Category Archives: 1920’s

Northern Classic Woody Gander

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PATHFINDER
October 2017 https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/10/17/eunice-k/
March 2023  https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/03/30/pathfinder-eunice-k/
LEISURE HOUR
WHITE HERON
May 2017 https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/05/25/white-heron/
REEL TIME
LADY J 
May 2020 https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/05/06/joel/
April 2021 https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/04/29/lady-j-joel/
UNKNOWN
UNKNOWN
NGAIO
BLUE FIN
Nov 2014 https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/11/26/blue-fin/
Dec 2018 https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/12/09/blue-fin-an-old-sailor-dies/
April 2021 https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/04/27/blue-fin-2/
CLOUD NINE
FLORENCE MAY
Jan 2016  https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/01/21/florence-rose-2/
Feb 2022 https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/02/22/florence-may/
LINDA II
FOUR WINDS
Oct 2018 https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/10/22/four-winds/

Northern Classic Woody Gander

Today thanks to Dean Wright we get to wander the docks at Tutukaka marina and point the lens towards the Ngunguru River.

It was a slow day yesterday so I have done the hard work for you i.e. you will find links to previous WW stories on the boats that have appeared on WW in the past. Links found in the title section under each photo – enjoy 🙂

And if you can tell us more about the unknown boats e.g. there provenance, that would be great. If you haven’t come to grips with using the comments section – just send an email to waitematawoodys@gmail.com

2023 Thames Traditional Boat Festival + Woody Kawau Weekend

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2023 Thames Traditional Boat Festival + Woody Kawau Long Weekend

Following on from Sundays story on Olaf Wiig’s slipper launch – Vega, todays photos comes to us from Olaf who attended the Thames traditional boat festival in his slipper launch.

There is an awful lot of varnish on display and the attention to detail is spot on. The festival is on my bucket list. Olaf commented that this years festival didn’t have the usual sparkling weather but there was still plenty of varnish on display. He focused the camera on some of the interesting smaller boats.  

Links below to previous festivals:

2019 (photos ex Ian Gavin)  https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/11/04/2019-thames-traditional-boat-festival-100-classic-wooden-boats/

2020 (photos ex Olaf Wiig)  https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/09/06/thames-traditional-boat-festival-2021/
2021  (photos ex the ‘Cruising The Cut’ weblog)  https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/07/29/2022-thames-traditional-boat-festival/

There are a few woody events coming up as we enter spring > summer, but I wanted to highlight the plan for Labour weekend (October 21>23). If your anything like me this year has been a non event in terms of over nighting on the boat, so lets all try and make Labour weekend special.

As a bonus the Kawau Boating Club will be re-opening that weekend after a refurbishment, if your not a member I encourage you to join, the club needs help to continue to operate as a haven in the gulf.

Ps you don’t have to be a KBC to enjoy the weekend.

More details closer and pre-xmas event dates below.

MYSTERY YACHT 23-07-23 VECTIS

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MYSTERY YACHT 23-07-23 – VECTIS

Recently woody Simon Smith commented that all the mystery launches were a struggle for the stick & rag brigade that follow WW. Simon sent in the above photo , so today can we ID the yacht and possibly the design.

INPUT ex Jim Lott – Hull looks like an early Bert Woollacott. Could well be Vectis, but only if she was later rerigged. When I had Vectis in 1972-6 she had two sets of spreaders and the boom was a bit shorter.

INPUT ex Robin Elliott – Although the boat is Vectis, that “23/7/23” date is a bit dodgy. Vectis was not launched until 1930.
NZ Herald 15/11/30: Mr. Wollacott’s new cruiser Vectis, which, is ready for launching at Devonport during this week-end was registered in the C class, although her waterline length of 27 feet would qualify her for the B class if length alone was the deciding factor. Vectis is 31ft overall and a wholesome type of cruiser.

I can’t just leave you with one photo of a yacht so check out the short film below of Auckland’s North Shore in the 1920’s. It was filmed an advertisement for the Devonport Ferry Company showcasing what the shore offered.

For the time poor just fast forward to the 4:14 mark – some great footage of the Devonport waterfront and craft hauled out at the Devonport Yacht Club + Bayswater in its heyday , how did we ever let that gem of a location slide into the condition it is today?.

Further on there is some excellent sailing footage and I love the pond yachts. ENJOY (ex Ngatira Tronga Sound & Vision) – CLICK LINK BELOW TO VIEW

https://www.facebook.com/100022491815652/videos/377063966386661/

Mystery Lake Rotorua Launch

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MYSTERY LAKE ROTORUA LAUNCH

We know a lot about todays woody – but no name, builder or what became of her.

What we know – possibly built in 1927, 27’ in length with a beam of 7>8’. When launched powered by a 4 cyl. Ailsa Craig engine.

Initially a family launch, she was later moved to Lake Rotorua The photo above is dated March 1932 and is when her then owner Ted Fenton obtained a license to carry fishing parties.

The photo is ex the Don Stafford collection at the Rotorua Museum and is tagged ‘ Dads Boat’. Photo and details shared by Greg Philpott.

Can we put a name and builder to her and discover what became of her.

WW Caps – low profile, 6 panel, canvas caps in the new camel colour topped with dark brown WW embroidered logo has a dash of understated style.

just click the email link here and tell me your name, postal address and number of caps required. I’ll come back to you with payment details – $38 + $6 p&p. waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Ngaio Gets A Heart Transplant

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NGAIO GETS A HEART TRANSPLANT

The 36’ 1921 Arch Logan built launch – Ngaio is one of my favourite woodys, impeccable bloodline and drop dead looks. There are lots of stories on her in the WW archive , including her restoration back in 2013. 

Back then if she had a weakness it was her a heart – a 95hp Ford Trader engine that was a tad tired, well 10 years later and that old Ford was still delivering the goods but her owner decided in the interests of reliability an upgrade might be a good idea – so out it came at the Slipway Milford and the hole will be filled with a much newer (30+ yrs) reconditioned 125hp Ford Dover engine, sourced by Cameron Pollard.

Back in March 2021 Ngaio celebrated her 100 th birthday – link below with lots of interior photos 

100th Birthday Party – Ngaio

(Todays photos ex Jason Prew, Luca Beachman and myself)

21-07-2023 UPDATE – ‘new’ Ford 125hp installed (almost)

WW Caps – low profile, 6 panel, canvas caps in the new camel colour topped with dark brown WW embroidered logo has a dash of understated style.

just click the email link here and tell me your name, postal address and number of caps required. I’ll come back to you with payment details – $38 + $6 p&p. waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Silens & My Girl – 1940’s

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SILENS & MY GIRL – 1940’s

During the week the above photo popped up on a Robert Bestow fb post. In the photos we can clearly see the 1912, Harvey & Lang built launch – Silens in the foreground and behind her the 1925, Dick Lang built launch – My Girl.

The photo was tagged Whangarei Town Basin but no date. Chatting with My Girl owner Jason Prew, who had not sighted the photo before, Jason commented that it was most likely from the early > mid 1940’s, as she had a new top added in the late 1940’s.  Jason also recalled that the two launches were based in Whangarei as part of the war time coastal patrol fleet.

Silens went on to have numerous re-births in terms of cabin layout – check out the WW story link below to view the evolution https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/04/22/the-evolution-of-silens/

My Girl also had some appendages added but the 2018 restoration that Jason undertook returned My Girl to almost match todays c.1940’s b/w photo. 

Refer below current photos of Silens and My Girl.

MY GIRL
SILENS

WW Caps – the new low profile, canvas cloth caps have been a winner – the new understated colour topped with the dark brown WW embroidered logo has a dash of understated style. I have reorder 3 times and stocks are getting low – order today – just click the email link here and tell me your name, postal address and number of caps required ( best order was x5) I’ll come back to you with payment details – $38 + $6 p&p. waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Winter Woody Yard Report #2

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RAINDANCE
CASTAWAY
ROBYN GAE

Winter Woody Yard Report #2

Several coming and goings mid-week – Raindance slid down the railway at the Slipway Milford. And then she passed Castaway being ‘assisted’ to the Slipway to take Raindance’s vacated spot. Probably the fastest Castaway has moved in a while 🙂 Video of Raindance ex WW cadet reporter Luca Beachman. Now if some of you are thinking – “didn’t Raindance have a paint job less than two years ago” – yes you are correct. I could say that Jason Prew and myself were never 100% happy with the colour – Snow White’ on a classic woody and that the new ‘ Mediterranean White’ is a better look, while there some truth in that, the old girl suffered some hull damage on the marina in one of the many storms Auckland has had, so that is the real reason 🙂

The last photo is of the 1934, Cox & Filmer built launch – Robyn Gae, getting ready for re-launching at the Te Atatu Boating Club. Very happy to see that she is being cared for – at one stage a ‘beehive’ restoration was on the cards, see WW SOS story link below. Big ups to the new owner of the choice of blue for the coamimgs – big call but it really works and would get the Cameron Pollard tick of approval I’m sure 🙂 https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/06/21/robyn-gae-sos/

SILVER SPRAY – Heads North

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SILVER SPRAY – Heads North

I was contacted last week by John Briers the ’newish’ owner of the 1926 Joe Slattery launch – Silver Spray.

Sliver Spay has made numerous appearances on WW – search her name in the WW search box to see / read more on her provenance.

John purchased the launch off boat builder Glen Burnnand, who gave her a serious birthday back in 2019.

The recent work at Glen’s Orakei Basin shed included upgrading the boats electrical battery systems, and she received several coats of varnish and repainting throughout, plus lots of other modifications.The mid term plan is to relocate Silver Spray to a  new home in Russell, Bay of Islands, on a mooring in front of the Duke of Marlborough Hotel, that will be a nice addition to the vista from the house bar. 

Silver Spray is powered by a Perkins 4108 and has a very impressive turn of speed for a 26′ woody.

I have to say that when John mentioned the recent work I was hoping the two ‘Haines Hunter’ cabin top windows (refer below) would have been replaced, never mind a wee job for the woody boys in Opua 😉

THE LAUNCH MAPU – Far North

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THE LAUNCH MAPU – Far North

Recently I was sent the above photo by John Dawson who recalls it popped up on fb 2>3 years ago.

In the photo the launch is moored in Totara North, Whangaroa Harbour, you can just see the Whangaroa Wharf across the bay.

John was asking for confirmation of a comment that Harold Kidd made at the time that the launch was probably the Lanes built – Mapu, if so she is still in ownership by the Lane family – a search on WW reveals a June 2013 story that confirms Harolds thoughts re the design and ownership – link here https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/06/22/mapu-2/

FYI – HDK has a 95% success rate – just ahead of Nathan Herbert and a lot ahead of me 🙂

WW Caps – the new low profile, canvas cloth caps have been a winner – the new understated colour topped with the dark brown WW embroidered logo has a dash of understated style. I have reorder 3 times and stocks are getting low – order today – just click the email link here and tell me your name, postal address and number of caps required ( best order was x5) I’ll come back to you with payment details – $38 + $6 p&p. waitematawoodys@gmail.com

A Recount Of Our Classic Wooden Craft DNA 

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Grace under sail
CLICK The Headline – Grace Under Sail to view

A Recount Of Our Classic Wooden Craft DNA 

Recently I was sent a link to an article that appeared in the New Zealand Geographic magazine back in 2000 – in fact issue 45 , Jan-March. The article was headlined – GRACE UNDER FIRE, written by Vaughan Yarwood with supporting photos from the late Henry Winkelmann and more recent photos ex Hamish Ross and Paul Gillbert.

The stars of the article is the 42’ 1908 Logan built gaff rigged cutter – Rawene, and her then skipper Russell Brooke.

This is a brilliant insight into the early days of boating in and around Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour, I’m sure there will be some mix ups re dates, skipper/craft names but overall we get to see and read the history of these magnificent craft, a lot of which are still sailing today.

Have a read, its only 10>15 minutes, longer if if you linger over the photos 🙂  – even a die-hard motorboat owner like myself found it a fascinating read.