CLASSIC WORKBOAT – MARILYN – STILL AROUND?
Todays woody is the 34’6” fishing boat MARILYN, built in 1959 by her owner Thomas Clements. Details below.
Question of the day – is she still afloat and if so where and in what condition.
Photos ex Sea Spray magazine c.1960 via Ken Ricketts
CLASSIC LAUNCH – KARINA – FLASHBACK
Back in Dec 2023 thanks to a tme listing we got to have gander down below on the 1959 Brin Wilson built launch – KARINA. Link to that story here – https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/12/11/karina-a-peek-down-below/
Today thanks to Ken Ricketts and Sea Spray magazine (June 1959) we get to see her as launched.
THE WINNER OF THE XMAS DAY CALENDAR QUIZ WAS DARRYLL HART – correct answer being Sir Frank Mappln
Today’s featured classic wooden launch is the impressive 48’ NGARUNUI, designed and built by Jim Young and launched in 1959. With a generous 12’ beam and 6’6” headroom, she’s a big, comfortable girl – in fact, she sleeps nine.
Constructed in kauri, 1 1/4” carvel-planked, NGARUNUI carries all the hallmarks of a serious long-distance cruiser.
Power comes from a 200hp Doosan L136T, and she’s backed up by a Yanmar 20hp auxiliary driving its own shaft and prop. Combine that with what I’d call a new ‘sail-assist’ rig, and you’ve got one of the best “get me home” configurations you’ll find on a classic wooden launch.
Yes, she is for sale, and her spec sheet is both extensive and impressive. Most WW readers don’t need every last detail here, but rest assured – it’s all there: autohelm, radar, bow thruster, 1200L fuel, 800L water, and a long list of quality gear. Full details reserved for genuinely interested parties.
So, two options today:
The owner’s price expectation is market-realistic, and NGARUNUI represents exceptional value for a vessel of this calibre.
2016 PHOTO BELOW
CLASSIC LAUNCH HITS THE ROCKS AT BROWNS ISLAND – SOS – CAN WE SAVE SILVER SEA FROM THE CRUSHER
Back in 2016 we ran a story on the 36′ classic wooden launch – SILVER SEA, at the time the story generated a lot of chat and photos. Link below https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/01/19/silver-sea/
Yesterday afternoon WW was contacted by fellow classic boat owner Mark McLaughlin – details below –
“ I was down at RAYC this afternoon for my son’s Optimist sailing and found Silver Sea being towed in by the Harbourmaster. He told me she went onto rocks today at Brown’s Island and the keel got punched into the hull. She went down to the gunwales at the cockpit but they managed to keep her afloat long enough to get her into Okahu Bay. She was quickly pulled ashore to the old hardstand area (brutally!) and will stay there for 48hrs before disposal by the Harbourmaster unless someone wants to take her on. Sadly the owner is not insured and apparently this was to be his final trip in the boat before selling her. The Harbourmaster said it is unlikely the owner will have the resources or energy to fix her.”
Check out the video below – the haul-out was VERY agricultural……………….
So woodys anyone out they prepared to step up and take on saving SILVER SEA Anyone interested should contact the Harbourmasters Office.
WW MERCHANDISE – IF YOU ARE THINKING OF ORDERING – DO IT NOW B4 STOCK RUNS OUT
CLASSIC WOODEN GAME BOAT MOANA SHOWING OFF
Recently woody John Dawson sent me the above b/w photo of a game boat in an unusual pose – I have never seen the days catch displayed as above. Skipper can’t have had much respect for the paint job.
A few minutes on the WW Search box gave me a match – the craft is the 1958 Lane Motor Boat Co. built 42’ launch – MOANA, as seen in the 2nd photo.
She first appeared on WW back in January 2014, link below, and there have been numerous updated to that story. Powered by a Gardner 6LX. https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/01/21/moana-2/
The boat looks very stable, given the weight hanging off the side – maybe there was more on the port side?.
MYSTERY LAKE TAUPO MOTOR LAUNCH c.1950 – OKATAINA
Crazy day celebrating xmas in November – overseas family visiting, so just had to do it………….
So woodys when I saw late yesterday that Ian McDonald had sent in the photo that appears above, I was so happy. Was probably the closest I’ve been to missing posting a story.
So the photo is tagged “An unidentified motor launch on Lake Taupo”. William Barbour Beattie for NZ Herald, 1950. (Luck Lib Heritage Collections)
I’m expecting one of the Drake Brothers to ID her and possibly say they own or owned her 🙂
INPUT EX GREG PHILPOTT – OKATAINA – Built in 1938 by Sam Ford in 1938 for the Beamish-Whites at Lake Okataina. Sold in 1939 to the Government’s Internal Affairs Department who were looking for a boat to “serve their ranger work on Lake Taupo as well as on occasions carry distinguished guests”. They required a boat that “could handle rough weather and give fair speed”. Hence the official flag.
Later owners on Lake Taupo included John Henry Kay and Peter Redwood.
The boat ended up in Auckland in late 1989 / early 1990 in poor condition and then found her way to Thames where she remains today.
24-11-2025 INPUT EX PAUL DRAKE – We, the Drake Brothers, were quite besotted with OKATAINA when Peter Redwood owned her, and before we owned ROMANCE. In 1975, OKATAINA ‘s Chrysler Ace petrol engine ended up in ROMANCE. Legend has it that in 1939, at the start of WW2, OKATAINA was put in her float-in shed at the Taupo Boat Harbour and the door locked, not to be opened until 1945. She didn’t fare too well and required fairly expensive rot repairs, so it is said.
26-11-2025 INPUT EX PAUL DRAKE – Photo below of OKATAINA at Taupo (late 1960s) when the young Drake brothers were besotted with her. These days she has rather more structure (flying bridge) and is painted – white. But back then, she had class! To our young eyes, anyway.
Proof of the feast and the reason I was so unmotivated to punch the keyboard 🙂 And guess what, we will be doing it all again on Dec 25th 🙃
CLASSIC WOODEN BOATS AT SANDSPIT MARINA
Today we have a report in from Mark Newcomb who was stooging around Sandspit Marina and the Club hardstand over the weekend.
The first classic woody above is one we normally see at the Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade – its named RURU was possibly built in 1935 by Lidgard, 19’ in length. https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/07/22/ruru/
In the second photo we see JUANITA, the 32’ , 1951 Allan Williams designed and built classic launch, getting some serious pre-summer TLC. https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/03/21/the-rebirth-of-juanita/
In T he third photo we see LADY MAY, a Salthouse 37, spirit of tradition classic. If its the same launch I spotted at KAWAU ISLAND over Labour weekend , I think is is running a Hamilton Jet unit.
Lastly we have the 36’ , 1922, Dick Lang built launch – LADY ADELAIDE looking like she is about to be hauled out. https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/11/22/lady-adelaide-a-peek-down-below/
CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – AVALON RESTORATION UPDATE #2
WW has been following the restoration of AVALON the 24’ 1954 Sam Ford built classic wooden launch since late 2021.
Owner Tobias Forsyth has been juggling the project in between family life and a profession that sees him ‘off-shore’ for extended periods of time. I have linked the previous AVALON WW stories below – lots of historical photos.
Late 2021. https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/11/29/resurrection-of-avalon/
May 2025. https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/05/12/classic-wooden-launch-avalon-restoration-update/
Today Tobias has shared with us a gallery of work undertaken in the last 6 months. The size of the project is lofty but when its a one owner family craft you tend to disregard budgets and hours work.
Tobias commented that he had “made some good progress with interior build, cockpit, side deck glassing, loads of sanding and painting. Also finally finished the forward windscreen mahogany after deliberating on exactly how it should look for a while so I can order the new glass soon. I refurbished the original helm whittled by my grandfather in Manuka from the family farm in Beachaven, finished before he had even commissioned Avalon, I just had to replace the mahogany trim pieces that were made of a veneer and the diamantés”.
The next phase is a new cabin top and some basic systems installed then final top coats of paint and varnish then she’s good to go. The plan is she will be kept on a trailer making AVALON a very user friendly woody.
WHAT BECAME OF THE CLASSIC EX GAME BOAT KITTY VANE
Back in July we ran a story on the 42’ classic ex game launch – KITTY VANE (link below), at the time her owners were seeking to find a new custodian to complete the restoration project https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/07/31/legendary-ex-big-game-wooden-launch-seeks-passionate-new-custodian/
From previous WW stories we learnt that KITTY VANE was launched in 1956, designed and built by T.C. (Ces) Watson, Laurie Going (father of Hugh Going) worked on her as well. She is named after Katherine (Kitty) Airini Vane, a famous artist from Northland.
She was based at Whangarei Deep Sea Anglers Club at Tutukaka for many years, under the ownership of the Going family.
Yesterday I was contacted by woody John Dawson who sent in todays photos from her past.
We have two questions :- # 1 Did KITTY VANE find a new owner and if so can we get an update on the project. # 2 Is the last photo from her launch day
CLASSIC 21’ LAKE SPEED BOAT
Todays woody is a tad left field for WW, would be interesting to see what see looked like on launch day. For a longish time its been a lake boat and thats probably the best home for her.
Lots of ‘upgrades’ but still a looker and would fly with that 140hp Yamaha hanging off the stern. Must have been a beast when she had the twin 350hp V8’s ✔️
Built in 1957 by Jack Cropp she is 21’4” in length. A few areas that need some TLC but reflected in the price – $9k. Thanks to Ian McDonald for the heads up.
And woodys, as I have said many times – trailerable classics are the future of our movement.
waitematawoodys.com #1 for classic wooden boat stories, info, advice & news - updated daily - 14+ million views 