
The vessel is named Atta Boy and is 109 years old. She’s one of five 30ft craft built by JW Brooke of Oulton Broad in Norfolk, and was one of the first boats commissioned by the Admiralty as a fast motor launch for HMS Royalist, then she was simple known as MS436.
MB436 was transferred into private hands in 1923 and renamed Atta Boy. Between 1955 and 1989 she was owned by C J Broom & Son, Brundall and used as a hire boat and tender. Boat number Y57. Significant restoration work then started on her to bring her back to her former glory, which continues to this day.
In 2012, Atta Boy took part in the Royal Pageant as part of the Historic Naval craft.
Devonport Yacht Club – Sea Talks – Harold Kidd
On Thursday night I attended the monthly ’talk’ at the DYC clubrooms – this months speaker was the one and only Harold Kidd. The topic was ‘Yachts & the Waitemata, HDK broke the talk into several time periods, I recorded the talk on my iPhone and with HDK’s permission will reproduce on WW. The filming was a last minute idea so the quality is a little average and on the night there were a few technical issue with the sounds. I have edited the best I can and tomorrow (Sunday) I will post PART #1 – The Early Years 1840 >1870.
AUCKLAND WOODEN BOAT FESTIVAL – Off The Water Gallery – 70+ Classic Woody Photos
Today we focus on the spectacular collection of smaller woody craft that were displayed in and around the viaduct events centre – to a large % of the shows audience that had some salt in their veins this was a trip down memory lane.
Just so much care and attention has been furnished on these wooden craft. Sadly I suspect that a lot are now in the ‘display’ category. And as we all know with wooden boats you have got to use them or else they deteriorate quickly and then the cost to bring back is just too steep.
The minders / owners of the craft on display were overrun with people wanting to rely their own experiences and memories of the boats. Hopefully the show has ignited some interest in finding the craft that they enjoyed in a past life. The was certainly no shortage of owners looking for new blood to take over their artefact.
Enjoy the gallery and remember you can enlarge the photos if you click on them and the link to the other half of the festival – the classic woodys berthed dockside is below. https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/03/04/77770/
Slight change of format today. Normally we do one big gallery of event photos, but the 2024 Auckland Wooden Boat Festival deserves two stories – why? Well in the eyes os of the woodys I spoke to, the off-the-water (in the shed) exhibition was on equal footing to the exhibition afloat. So woodys come back tomorrow to see the off-the-water gallery, you won’t be disappointed.
From my mooching the #1 feedback I got was ‘where do they all come from’ i.e. people have never seen this number of classic wooden boats together #2 (from owners) was ‘it is so great to meet all the owners / caretakers’. I think a lot of people were quietly hoping their partners were thinking “there are other zany people out there, my partner isn’t the only eccentric old boat nut in town”.
For a three day outdoor event in Auckland we were gifted to have two (Fri/Sat) days of amazing weather, Sunday was a on/off rain day but it didn’t seem to slow down the people. I believe over 8,000 people were counted thru the dock-gate (it was free entry).
The photos tell the story today – its takes a lot of people to pull something like this off, so well done to all those that rubbed up against the show and well done Tony and team for pulling it all together.
The double end motorsailer Mana-Nui has made several cameo appearances on WW but today we get to see and learn a lot more about this classic vessel.
Mana-Nui was built by Harvey & Lang in 1913 and is kauri carvel construction and approx. 39’ in length with a 10’6” beam and 5’ draft. Power is courtesy of an underfloor Ford 120hp diesel engine that sees her cruising at 7 knots while sipping 4L per hour.
In recent times her owner has spared no expense on bringing Mana-Nui up to a very high standard of presentation – the recent addition of the custom davits an example. Amongst todays NZ classic fleet Mana-Nui is one of the few that retains her original aura, character and pedigree, while at the same time, a careful integration of modern systems and technology ensures a high level of comfort and safety. Stepping aboard one of the first things that hits you is the great accomodation space and her light and airy saloon with large windows, these features make her a very comfortable classic cruising vessel both on-route, at anchor or in the marina.
By now I’m sure you will have guessed that Mana-Nui is offered for sale and unlike so many craft offered for sale, she is sail away ready. If you or someone you know is scouting for a 9/10 classic that is perfect for either day cruising or weeks away at a time – contact waitematawoodys@gmail.com for more information. Note – photos below dated c.1956>1961. Location is Hokianga
Mid last year the above photo popped up on a Keith Humphreys fb post – we learnt that the photo was from the Darroch Collection and the vessel is thought to be one of their craft.
We were told there is an ‘R’ carved in amongst scroll-work at the bow. And those port holes have to be a giveaway.
No mention of location but the photo is ex the Devonport Museum, she is flying an ‘Auckland Motor Yacht Club’ pennant + sporting a #8 – so may some Waitemata Harbour launch race / event?
INPUT EX NATHAN HERBERT – The vessel is Roma, she made a WW appearance back in August 2016, in that story Ross Dawson and Harold Kidd advised she was 35′ in lenghth, built in 1910 by Tom Le Huquet. Sadly she came ashore in 1918 and broke up.. Link to the 2016 story below https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/08/31/mystery-launch-31-08-2016/
HAVE TO RSVP’ed FOR RIVERHEAD TAVERN WOODYS LAUNCH CRUISE
Details below –RSVP to waitematawoodys@gmail.com with boat name and approx. crew numbers. DATE: Saturday 16th March TIME: Meeting at Lucas Creek area at 11am. Arriving hotel at 11.30am TIDE: HW @ 1pm – 3.3m
The 33’ 1912 Bailey & Lowe launch recently popped up on tme so today thanks to Ian McDonald we get to have a gander down below.
Her story is that she was possibly built as a port service vessel for use in the South Island. Her current owner has had her for 24 years, and in that time crossed from Wellington (North Island) to the Sounds (South Island) numerous times.
Forward motion is via a 65hp Bedford 220 diesel (keel cooled) that gets her along nicely at 7 knots.
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