Category Archives: 1960’s

CAN WE ID THIS CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH + Win A Off Centre Harbor Cap

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CAN WE ID THIS CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH + Win A Off Centre Harbor Cap

Todays woody photo was sent in by Nathan Herbert and shows a classic wooden launch probably berthed at Westhaven Marina, Auckland.

Nathan commented that the date was c.1960’s and that the launch had a Woolleys look to her.

She is one of those boats that looks very familiar but we can’t put a name to her.

So woodys – the first person to correctly* ID the launch wins a OFF CENTRE HARBOUR cap. All entries via the WW comments section. *NOTE: WW must be able to verify the launch name. 

VIEW OFF CENTER HARBOR HERE – offcentreharbor.com

UPDATE ON THE CLASSIC LAUNCH – COLUMBIA

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UPDATE ON THE CLASSIC LAUNCH – COLUMBIA

On Wednesday we asked for more information on the classic wooden launch – COLUMBIA and the WW readers delivered, link here to that story https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/06/25/looking-for-information-on-classic-launch-columbia/ . 

Then on Thursday night Sandra Gibson sent in the gallery of photos above and advised that “Columbia has been restored by Stanford Boatbuilders, as she had been gutted. And she is now powered by a V8 Cat and she is 2 meters longer. Cruises at 14 knots. Modernized inside and very comfortable.”aunt 

Reviewing the book cover below, her exterior hasn’t changed much in the last 30 years.

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – NAUTILUS GETS SOME TLC

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – NAUTILUS GETS SOME TLC

Earlier in the week one of the WW spotters, Alan Sexton, dropped WW a note to say that the 44′ Oliver & Gilpin 1964 built classic wooden launch NAUTILUS was hauled out at Sandspit Marina for some TLC. Always good to see the big old girls being looked after. My lips are sealed but NAUTILUS is another classic woody owned by one of NZ’s yachting ‘royalty’.

The first grouping of photos is as of this week, the b/w photo is probably as launched, and the last lot are from approx. 4 years ago + a peek down below (again 4>5 yrs ago). Forward motion is via twin120hp Isuzu diesel engines.

We understand home these days is the Whangateau area.

LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON – CLASSIC LAUNCH – COLUMBIA

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LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON – CLASSIC LAUNCH – COLUMBIA

Recently WW was contacted by Richard Erdman who had just finished re-reading 2 books penned by Ralph S Von Kohorn that document Ralph’s circumnavigation of the South and North Islands of New Zealand in the early 1970’s aboard his motor vessel COLUMBA.
Richard commented that COLUMBA was designed in 1967, 45′ loa, and powered by a single Detroit GM 283, 8 cylinder engine, that gave her a top speed of 15 knots but she cruised at 9 knots. No mention was made of the vessels designer or builder.

The books were published : South Island cruise – Jan 1977 and North Island cruise – Jan 1979 

In 1977 Ralph was commodore of the Mana cruising club in Wellington. 

The artist painting of COLUMBA on the North Island book has been very generous in their rendering i.e. she looks better than in real life (South Island cover) 🙂

So woodys todays question is what became of COLUMBA and can we earn more of her back story.

INPUT EX ALAN SEXTON – A very detailed description of Columbia is provided in Appendix II in “Columbia Cruises North”. Quick summary, designed by Jim Cole (California), built by Lidgards, 2 skin kauri , powered by Detroit 8V53, launched 1967. Baron Ralph Steven von Kohorn died in early 2011 aged 91, his wife Jill died some months later aged 67.

INPUT EX JEFF GIDDEN – Used to be moored under the bridges at Paremata many years ago.

INPUT EX BOB SPEARMAN – Columbia is in Havelock, Pelorus Sounds

26-06-2025 INPUT EX SANDRA GIBSON – The Columbia has been restored by Stanford boatbuilders, as she had been gutted. She is now powered by a V8 cat and she is 2 meters longer. Cruises at 14 knots. Modernized inside and very comfortable

CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT RIVER CRUISE – TRIP REPORT

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MATRIA
KIWA
MANAPOURI
KIWA
NGAIO + MANAPOURI + TUHUA
KALUA
WAIKARO
MA CHERIE
KIWA + MA CHERIE
TUHUA
KIWA + KALUA
MARISTELLA
WAIKARO+ MY GIRL
RAINDANCE
MANAPOURI

CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT RIVER CRUISE – TRIP REPORT
Fridays Classic woodys cruise to the waterfront Riverhead Tavern for lunch was a grand day afloat, 13 classic wooden craft made the journey up the upper reaches of the Waitemata Harbour to the historic tavern. It was extra special with several first-timers making the trip.
We were blessed with the weather and also having just one of the tourist ferries making the trip on the day, which allowed us to berth a lot of the boat on the jetty.

Special mention to the 7 classic launch skippers and partners that came by water taxi (MY GIRL) – Cam Malcolm (Connie V), Rodger Moore (ex Te Hauraki), Jason Davies (Lucinda), and those via car – Ian Gavin (Florance Dawn), Matt Cooper (Korawai) and John Chambers (Ngarunui), Murray Deeble ( Waikiore) combined with the 13 boats on the water we had crews from 20 classic craft present on the day. Very happy with that turn out.

True to form, the tavern and its staff extended their usual warm hospitality.
Enjoy the photo gallery

CLASSIC SWANSON KAURI CLINKER LAUNCH -STELLA ROSE

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CLASSIC SWANSON KAURI CLINKER LAUNCH – STELLA ROSE

Todays 34’ woody was built in 1967 by boat builder R E Swanson, constructed via the clinker method using kauri planks. The interior is macrocarpa.

Forward motion is from a 70hp Ford diesel engine.

Woody Ian McDonald commented that she had a similar ‘look’ to Baden Pascoe’s – JOHN DORY, I’m sure Baden will disagree 😉

Can we learn more about this Akaroa, South Island woody.

22-06-2025 INPUT EX LIAM DALY
There were at least two other ‘almost identical’ clinker built launches built by  Bob Swanson. One was named “TELSTAR” And the other named “MANANA” which was often mispronounce!  “Mañana” named after a popular song of the day, translated from Spanish means, “tomorrow” or “morning”.Back in the day, Manana was at one time owned by Bay of Many Coves identity Errol Christian. Errol installed a huge turbo charged 100 h.p. diesel engine in Manana which he used as a water taxi throughout Queen Charlotte Sounds.     

KEN RICKETTS Input – it’s named STELLA ROSE

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH MA CHERIE (ADI KUILA) LIVES ON

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH MA CHERIE (ADI KUILA) LIVES ON

The 53’ Lane built (1965) classic wooden launch – ADI KUILA first appeared on WW back in 2014. We didn’t learn a lot about her then but were told she spent time in Fiji in the 1980’s > 1990’s.

Then she popped up again in October 2016 named MA CHERIE and looking very smart – link here to that story https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/10/21/ma-cherie/

Then again in Jan 2023 we got a flash back to how she looked in her youth – link here  https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/10/21/ma-cherie/

Fast forward to early May 2025 and I’m contacted by the saviour of so many classic woodys – John Wright, to say they had stepped in and acquired the vessel, patched her hull up and were relocating her to the Te Atatu Boating Club to do what John does so well e.g. save and refurbish the vessel. 

We look for to following this project.
Photo below from 2016, I understand she has gone backwards since then.

RSVP TODAY FOR WOODYS RIVERHEAD LAUNCH CRUISE waitematawoodys@gmail.com

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE LAUNCH – VOLANTE

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WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE LAUNCH –  VOLANTE

Recently WW was contacted by Darren Spragg advising he had acquired the 40’ launch – VOLANTE, and was asking for help to learn the boats back story.

Darren commented that when purchased all he was told was that she was 40’ in length and probably designed and built by the John Lidgard yard c.1963.

Construction is triple diagonal kauri, that at a later date has been f/glassed.

Currently powered by twin 120hp Ford Lehman diesels.

I won’t comment on the top 2 metres other than to say – ’nothing a tungsten tipped chainsaw couldn’t fix’ 😉

Her stern has Tauranga as the home port so maybe a Bay of Plenty woody can enlighten us as to where she has been for the last 60 odd years.
Would love to see a as-launched photo.

RSVP FOR CLASSIC WOODYS RIVERHEAD LUNCH CRUISE – FRIDAY 20 – MATARIKI HOLIDAY waitematawoodys@gmail.com

LOOKING FOR INFO ON THE CLASSIC LAUNCH – WAKANUI 

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LOOKING FOR INFO ON THE CLASSIC LAUNCH – WAKANUI 

WW was recently contacted by Craig and Mary Mountjoy regarding the launch – WAKANUI.

Craig commented that she was launched in approx. 1969, having been built for Ed Schischka, who farmed at the mouth of the Puhoi River, on land that is now the upstream part of the Auckland Regional Reserve at Wenderholm. 

WAIANUI was kept on a swing mooring just outside of the family farmhouse, which is now known as the ‘Schischka Homestead’. The Schischka family mostly used her for day fishing expeditions, in between milkings.

Mary believes she was built in Greenhithe, which would possibly indicate Salthouse, but Lidgard has been remembered as another possibility.

The above photo, at Westhaven, Auckland may have been taken on launch day. In the photo she appears to be around 30’ in length.

I questioned Graig re the photo as it appears too perfect i.e.had it been re-touched, Craig assured me he had scanned the photo from the original 1969 print. 

Craig and Mary last saw her on a mooring in Opahi Bay, Mahurangi around the early 1990’s, and are very keen to find more information on her design, builder, any history and where WAKANUI is now. 

So woodys can we help out.

IMPORTANT EVENT UPDATE – Note: new date for Woody Boat Boot Sale – now August 02

CLASSIC SHIPBUILDERS WOODEN LAUNCH – MAJEIKA 

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CLASSIC SHIPBUILDERS WOODEN LAUNCH – MAJEIKA 

During the week I was visiting the OBC marine centre on Auckland’s Tamaki Drive scoping out an upcoming woody event and spotted the launch – MAJEIKA on a mooring in Whakatakata Bay. A quick WW search popped up that she appeared on WW back in May 2022, link below  https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/05/07/majeika/

As sometimes happens way to often at the same time Ian McDonald pointed out that she was also on tme.

So a quick summary of what we know – MAJEIKA is a 28’ Shipbuilders design, most likely a ‘kit’ boat, built c.1960, builder unknown. Triple skin kauri which will make for a very robust woody.

Forward motion is via a 100hp Nissan diesel engine. In the 2022 WW story the engine was said to be a LD28 rated at 88hp, and a top speed of 12 knots. Also the length was 26’ then – so it seems she has been eating a few pies.

With an asking price of $10k, we see another example of it being a buyers market at the moment.