Category Archives: 32′>34′

IONA II – Gets A Birthday

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IONA II – Gets A Birthday

Back. In October 2022 we reported that the Bruce Askew designed 36’ launch – IONA II had been sold and relocated from Nelson to the Milford Marina in Auckland. INOA II was built in 1994 so slips comfortably into the ‘spirit of tradition’ category of classic wooden vessels. At the time the story she was hauled out at the Slipway Milford for some maintenance – link to that story here –  https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/10/04/iona-ii/

Fast forward to yesterday and IONA II is back at the yard booked in for a serious dose of TLC. Total refresh of everything other than the engine , a 60hp Nissan TD23.
Should be a great project to follow.

UPDATE 09-08-2024 – Lots of activity at the yard, loving the custom bow / anchor sprit

UPDATE 29-08-2024 – new cabin sole undrway

11-09-2024 UPDATE – New windows going in, liking the green tint ✔️

01-10-2024 UPDATE – Get close to re-launching.  First coat on the topsides and interior waiting for the varnish brush. The replacement duckboard brackets are a big improvement from what was there 🙂

04-10-2024 UPDATE – 2nd coat of paint on and some very impressive engineering work on the electric motor installation from Cam Malcolm at the Slipway Milford.

09-10-2024 UPDATE – getting closer, the shiny stuff is going on 🙂

MULLET BOAT ON THE WAITEMATA – SPINDRIFT

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MULLET BOAT ON THE WAITEMATA – SPINDRIFT
Recently I discovered (thanks to Lew Redwood) a reference source that wasn’t on my radar – the Auckland Research Centre, which appears to be part of the Auckland Libraries offering. Most of the content will put you to sleep but an article this week on MULLET boats I think is worthy of reproducing. Reproduced below.
The photo above shows an open cockpit mullet boat, commercial fishing boat # AK89, off North Head, Auckland. Can we match a name to the commercial number?The image comes to us via Auckland Libraries Heritage collection 37-173 and may possibly have been taken by Henry Winkelmann.

It started off as a fishing boat for the working class man that became a cult classic – the mullet boat (aka the mullety). The mullet boat was developed in the 1860s for fishermen unused to the estuaries and tides of the Manukau and the Waitematā Harbours, to get their haul of fresh mullet, snapper or tarakihi back to Queens Wharf or Devonport as soon as possible. Included was a covered but cramped foredeck if the fishermen needed to spend a night out on the water. 

By the early 1900s, the days of fishing for mullet on sailboat were coming to an end as steam powered boats took over, but sailing the mulleties as a pastime was booming. They competed for the Lipton Cup which was donated to the Ponsonby Cruising Club by Sir Thomas Lipton, who had raced in the America’s Cup five times but never won. In fact, the trophy itself was made by the same silversmith who made the America’s Cup, is New Zealand’s oldest yachting trophy, and is still raced today.  

HAROLD KIDD INPUT – This is the 26ft mullet boat SPINDRIFT owned by H. Parker of Devonport in 1908. She was built at Devonport in 1904 by R.O. Farquhar. Later went north (Whangaruru, Whisk Martinengo thought) and wrecked.

The Best Sub 35’ Owen Woolley – AWARIKI – Now Offered 4sale At Reduced Price One of the best presented woodys 4sale with the Wooden Boat Bureau is the 32’ Owen Woolley built launch – AWARIKI Link below to more details and photos/

WBB has been advised that her owner wants her sold asap and has agreed to a significant price reduction – NOW $48,000 ono

DETAILS:  https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/11/06/awariki-on-the-market/

CONTACT: waitematawoodys@gmail.com

KOTUKU – Gets A Second Life

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Coromandel
Coromandel
Gulf Harbour May2024

KOTUKU – Gets A Second Life

Back in August 2019 we reported on the 32’ Alan Williams designed / built launch – KOTUKU and her refit happening at Gulf Harbour – link below WW August 2019 Story https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/08/29/kotuku-2/

Then in Feb 2023 KOTUKU was a casualty of Cyclone Gabrielle, while moored in Wyuna Bay in Coromandel. She broke her mooring and was swept ashore in 160kph winds. KOTUKU was salvaged and taken to the Coromandel hardstand, composite photos above.

Fast forward to March 2024 and Rod and Karyn Klarwill while cruising the Coromandel area discovered the vessel and acquired / rescued her.
Yesterday WW was advised that  KOTUKU had been relocated to Gulf Harbour where her new owners are busy working carrying out repairs and installing a replacement engine.  She will then make her home in Matauwhai Bay in the Bay of Islands under the ownership of the builder’s great nephew, Karl Takle. Photo below ex Gulf Harbour 2019

SUSIE BELLE – A Peek Down Below

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SUSIE BELLE – A Peek Down Below

Todays woody photos come to us from John Dawson and feature the spirit of tradition launch – SUSIE BELL, built in 1986 by Don Brooke to a G Wheeler design. 

She is 34’4” in length with a 9’5” beam and draws 2’9”.

Built from wood with that very thick ’special’ top coat paint (f/glass) 😦

Forward motion is from a 60hp Isuzu Diesel engine.

Classic Wooden Boat <> Water Front Apartment

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Classic Wooden Boat <> Water Front Apartment

We know nothing about this 33’ woodys past life and how it ended up as a floating waterfront pad – but its a seriously cool, low cost accomodation option in Wellington.

The tme story (thanks Ian McDonald) says only $120 a week rent and that includes secure car parking and security gate. At <$20k its a bargain. 

The stern ‘window’ is an obvious giveaway that dockside is her resting place, in fact the engine is not working.

Can we put a name to this former launch now apartment.

RESOLUTE – Looking Very Sorry For Herself

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RESOLUTE – Looking Very Sorry For Herself

I first saw the 1937 Dick Lang built 34’ launch – Resolute 12+ years ago when she was hauled out at the Devonport Yacht Club at the same time as Raindance. Her spot was directly in front of mine so I suffered all winter from the green eyed monster i.e. the workmanship and skills of her owner were on another level. 

Fast forward to August 20i6 and she makes an appearance on WW (link below), this story generated details and 2008 photos ex her owner and Harold Lidd.

Then in 2017 we see her hauled out getting a dose of TLC (link below)

Then sadly in 2020 I reported that she had dragged her Stanley Point, Devonport mooring and was aground at low tide. Her owner and helpers saved the day (link below) WW 2016  https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/08/10/resolute/

WW 2017 https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/07/21/resolute-update/

WW 2020 https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/04/14/sos-classic-launch-resolute-aground/

Last week I was at the Te Atatu Boat Club and spotted Resolute hauled out. As you will see in the above photos she is still a fine looking woody, in architect speak – she’s got good bones, but the clocks ticking – hopefully a plan is in place to bring her back…………….

2008
2017

LADY BEV

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LADY BEV

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?).

OSCAR – Born Again

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Screenshot

OSCAR – Born Again
Back in May 2022 Oscar made an appearance on WW, link below to that story, back then she was in a very sad state and being offered for sale via ‘As Is Where Is’ condition.At the time we learned that the 34’6” Oscar was designed by Sam Ford and commenced the build c.1968>70. Sadly Sam passed away and his son Trevor completed the project. When launched the she was named – Shimca’. 2022 WW Story https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/05/01/classic-boat-barn-find/

Recently I was contacted by Mark Pearce who purchased Oscar and undertook to refit the launch (see Marks words below) – as seen in the above photos. Currently 4sale on tme.

“I’ve stripped the outside from the deck down. I re-fastened the hull bottom and sides to the frames and put thousands of screws into the inner diagonal and outer horizontal planks which are about 12mm thick on the topsides and 15mm on the bottom.
I replaced a small part of one rotten plank but the rest are in great condition.
I then glued and screwed 6mm ply strips on the bottom and topsides and cut out ply to shape for the deck. I glassed the whole boat with 200g cloth and two pot inter protect followed after lots of sanding filling and fairing.
I replaced the cutlass bearing after dropping the strut 10mm to line the shaft correctly.
The boat has new paint from cabin sides to keel.
We had to hiab the engine up to remove and repair some holes in the cast aluminium sump.
New electric toilet was fitted along with a new gas stove, VHF and an am/fm radio.
It has a new electric anchor winch as well.”

2022

KONINI – A Peek Down Below

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KONINI – A Peek Down Below

Todays woody slips onto WW primarily because home of the 34’ launch – Konini is Queenstown and thats where I am today. Thanks to a tme listing back in Nov 2023 (via Ian McDonald) we learnt that Konini started life as a fishing boat from the east coast of the South Island. Her owner back in 2023 bought it from a fisherman in Bluff.  Her hull is double skin kauri plank and the cabin and wheelhouse were rebuilt about c.2017.

A 51hp Perkins 4.108 pushes her along at 6>7 knots. I’m sure she gets some sideways looks from tourists onboard the TSS Earnslaw, but as they say – ‘Beauty is in the eye of the beholder’ 🙂

GEORGENE

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GEORGINE / GEORGENE

Todays woody has a few question marks alongside her provenance – on tme (thanks Ian McDonald) her owner has said she was built by Lanes to a Logan design and a commentator has mentioned maybe / possibly built by Charlie Gouk in Herne Bay. Build year is listed as 1928, measures 32’ in length with a 9’ beam. Built in traditional kauri carvel planking. Forward propulsion is from a Nissan LD20 engine, reconditioned but not operational.

The name draws a blank with me so it would be nice to clarify the boats DNA and what she has been up to for the last 96 years. Home is Picton, South Island.

INPUT ex HAROLD KIDD – G Tanner of Auckland was the first owner. Later she was sometimes called GEORGENE T. She was registered with APYMBA as late as 1935 as GEORGENE T with the number 20..

16-04-2024 UPDATE – Never believe what you read on tme 🙂 the listing named the boat as – Georgine, so that was the name we used for the WW story. Harold Kidd commented above about the name – Georgina T.

Then yesterday well doing a deep dive in the WW archives for another vessel I came across the March 2016 story based on a trip south by Nathan Herbert.

The photos below and link confirm that the boats name is – Georgene. https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/03/09/georgene/

CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW CLASSICS 4SALE