Category Archives: 1960’s

JUDITH AIMEE – Classic Wooden Launch

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JUDITH AIMEE – Classic Wooden Launch

Woody Geoff Fiebig sent in the above photo that he took while doing the Coastal Walk at Ti Point (Omaha / Leigh area, Rodney). The launch was moored in the entrance to the Whangateau Harbour. An interesting blend of styles and a rather large poop deck on her stern.

Can anyone tell us more about the vessel.

INPUT ex SHANE ANDERSON – Shane pointed me in the direction of the Percy Vos book – Launching Dreams – where we learnt she was built in 1966 to drawing by Ken McCormick. 42′ and when launched powered by a 75hp Gardner 6LW

INPUT & PHOTOS ex DONNA LEWIS
M father – Don McMillan and his father Neil McMillan went out on the JUDITH AIMEE when she was in Whitianga. My Grandfather retired to Whitianga from the Bay of Islands.

My best guess on the photos is between 1958 & no later than 1962 ( I was 4 years old then and did go boating with my Dad) but never on the JUDITH AIMEE.

I don’t know who owned her but have a feeling it may have been Malcolm Cruikshank who lived next door to My Grandfather on the esplanade.Pictured on the bottom photo is my grandad Neil – we called him Grandad Dick- sitting on top of the cabin with beret facing forward..I wish I new who the others are/ were. I will go on a fact finding mission

24-08-2025 INPUT ex Liz Needham – The captain of Judith Aimee was my Uncle Jim Needham

And on the subject of additions – we have a new leader in the craft that most resembles a block of flats. I wonder what they grow up there 😉 The woody that sent in the photo below should probably remain anonymous. The location looks like Kawau Island.

MV FRIENDSHIP – A Peek Down Below

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MV FRIENDSHIP – A Peek Down Below

WW was recently sent details on the 59’ motor launch – FRIENDSHIP by Peter Noble. Peter commented that she was formerly operating out of Deep Cove under the ownership of Fiordland Travel as the company was called 40 years ago.  She was used as a tourist boat, taking people out onto Doubtful Sound.  Nicknamed the Friendly Ship, she originally had two GM 353 diesels, these produced plenty of smoke and noise but not a great deal of power.   Peter also pointed us in the direction of a gent named –  Lance Shaw who lives in Manapouri, who hopefully he will be able to tell us more about the vessel.

The listing states that she was built by someone named Robb in 1956 and is made of wood, thats all we know because the ad is all about it being the best live aboard available. Well woodys given the sellers decorating approach thats very subjective, but they do say that ‘furnishing can be separately negotiated’ 🙂

INPUT ex JOHN GANDER ex Dean Wright – “Friendship was built for Les Kenny of ‘Friendship Launches Picton’ by Doug Robb a well known boatbuilder in Timaru. and ran for many years along with the smaller Friendship ( built by Ernie Lane) in Queen Charlotte Sound. Both vessels were powered by G.M. diesels. I remember in the 1960-70s there were three main launch companies, ‘Queen Charlotte launches’ ‘Friendship Launches’ and ‘Red Funnel Launches’ owned and run by Les’s brother Bill Kenny and there was quite a bit of rivalry and competition between Friendship and Red Funnel”

MYSTERY WOODEN LAUNCH AGROUND -C.1960

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MYSTERY WOODEN LAUNCH AGROUND – c.1960

During the week the story on MARISTELLA and her several episodes of touch hydrography prompted Gavin Pascoe to send in the photo above of an unidentified launch run aground on Pukerua Bay rocks in the Wellington region. There are some impressive rollers coming in so I’d be surprised if she was re-floated.

The photo caption had a date of c.1960’s on it and the comment that the photograph was taken for the Evening Post newspaper of Wellington by an unidentified staff photograph. The origin is c/o the National Library collection.

Anyone able tout a name to the launch.


WESTHAVEN COMPETITION – Dockside chat tells me the waterfront marine community are running a sweepstake on when the classic yacht CAPLIN will leave its new berth and venture out on the Waitemata Harbour. One old salt commented that maybe its new prime position was viewed by her new owner as an ornate gift to the neighbourhood…………….. 😉

UPDATE 11-07-2024 – I can confirm Caplin has ventured out 🙂

CLASSIC BIG GAME LAUNCHES HAULED OUT

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CLASSIC BIG GAME LAUNCHES HAULED OUT

Todays photo popped up yesterday on a Bill McQuinn fb feed and shows the Orams yard in Whangarei. The photo is dated 1967.

From left to right the game boats are (1) ’something’ GLEN (Lance Reid has suggested MONA’s GLEN , Lew Redwood says MONS GLEN and Nathan Herbert commented that could be MONA’S ISLE (2) BLUE FIN (3) RUTH.

• Keen to confirm the correct name of launch #1 . From the chat on the fb page it would appear that boat #1 is Monas Isle / Rakanui Read more below –https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/06/17/rakanui-mona-isle-ii/

• BLUE FIN has featured on WW before https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/04/27/blue-fin-2/

• Very interested to learn more about RUTH.

CLASSIC LAUNCH THETIS – BACK HOME

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CLASSIC LAUNCH THETIS – BACK HOME

Back in March we reported that THETIS had been sold and was now back in Auckland via Exclusive Transport and Boat Haulage. She was taken straight to the Tamaki Haulout Yard.

Early in the month owner Norman Ramsay advised that he scraped and repainted the bottom and had her put back in the water within a couple of weeks. She then motored down the Tamaki River to a berth in central Auckland. In the last photo above the launch in front of THETIS is Norman’s other launch – a Formula 4000 named ISLAND TIME.
A t the time of purchase / sea trial they was an issue with one of the Graymarine diesel engines, so Norman commented that engine work is ongoing in the berth at the moment and they are working through options from rebuild to replacement with Duetz engines. Post this the next step will be the interior.

Very happy to see THETIS back on the Waitemata and looking forward to reporting on the rolling restoration.

LOTS TO READ & SEE AT THE TWO PREVIOUS WW STORIES LINKED BELOW
https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/09/02/thetis-a-peek-down-below/
https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/09/13/thetis-ii-the-lane-motor-boat-co/

REBUILDING OF THE FIRE DESTROYED CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – KOKORU

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 REBUILDING OF THE FIRE DESTROYED CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – KOKORU

The top photo above is probably the most harrowing photo WW has published and the second photo is one I’m sure will see us all in good spirits. As unimaginable as it seems the 40′ 1960 Jack Morgan built classic launch – KOKORU is currently being rebuilt.

Back in March 2022 the classic wooden boat community learnt of the loss of KOKORU from a dockside / marina accident – fire on neighbouring vessel (refer photo below) that spread to several nearby craft. KOKORU had just been relaunched after an extensive high end refit. She was a right off and her owners made the right call and harvested what they could to start again with another classic launch.  Link to WW March story here https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/03/21/kokoru-ravaged-in-marina-fire-a-call-for-help/

I thought that was the end of the story. Normally is, they sit in a yard for a few years and then end up in a dumpster.

Well not KOKORU, last week I chanced on a Facebook thread that was show casing the work that Burnnand Marine were undertaking to rebuild KOKORU – well done to the owner.

I understand there is a large amount of that very thick paint that comes in rolls being used but we can turn a blind eye to that if it means we get one back from the grave.

So looking forward to seeing her relaunched.

24-02-2026 UPATE – new interior

LYNMAR

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Roger Miles
Mahurandi Regatta 2024
Mahurangi Regatta 2024

LYNMAR

The launch – LYNMAR has made several appearance on WW over the years. I first happened on her when I shared a few weeks in Geoff Bagnall’s boasted at Milford Creek. At the time LYNMAR was owned by Brian Burrell who resided at Tryphena, Great Barrier Island. Whenever LYNMAR was due some TLC Brian would come over to Geoff’s and haul out and live aboard while undertaking the work. 

We soon became friends when I started bring ‘leftover’ meals along for him 🙂 At the time I learnt that the launch was built by John Lidgard in the late 1960’s.

Back 2015 LYNMAR was out on the slip at Milford for some work – the link below has a lot of photos and details – make sure you read the comments section.  https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/06/27/lynmar/

I once called on Brian at his quirky property close to the Tryphena wharf – Brian being a collector of marine jetsam and floatsam I was hooked by an amazing display of boat stuff.

Some years later LYNMAR started making cameo appearances at the Mahurangi Regatta, so I assumed she had changed hands. Number 2 & 3 photos above are from the 2024 regatta.

The lead photo taken by Rogers Miles popped up last week on fb.

MULLET BOAT ON THE WAITEMATA – SPINDRIFT

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MULLET BOAT ON THE WAITEMATA – SPINDRIFT
Recently I discovered (thanks to Lew Redwood) a reference source that wasn’t on my radar – the Auckland Research Centre, which appears to be part of the Auckland Libraries offering. Most of the content will put you to sleep but an article this week on MULLET boats I think is worthy of reproducing. Reproduced below.
The photo above shows an open cockpit mullet boat, commercial fishing boat # AK89, off North Head, Auckland. Can we match a name to the commercial number?The image comes to us via Auckland Libraries Heritage collection 37-173 and may possibly have been taken by Henry Winkelmann.

It started off as a fishing boat for the working class man that became a cult classic – the mullet boat (aka the mullety). The mullet boat was developed in the 1860s for fishermen unused to the estuaries and tides of the Manukau and the Waitematā Harbours, to get their haul of fresh mullet, snapper or tarakihi back to Queens Wharf or Devonport as soon as possible. Included was a covered but cramped foredeck if the fishermen needed to spend a night out on the water. 

By the early 1900s, the days of fishing for mullet on sailboat were coming to an end as steam powered boats took over, but sailing the mulleties as a pastime was booming. They competed for the Lipton Cup which was donated to the Ponsonby Cruising Club by Sir Thomas Lipton, who had raced in the America’s Cup five times but never won. In fact, the trophy itself was made by the same silversmith who made the America’s Cup, is New Zealand’s oldest yachting trophy, and is still raced today.  

HAROLD KIDD INPUT – This is the 26ft mullet boat SPINDRIFT owned by H. Parker of Devonport in 1908. She was built at Devonport in 1904 by R.O. Farquhar. Later went north (Whangaruru, Whisk Martinengo thought) and wrecked.

The Best Sub 35’ Owen Woolley – AWARIKI – Now Offered 4sale At Reduced Price One of the best presented woodys 4sale with the Wooden Boat Bureau is the 32’ Owen Woolley built launch – AWARIKI Link below to more details and photos/

WBB has been advised that her owner wants her sold asap and has agreed to a significant price reduction – NOW $48,000 ono

DETAILS:  https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/11/06/awariki-on-the-market/

CONTACT: waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Q406 > NEW VENTURE > MOTUNUI > WAITANIC 

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Q406 > NEW VENTURE > MOTUNUI > WAITANIC 

Todays story comes to us via Ken Ricketts, with details and photos begged/borrowed/ uplifted by KR from the following sources – fb/google/Lew Redwood/Ken Brown/Daniel Michaels and KR himself.

The ship Q406, is probably the last Fairmile left in NZ. She was used during WW2, as a N.Z. coastal patrol boat, and later in the Solomons. Once she and the other Fairmiles returned back to Auckland in 1945, they were decommissioned. 

Q406 was offered up for sale via tender and purchased by Rodney Farry, who fitted 2 x Graymarine marinised GM Detroit 6-71 diesel engines, and converted her into a passenger ship. In this configuration she operated around the Otago Harbour, until she ran aground on a sandbar, causing Farry to lose interest in the concept. 

She was renamed NEW VENTURE in 1949 and sailed back to Auckland, under command of a temporary crew. While sailing back, she struck a violent storm off the Castlecliff Coast, with the inexperienced sailors clinging near the coast. 

In 1950, she was sold to Waiheke Shipping Co. and had her name changed to MOTUNUI and was used as a passenger ferry, transporting people to and from Auckland to Waiheke, Great Barrier & Motuihe Islands. 

When Waiheke Shipping was sold to North Shore Ferries. MOTUNUI would continue operating under them until 1984, when she was sold into private ownership. 

Over the next 20 years she would switch ownership multiple times, one of these being to the late Ken Brown, an old friend of Ken Rs, who converted her to pleasure craft use, in the 1980s. She was kept at the bottom of his garden, on the water’s edge, in the Tamaki River. 

There were plans in 1997 to have her brought to survey standards in time to be used as a sightseeing boat for the America’s Cup. 

This was abandoned when relations between the joint owners, (& several suppliers) soured. Even though much work was done by then (including fitting an original wheelhouse taken from Fairmile Kahu). 

She was sold again in 2001 and 2006, when she took one final voyage to Tauranga, so her machinery could be removed, along with her superstructure. 

Her final owner was Barry Woods, who operated Woodlyn Park Motel, at Waitomo. MOTUNUI was hauled onto land, and converted into a motel, now advertised as the ‘WAITANIC’. A sad ending but better than a date with a backhoe and box of matches and she has some funky neibours for company – a Bristol Frighter and railway car, refer below 🙂 . (edited by Alan H)

BEVERLENE – A Peek Down Below

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BEVERLENE – A Peek Down Below

Todays woody is – BEVERLENE, the 40’ kauri planked sedan launch built by Owen Woolley in 1968. Her beam is 11’9” and a draft of 3’3”.

As with so many Woolleys the power plant is a 120hp Commer TS3 diesel.

Hasn’t popped up on WW before so keen to learn more about her past life.

INPUT ex Mark Erskine, via K Ricketts – The engine in BEVERLENE is a Rootes 3DB-215 TS3 c.1967>70. Mark reconditioned the engine in 2008 while berthed at Kopu, Thames. Tuned correctly it will produce 140hp. Gearbox is a Borg-Warner 72-C velvet drive.