GENEVERE
Today’s story show cases the Lake Rotoiti launch Genevere. She was built in 1908, builder unknown, measures 30’. Her zoom zoom is via a 45hp Perkins diesel that pushes her along at 6>8 knotts.
According to her trademe listing (thanks Ian McDonald), she has had a reasonable amount of TCL & engineering work done on her, so presents well.
At an asking price of $15k, she would appear a good buy. Anyone able to tell us more about Genevere?
WAIMATA
Resident Lake Rotoiti boat builder Alan Craig (Craig Marine), sent me the above photos of the 28’ launch Waimata. She has just been at Alan’s yard for a hull paint job.
Alan commented that while a resident on Lake Rotoit she is not always seen at the annual Wooden Boat Parade.
Her owners believe she is a Collings and Bell built in 1926 & bought buy the Corson family around 1939 to bring to the lake. They changed the name so we are not sure of her original name.
Her zoom zoom these days is via a Nanni diesel, prior to this she had a Grey Marine & previous to that, something much bigger that made her “really go” according to her owner.
Interested to know if the builders plate is original? – I have not seen one like that before.
Waimata is a very well maintained woody & with Alan’s input is looking very smart.
So woodys – what do we know about this boats past?
Input from Paul Drake –
Working Waterfront Boatbuilders Shed – 50 photos
As I’ve send many times before, if your want a stunning day weather wise, schedule a Classic Yacht Association event – the hit rate must be 9/10.
Over 100 CYA members & friends made the trip north to Lees Boatbuilders at Sandspit – our host for the day, Greg Lees, turned on a brilliant woody event – we had everything – woody projects underway, the best collection of 1/2 models I seen outside of the RNZYS walls, a photo montage recording the history of the yard & the vessels built over the years.
Center stage was Jenny & Angus Rogers – Mahanui, in the shed for a new deck, alongside her was a very original Chris Craft that was getting a restoration.
The varnish guru Dale has already applied 23 coats, with 6 more to come. Compared to our old girls, these American woodys are very lightly built, amazing that so many have survived.
Outside we had Anna & Nic Davidson’s – Juanita, on one slip & Barbara & David Cooke’s woody flagship – Trinidad, alongside the wharf. In midstream was Yvonne, waiting her turn in the shed.
On the hard was a selection of small craft built by either Greg, his father Tim or other local craftsman. Not woodys but certainly classic were Greg’s two English built, aluminium Albatross runabouts – the very rare 4 seater is next on Greg’s to-do list. Included are a few photos of other woodys in or out of the water.
Greg gave an articulate talk on his families boatbuilding history & how they came to be situated on the Sandspit foreshore. At the end he announced the official launch of the 2018 Rudder Cup launch race to be run on Friday 14th December to Sail Rock & back. See flyer below, I encourage all woody owners to consider participating. At this stage we (I’m on the race committee, along with Jason Prew, Nathan Herbert, Baden Pascoe & Barbara & David Cooke) are calling for expressions of interest in racing – entry to the race is by invitation, as per the original race format in 1908.
Big ups to Greg & family + staff for turning on the day, including BBQ. Special thanks also to the CYA committee members that pulled it all together.
Lastly a little something below for the petrol heads – Greg had on display his Jesser BSA 500cc twin, hill climb racer. Built in 1962 by Les Jesser, she is a 2 time Australian class champion.
A Woody Sounds Cruiser
The above launch was built in 1960 by Ship Builders & is just over 30’ in length, with a beam of 10’5”. Her zoom zoom comes via a 140hp Perkins diesel. Home port is Picton.
In true broker style there is no reference on the trade listing to the boats name 😦 thanks to Ian McDonald for the trademe heads up.
Can one of the southern woodys give us a name & hopefully more details on her past?
AQUARIUS
I have been contacted by Rob Watt who is wondering if any of the woodys may know what happened to his old boat Aquarius.
She was a 27’ kauri built, with pohutukawa stringers. Some thought it was built in 1928 and may be a Logan.
At the time she was powered by a 60hp Isuzu diesel and around her home port of Tauranga harbor, where she was nicknamed the ‘Flying Pencil’. Rob kept Aquarius at the Sulphur Point Marina & sold her some years ago to a couple who were going to use it on Lake Taupo.
Rob told me that his family spent many a happy time on her when his kids were little and made memorable fishing trips out to Mayor Island.
So woodys, can we help Rob out & uncover what became of Aquarius & possibly some insight into who built her etc?
HELENA
Helena was built by Shipbuilders c.1960. 28’ in length & kauri planked. The zoom zoom is via a 150hp Ford diesel giving a cruise speed of 7 knots.
Her trademe listing states that she is ‘priced to sell’ but at $35k she might hang around for a while + you have to wonder at people’s desire to actually sell a boat when you see how they present them in the photos.
Do we know any more about Helena?
Harold Kidd Input – In 1966 she was registered with APYMBA and owned by A.R. Martin of Palmerston North but kept at Auckland.
WANDERER
Wanderer has appeared on WW (link below) before when she was berth at Milford Marina & crying out for some TLC, refer photo below.
I happy to be able to say that she has received the TLC & is for sale. Currently she calls Half Moon Bay home. The photos today are ex trademe (thanks Ian McDonald)
Wanderer past is a wee bit of a mystery & this is debated in the WW link. We do know that she is approx. 28’ & is powered by a Perkins diesel, her hull is kauri .
https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/08/16/wanderer-ii/
Mystery Launch 27—4-2018
I was recently contacted by Brad (surname unknown), the new owner of the above woody, who is looking for more info the launch.
What we know is that he bought her off Manda Bishop who bought the boat off her cousin in Kaiwaka. Manda owned her approx. 2 years. Under Manda’s ownership she was located at Wainui.
She is 30’ long, with a 9’ beam. Zoom zoom is via a Ford Lee marine, Model 2712 E, 4-cylinder motor.
The photos below of the decals, found on the boat, may help with ID’ing her.
Brad has re-located the launch to Pahi, where he will be restoring her.
Are we able to shed some more light on this woody?
CYA ANZAC DAY REGATTA 2018
Raindance was overdue a run so I decided to head out yesterday afternoon & catch the start of the CYA / PCC ANZAC Day Regatta. The photos are from the pre-start > start & a wee bit of racing. A used a long lens, as I wanted to stay out of the start area.
A stunning day for woody boating, but I have to say – excluding the A Division, the turn out was a little RS.
The day had every thing going for it – late start, sun, wind & a good post race gig at PCC, seems some people most be suffering the boating equivalent of cabin fever.
Enjoy the photos – remember to click photos to enlarge 😉
The yacht below – Time, is a marina neibour of mine – a very salty vessel, & equally stunning down below.
ACHATES
This Akaroa based woody is listed on trademe as a ‘Project’ & is offered for sale ‘as is where is’ so she’s a bit of a lucky dip 😉
She measures 30’ & is carvel planked. Has a Ford Lees 110hp diesel for the zoom zoom, & appears to have all the bits to bring her back to life. trade listing heads-up ex Ian McDonald.
Anyone know anything about her past?
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