Woody John Dawson sent in the above photos of the vessel – Gaylene, and commented that they were dated Jan 1955 and the event was her official launching.
Based on her configuration, its safe to assume she was a work-boat, hard to read but her reg # may be AK96.
Location – the old viaduct, possibly near the P. Vos Shed. A quick scan of the P. Vos book – ‘Launching Dreams’ didn’t uncover her build name, so its not a Vos built woody.
The question today is what became of her and is she still around.
INPUT ex Chris Rabey via Russell Ward – GAYLENE has been Gisborne based for many years, I think she is still there. I took the picture below a long time ago in Gisborne.
INPUT and photos below ex Cameron Pollard – sadly Gaylene is no longer afloat, sunk. Unsure of reason, location, date.
During the week I stumbled on a YouTube video on the Southern Woodenboat Sailing channel – this 11 minute video showcase the ex Tasmanian crayboat – Margaret Pearl.
Built in 1958, 60’ in length she was about to be dispatched to the landfill in Portland, located on the southwest coast of Victoria, Australia, when up stepped Jim and Sam Woods, who were brave enough to take on the restoration / conversion project. Whilst she sports a Tim Phillips designed rig, most of her use is under power at a steady 9 > 10 knots. The canvas does come out but I suspect its more for aesthetics 🙂
Have a watch and listen to Tim tells us about why he choose a wooden boat, where he found her and the work that went into her to get to the condition we see her in.
As a bonus Tim shares some sage advice for when considering taking on the restoration of any woody.
Enjoy – I did 🙂
Someone tell me this is a p_ss take. Spotted during the week at Half Moon Bay Marina. My 1st thought was it was a ‘mule’ for an electric propulsion experiment.
During my frequent visits to Thames I used to see Manukura the 50’ c.1960 Shipbuilders built launch on the hard stand at the Thames marina, always looking a little sad. Then in 2021 we got the good news she had a new owner and work had recommenced on her restoration, and that the plan was to transport Manukura to Whangamata where the work would be finished. Link here to her history and time in Thames. https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/07/12/manukura/
I was contacted earlier in the week by owner Allen Watson who advised that Manukura is in the process of a major refit. All new wiring, plumbing, gear boxes, shafts, engine mounts for the Ford 120hp 6 cyl diesel engines plus a new lay out inside. The photo gallery above gives us a peek into the work.
Had a good excuse to point the car south yesterday so took a side trip to Clevedon and mooched around one of the ‘private’ docks.
Very pleased to see that work is underway of Lady Gazelle, you may recall back in March she came to grief during Cyclone Gabrille (WW story link below) – a new owner has stepped up and we look forward to her relaunch. https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/03/02/lady-gazelle-on-the-rocks/
I spotted the 36’ c.1950’s launch – Antares , one of the better looking launches to come out of the Supreme Craft factory. More on her a future story. Previous WW story and lots of photos here https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/09/25/antares-2/
Also a few boats, below, looking unlikely to see the ocean again.
Todays woody is the 32’ launch – Jomarli, designed and built in 1959 by Jack Taylor. She has a beam of 10’6” and draws 3’. A 120hp Ford Lehman Diesel engine gives Jomarli a comfortable cruising speed of 7>9 knots.
From the above photos ex a recent tme listing (thanks Ian McDonald) we can see she is well appointed . I believe she has since sold.
Todays woody – Ocean Star, is probably the cheapest apartment / home that you could buy in NZ at the moment. The fact Ocean Star has a bath backs up the owners ‘live aboard’ claim 🙂
Ocean Star is 55’ in length, with a 15’ beam. Built in kauri to a Jack Guard design in c.1950.
If you wanted to leave the mooring a 160hp Detroit 471 diesel engine is below decks. As per the photos she is very well fitted out and at $135k ono seems a bargain. The price includes her Tauranga waterfront mooring.
Thanks to Ian McDonald for the tme listing heads up.
I see in the comments section that she in a previous life was a Govt. vessel servicing the Hauraki Gulf islands – can we learn more about her work-boat days.
15-05-2023 UPDATE: Photo below ex Chris Rabey, sent in by Russell Ward
Regular WW readers will know that I have a soft spot for converted workboats, Todays woody – Freedom started life as a cray boat, built from kauri in 1956 by Millers in Lyttelton and fished out of Dunedin. Later (date unknown) converted to a live-aboard.
Thanks to Ian McDonald giving us a heads up on a tme feature we get to have a look below. Freedom is 40’ in length and powered by a 1970’s 120hp Ford diesel engine. Being a southern lass, she sports a Dickensen heater – we like those 🙂
WW was recently contacted by Eric Sanderson in regard to his uncles boat – Lady Fay. Best if Eric tells us the story –
“The hull was built by Orams and Davies Whangarei in the early 1950’s and finished off by my uncle Jack Sanderson with twin 3 cylinder Lister motors fitted. Orams also build the Irene around the same time, either a year later or year before. The owners were good friends of Uncle Jack.
Lady Fay fished commercially out of Whangarei till 1967 and was sold to a car salesman or someone in the trade, and went to Auckland. Not sure of their name, then 2-3 years later boat was put into Ship Builders for a complete make over, the Listers were removed and two Fords were put in and a bridge deck was added. This I was told by another Uncle who lived in Auckland at the time. Must be some one from Ship Builders in the 1970’s will remember Lady Fays make over.
Boat was then named – Arthur Daley, I have talked to a owner in late 1980’s early 1990’s and he did not want to know his boat was 20 years older than he thought, and was sure it was build in the 1970’s, which fits in with when it went to Ship Builders for it transformation to bridge-decker.
I believe the boat is now named Compass Rose and is still in Auckland and for sale.
So woodys can we help Eric fill in any gaps and and history on the vessel. (sorry about the photos – very poor quality)
06-05-2023 INPUT EX ASHLEY SIM – As previously mentioned by Alan Keane – the broker I bought Arthur Daley through – I purchased her in 1993 from Greg and did quite a bit of work on Her. The twin Fords had quite a vibration so I installed rubber engine mounts and it made a big difference. They were sweat running engines with lovely controls. I also fitted out the forward cabin with a double berth and extra head. I sold her in 1995 – through Alan – to her current owner.
NEW COLOUR WAY – limited run 1. One size fits all 2.100% canvas/cotton, 6 panel, adjustable brass clasp 3. Colour is camel with dark brown embroidered logo. 4. Tonal under peak lining.
Yesterday the A. Couldrey designed / Brin Wilson built launch – Endeavour, slipped back into the water at the Slipway Milford after some serious TLC, still a few jobs to complete on the list and maybe a topsides paint job – but she is looking so smart with her coamings varnished.
The 1953 A Couldrey designed, Brin Wilson built launch – Endeavour , under tent, is coming to the end of her refresh – most impressed with the new name board on the stern – nice touch. The gent in the photo is Luca Beachman, the great grandson of her original owner, Borrie Beachman and has been beavering away on the project – no doubt securing his future path to ownership 😉 More on her here https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/01/27/endeavour-gets-a-birthday/
Just across the yard at the Milford Cruising Club slip – the launch Ngahi, photo below, was being relaunched after an extensive re- fit/refurbishment – hopefully we will see interior photos soon. More here https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/04/10/ngahi-gets-a-makeover/
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