CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH MARISTELLA – A Peek Down Below
At the recent Classic Woodys Boat Show at the OBC Marina one of the stand out craft was the 40’ classic wooden launch MARISTELLA, built in 1936 by Sam Ford. The WW camera got to have a gander down below and today we get a peek at the rolling restoration that is underway.
We have commented many times on WW about lucky boats and lucky owners – well MARISTELLA is a double winner. She has in past lives – sunk, caught fire and been on the rocks, and not all at the same time. A succession of good people have put their hand up to bail the vessel out and what we see today is a reflection of everyones vision and commitment.
In particular her current owner gets the big ups from WW having undertaken significant work to the cabin to get her closer to what Sam Ford sent down the slipway in 1936.
WOODEN LAUNCH ROYALTY – ROYAL SAXON & LUANA AFLOAT
Last week WW was contacted by Tom Rowling in regard to a story we had run on the yacht BEACONLIGHT. Tom reminded me that he was the owner / custodian of the 33’ classic wooden launch – ROYAL SAXON, built in 1930 by one of New Zealand’s best boatbuilders – Colin Wild.
Now I didn’t need to use the WW search box because ROYAL SAXON is one of the most beautiful woodys afloat and has been on my radar for a long time. ROYAL SAXON is just perfect to the eye, which is a challenge in a sub 35’ craft. She is also probably one of the most photographed classic woodys in NZ, due to being moored off Kaiteriteri Beach, Nelson, most summers. Kaiteriteri is the gateway to the Abel Tasman National Park and all commercial tourist craft go past her as they head to the national park.
Tom sent in several photos and commented that the bow-on photo was taken by reporters in 2003 when he retired as Master of the Golden Bay after 30 years in their employ.
The photo of the two ‘gents’ shows the previous ROYAL SAXON owner – Rick McCay (on the left), handing over the register of the ROYAL SAXON in Tom’s cabin aboard the GOLDEN BAY in Auckland on the 5th August 1995. Copies of the register at the bottom of todays story.
Now Rick McCay esq. is a charmed man having owned and owning two of the most elegant classic wooden launches in New Zealand- ROYAL SAXON and LUANA, I would have questioned his sanity selling ROYAL SAXON if it wasn’t to buy LUANA, built in 1920 by M T Lane and seen below in the two Bay of Islands photos.
Back to Tom, he has owned ROYAL SAXON for 30+ years and commented that she is 95 years old and still continues to give pleasure to family, friends and visitors to the bay.
Tom also shared with us another in the Rowling fleet, a vessel he had built in 1994 at the ‘The Boat Yard’ which was attached to the Maritime Museum in Auckland at the time. Tom named her after the first commercial tourist launch that started operations at Kaiteriteri in 1955. The vessel is kauri planked, red gum ribs, teak gunnel strip, masts and spare dragon. She’s rigged as a gaff rigged sloop. In Tom’s words – all old looking to fit in with its owner. She sails beautifully and reasonable dry unless you drive her hard. The plan is similar to the sea scout cutter but reduced in length by 2 feet to make it easier to sail single handed. Photo below on the beach at Karterteri.
ROYAL SAXON CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRY – Click photos to enlarge
Last Wednesday we did an story on the TCL work boatbuilder Alan Craig had done on the classic wooden launch – ALPHEUS. During the chat with Alan I nudged him for an update on the 28’, 1938, Collings & Bell built – MOOSE restoration, and today woodys we get to share what’s been happening in the Craig Marine shed.
Links below to the previous stories, including the extraction of MOOSE from her lake front boat shed.
With the likelihood of a new Yanmar engine, the old unit has come out. The plan is to try and use the existing V drive.
As MOOSE will end up out on a Jetty most of the time, the cabin roof will be getting a protective layer of f/glass. Alan remarked that while it seems a shame to cover the nice tongue & groove roof, they want MOOSE to live on many more years yet.
Now that she is in a cradle the boatyard team can attack the underside and are starting work on an interior layout.
DAVEY JONES NEW BOOK QUIZ WINNER – JAMES HUTCHINSON. Congratulations to James, for all those that missed out – copies available at daveyjonesofwakatahuri@gmail.com
FATHERS DAY SORTED FOR ANYONE WITH SALT IN THEIR VEINS
Rarely these days do I pick up a book and can not put it down – well it happened recently. I received an advance copy of Davey Jones just published book – ‘Davey Jones of Wakatahuri’ and its both a cracker read and an amazing account of his boating life and his interaction with the Wakatahuri region. Now I’m sure some of you will be asking yourself ‘ where is that?’ – well its in the outer Pelorus Sound at the top of the South Island, the Marlborough District (refer chart below). The area has been many things to many people – a fish factory, a boatyard, a ship breaking base and a community hub.
Davey Jones arrived at Wakatahuri as a young fisherman in 1956 and still lives there today , on and off when he’s not lapping NZ in his boat.
It’s an additive read that with the help of over 200 photographs will have you hooked.
And as a bonus – included is a reprint of an equally wonderful read -’Sounds Wrecking Co.’ by Martin Burthold.
So woodys drop a hint to the family re what you want for Fathers Day (Sept 7th) or just order one for yourself – $60+ p&p – all enquiries to daveyjonesofwakatahuri@gmail.com
AND I HAVE A COPY TO GIVE AWAY – just answer correctly the name of the vessel Davey Jones has most recently been lapping NZ on. Enter ONLY via email to waitematawoodys@gmail.com all correct entries go in the draw. Closes 6pm 17-08-2023.
AND THERE ALWAYS HAS TO BE A BOAT PHOTO – this is from Davey’s book and shows the work boat MARLBOROUGH PN47, in Picton Harbour c.1929, built by E R Lane. In the background are VALMARIE, at left, and Ernie Lane’s boat shed, the Picton Rowing Club sheds at right. The vessel under repair at Lane’s yard is a lighter from Port Robinson (Gore Bay)
CLASSIC LAUNCH LADY JANE REMAINS UNSOLD AFTER SINKING INCIDENT
The classic wooden 34’ launch – LADY JANE appeared recently on fb, it was a being auctioned by Turners Trucks, and hadn’t reached the reserve price when the auction closed. Thanks Ian McDonald for the heads up.
Reading the listing the seller states that the boat and engine ‘had taken on water’ so I assume she is now a member of the submariners club.
For the record the engine in her is a Ford 80hp diesel.
Hard finding a buyer to take on such a craft, even harder when the seller lists it as fibreglass Roy Ford boat……
WW has been contacted by Matt Blaikie concerning a classic pond yacht named – TANIWHA. Matt is selling for a friend and he commented that it was purchased approx. 30 years ago from an antiques dealer in Wellington, and other than that he knows zero about the model. (1.8m tall and 1.5m approx long)
Any of the woodys interested in pond yachts able to tell us anything from the photos (apologise for the quality)
A SNAPSHOT OF THE CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – MARISTELLA
As a result of the photo (see below) of the classic 40’ wooden launch – MARISTELLA, built in 1936 by Sam Ford, appearing at the recent Classic Woodys Boat Show at OBC – WW was contacted by Katherine Armstrong. Katherine’s parents Roy and Daphine Bridge were previous owners of MARISTELLA.
Katherine commented that she had a collection of photos taken during their ownership. Of course I asked for copies, which today we all get to share.
In the 4th photo above the other launch is AWANUI, which at the time was owned by Bob Goldie. Can we learn more about AWANUI.
In the last photo above we see Roy and Daphine on the ‘flying bridge’ of MARISTELLA.
One photo is tagged APR 64, so we can safely assume the photos are c.1960’s
All Alone & Very Cold – (overnighting due to mast height)
CLASSIC WOODYS BOAT SHOW AT OBC
On Sunday we held the inaugural classic woodys boat show – hosted by the OBC Marina.
WW was holding hands with Auckland’s – Outdoor Boating Club on Tamaki Drive as they celebrated their annual open day. Magic location and set up – check out the club here https://www.obc.co.nz
As it seems to always happen at woodys events, the weather was 10/10, a perfect winners day. Check out the photo gallery above.
The day had all the ingredients for a fun family day out – Nice boats + Nice people, topped off with classic trailer boats, classic cars, food/coffee trucks, kids activities and a bonus – the team from LEGASEA , the kiwi hero’s that are dedicated to restoring the abundance, biodiversity and health of NZ’s marine environment – check out the website https://legasea.co.nz
Enjoy the photos, it was a great day and everyone left with a smile on their face.
CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT RIVER CRUISE – TRIP REPORT Fridays Classic woodys cruise to the waterfront Riverhead Tavern for lunch was a grand day afloat, 13 classic wooden craft made the journey up the upper reaches of the Waitemata Harbour to the historic tavern. It was extra special with several first-timers making the trip. We were blessed with the weather and also having just one of the tourist ferries making the trip on the day, which allowed us to berth a lot of the boat on the jetty.
Special mention to the 7 classic launch skippers and partners that came by water taxi (MY GIRL) – Cam Malcolm (Connie V), Rodger Moore (ex Te Hauraki), Jason Davies (Lucinda), and those via car – Ian Gavin (Florance Dawn), Matt Cooper (Korawai) and John Chambers (Ngarunui), Murray Deeble ( Waikiore) combined with the 13 boats on the water we had crews from 20 classic craft present on the day. Very happy with that turn out.
True to form, the tavern and its staff extended their usual warm hospitality. Enjoy the photo gallery
Todays woody AIRANA was built in Balena Bay Wellinton by car franchise owner Noel Manthel in 1934. AIRANA is a lightly built craft of British design, Sterling her owner Bruce Campbell believes. There were apparently about 50 built in the UK.She was originally named’ Rosemary’.
AIRANA is essentially built for the Thames Estuary and connecting canals, and consequently is quite narrow;-under 2 meters with a shallow draft of 2ft 9inches, and is 30 feet in length. Alfred Hitchcock apparently was taken fishing in Wellinton harbour years ago and AIRANA supposedly searched for submarines in the harbour during the war with a Bren gun on the foredeck.
Bruce purchased her almost 20 years ago, and gave her a complete birthday at Wellington Boatbuilders Gracefield, Lower Hutt 17 years ago. Home is a mooring in Ruakaka Bay, Marlborough Sounds. Forward motion is via a reconditioned 85hp diesel Ford Lees Marine (ex Moon Engines), boat speed is 7 knots.
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