Category Archives: 1950’s

MERLE – 1956 CLASSIC KAURI CLINKER

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MERLE – 1956 CLASSIC KAURI CLINKER
This very smart looking 14’ Sea Craft built kauri clinker runabout popped recently on tme. In the last 18 months we have seen several of these woodys hitting the market . This one is named MERLE and appears to be one of the best.

She was rescued and restored by retired Fairlie boatbuilder Dick Guard as a retirement project. His father, in turn, was also a boatbuilder in the region who helped create Jomo Craft, which built some of the country’s most beautiful old timber boats.

Her owner has correspondence between the restorer and Lionel Sands of Sea Craft – which went on to become Haines Hunter. Sands talks about working in the family’s 1,000 acre forest where for two years he milled the kauri timber used to build this boat. His father believed you must appreciate the living tree before you could build boats.

The original construction of these boats is detailed in the correspondence and the restoration detailed in hand-written notes.

The owner purchased the boat but a growing family has meant MERLE has not been used she she should be and the decision has been made to pass her onto an appropriate new owner. 

She’s fitted with a 30HP Mercury two-stroke and an auxiliary Mercury outboard.

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCHES AT SANDSPIT YACHT CLUB

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCHES AT SANDSPIT YACHT CLUB

Its’ not often we see two Dave Jackson boats together, hauled out side by side. Gregs Lees sent in the above photos from the yard at the Sandspit Yacht Club.

On the left is the launch – KARROS, Dave’s own boat, built in 1974 and on the right LADY BEV, the first boat of his own design, which he built in 1957 for his father. 

Photo of KARROS afloat in this WW story from Oct 2013 https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/10/03/karros/

We get a better look at LADY BEV in this link from a WW story back in July 2022 https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/07/30/lady-bev-cya-heritage-basin-marina-poll-results-revisited/

And a peek down below on LADY BEV in a WW April 2024 story https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/04/13/lady-b-bee/

CLASSIC 1950’S WOODEN SKI BOAT

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CLASSIC 1950’S WOODEN SKI BOAT

The c.1950’s 14’ classic ski boat – CORKER was built by by Bay Boats, Hastings for a Hawkes Bay farming family that holidayed in Rotorua, the the boat was used to ski on Lake Okataina and Lake Rotoiti. 

CORKER recently popped up on the tme and to be brutally honest the main reason I have featured her on WW is her paint job, stunning – looks like it may need a refreash but she just looks perfect. Current owners have have not held bak with the TLC and maintain in recent times.

Video below of the 30hp Ford petrol engine running. 

HEADS UP – #2 PONSONBY CC Featured Vessels Event Next Week

The PCC is proud to announce their second in the series of “Thursday Featured Vessels” featuring the classic yacht – WAIRIKI on Thursday September 5.  This woody was designed by world renowned yacht designer – Arch Logan in 1904 and is now owned by his grandson – Keith Logan. 

SEA FEVER – 1958 CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH RELAUNCHED

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SEA FEVER – 1958 CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH RELAUNCHED

Earlier in the month we reported that the 34’ John Salthouse built classic wooden launch – SEA FEVER was hauled out at the Slipway Milford for some TLC.

Yesterday afternoon she slipped down the railway into the Milford creek looking very grand.

#1 job was a Jason Prew Paint Job but her newish owners also upgraded some systems, repainted the decks, converted the old compressor driven freezer to 12V and removed / replaced a few spots of boat cancer. She was also fitted with a bow thruster to protect the new paint job 😉

As per most owners the project is a rolling restoration and next winter the cabin coaming bright work will get a birthday.

SEA FEVER is one of John Salthouse’s best sedan designs and enjoys a light and airy saloon with large windows that makes for a very comfortable vessel both on route, at anchor or in the marina.

Full Sea Fever Review Here https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/08/25/sea-fever-a-peek-down-below-4sale/

And if you are ever in doubt as to the best way to haul out > launch your classic woody – check out the video below – railways rock ✔️ your boat will repay you for the kid gloves.

SOUTHERN WOODEN LAKE BOAT – TAWERA

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SOUTHERN WOODEN LAKE BOAT – TORA VERA TAWERA
Earlier in the month Shamus Fairhead (MV SEQUIA) wrote in concerning the vessel – TORA VERA seen above. I’ll hand over to Shamus to tell the story – 

“I was recently down in Christchurch catching up with my 91 year old Father, Jim Fairhall who has been a keen deer stalker all his life. Amongst his photos is this photo from a 1956 hunting trip up the Glaisnoch River that flows into Lake Wakatipu. 
The rear of the photo names the boat as the ‘Tora Vera’ and Dad tells me she was normally moored on the Frankton arm. ( opposite side ? ) Just curious if this is a later life Thelma – Vera that I sent a photo of earlier and your site has a great write up on ? (Link to that story below)I understood from your article that the Lake Whau Lodge owners were after any images.”


Any of the WW readers able to tell us more about the vessel – TORA WERA
WW Oct 2022 https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/03/18/thelma-vera/

23-08-2024 UPDATE ex Paul Newell – the photos below ex Paul confirm that the vessel is named TAWERA,  and the location of both photos is Te Anau.

Lake Te Anau tourist steamer Tawera. _ Otago Witness, 16.5.1922


CLASSIC KAURI BUILT WOODEN LAUNCH – TOROA – A Peek Down Below 

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CLASSIC KAURI BUILT WOODEN LAUNCH – TOROA – A Peek Down Below 

The 26’ carvel planked launch – TOROA has made two previous appearance on WW, links below, but today thanks to Ian McDonald’s eagle eyes and tme we get to have a gander down below.

Her listing states she was built in c.1955 by Chas Bailey & Sons. After an early life in salty water she moved to Lake Taupo in 2014 where still still resides.

Forward motion is from a 1980’s Ford 4cyl. 80hp diesel engine, that gives her a 6 >7 knot cruising speed.

The photos above are combination of 2012 and present day – she needs some TLC but appears to be a good low entry level floating Taupo bach or bring her home to the Waitemata 🙂

WW Oct 2014 https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/10/07/toroa/

WW Oct 2021 https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/10/14/toroa-gets-a-birthday/

KIWI REBUILD OF A CLASSIC CHRIS CRAFT RIVIERA – Whimsical Mistress

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Lake Rotoiti 2023 – Alan H

KIWI REBUILD OF A CLASSIC CHRIS CRAFT RIVIERA –  Whimsical Mistress

Last month while discussing the gradual demise of a once nice wooden classic launch with Glen Archer he casually mentioned that he had imported a Chris Craft Riviera from the USA and totally restored / rebuilt her back in NZ. I’ll hand over to Glen to tell the story –  

 “Today I share some images and back story of our 1950 Chris Craft Riviera 20 that we imported from the USA in late 2018 from a deceased estate, the boat was pretty much stuffed, was in parts and had not been in the water since 1991, what followed was a full 3000 hour / 4 year restoration. The boat has 40% new oak frames, a full no soak bottom and a new deck, with it being very hard to see where the new and old timber meet.

The boat was relaunched in February 2023 The boat has been completely refixed fully with new silicone bronze screws and bolts and reassembled using 130 tubes of 3M 5200, stains and paints were imported to ensure period correct and the original MBL158 engine has been brought back to life with lots of new bits.  28 coats of varnish finish the boat off, along with a complete new interior, finished exactly as the boat left the factory. Quite possible the worlds most impractical thing to boat in, yet very high on the smile factor!” 

SEA FEVER – Gets A Visit To  The Classic Wooden Boat Parlour

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SEA FEVER – Gets A Visit To  The Classic Wooden Boat Parlour

Earlier this year SEA FEVER the 34’ 1958 John Salthouse design / build wooden launch changed hands The Wooden Boat Bureau worked with owner Doug Reid to find a new custodian. The buyer ticked all the boxes on Dougs wish list, and if Doug is reading WW today I’m sure he will be very chuffed to see SEA FEVER getting TLC she deserves. (when launched her name was Onetaunga.)

I’ve commented many times that one of the reasons particular craft pass the half century mark is good old luck – luck in terms of having the right owners who value these classic craft, SEA FEVER has had a succession of good people caring for her and it shows.

In the next few days Jason Prew will be applying his skills to SEA FEVER and another one of our classic woody fleet will have a JPPJ (Jason Prew Paint Job)

SEA FEVER below in 2022 at anchor in Chamberlains Bay

No Names (and not SEA FEVER) – But the decal is a little OTT 🙂

RSVP – waitematawoodys@gmail.com

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – OKAREKA – A Peek Down Below

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – OKAREKA – A Peek Down Below

The classic wooden launch OKAREKA popped up recently on tme (thanks Ian McDonald for the heads up) The listing states she was built in 1952 by Colin Wild, is 36’ in length and powered by twin 75hp Ford 2704 diesels.Being sold as-is-where- is.
Can we learn more about her past.

Morning woodys – there was a typo in the spelling of the boats name it wasn’t Orareka its OKAREKA, previously named FERG AND FERGY. Sorry for the confusion – you can view and read more about her here https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/08/17/okareka-2/

30-01-2025 INPUT ex BARRIE ABEL – photo below of OKAREKA moored off Brooklands Boating Club on the Clevedon River.

THE REAL REASON FOR TODAYS STORY –   Sadly plans are a foot to close the winter haul out area at Little Shoal Bay, Northcote.  Yeap another one under the axe of Auckland Council. So woodys have your say, click the link below to sign the petition.  https://www.change.org/p/save-little-shoal-bay-boatyard

CLASSIC WOODEN LAKE BOAT – HEATHER DAWN – A Peek Down Below

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAKE BOAT – HEATHER DAWN – A Peek Down Below

Thanks to the eagle eyes of Ian McDonald who spotted the 21’ ex workboat – HEATHER DAWN on tme, today we get to have a gander at this craft that has an interesting back story.

Built in Glasgow Scotland in 1950 by Darroch and Espie Boat Builders, she carries the serial no 1666. D&E were famous boatbuilders, particularly lifeboats for major shipping companies back in the day. So HEATHER DAWN started life as a lifeboat, built from oak and was bought off a tug called DASHER in Auckland. Her wheelhouse and decking a later (NZ) addition, being made from kauri.

Powered by 30hp Yanmar 3 cylinder shaft drive, giving a cruising speed approx. 6 knots. Very well fitted out – the diesel oven / heater caught my eye.

I can just see HEATHER DAWN fitting in very well with the Lake Rotoiti (Nth Is) flotilla.