DEE 3
Today’s woody bridge-decker was built in the early 1960’s by Phil Lange for Roger Chamberlain of Chamberlains Island and comes to us via tme (thanks Ian McDonald).
Dee 3, surely not her original name?, measures 38’ in length, and is built from 1 & 1/4″ strip planked kauri. Powered by a 130hp 6 cyl. Perkins diesel.
Currently located in Napier, can anyone tell us more about Dee 3?
Woody Classics Weekend – Riverhead Tavern Lunch Cruise
Saturday night in Auckland was evil, rain, thunder and lightening – up and down several times during the night, each time thinking – Sundays woody cruise will be cancelled. But once again the weather gods smiled on us and half way up the river the sun came out and stayed out all day. Saturday nights weather scared a few boats off making the trip but most decided to join in via car.
A very pleasant afternoon was had in the Tavern’s Boathouse, which we had reserved for the group. Wonderful to catch up with everyone and to welcome several newbies to the group.Hats off the Jim and Karin Lott who made the trip up the river in their 38’ Stewart yacht – Mokoia. Make a note yachties – sub 2m draft and you are all good 😉
You will notice from the upper river photos that after all the rain, the water was very muddy – worst I have seen it – makes you wonder about all the farm land ‘converted’ to high density housing in the area. When we first started woody trips to the Tavern, most of the surrounding land was either forestry or pasture.
Took a detour on the way back into the viaduct, almost feel embarrassed asking the bridge control to raise the bridge for Raindance 🙂 , to check on the John Spencer / Classic Yacht & Launch gig at Kairanga Plaza, Wynyard Quarter – scored a VIP berth, thank you Tony Stevenson.Not as many photos as normal , for once I spent most of the afternoon chatting, special thanks to Chris Miller who grabbed my camera a few times and snapped some goodies.
WIN A COPY OF ‘THE JOHN SPENCER STORY’ 64 PAGE BOOKLET
All woodys that answer the following question correctly, go into the draw for a copy of the above – As always, entry ONLY VIA EMAIL to waitematawoodys@gmail.com
Q – “What was the longest yacht John Spencer designed and built”?
Entries close 8pm 09-11-2020
New Zealand Wooden Boat Yard Visit – 50 Photos
Yesterday afternoon, Auckland based woodys got to rub shoulders with an impressive collection of classic wooden boats at one of New Zealand’s leading wooden boat yards – the Peter Brookes ‘Brookes Boatbuilders’ complex in rural Waimauku, West Auckland. I have been privileged to visit numerous times but every visit is a treat, where else would you see over eight classic yachts and launches in varying stages of restorations.
I’ll let the photos tell the story, if I have a photo mixed up, let me know 🙂 – enjoy – remember as always if you click on the photos they will enlarge 😉
Amakura II – 1936 Colin Wild, 52’ Bridgedecker
Impala – 1960 Fife, Teak planking
Matia A23 – 1939 Lidgard, 50’, triple skinned kauri
Kenya II – 1940 Lidgard, 50’, triple skinned kauri. Gardner 6LXB
Pilot Cutter – 50’
Kotiri – 1897 Logan
Ladye Wilma B26 – 1895 Logan Bros, 43’, triple skinned kauri
Katrina II K100 – 1944 Bob Stewart, K-Class
Labour Weekend Woody Cruise
The last 3 days would have to be one of the best boating long weekends in a very long time, well thats if you own a motor-boat. The classic woody stick and rag boys racing in the Coastal Classic race to Russell in the Bay of Islands made very hard work of it – did any finish?, those I talked to pulled out on Saturday morning. A quick glance at the results show about 75% of the total fleet did not finish.
The biggest decision of the weekend was whether to turn left or right at North Head, I went left and made the right call, as the reports from the bottom end of Waiheke and Coromandel was it was a zoo 🙂 On the other hand Rakino was perfect – great weather and not too crowded. Only saw 3 other woodys – Gay Dawn and Juanita in Woody Bay and Mahanui just out from West Bay (very early Monday morning) and passed Felicitare
Highlight was a seriously up close encounter with some Orca while anchored in West Bay – they were rounding up a feed of stingray for lunch.
I see Trinidad is making a star appearance in the AWLWOOD (Uroxsys) advertisements 😉
Update – Arohanui mooching around the bottom end of Waiheke and Coromandel
WANDERER II
Wanderer II was built in 1965 by Owen Woolley and measures approx. 39’ with a 13’7” beam. Powered by a Ford Lees 100hp 6 cyl. diesel she gets along at a comfortable 8 knots. A recent addition to tme (thanks Ian McDonald).
Can we uncover where and what Wanderer II has been up to for the last 55 years?
Input From Nigel Drake – Below is another photo of Wanderer 11, I am a friend of the present owner. The previous owner showed me this photo of her when he sold her 5 years ago. She is in her original colours. Not sure of the date but interestingly the name on the side is Wanderer not Wanderer 11. The previous owner had her for about 17 years to my knowledge and kept her in Doves Harbour, Bay of Islands. The owner before him, who was the 2nd owner, also had her for about 17 years apparently.
Buying or Selling a Classic Boat
Without sounding too much like the late Jacinda Ardern (“be kind”) – when people ask me about classic wooden boat ownership, I normally say that owning a woody has a positive effect on your life i.e. you end up forging a life you don’t need to escape from.
So woodys in the interest of your mental well being listed below a sample of some of the boats that are currently berthed at the virtual Wooden Boat Bureau Sales Marina. There are others for sale, some owners request privacy. To read more about the Wooden Boat Bureau – click https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/12/01/wooden-boat-bureau-advice-for-buyers-and-sellers/
The Wooden Boat Bureau is uniquely placed to offer impartial, up-to-date market information and objective advice to both sellers and buyers. So if you are looking for a wooden boat or considering selling – email us at waitematawoodys@gmail.com
Or call Alan Houghton 027 660 9999
SELECTION ONLY – 50% of Listing Are Private
ATHENA🔻 48′ 1962 Des Donovan – Asking Price TBA
Learn more – https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/01/30/classic-wooden-launch-athena/
NGARUNUI 🔻 48′ 1959 Jim Young- Asking Price TBA
Learn more – https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/12/08/classic-wooden-launch-ngarunui-a-peek-down-below-now-for-sale/
MARGARET ANNE 🔻 45′ 1960 Oliver & Gilpin – Asking Price TBA
Learn more – https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/11/10/classic-42-launch-margaret-anne-4sale/
MAHANUI 🔻42′ 1977 T Atkinson – Asking Price – TBA
Learn more https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/10/28/classic-42-sports-cruiser-mahanui/
ALLERGY🔻 58′ 1985 Denis Ganley / Pete Culler – Asking Price – $110,000
Learn more https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/10/21/allergy-aucklands-most-livable-woody/
ROMANCE II🔻36′ 1919 Bailey & Lowe – Price by negotiation
Learn more https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/11/20/quick-classic-launch-4sale-romance-ii/
KURANGI🔻35′ 1960 Builder tbc- Asking Price – TBA
Learn more https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/10/06/kurangi-2/
ANTARES 🔻36′ 1949 McGeady / Supreme Craft – Asking Price – $55,000 $45,000
Learn more – email waitematawoodys@gmail.com
RESTLESS 🔻40′ 1920 Alden/Tercel – Asking price – TBA
Learn more https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/03/19/restless/
SOLD – Selection below, some names withheld at seller / buyer request:
ADONIS 45′ – Owen Woolley – 1965 launch
AROHANUI 48’ – Donovan/Hacker – 1965 launch
ATHENA 25′ c.1950 Couldrey launch
AWARIKI 32′ 1967 Owen Woolley launch
BALLERINA 28′ – Lidgard – 1951 launch
BONDI BELLE 45′ 1901 CHARLES BAILEY JNR.
CAPLIN 35′ – Anderson & Sons (UK) 1937/8 -Gaff Yawl yacht
CASTAWAY 33’ – Dick Lang – 1947 launch
CENTAURUS 42’ – Bailey & Sons – 1967 launch
KAILUA 36’ – Salthouse – 1960/1 launch
KOKORU 39’ – Jack Morgan – 1960 launch
KOTARE 24’ – Kingfisher Boats – 1954 launch
LADY ADELAIDE 35’ – Dick Lang – 1922 launch
LADY PAMELA 59’ – Pelin Warrior – 1986 launch
MAHANUI 42’ – Keith Atkinson – 1977 launch
MANA-NUI 39′ 1913 Harvey & Lang
MANURERE 43” 1937 Miller & Tunnage –
MATAROA 36′ Joe Slattery 1928 launch
MONTEREY 33’6” 1946 Lidgard bridge-decker launch
NGARO 45’ – Lidgard – 1953 launch
PIRATE 42’ – Leone Warne – 1938 launch
POCO LENTO 33’ – Roy Parris/Bagnall – 1979 launch
RANUI 48’ 1948 Lidgard
WAIKARO 33’ – Roy Parris/Bagnall – 1978 launch
WAIMIGA 36’ – Robertson Boatbuilders – 1968 launch
SEA FEVER 34′ Salthouse – 1958 launch
SEQUOIA 36′ 1938 Lewis McLeod launch
SHALOM 48’ – Keith Atkinson – 1973 launch
SILENS 38′ Harvey & Lang 1912 launch
TARANUI 36′ 1965 John Gladden Motor-salier
VANESSA 48′ 2005 Robbie Roberts Passage Motor Yacht
Big Woody Gets A Face Lift
The 1965 Salthouse built woody – Trinidad is currently tucked up in the Greg Lees Boatbuilder shed at Sandspit getting some botox i.e touch-up coats to the coamings and wheelhouse and a re-paint of the topsides.
Yesterday, the brains trust from the yard + Akzo Nobel (AWLWOOD MA & International Paints) + AWLWOOD MA Guru (Uroxsys founder) David Waddingham met to discuss the upcoming work on Trinidad, she is a bit like their in-house model. It was interesting to be a fly-on-the-wall and hear about the latest thinking on application / thinning / primer techniques and their newish line extensions eg the Multi-climate gloss finish. The product has come a very long way in the last few years.
You can see from the last two photos that the GL’s boys only just manage to get the doors closed when Trinidad visits, very cozy.
While there, foreman Dale Collins, flipped the covers on his recently completed clinker dinghy (photos below) – stunning and woodys its 4sale 🙂
WOODYS LUNCH CRUISE TO RIVERHEAD TAVERN – TIME TO RSVP
If you are planning on joining the fleet for the cruise up the Riverhead river to join fellow woodys for launch on Sunday November 8th – drop me a quick email with boat name and approx crew numbers waitematawoodys@gmail.com
MYSTERY LAUNCH – 1968 Sam McGreedy
The above 39’ carvel planked, 1968 launch popped up on trademe, light on photos, the tme ones are very average. The stated builder is Sam McGreedy, thats a new one to me.Power is from a 130hp Ford diesel. Appears to be well fitted out.
From the photos I suspect it a Panmure boat – can on of the river rats enlighten us more on the boat?
That was easy, thanks Ken R – its White Cloud see more here
https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/11/18/white-cloud/
Also video of launch day
https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/06/10/white-cloud-movie-leaving-the-shed-launch-day/
HOST VENUE: NZ Traditional Boatbuilding School 17 Totara Rd, Te Atatu Peninsula, Auckland – Saturday 17 October 2020 – Sunday 18 October 2020
This is a two day course introducing you to the use of hand tools. Over the two days you will build a small tool box and a bench stop incorporating a number of woodworking joints and skills including cutting a simple scarf joint and then using copper nails and rivets to turn that piece into a handy Bench stop. Marking and cutting pieces for the tool box, preparing the timber with planes and a cabinet scraper, marking and cutting a dovetail joint, marking and drilling dowel joints, turning a square piece of wood into a round handle, final assembly and clean up.
This is a great course for someone wanting to learn how to cut accurately and use chisels and planes and other hand tools in a practical manner. Students will leave with a completed toolbox and bench stop and an introduction to many new skills. The tutors for this course are Olaf Wiig and Allan Hooper.
NOTE: Min of three students required, max of six students- COST $290 – includes materials for toolbox.
Click link for more details on NZTBS + space bookings http://nztbs.org.nz/course/an-introduction-to-fine-woodworking/
Classic Wooden Boat Picnic – 20 photos
Firstly I need to thank Predictwind for Saturdays forecast, 100% on the button, as usual. One woody at the picnic didn’t come by boat based on the forecast published in Saturdays NZ Herald newspaper……………….. I suspect they also believe the horoscopes in the same paper are factual.
The morning started off a tad eerie with a sea mist blanketing a lot of the sea area off the east coast – but this burned off late morning and we then enjoyed perfect weather. The NZH and coastguard weather forecasts saw the numbers of launches attending drop to 12 but great to see so many turning up by car. Also very fine to have 3 past CYA chairman in attendance – Steve Cranch, Rod Marler and Peter Mence.
The waterfront based Stillwater Motor Camp is an idyllic setting for a gathering of classic wooden boats – deep water wharf access to raft up to + a tree shaded lawn. After some interesting docking (too many dockside expects) we had the launches tied up and everyone then decamped to the lawn. Special thanks to Mark Edmonds (Monterey) for again coordinating the venue.
A lot of the group had not caught up since the CV-19 lock-downs so it was good to swap stories and boating plans for the upcoming summer.
There has always been good camaraderie on the water between boaties and its something that we foster at Woody Classics Weekends – proof of it in practice is seen below in the photo of Rod and Fiona aboard Arohanui taking Murray Deeble’s Waikiore under tow. Towed him all the way back to the entrance to Milford Creek, where another woody – Jason Prew had ventured out in rather unpleasant conditions to get Waikiore back on her Milford berth. Well done to everyone.
Message for Murray – “should have bought a Yamaha” 🙂
Next Woodys on the water event – November 8th – Riverhead Tavern Lunch Cruise
Centaurus Has A Birthday
WW readers will recall that in late 2019 Angus Rogers purchased the 1967 1968 Bailey & Sons built bridge-decker Centaurus. After an extended summer cruise she was hauled out at Okahu Bay for a serious overhaul of her systems and to bring her presentation up to the Rogers standard. Last Friday she was eased back into the water (got to love that tractor unit) looking very sharp. One of the additions was a bow and stern water jet thruster set-up, very impressive piece of kits and remarkably quiet. More photos of the project soon.
It will be a shoes off inspection for those woodys doing the Stillwater Woody picnic cruise next Saturday (26th) – I’d better ensure she gets a prime spot on the wharf 😉
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