THE BEST BOAT RESTORATION TOOL IS OFTEN A SHARP PAINT SCRAPER
At first glance todays classic wooden launch would scare most off but the last photo shows that beneath all that old paint lies a nice woody. Her seller on tme is open to offers so this could be a great winter (or winters…) project.
What we are told – built in 1929 by Lidgard , she measures 31’6” and has been dry stored for a period.Her interior has been removed, as has the engine – so a blank canvas.
CLASSIC 1920’S WOODEN LAUNCH – DUCHESS – One Of The Most Impressive Woodys To Grace The Waitemata
I tend to rotate the laptop screen saver image on a regular basis – for the last week todays photo of the ccc classic wooden launch DUCHESS has been the photo of choice, hard not too – she is such a looker.
DUCHESS has made numerous appearances on WW , starting back in 2013.
Thanks to a 2018 story and input from Harold Kidd and Nathan Herbert we learnt the 40’ DUCHESS was built in the late 1920’s by Bailey & Lowe. In 1934 she has a wee incident with Eel Rock, off Cowes Bay, Waiheke Island. Photo below. More details on DUCHESS here https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/03/25/duchess/
Todays photo is from Ian McDonald via Lew Redwood , via the Auckland Maritime Museum. It was commented that the location was Kawau Island, date unknown.
Todays woody photo recently popped up on TIMESPANNER – with the following caption – “Interior view of a boatbuilder’s workshop from ground to ceiling, possibly the Bailey & Lowe yard at Sulphur Beach, Northcote, including six men working on two different yachts, with wooden scaffolds, sawhorses and ladders.” c.1920’s >1930’s. Not sure if the photographer is a James D Richardson or whether he posited the photo on the site.
The photo originally came from the Auckland Libraries heritage collection.
Any of the woody community able to shed more light on the photo. I could be wrong (normally are) but the craft in the background has in my eyes more of a launch look to her.
The ID the gents on the game launch – PIRATE, quiz last week was Bay of Islands woody Dean Wright (MV ARETHUSA).Deans entry was – “Maybe one of the early Bay of Islands International Billfish Tournaments – Jim Whitelaw on the helm, George Woller playing the fish. Those style of shirt you used to see teams in the Hawaian International Billfish Tournament out of Kona wearing them. George Woller had the charter boat Leilani that Jim Whitelaw used to skipper, so if it is him, this must have been pre that time.
CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – RAINDANCE – Saved, Restored and Ready For The Next 100 Years
One of the better kept secrets in the classic boating community is that approx. 6 weeks ago the classic wooden launch RAINDACE while entering the Wairua Creek (Milford Marina) had a mishap, best described as a stroke of bad luck, or as a race car enthusiast friend commented “just like black ice on the road”.
Having passed the two marked navigation hazards and entering the actual creek , a rogue wave picked RAINDANCE up and deposited her on the rock bank under the cliffs (northern side).
When the wave died – the stern came down with a wallop and later discovered – damaged most things bolted / fastened on. Primary issue was the rubber shoe was bent up and stopping the prop turning + rudder and shaft weren’t functioning. End result no power and no steering.
The two things that stopped her sinking was (1) the rocks are boulders, so round versus sharp (2) The quick response of the lads at The Slipway Milford and the marina maintenance crew who arrived within 10 minutes to tow her off.
I’m only interested in the end result, the past is the past , but she was out for 6 weeks and all the talents / services of The Slipway Milford were utilised – advice, boatbuilding, engineering & painting + Moon Engines rebuilt the gearbox. A few sad photos below.
Also ook the opportunity to refresh a lot of other ares, still working on the interior. Thanks to a supportive insurance company – IAG – RAINDANCE lives on to celebrate her 100th birthday in 18 months.
Been a stressful 6 weeks, apologise for any slow replies to WW, to be honest there were days I lacked the motivation to write about someone elses boat, so we got there 🙂
SOS – SOUTHERN MAID – CLASSIC 1929 MOTOR LAUNCH NEEDS SAVING
The 42’ 1929 wooden motor launch – SOUTHERN MAID, built by E.R. Lane in Picton has just popped up on tme with a call out for someone to help save this significant southern woody. Current owner is unable to continue the upkeep of the vessel and the call has gone out for a new owner to step up.
As we can see from the photos below, she hasn’t always been in the ‘as presented for sale’ condition.
There must be a woody follower in the South Island that can bring the SOUTHERN MAID back to the condition she deserves. ( thanks Ian McDonald for the heads up)
WW was recently contacted by Joan McCracken regarding a classic wooden launch – Joan is helping prepare a 2027 calendar for the Alex Turnbull Library.
During her search for photographs matching the calendar theme ‘Picnics’ she came across the photo above that is dated March 1952 and tagged ‘RONGO in Queen Charlotte Sound’.
The photo was taken by K. V. Bigwood. Joan is hoping WW readers can help with any information on the vessel, the photo, and specifically who owned the RONGO at this time – and is the owner / captain the person in the cap serving tea in the photo.
Back in May 2013 we a RONGO story that featured RONGO, at the time Harold Kidd provided extensive details on vessels named – RONGO / RONGO I, RONGO !! – Link below to the 2013 WW story – https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/05/29/who-can-id-this-launch/
01-07-2026 INPUTS ex IAN FORSYTH – photos below of RONGO towing LINDA up Heliers Creek 1986
Below – Lloyd Mumme with Tobias Forsyth on the bow of AVALON alongside RONGO
Below – RONGO atRambler Crs. wharf, Helliers Creek
Back in December 2014 WW was helping find a new home for the 1929 Collings & Bell built classic wooden launch RIO RITA, At the time she was named RESOLUTION (a 1971 name change) – this link gives us a gander down below https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/12/01/resolution/
If you use the WW search box there is a lot of intel on the vessels provenance.
Last week she popped up on the social media scene and its pleasing to note that she has reverted to her original name and as we can see from the photos above – owner Peter Meister is looking after this almost 100 year old classic wooden launch.
CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH MATAROA RETURNS HOME& GETS SOME TLC
In late 2023 the Wooden Boat Bureau brokered the sale of the 1928 Joe Slattery, 36′ classic wooden launch – MATAROA. Named KENYA when launched. At the time she was berthed in Wellinton and her new owner relocated (by road transporter ) the vessel to Auckland.
Fast forward to 2025 she was transported by road to the South Auckland (inland) yard of Burnand marine for a birthday.
Thanks to John Dawson’s eagle eye on fb we get to have a gander at the work and her re-launch in November 2025.
Its always a win win when we get a good looking woody coming home to the Waitemata ✔️
A selection of previous MATAROA WW stories here, lots of photos and history
Todays woody photo is from the Auckland Libraries Heritage Collection and comes to us via Ian McDonald.
The photo is captioned – ‘Boats drawn up on the hard at Freemans Bay. Victoria Cruising Club clubhouse (right)’ . Date c.1910s>1920s.
AND ON THE SUBJECT OF AFFORDABLE – Check out these bronze staunchions for sale in an ‘antique’ store in Paeroa – a bargain at $95 – approx. $850 new ex Australia………….
INPUT ex RUSSELL WARD – This post is a trifle cathartic -retrospective thoughts can be saddening sometimes. All the time I spent at home (being raised-beaten or nagged into shape), my old man hauled his boats for winter -as did most boaties. They mostly maintained their own boats at the expense of the household economy in winter -never many friends around in winter- and in our case, with increasing input from me while he aged- chatted more and more with his mates. There were so many haul out areas that were quite cheap. The bigger boats with wealthy owners were done by the men at the yards. There were also a few boatbuilders that worked anywhere on an hourly rate -Billy Rogers springs to mind. He was so quick with a brush….
The lower reaches of the antifouling fell to me but the old man always cut in the waterline. Billy Ryan used to paint “Rehia” himself at Percy Vos’s yard I noted. House paint cut back with undercoat (to cut down the gloss and cost) was typically used on the topsides -varnish was never skimped on -only the best used -Interlux or even household- quite a few coats and always a touch up tin and brush on board. One year Des Donovan imported Rylards from the UK and it was just perfect -lasted the summer through.
I guess it is long after the facts and the sinners are long gone but un-beknowingly the Auckland Harbour Board, City Council, Union Steamship Co and the RNZN were a good source of paints and materials if you were in the know. Navy used black antifouling so that was out…..
It all kept the costs down: But it was/is an expensive hobby, folks.
THE WOODY WEEKEND THAT GOT AWAY (sorry this is Mondays story, bloody set the wrong date 🙃
Ever have one of those weekends when you thought long and hard about slipping the lines and decided against it and then missed one of the best boating weekends of the season. And it was a long holiday weekend……….. Well that was me.
First up Angus Rogers sent in two great photos of MAITA I – the 30’, 1928 Collings & Bell built launch anchored in Sandy Bay, Waiheke.
Then a Waiheke resident sent in the three photos of Oneroa, the most crowed I have seen it in a long time.
Then Rob Griffin was mooching around the Waiheke Marina and spotted a new arrival – KERERU – the 35’, 1911 Chas Bailey Jnr built double ender launch. We learnt last Wednesday that she had recently relocated to Auckland from Picton. Looks like Waiheke Island will be her new home. Link below to Wednesday story https://waitematawoodys.com/2026/04/22/classic-wooden-launch-kereru-arrives-in-auckland/
