Category Archives: 1940’s

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUCNH – ROSINA (Iron Bark) 

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUCNH – ROSINA (Iron Bark) 

Earlier in the week WW contacted by Steve Bass concerning details on a Weiti River craft. Steve mentioned a launch that he had previously owned named – ROSINA, and in reply to my standard reply -“send details”, we get to learn her history. Best if I let Steve tell the story (edited)

“I bought Rosina at Easter 1999 after she had had a major rebuild from 1986 to 1995, work included her Kauri planked hull clad in 1/4″ ply on the sides of the hull and 1/2″ on the bottom over 1/2” kauri planks and then fibreglassed. Her decks, cabin and interior were new so was basically a brand new boat when relanched at Stillwater on the 15th Jan 1995.

She was originally called Iron Bark and was launched at Meola Creek in 1947. I re-powered her in 2005 with a Nanni 3.10HE as the original 2 cyld Nanni was too underpowered. She is 20’ long x 6’ wide and draws 18”. Has a cruising speed of 6.5k and tops out at 8k. 

Sadly I sold her in March 2024 after owning her for 25 years when I retired. She is currently land bound near Raglan after her current owner took her out of the water after sitting in the mooring at Wyuna Bay Coromandel for 20 months. Hopefully she will see some more use in the near future.”
In the last photo we see ROSINA being hauled and trucked back to Steves property for her biannual dose of TLC.

Anyone able to make a suggestion on the design / builder.

In NZ we get upset when the Prime Minister uses one of our Air Forces ageing transport planes – life is a tag more swish in Oslo, Norway – check out the Royal yacht below https://www.instagram.com/reel/DdEdyxFoZtF/?stkn=ZHJjb3IzcW14YnZw

WHEN AUCKLAND’S WATERFRONT WAS HOME TO WOODEN BOATBUILDERS

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WHEN AUCKLAND’S WATERFRONT WAS HOME TO WOODEN BOATBUILDERS

During the week the above photograph popped up on the Timespanner fb and originated from the Auckland Libraries Heritage collection.The photo was tagged – “St Marys Bay boatyards, 1940s, looking east from the end of jetty on St Mary’s Bay showing boats on slips and shipyards.” Photographer most likely – Reginald Clifton Firth.

David Wilson commented that the location was the Shipbuilders Yard and Charles Bailey’s yard was on the left.

Nathan Herbert commented that the launch LADY UNA was  probably shown having her coamings replaced to the style we know her today as MARGUERITE. WW 2019 story link below. https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/09/18/the-story-of-marguerite/

INPUT 04-09-2026 ex Russell Ward – the vessel on the right is MAHARA (1946) 

CLASSIC 1948 WOODEN FLEET GATHERED AT KAWAU ISLAND 

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CLASSIC 1948 WOODEN FLEET GATHERED AT KAWAU ISLAND 

Recently WW was contacted by Moss Carlin concerning a cache of b/w photos that his wife found among her mothers processions. Her father Ray Rhodes was a member of the RNZYS at Westhaven in the 1940’s – 1960’s period.

Included was todays stunning photo of a squadron gathering at Mansion House, Kawau Island in 1948. WW has previously shared other photos most likely from the same gathering, but none have offered a panorama of this scale, nor been of the photographic quality of todays photo. Reviewing the photo its warming to see so many of these classic wooden craft are still afloat today – 80+ years later. Tomorrow we get to share a gallery of classic sailing craft from the Rhodes family album.

And while on the subject of Kawau Island – sad to get advice during the week that the RNZYS had found a buyer for Lidgard House and surrounding land. The pros & cons of the sell off have been well documented, so I’ll leave the topic alone……….


WHO DESIGNED THIS IMPRESSIVE DINGHY

WW has recently been in discussions concerning the dinghy below and the owners desire to ID the designer / builder. The dinghy has the hallmarks of vacuum bag, multi veneer construction, a technology with origins from the late 1940’s New Zealand boat builders were early adopters and this dinghy is a product of that technology.

Found derelict in an Auckland shed she was carefully restored to its current condition – only used occasionally for classic boating events where its lightness and low resistance hull form saw it win several classic boat races. It remains an immaculate very rare time capsule of mid century boating.

SPECS: Length 8’ 9″, beam 4’ 5” – weight 45kg. Constructed using straight grained Mahogany and resorcinol glue. Her transom is kauri.

SO WOODYS ANYONE ABLE TO ID HER ORIGINS

And woodys its for sale on tme.

MYSTERY CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH AT BAYSWATER – TAWHIRI

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MYSTERY CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH AT BAYSWATER – TAWHIRI

Being a resident of Devonport I’m a follower of a fb page titled ‘Original Devonport Locals’, recently Geoff Glanville posted the photo we see above.

The location is Bayswater, just along from the waterfront clubrooms of the Takapuna Boating Club. 

The building still stands today (photo below) but in poor condition and is the subject of heated debate between local residents, sporting clubs (rowing) and the TBC. The TBC several years ago built very smart new clubrooms at Takapuna Beach, but refuse to give up the peppercorn lease on the Bayswater building.            

Recently there are noises about an extensive refurbishment, but time will tell.

Anyway, back to the photo, which is from the E.B. (Jim) Menzies collection, can we put name and possible date to the vessel.

INPUT ex KEN RICKETTS – She is the TAWHIRI, built c.1946 by Roy Lidgard in his Kawau Island shed, & taken to Auckland to have her 4cyl Lister diesel engine installed, (in a box come table,) in the centre of the main cabin. Later replaced, with a 6 cyl. Ford diesel, by Uuan Berger, who owned her in the 1970s, after which she floated about 6 inches higher in the water in the bow. (photos below ex KR)

CLASSIC WORKBOAT VANGUARD – A WATERFRONT APARTMENT FOR $2.50

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CLASSIC WORKBOAT VANGUARD – A WATERFRONT APARTMENT FOR $2.50

First up that isn’t a typo in the headline – todays woody is for sale and the current bid is $2.50 and the reserve has been met……….

Two option here, buy her as a live aboard or as a project to end up with a very fine workboat conversion.

What we know about VANGUARD –

• Built in 1947 by Lidgard’s

• 50’ in length with either double or triple skinned hull

• Powered by a GM V8.

• Was in survey up to May 2025.

• Located currently in Pelorus Sound.

(thanks Ian McDonald for the tme heads up)

MYSTERY TIM WINDSOR DESIGNED CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH

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MYSTERY TIM WINDSOR DESIGNED CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH

Recently the prolific fb poster Lew Redwood has been sniffing around the Maritime Museum photo archives and has discovered ( I use that term because so much of the museums treasures are ‘hidden away’ ) a treasure trove to old b/w boating images from the 1940’s.

Today thanks to Lew we get to see a 26’ classic wooden launch that was designed by Tim Windsor and built at the Shipbuilders yard in Auckland.

The photo is dated 1948 and the photographer is most likely Tim Windsor.

Can we put a name to this classic wooden launch and learn what became of her.

A CLASSIC 1949 NORTHLAND HOLIDAY CRUISE

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A CLASSIC 1949 NORTHLAND HOLIDAY CRUISE

Todays woody story comes to use from Archives NZ via Liz Ferry on the Northland Heritage Group fb. The film was a National Film Unit production from 1949 and mostly showcases the 1949 Russell (B.O.I.) Regatta.

Lots of familiar woodys to be seen, sail numbers A3 – ARIKI, A4 – IORANGI, A18 – TAWERA, A19 -The regatta was won by IORANGI, the 1901 Arch Login designed classic yacht. With ARIKI second.

We see several classic launches at the start of the film.

Given the date, the crews would have been enjoying post WWII informality.

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – ARIKI

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – ARIKI

Todays classic wooden boating photo comes to us from John Dawson and shows the launch – ARIKI. At the time of the photo (1946) the launch was located in Napier. At the time of the photo the launch was owned by B. R. Menzies.

And that woodys is all we know.

Interested in learning more about the craft.

AND ONE FOR THE WTF FILE

A recent arrival on tme. I’m sure she will find a home, someone, somewhere must need a floating porte-loo. (thanks Ian McDonald for the photo)

CLASSIC SOUTHERN WOODEN LAUNCH – MANDALAY

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2013
2016
2023

CLASSIC SOUTHERN WOODEN LAUNCH – MANDALAY

Yesterdays deluge of emails to the WW inbox contained a gem – todays top photo (2013) and a note from Janet & Bob Heart the owners of the 36’, 1940 built classic launch MANDALAY. Over the years MANDALAY has appeared on WW – first in Sept 2016 as a mystery launch seen at anchor in Jacobs Bay in Pelorus Sound, (second photo above).

Next appearance was in May 2023 when Dean Wright was mooching around Havelock Marina (third photo above). This story prompted WW reader Phil Vining to recall the vessels broker listing from c.1980’s  when she was 4sale – see below.

Janet has commented that MANDALAY was built in Auckland by Lanes in 1940, this has been questioned on WW previously because she certainly has the look (and paint scheme) of Lanes Picton.

Janet has kindly written a brief review of the craft.

“We ( Bob and Janet Hart ) have owned Mandalay for 39 years since 1987. She’s been based in Havelock Marina and has been a regular sight around Pelorus Sound over these years. Her original design has been faithfully maintained. She’s been much loved and cared for.

She has a cockpit with seats. With full headroom, there’s  a saloon with table and seating for captain and passenger facing forward. A separate bunkroom sleeps 4 people and a separate bathroom has the rope and chain locker. 

 With a Ford 75Hp  engine, Mandalay uses approx. 1 gallon of diesel an hour.”

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – MAKURA – A Peek Down Below

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – MAKURA – A Peek Down Below

The classic wooden bridge-decker MAKURA was designed and built in 1949 by Collings & Bell, and is approx. 40’ in length.

Forwar motion is from a 115hp 6 cyl. Ford diesel engine.

Back in January 2025 we shared some photos of MAKURA from her past – lots of intel in that story on her ownership and re-powers over the years. 

Link below https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/01/18/classic-wooden-launch-makura/

The b/w photo above is from Sea Spray magazine July 1951 edition and shows her as built.