Wooden Boat Yard Mooching Hobsonville woody John Wicks sent me a bunch of photos yesterday from this home marina at Hobsonville. It reminded me that I had snapped a few myself on a recent visit, nice to see that the woodys had moved along and should be re-floating soon.First up the Athol Burns designed, Barney Daniels built – Taotane, which John commented – was being brought back from the almost dead. Then we see the very regal Lady Crossley, the 1947 Colin Wild motor-lunch, out of the shed after a lick of paint and varnish.Lastly above the 48’, 1948 Lidgard built Ranui , in for a paint job, and wearing my Wooden Boat Bureau cap – I have to remind you that she is for sale and ready for summer cruising. More details here
Things are getting a tad posh at The Slipway Milford, when I hauled out the other day, instead of a ladder, a set of stairs was waiting for me – much appreciated 🙂
RAWENE When I was catching up with lan Craig re yesterdays story I gave him a wind up re how hopeless he was at keep us updated on the work in his Lake Rotoiti boat yard. Seems the dig in the ribs worked as a few hours later I received the photos above of Rawene, taken from Waikeremoana when Alan went down in February 2020 for some repairs on Rawene. The boat was hit on her mooring and broke a few ribs.The old photos below are on the wall in the store there.
Over the lock-down / winter period the owners of Waikaro have given her a facelift. She was built in 1978 by Roy Parris as a 30’+ work boat for a Great Barrier family. She was ’saved’ from a slow death out there by master craftsman boat builder Geoff Bagnall, who re-modeled her cabin and cockpit and created one of the most practical, live-able 30’ launches I have seen.Power is via a 120hp Ford diesel and Waikaro has all the accessories to make cruising a breeze – remote capstan, hot shower (stern), stand-alone toilet/head, permanent double berth, solar charging, duckboard bait tank and more. Her owners have had her for 15 years and during this period Geoff Bagnall has overseen her maintenance programme.She returned to the water last week after a repaint, anti-fouling and varnish refresh.
And if you haven’t already guessed it – yes Waikaro is for sale and would be the best value for money woody on the market. Marina / mooring access available by negotiation. So woodys if you and the family want to be on the water this Christmas – contact waitematawoodys@gmail.com More photos below from last months relaunch.
25-05-2022 UPDATE – Post selling ,her new owners have been undertaking some differed maintenance and giving her a birthday, which has included a bow-thruster and trip to the Milford Slipway beauty parlour for a Jason Prew paint job (JPPJ) and a splash of varnish – well done JP and Cam for convincing the owners to add the bling 🙂
26-05-2022 UPDATE – first coat is on, looking very swanky 😉
28-05-2022 More paint & the first few coats of Uroxsys
14-06-2022 Getting close to relaunch day
John Spencer Book Winner The winner was Kerry Alexander – with the 68’ New World
Lots of answers submitted for Buccaneer at 73’, but John didn’t build her, and Infidel was 61’8”
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”?
RHUM LINE According to her tme listing the 30’ Rhum Line was built c. 1930s, building unknown. The hull is kauri, with the current cabin top added within the last 15 years. A Ford 80hp 4 cylinder diesel engine gives her a comfortable 8 knot cruising speed.
She appears to be will appointed and with a low asking price, could be a nice entry level wooden classic launch. Do we know any more about her past and photos from before the addition.
Beaulieu River Wooden Boat Gathering Today we join the crew over at classic yachtTV when they attended the Beaulieu River Wooden Boat Association get-together at Buckler’s Hard, UK.
It is a great read with stunning photos and words from the very talented Emily Harris. Clicking on most photos will enlarge them. Enjoy 🙂 Hopefully a lot of you will be afloat today enjoying the public holiday.
Can We Name These Classic Wooden Boats I have been contacted by Evelyn Whitell regarding the above photos from the South Island, probably the Abel Tasman area. Evelyn’s father Sid Giberston is pictured in the first photo on the left of in the dark suit, the large (Evelyn’s words) lady on right is his mother and his father Alex (Alexander Gilbertson – also known as Deacon) is beside her. Alex was a boat builder among other things and was the youngest son of Captain David Gilbertson, a pioneer in Nelson. Capt. David was a shipwright and builder of several trading schooners and ketches, including one of the first steam boats in Nelson. They ran from Nelson down the West Coast, up North and around the South to Lyttelton. Sadly most were shipwrecked eventually.
Evelyn’s dad, Sid, used to take groups of people down the bay for picnics in the Abel Tasman area. Evelyn commented that the steamship mentioned above was discovered around 1997 under a ton of sand near Wanganui and was going to be taken to a museum somewhere. Any Southern woodys able to ID any of these boats ?
MYSTERY MOTOR-SAILER The photo above of the motorsailer is dated late 1960’s, early 1970’s. Location probably in/around Whangarei. Anyone able to ID the boat and tell us more about her past?
I know the answer, just hoping the arrival of this good quality photo will shift a few brain cells in some woodys.
Stuart Turner Engines One of the woodys was unable to attend Sundays boat boot sale – he has x5 Stuart Turner engines…1 P66 (10hp) and at least 4 P55 (8hp), for sale at a modest sum to a good home. One P55 and the P66 are intact, the rest in various stages of disassembly. Plus various manuals and technical articles. These wonderful little British 2 stroke engines run like a sewing machine….when handled by a knowledgeable operator!Once a very popular yacht auxillary but would be perfect for that restored classic clinker dinghy/open launch. If interested, I can supply contact details.
WOODYS CLASSICS RIVERHEAD TAVERN LUNCH CRUISE – RSVP TODAY Just need boat name and guesstimate of crew numbers – email to waitematawoodys@gmail.com
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
Classic Wooden Launch Project Last week I was contacted by Bruce Deeming about the above woody launch that had been brought to his attention. Bruce advised that he had been approached to take over the project due to changing circumstances of the present owner. Unfortunately its not on Bruce’s radar so the search is on for a passionate woody looking for a restoration project.
There is no name on her and the design / build is also a mystery, but Bruce suspects maybe a Cauldry, length is approx. 30>31’. Was sitting in Kaiaua mud berths opposite the Kaiaua fish & chip shop for a number of years. Bruce commented that it requires some plank work and the window surrounds in main cabin are not good, but it has good bones. It has been in the water up until 4 odd months ago. Decks & cabin appear to be very sound, with exception to those main cabin window areas.
Bruce has the original motor, an air cooled Lister or similar, not going. The owner is happy to look at any offer & discuss options.
Anyone able to ID the launch for us?
UPDATE – 03-03-2021 Bruce Ryrie has taken over this project and thus far has scraped and red leaded below the waterline and gutted the interior and set up a soaker system inside to stop her drying out. Some process photos below. Well done Bruce 🙂
