Category Archives: 1960’s

Dionysus (Paulmarkson)

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Dionysus (Paulmarkson)

 
Todays WW story is sobering viewing, it records the fate of Dionysus, the Percy Vos built motor sailer, that went ashore at Oakura in July 2014.
I understand she was left unattended on anchor and the weather turned nasty overnight and the owners could not get out to her. Details & photos from Cameron Pollard.
 
She was extensively damaged with her decks and bulkheads popped. The decision was made instantly by insurance and council to remove the wreck asap.
Cameron reports that her Gardner engine was taken away after its salt water washing and has since been saved and is destined for a new home in a very nice fishing boat conversion.
Her rigs and tailshaft etc were dragged into a paddock and anything still intact was left with it .
 
Lots of vehicles on the beach in the photos – in fact the beach is actually a designated road.

Lady Fair

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LADY FAIR - GULF HARBOUR - 1

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LADY  FAIR

Lady Fair was designed by William Garden and built in America in 1960 using cedar. Originally a 67’ ketch, Ken Ricketts was told she was sailed to NZ approx. 7>8 years ago, under her original ketch rig by a previous owner. Then her rigging was removed & she was converted to a motor boat (by the present owner). Her coamings are original & she still has a substantial amount of lead ballast in the bilges.

Her power comes from a 170hp Caterpillar diesel that pushes her along at 7-9.5Kts.  Home has been the Viaduct Basin for much of her time in NZ, her owners live aboard permanently.

In a previous life she spent time in Turkey, c.2013 where she was for sale, it appears her name then was – Haz.

(Note: details ex Ken Ricketts via trade people working on the boat – edited alot by Alan H – NZ photos ex KR, oversea ex google via KR))

30-10-2019 Update from Owner Dave Miller

“Just to put the record straight. No criticism intended.
Lady Fair was designed by William Garden(hull #407), built by Fellowes and Stewart on Terminal Island in LA California and launched in 1960. She was built for Donald Douglas of the Douglas Corporation aircraft company.
She is constructed with bent oak frames and single planked with 2 ½” Douglas Fir. Transom is double planked Mahogany. Stem is Gum and the keel shoe is Ironwood. Designed as a motor-sailer with Ketch rig. Displacement 65 tons.
Engine is a single Caterpillar D342C of 220 max flywheel Horsepower @1300 rpm. In-line 6, displacement 20.4 litres. Weighing 3 tons with transmission. 10.5kts. @1,000rpm. Cruising at ~800rpm, 7.5kts. we burn ~20ltrs per hour Including 2 hrs generator use per day.
Fuel capacity = 12 tons in three tanks. F.W. capacity = 2.4 tons in two tanks. 1 ton holding tank.
A later owner sailed her to Wellington NZ. arriving in 1993. We bought her in 2012 and brought her up to Hobson West in the Viaduct where we remained until a year ago when we sadly had to vacate because – America’s Cup! We are now in Bayswater Marina. To my knowledge she has never been to Europe and has never had a name change. She has been to the pacific Islands a few times.
We hauled out at Gulf Harbour in March and some of the pictures are from that time. Below the waterline was scraped back to bare wood. Small area of worm in the keel and bottom of rudder. Had iron fastener problems so quite a lot of plank work, some rot in lower transom and a LOT of fasteners. The repairs were carried out by ‘Nautical Experience’ (Cory Rademaekers and team) and was to his usual absolutely first-class standard.
Kind regards, Dave and Mary Miller.”

Anyone Looking For A One Off Art Installation

The ‘boat’ below is on trademe – would look great at a pub, cafe or in a serious Woodys front paddock. 
If the seller gets no interest, it will be cut up for firewood – its too cool for that 🙂
Wood appears to be oak, measures approx. 8mx3m. Currently located at Grahams Beach, Awhitu. Its very close to the road so moving her shouldn’t be a major.
Thanks to T Foh for the listing heads up.

John Salthouse Crosses The Bar

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John Salthouse

John Salthouse Crosses The Bar
Sad to hear that John Salthouse, the founder of Salthouse Boatbuilders passed away on Sunday night. If you have any doubts as to the extent of the mans input to our classic woody fleet just type SALTHOUSE in the WW search box & you’ll be amazed by the craft that John either built or enhanced in his lifetime. Below is a gallery of just some of the craft that Salthouse Boatbuilders have built.
Our thoughts go out to the extended Salthouse family. While he has left us, his legacy will grace our waters for many many years to come.
TRINIDAD

Florence Rose – Launch Day

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My beautiful picture

My beautiful picture
My beautiful picture
My beautiful picture
FLORENCE ROSE – Launch Day
 
As part of a recent email exchange with Mark Powell, Mark sent me the above photos from the launching of Florence Rose launching at the Chas Bailey and Sons yard.
In a previous WW post Gil Littler confirmed that Florence Rose was designed by Billy Rogers and built at Bailey’s in the 1960’s while he was serving his apprenticeship there. Gil was given the job of lofting her out and making up the frames before Kenny Hitchens (and other tradesmen) became involved in her construction. The hull was built on the mezzanine floor before being brought down to the slipway level by a large forklift to be finished off. 
 
Gil believes she was built for Harry Rose, which we now know is correct, in the photo below we have Mark Powell’s mother, Joan Powell, with Mark in short pants and the gent on the helm is Harry Rose.
 
I took the 2nd photo below of Flo Ro in October 2013 in Station Bay, Motutapu Island. 
My beautiful picture
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Building Fritha – Sailing Sunday

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Building Fritha –  Sailing Sunday

Following on from the stunning WW post on the McMullen & Wing built 74’ brigantine – Fritha, Chris McMullen has shared with us a gallery of photos from the build.
In Chris’s words – it shows a bunch of mainly young guys building a proper sailing ship. Chris commented how lucky they all were to have had that opportunity. The photos should be credited to M&W ex apprentice Grant Thomas who was the leading hand on Fritha.
 
The Fritha was built traditionally but certainly not by eye. You may notice the cabin trunks were well underway before the hull was planked. This was possible because M&W had a very experienced team. The workmanship got better every boat they built but the estimate of time was exceeded. (Chris stressed how lucky they were to have an understanding owner who appreciated what he got). Further, it became almost impossible to get good wood. Chris’s business partner Eric Wing was by then running their haul out yard at Westhaven.
Sadly “Fritha” was the last real boat M&W built. M&W was sold and became a ship yard rather than a boatyard.
While most people associate M&W as metal boat builders, Chris said that they did that, as we had to. There is nothing wrong with a wooden boat providing it is built properly of good timber. There was no wood left so it was metal or frozen snot. They chose to build metal boats but employed mainly woodworkers.
Chris would like to pass on thanks to the late owner of “Fritha” Mr JR Butland and the loyal team he had that built some beautiful yachts. 
 
View the previous WW story on Fritha here – lots of photos  https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/02/24/fritha/

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1962 Woody Ski Boat – Coastguard Wanaka Lakes Funding Help

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1962 Woody Ski Boat – Coastguard Wanaka Lakes Funding Help
As passionate boaties we are all very aware of the funding needs of the Coastguard, todays story is about a unique woody funding opportunity.
The Wanaka Lakes CG have been given a mint 1962 wooden ski boat, with original Mercury 2-stroke 50hp outboard. It is in very good condition and was supposedly the first ski boat on Lake Wanaka. It’s been stored very well for the last 20+ years and looking at the above photos appears ready to go boating.
I understand the owner has said that he would like GC to be able to sell the boat and have the proceeds as a donation. The family of the current owner had the boat built in Dunedin, but can’t remember the boatbuilder. He also said that there was an article on Whizz Ski Galore in a NZ boating magazine in the 1960’s or 1970’s.
If any woodys are looking for an easy manageable classic woody – contact David Balls on 027 517 6866 or email   david.balls@icloud.com

Launching of Centaurus

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LAUNCHING OF CENTAURUS

Yesterdays story on Leilani and Centaurus, prompted Mark Powell to dig out the above photos from the launching of Centaurus at the Bailey & Sons yard in 1965.

Launchings back then had a little more pomp and ceremony than these days – seems there was always a spot for of a man of the cloth 😉
Comparing the above photos to the recent one below – she has survived the passage of time well – almost unchanged from launch day – we like that 🙂
As always, you can read / view more on Centaurus in past WW stories – links below 😉
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20th Lake Rotoiti – Antique & Classic Boat Show – 200+ Classic Wooden Boat Photos

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20th Lake Rotoiti – Antique & Classic Boat Show – 200+ Classic Wooden Boat Photos

On the 1st weekend of March we travelled south to Nelson for a wee escape. Just by chance (yeah right says the wife) there was a classic woody event on. I have seen and heard a lot about the Antique & Classic Boat Show that is held every year on Lake Rotoiti, one hour south of Nelson but I had never attended. We were staying with good friends in Mapua so early on the Sunday the men folk packed up the car  and headed off. We arrived at the lake as everyone was dusting off  / polishing their pride and joy – I understand there was a social event on the Saturday night and a few looked a little ‘dusty’ themselves.
The venue is just mind blowingly spectacular – and I have not seen so much varnished wood in one place in NZ before. Combine this with a very laid back southern friendliness and we had a great morning.
The woodys on show ranged from vintage radio controlled speedboats, sailing dinghies and speedboats to 100 mile-an-hour hydro-planes. Check out the movie of the hydro-plane Elray III below.
The photos above are intended to give you an insight into the show, warts and all – it’s not a gallery of perfectly presented craft.
Enjoy, we did.

Prudence

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PRUDENCE
 
I have been contacted by Graham Paddon looking for information regarding Prudence – his 36’, 1965 Bob Swanson designed and built launch. Graham purchased her as an unfinished project about 3 years ago.
 
You will see in the photos above, ex the front cover of the November 1965 issue of the Mana Cruising Club newsletter – how Prudence looked when launched, the 2nd photo is the newsletter story on the boat. 
Graham knows very little of the boats history between her launching and when he bought her 3 years ago. If any woody can help Graham out it would be very much appreciated. The photos below show her today…….  I have to say she has lost the classic look. The newsletter photo and the fact she is triple-skinned kauri is just enough to sneak into WW 🙂
 
Classic Yacht Association Yachting 2019 Regatta
Last weekend saw the biggest fleet of classic yachts competing on the Waitemata in years – well done to the new CYA crew for pulling it all together. 
I was out of town but Roger Mills, aboard James Mortimer’s Logan – Little Jim, filmed and edited a very cool video from Day 2, Race 2. Check it out below – stunning footage of the old girls racing on our magnificent harbour – speaking of which – if you can, remember to join todays protest flotilla to stop the Auckland Council stealing more of our harbour – meet at 3pm off Queens Wharf – details here.  
 

Mystery Launch – Kawau 1963

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Mystery Launch – Kawau 1963

The question today is can anyone ID the launch on the right in the above May 1963 Mansion House Bay, Kawau Island?
Thanks to Len Redwoods fb page for the photo.

Steam Boats At Warkworth
Woody boatbuilder Colin Brown sent in the photos below of the recent steam gathering at the Warkworth Basin.

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