Category Archives: 1960’s

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.

DO WE KNOW THE WHERE ABOUTS OF SAILOR DON ROBERTS

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Don Roberts heading off to Rotorua Regatta
Race Day – Tamaki
Race Day – Tamaki
WHY & BOKEY – Bucklands Beach
BOKEY, ZEPHYR, WHY – Maraetai Regatta 1954

DO WE KNOW THE WHERE ABOUTS OF SAILOR DON ROBERTS

Todays story is in answer to a request from Brian Peet, the secretary of the Zephyr Owners Association. WW doesn’t normally run stories like this but in my book Brian is good man and is probably better known to WW readers as the author and publisher of the impressive book ‘DES TOWNSON – A SAILING LEGACY’, so the story makes it onto WW. I’ll let Brian tell the story:

“Above are five historic Zephyr photos taken by Don Roberts, who in 1956 owned #4 ‘Why’. Unfortunately they’re low res photo-copies, so it would be great to access originals for scanning. Efforts to track down Don or his descendants have been unsuccessful. Next year will be the Zephyr class 70th anniversary and early imagery is keenly sought. Could there be a WW reader who can help establish contact with Don or his descendants?

What’s known is Don purchased the forth production hull from Des Townson in 1956 while living at 15 Highland Ave, Mt Albert. A year later he sold the completed boat to Nev Thom and repeated the process with unfinished hull #25. In 1964 he’s recorded as owning Kitty cat ‘Katawall’ – possibly living in Clevedon. In 1980 there’s a record of him on Papakura owning ‘U Choose’, a Davidson 28. 
Any help from your readers would be much appreciated. “

Brian Peet can be contacted via the WW comments section or on email at peetfamily@orcon.net.nz

SEAMIST – A Peek Down Below

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SEAMIST – A Peek Down Below

Todays woody story features the 33’8” Claude Smith 1966 built launch – SEAMIST. She made a brief appearance on tme a little while ago and based on her looks and presentation I’m sure she sold quickly.

Built of double skinned kauri, sadly her hull has been splined and both above & below water the timber has been f/glassed.

Powered by a 70hp Fordson 4 cyl. diesel engine SEAMIST she cruises at  7 knots.

As seen in the photos she is very well kitted out.

Can anyone tell us more about her past life.

GOOSE BAY CLASSIC WOODEN  RUNABOUT + WW T Shirt To Be Won

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GOOSE BAY CLASSIC WOODEN  RUNABOUT + WW T Shirt To Be Won

Reviewing my old files I came across the photo above from 5+ years ago. Its tagged Goose Bay, Kaikoura, Canterbury (South Island). The small wooden runabout on the right is named WENDY ANN. Photo is dated Dec 1961.

Its a very long shot but if someone can ID the people in the photo or the owner of the bach (crib down there) – the first correct answer in the comments section gets a WW T Shirt (note: winner will have to be sized 2XL / 3XL / 4XL)

Found the poster below – say it all 🙂

CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT – MALIBU II

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CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT –  MALIBU II

Todays photo popped up recently on one of the social media fb streams and shows the launch MALIBU II coming to the rescue of a submerged run-about just visible in the bottom right corner of the photo.

A gent named Graham Hill commented that MALIBU II was assisting the chopper (owned at the time by Alexander Helicopters) to attach strops from the chopper to the run-about, to left it out of the water. Would have been an ‘interesting’ lift, one would assume they allowed for the dead weight of the water. 

There was chat that the photo would have been from the early 1968 > Nov 1971 period, but based on HDK’s comment below it must have been in early 1968.

Back in Sept 2019 we learnt in a previous WW story from Harold Kidd that she was built by Shipbuilders in 1952 for Graham West and shipped down via Dunedin by WAIPIATA in 1955. She operated on Wanaka until December 1968 when she was relocated to Stewart Island. Her dims were 40′ x 12′ x 3′ and she had a Perkins 6 cylinder diesel. 2nd photo above from this story.

Do we know what became of MALIBU II – given the lift rafts visible in both photos, safe to assume she was in charter / tourism use.