Category Archives: 1920’s

CAN WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE 28’ CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – KORORA

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CAN WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE 28’ CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – KORORA

Yesterday WW was contacted by Chris Read regarding a 28’ double-ender named KORORA that Chris bought approx. 20 years ago.

The sellers name was Mike (surname forgotten ). He was a vintage car enthusiast and had done a rebuild on the boat with his brother.

The story goes that Mike’s wife was not so keen on boating so KORORA was promptly put up for sale 😦

Chris commented that when he bought KORORA he was told she was built by Joseph Fell in 1905. The accuracy of that intel has since been questioned, as the only boat Joe Fell built that fits her size was built in 1917.When purchased she was moored at Waipapa Landing, Kerikeri, Northland and powered by a 50hp Perkins.

As visible from the photos KORORA is at the tail end of an extensive refit, with the plan to get her in the water for Christmas. Chris has re-powered her with  a  new 25hp Beta engine.

Chrisr is keen to learn more about KORORA, and a possible clue  to her past is when the hull was taken back to bare timber the final topcoat colour was a bottle green.Post launching home will most likely be Milford Creek marina – we like that, another woody for the Auckland waitematawoodys group.

Photos below when the gun whale had been removed as it was too far gone.

HAVE YOU RSVP’ed

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH TASMAN HAULS FOR SOME TLC

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH TASMAN HAULS FOR SOME TLC

During the week the 38’ Colin Wild built (1929) classic wooden launch TASMAN was hauled out at the Slipway Milford yard for some TLC.

Her owner is on a committed path of rolling restoration and every time I view her she just presents so glorious.

The challenge will be if the yard can convince the skipper to under take a JPPJ (Jason Prew Paint Job) 🙂

The video below show cases the merits of a railway (slipway) haul out – just so smooth and gentle one these old girls.

KAWAU SPRING SPLASH CLASSIC PARADE – 25 WOODYS + A BAY FULL OF BOATS

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KAWAU SPRING SPLASH CLASSIC PARADE – 25 WOODYS + A BAY FULL OF BOATS

If you were thinking about buying a classic wooden boat but weren’t quite sure which style floated your boat, a visit to the 2026 Kawau Boating Club Spring Splash over Labour Weekend would have gone a long way towards answering that question!

Over the last two days, I’ve shared a series of semi-random Waitemata Woodys posts to give you a taste of the action, both ashore at the KBC and out on the water.

Aside from New Year’s Eve, I can’t recall seeing so many boats anchored in Bon Accord Harbour. Now, I know that’s not everyone’s scene – some skippers will do a U-turn if they’re not the only boat in the bay! But for most, the fleet, the atmosphere and the chance to catch up with fellow boating enthusiasts are all part of the magic.

There were a few new systems to navigate and the inevitable operational speed bumps, but none of that stopped the good times rolling. Each evening, the dining and partying got underway, with music perfectly matched to the crowd. The food gets an 8/10 from me, which is high praise indeed!

So, a big tick to the team behind the weekend. If you enjoyed this year’s gathering, do yourself a favour and circle Labour Weekend 2027 in your diary now.

Today, I’m sharing a photo gallery focusing on Sunday’s WaitemataWoodys Classic Wooden Boat Parade. We had a fantastic turnout, with 25 classic craft joining the parade. I have include a few photos that show the ambience of the KBC (thanks to Beth Houlbrook from KBC for her photos). When I cover these big events, my objective is to try and give the WW readers a taste / feel for what it was like, so enjoy the gallery and remember if you click on a photo it enlarges.

And it wasn’t just the parade. I’ve never seen so many classic wooden motorboats out on the water at one time, the bay was absolutely teeming with woodys, my count was 41 classic craft.

Enjoy the gallery, and remember, clicking on any photo will enlarge it. Scroll down to view the two previous weekend posts.

P.S. If you were there and we missed your boat, apologies. With so many classics on the water, keeping track of everyone was always going to be a challenge.

CLASSICS IN THE MIST + Paeroa Maritime Museum Robbery Fund Raiser

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CLASSICS IN THE MIST + Paeroa Maritime Museum Robbery Fund Raiser

One of our best looking sub 40’ classic launches is the 38’ Colin Wild 1929 built bridge-decker – TASMAN, bridge-deckers if the wood butchers haven’t played around with them always seem to look just perfect to the eye. Only downside is all the stairs 🙂 .Back in December 2025 TASMAN’s owner shared with us photos of the winter refresh he had under taken, link here. https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/12/10/the-refurbishment-of-classic-colin-wild-launch-tasman-begins/

Recently photographer Roger Mills sent in a video he took of TASMAN off OBC on a misty / damp day, the position of the mast indicates a passage under the Tamaki Drive road bridge.  The gaffer yachts in the background would be from an RNZYS race, classic division.

EARLIER IN THE WEEK WE RAN AN ALERT RE THE BREAK IN + DAMAGE + THEFT AT THE PAEROA MARITIME MUESUM – to date they have been unsuccessful in tracking down the culprits and the missing items. A Give-A-Little page has been set up to help club with the repair of the damaged vessels – if you can help out please do – link below.

GIVEALITTLE LINK BELOW

https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/historical-maritime-park-stripped-of-brass

WOODYS GETTING SOME TLC + Marine Yard Sale This Saturday

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MENAI
LADY MARGARET (Colin Wild)

WOODYS GETTING SOME TLC + Marine Yard Sale This Saturday

As we get closer to the summer boating season, several woodys are nearing completion of significant winter work.

The first woody above is the Sam Ford built MENAI that came in for a deck replacement but the scope has slipped out to some TLC, MENAI is one of my favourite classic wooden launches so very happy to see her new owners commitment to her.

The last photo is of the 42’ LADY MARGARET  (Colin Wild) in the shed for a big birthday (100 in 1927) treat – photo was sent as a tease, with the promise of a full story soon. 

HEADS UP – the Te Atatu Boating Club are having a Marine Yard sale this Saturday  (3rd Oct),.Nice and early start –  7am  A great opportunity to find those goodies or to sell those preloved unused items. 
Seller spots also available for non TABC members if any of your readers wish to buy a spot.
Details are on the poster below.

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH OM0KOROA RE-LAUNCHED

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH OM0KOROA RE-LAUNCHED

During the week WW was contacted by Lyndon Chambers the owner of the 36’ classic wooden launch – OMOKOROA, which was re-launched on September 8th. after a 3 year 7mth refit. The woody has appeared numerous times on WW and probably holds the record for the most name changes in her 106 year history –  PHENELLA > WANGANELLA > KOTUKU > OMOKOROA. She was hauled out and relaunched at the Shelly Park Cruising Club in East Auckland.

Links below to the the most recent WW stories, whereto can read about her former times.

April 2024. https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/04/25/omokoroa-april-2024-update/

June 2024 https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/06/20/om0koroa-phenella-wanganella-kotuku-omokoroa/

The b/w photo below is from c.1950’s.

CLASSIC WOODYS ON THE WAITEMATA

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A8 VICTORY
A3 ARIKI
A13 HEARTSEASE

CLASSIC WOODYS ON THE WAITEMATA

Todays photos are from my wife’s side of the family, who had a higher % of salt in their veins than my side. Her grandfather John (Jack) Bonner was a co-owner of the yacht  ALEXA C7 colourised photo below), built by T. Le Huquet in 1904. Later in life he was a very accomplished painter, several of his works grace my walls. When you factor in that he had (medical records speak) an ‘arm removed via field amputation i.e. no general anaesthesia in France WW!, the paintings were well done.

There were 3 random photos in the album , as seen above but no names, dates, or captions.

The top photo, carries the sale # A8 is VICTORY the 1907 Logan built A-Class yacht. Last I heard she was tucked away in boatbuilder Marco Scuderi’s shed in Helensville.

Second photo has the sail # A3, making her ARIKI – Ariki the 1904 yacht designed by Arch Logan and built by the Logan Brothers.

In the last photo the yacht centre stage has sail # A13, now I could be very know but my search has come up with this intel – HEARTSEASE (A13) was a historic 51-foot classic wooden cutter designed in Auckland by J.G. Trevithick, which raced locally before embarking on an international world cruise in 1932.

Just realised there has been a little too much B/W photos this week so promise some colour on Monday 😉

COMMENT ex ANGUS ROGERS – Angus has pointed out the spelling of the yachy above – blowning the photo up it appears to read ALXER. Every piece of intel I have seen on the boathas her named ALEXA, so I’m confused – anyone able to help out.

INPUT ex OWEN ASPDEN – I saw Heartsease posted on WW today below is a photo of her with sail number 141. According to my grandmothers diary Tom Aspden bought the Ida in 1921 and the Heartsease in 1919. FYI she now for sale in Sydney for $450k.

INPUT ex ROBIN ELLIOTT – HEARTSEASE carried number 141 in the 1913 Anniversary Regatta

1929 CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – SOUTHERN MAID SAVED

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1929 CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – SOUTHERN MAID SAVED

Lately too many WW stories have been about wooden craft that have an impending appointment with a back-hoe. Today is a feel good story – the 1929 classic 42′, Ernie Lane of Picton built wooden launch – SOUTHERN MAID has been saved.

Let’s back the truck up – back in June  2026 we ran an SOS story on SOUTHERN MAID, reaching out for someone to step up and save her. Link here  https://waitematawoodys.com/2026/06/13/sos-southern-maid-classic-1929-motor-launch-needs-saving/

On Saturday I received an email from Jeff Giddens – reproduced below

“As you often post, of boats that are heading for an appointment with the back-hoe, this one brings joy. 
The vessel “Southern Maid” which had fallen into hard times, had been placed up for sale, was once owned by the McAllister family in the Marlborough Sounds for a very long time years ago, has now been purchased for $1 back to the family to be restored to her former gory. Such a fantastic outcome”.

We look forward to following the project.

04-09-2026 INPUT ex JOHN WICKS – In the  photo below of her under way is actually right in the middle of Blenheim, on the Opawa River, the other photo is at a wharf just inside the Wairau River bar. Date is c.1950, maybe a year either side.

CLASSIC WOODYS GETTING READY FOR A SPRING SPLASH

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CLASSIC WOODYS GETTING READY FOR A SPRING SPLASH

Dropped into the working end of the Milford Creek / Marina yesterday and caught up on the woodys getting some late winter TLC

MY GIRL – the 1925 Dick Lang built (to a W H Hand design) was out at the Slipway Milford for an application of a new go fast bottom paint. All hush hush trial but I can tell you it wasn’t around in the 1920’s. Note to handicappers – alter MY GIRLS handicap 😉

See more of MG here – https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/11/12/my-girl-and-pacific-relaunched-60-wooden-boat-photos/

MENAI – keeping MY Girl company was the 38’ 1937 Sam Ford built MENAI – continuing her rolling restoration. See more of her here –  https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/09/11/menai-a-peek-down-below-2/

THETIS – cross the fence in the Milford Cruising Club yard was THETIS the 45’ 1955 launch built by the Lane Motor Boat Co. Out for a refresh. More here  https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/09/02/thetis-a-peek-down-below/

WHY DO SOME WOODEN BOATS NOT SELL – MARAMA

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WHY DO SOME WOODEN BOATS NOT SELL – MARAMA

Short answer because the owners are just lazy – take todays 1927 built double-ender 33’ classic wooden boat currently on tme, one photo and the copy below –

“Boat and mooring in Oamaru. Fordson major engine parsons3/1 gearbox. Needs some ribs replaced ( freshwater damage) also comes with 8 meters of brand new 60mm thick heatproof waterproof sound deadening for a new engine cover ( cost me $2000 ) Good wee sea boat. Time for someone else to give it some love. $1 reserve”

OK – there is no reserve and a starting bid of $1, but seriously you’d be better off giving it away.

I hope she finds a new owner, the bones are there of a smart woody.

REMINDER – TOMORROWS BOAT BOOT SALE – 10am – details below – BRING CASH 🙂 PLENTY OF ROOM