During the week we were contacted by Mike Milne regarding the classic wooden launch – MATAROA. Some background – back in 2020 the launch sold from her then home base of Picton or Havelock (would like to confirm which) and motored off to her new home in Akaroa. MATAROA is a 28’ Shipbuilders design, double diagonal planked – not sure if built by Shipbuilders or a ‘kit boat’. Power is a Ford D Series diesel engine.
Fast forward to 3 September 2023 and she sunk at her mooring, due to a series of events – weather and maintenance issues (lack of no doubt)
In steps Mike who purchased the boat in November 2023 off the insurance company and has taken on the task of refitting her.
Mike’s reason for contacting WW was 2 fold – one to buy a WW burgee ✔️ and to ask if the WW community can supply any more information on MATAROA. Mikes promised to keep us updated on the project. So hopefully we will get to share the action.
Todays woody is the very salty looking Woollacott yacht – MAIA II. Built in 1949 she is one of the ‘Ghost’ designs and is 28’ x 8’ + a draft of 4’6”.Her owner asked for a plug on WW re her being for sale, and of course I said yes – the boats very smart and Devonport based so couldn’t say no.When required forward motion is via a 13hp Shibaura engine and the sale includes a spare engine.Again dont normally talk $$ on WW but at $12k ono it has to be a bargain for someone wanting to join the classic wooden boating movement.A very strong and active Woollcott owners association is a bonus. Initial interest via email – sazoriginals@hotmail.com
Sea Scouts Need Some Help
Recently WW was contacted by Keith Christensen from the Kotuku Sea Scout Group in Levin asking for help finding a new home for one of their boats – I’ll let Keith tell the story –
“This is a 17′ kauri clinker standard Sea Scout cutter, #112 Moutere, built in 1967. She has spent most of her life in a shed and on Lake Horowhenua with occasional trips to Wellington. Her greatest stress has been trailering across town from our boat shed to the lake. Her major challenges are a split strake, a few cracked ribs and a very interesting repair in the front. I have started renovation by stripping 95% of the paint. She comes with a trailer different than she is on in the photos which will need work as it has no mudguards. We have the rudder and some stretchers and can rummage up a mast (Oregon). Any money donated to our group will be used for our youth programs as well as repairs to our other 3 Cutters. It’s sad to let her go but she has spent 13 years untouched so we need to focus on our other boats. Because this is standard boat you will be able to find other people who have done refits. I think it’s common to put an inboard in them. The transom on our other one got a bit beaten up with a Seagull so I wouldn’t recommend it.” Contact Keith Christensen at drkchristensen@hotmail.com
CLASSIC LAUNCHRENA – Humble Pie On The Menu Today ………
Maybe only a small serving of pie, but let me explain – yesterday I was sent by Marty Gunman the above photo of a very smart looking classic launch named RENA.
Surprise surprise it’s a Vindex, which weakens my view that Vindex are an uncomfortable fit in the big woody boat house. Maybe the boats 29’ length made for a more classic look than her bigger sisters …………. (holding my breath for the president of the Vindex fan club – Murray Deeble to comment 😉 )
The launch was built c.1964 by Jim McKay in his shed in Sunnybrae road, Takapuna (Archers Rd. end). The photo is dated 1967 and RENA was owned at the time by Tom McCauley.
On the bow, no PC rules in those days, the young lads are Tom Birdsall (son of Bo Birdsall and grandson of the owner) + Marty’s brother Kirk.
The question today is – what became of RENA. Chances are a 2nd layer has been added to her, hopefully not 😄
Todays woody isn’t really a project because all the hard work had been done, a buyer just need to decide on the finishing touches and they would be sailing this spring.The yacht was designed by Denis Brown and according to the plans is tagged a ’10.6m Ocean Cruiser Cutter’ and is a sister ship to – TAMARA that has been on WW, link here – https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/06/04/tamara-sailing-sunday/ (photo also below of TAMARA) FYI – TAMARA was built by Denis in the Bay of Islands and launched in 1990. He then sailed her to the States and returned a couple of years later.Her cruising pedigree is undeniable and there is a very interesting article in Wooden Boat November/December 1994 regarding Tamara’s trip, “The Evolution of an Ocean Cruiser”. Denis now lives just outside Hikurangi and is still sharp as a tack aged 90 years, what a life of experiences he has lived.
Todays yacht was built in a barn just outside Kaikohe over a period of 40 years by engineer Bruce Edge. Built from treated 28mm kahikatea, strip planked, concave-convex epoxy edge glued. Her deck is laminated timber. Unfortunately Bruce Edge passed away without seeing his yacht touch the ocean. She is beautifully finished and there really is only cosmetic work, external paint, some internal paint, as well as a mast and rigging needed to complete her.Included is;
main mast extrusion for the gaff rig
a steel keel and three ton of available lead for pouring before the keel is bolted to the Keelson
a Yanmar motor (condition unknown)
four brand new sails made by Willis sails –
lots of miscellaneous hardware
two Murray winches for the inner headsail already fitted to the boat
a set of plans which Denis has kindly supplied.
Her current owner (an experienced boat builder) acquired the yacht just over a year ago with the intention of completing her but life circumstances changed and how she is for sale.Her owner had two experienced boat builders check her over and they both commented she is very well built
The location of the boat is just outside KeriKeri and has good access for transportation. In terms of price, the owner is only seeking to recover costs to date and mentioned that $13,000 will see her change ownership. That woodys is a very fair price, so do not bother looking if you think a low ball offer will get the boat. Initial enquires to Hamish at vcstcere83@gmail.com
Back in April 2024 we did a brief story on the 30’ launch – ELIZABET I that at the time was hauled out at the Te Atatu Boating Club. Todays thanks to Ian McDonald spotting a tme listing we get to have a peek down below.
The launch has had a lot of work done on her and is now back in the water. In her present form she presents as a great water project to finish her off ready for summer cruising.
She has a 50hp BMC Commander in her that has been reconditioned so thats a big expense you shouldn’t have to worry about.
Jump forward to last Saturday morning and she is sliding down the rails looking rather grand. It is always a big ask ($$) to bring these craft back to better than as launch presentation. But the feel good factor when you walk down the dock or row away from her in a bay is priceless.
There is a saying that I believe originated from Frances Herreshoff that goes like this “if as you walk away or row away from your boat, you do not look back at her, you own the wrong boat”
Over the last 2 years her owners have had one major focus – to retaining/ restore all her classic characteristics and charm. Well done to the Telford family and the team at the yard.
A few minutes before REHIA was launched my RAINDANCE also splashed after a brief haul-out for a face wash and bottom shave. Sitting for 2 months on her marina and with the engine not working, RD had a very impressive beard + a plastic bag around the prop 😦
Todays woody comes to us from Dave Balderston via hid cubby Dave Stanaway.
Dave B. spotted the boat hauled out at the Cement Works Marina up the Mahurangi River in Warkworth.
The Daves and myself are keen to learn more about the boat and what the plans are for her.
18-04-2024 Input ex Ari at the Quayside Boat Yard – Yes, Ruru was designed and built by Chris Robertson for John Spencer to help them transport gear and maybe the odd animal between John’s island farms in the Coromandel and the mainland. As can be seen by her condition, she had been left unused for years, with the Spencer’s having larger barges to do this kind of work nowadays. One of Chris’ Son’s, Martin, has since acquired her and collectively with the crew here at Quayside Boatyard, plan to bring her back to her former glory and utilise her as a river/harbour work boat.
Todays woody has just popped up on tme (thanks Ian McDonald) struggling to read the name, either – Lady B or Lady Bee. . Its Lady Bev
We do not know a lot about her other than. – designed and built c.1956 by Dave Jackson, using kauri planking. Approx 32’8” in length and powered by a 6cyl. Ford diesel engine.
Given she has been around for qpprox. 68 years we must be able to learn more about her.
INPUT ex HAROLD KIDD – The launch is LADY BEV built by Dave Jackson for himself in 1957 in timber. 30ft 9ins loa but lengthened by 3ft later. First engine was an Austin Skipper 100hp. Dave owned her for many years (and may still do?).
Todays woody was spotted by John Dawson on the UK site ‘Classic Wooden Boats on the Broads’ and was promoting the 2024 Thames Traditional Boat Festival.
The vessel is named Atta Boy and is 109 years old. She’s one of five 30ft craft built by JW Brooke of Oulton Broad in Norfolk, and was one of the first boats commissioned by the Admiralty as a fast motor launch for HMS Royalist, then she was simple known as MS436.
MB436 was transferred into private hands in 1923 and renamed Atta Boy. Between 1955 and 1989 she was owned by C J Broom & Son, Brundall and used as a hire boat and tender. Boat number Y57. Significant restoration work then started on her to bring her back to her former glory, which continues to this day.
In 2012, Atta Boy took part in the Royal Pageant as part of the Historic Naval craft.
Devonport Yacht Club – Sea Talks – Harold Kidd
On Thursday night I attended the monthly ’talk’ at the DYC clubrooms – this months speaker was the one and only Harold Kidd. The topic was ‘Yachts & the Waitemata, HDK broke the talk into several time periods, I recorded the talk on my iPhone and with HDK’s permission will reproduce on WW. The filming was a last minute idea so the quality is a little average and on the night there were a few technical issue with the sounds. I have edited the best I can and tomorrow (Sunday) I will post PART #1 – The Early Years 1840 >1870.
Todays woody launch has had several names and appeared on WW numerous times, links below to a couple of those stories.
Thanks to Harold Kidd back in 2016 (refer screen grab below) we learnt that when launched she was named Sea De’il, most likely after a well known race horse of the time.
Lots of colour photos from thru out her recent years but we had never seen her as launched. Yesterday while doing a deep dive in the WW archives I found a press clipping that shown the launch at anchor at Reotahi, Whangarei Harbour in the late 1920’s.
Owned at the time by Jim Hoey her first owner. There has been a lot of speculation re a possible builder so I won’t go down that rabbit hole 🙂
The launch was 30’6” in length, full length kauri planking but must have been stretched at some stage as some sources have her at 33’.
When launched she was a workboat and whilst primarily working in and around Whangarei Harbour she was a frequent visitor to Kawau, Great Barrier Island, Mokohinau & the Hen & Chicken islands.
NOTE: I’m interested to hear debate on whether the two boats above are actually the same, now that we have an early photo of Sea De’il, there are a few features that do not gel in my eyes – thoughts?
waitematawoodys.com #1 for classic wooden boat stories, info, advice & news - updated daily - 14+ million views 