Category Archives: 32′>34′

Kairanga – That Was Quick

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KAIRANGA – That Was Quick 

Only last week the 32’ Kairanga popped up on tme, and already appears to have sold, or maybe the owner realised it was too cheap and pulled the listing. In my eyes Kairanga is a real looker and always kept in top condition.

Kairanga’s past is a little cloudy in terms of builder and year – but its been commented on WW before that she is possibly a Baileys and built c.1912.

At one stage in her life she was a work-boat servicing lighthouses and marine construction in the Hauraki Gulf. The work-boat link is supported by the fact that she is built like a brick outhouse eg triple skin kauri – 2 diagonal planks and one horizontal

Forward motion these days is via a Ford 90hp diesel.

Current home is the far north – would be nice to see her back on the Waitemata. Photo below dated 2018.

Photo below ex K Ricketts

27-09-2024 INPUT ex CHRIS KOOGER – The photos and the listing on trade me was when we owned the good ship Kairanga. We had her for 30 years. Loved the boat and was hard to let it go but she is now loved by James and Ann-Marie. I bought the boat I 1992 from Derek Tanner and she was in a very sad state. We hauled her out and trailered her to Bucklands beach where she got a major makeover with the help from Harry Mieyer a boat builder who taught me a lot about boat building and repairs.  I was told by Derek that she is a Bailey built boat, 32 foot. Double diagonal and planked for and aft. About 40 mm thick. Super solid boat that handles the rough seas with no problems. She weighs about 7.5 tons. 

 It had a BMC engine in it when we got it but that was no good and we put the Ford 90hp engine in it. Changed the gearbox 3 times and fitted a hydraulic gearbox in it which was great. New Shaft and driveshaft fitted at the same time. I built the cockpit cover in the later years of our ownership. 

 While out in her we met a chap who said that his family owned her in the sixties and another time out we met a fellow who bought her in 1956.  Fantastic boat that I always felt safe in. My children and many friends have had great times with her and I think about her a lot. Great memories.  Great to see that she is still being loved and getting the regular attention that any boat needs. 

Waitanguru

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Waitanguru

The photo of todays woody, the 31’ launch – Waitanguru , built in1953 by Alan Williams in Milford Creek, was sent to me back in Jan 2023. The location is the Bay of Islands and was taken by Dean Wright. Slightly embarrassing delay in posting, somehow the email slipped under the radar 🙂 Aside from the rubber duck she is looking very salty and carries the game poles very well.

Waitanguru is kauri carvel and powered by a Yanmar diesel – lots of details and photos in the two previous WW stories, linked below

May 2018 https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/05/07/waitanguru/

May 2020 https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/05/07/waitangaru/

Te Honu – A Peek Down Below

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Te Honu – A Peek Down Below

The 34’ Brin Wilson built launch – Te Honu was launched in 1963 and has been lucky with her ownership over the years – back in 2015/16 she was given a decent birthday that saw her decks glassed, a re-modelled cockpit and new windows throughout. Then in 2021 she was re-powered and her hull repainted. Link to the Aug 2015 WW story.  https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/08/25/te-honu/

I spotted Te Honu at the 2019 and 2020 Mahurangi Regatta and Dean Wright snapped her in both April and August 2022 in the Kerikeri Inlet + BOI 

Forward motion is via a Ford Otosan 130hp ex Moon Engines, that gives her a top speed of 13 knots.

Must Have Been A Special On White Paint – Rag Doll

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Must Have Been A Special On White Paint – Rag Doll

Todays woody is taking the decorating term – ‘White-On-White’ to the max 🙂

Built from double diagonal kauri (+ glassed….) she was launched in c.1972. A Bill Couldrey design, she measures approx. 34’ in length, with a beam of 11’3” and draws 2’7”. Powered by a 80hp Ford Diesel engine that gives her a comfortable cruise speed of 7.5 knots.

Being 4sale via a broker – of course there is no name mentioned or visible – can we ID the boat.

INPUT ex Nathan Herbert – todays woody is named Rag Doll – photo below of her before she was ‘modernised’ – photo also ex NH.

Doreen > Haku > Coquette – 1912 Logan Motor Launch – SOS

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Doreen > Haku > Coquette – 1912 Logan Motor Launch – SOS SAVED

When it comes to provenance it would be hard to beat this woody – designed and built by Arch Logan for his brother Robert, named after their sister Doreen. Then in 1945 she was ‘modernised’ by Bill Couldrey, one of the Arch’s few preferred boat builders. She has passed thru many hands and aside for her blue blood, her second claim to fame is that she was used to take the mould off for the popular 33’ fibre-glass launches (Logan33).

Last week I was contacted by her owners who advised that a few months ago while taking her out at very low tide they hit an unmarked reef inside the OBC Bridge on the way out. The damage sustained is that as a result of the keel and prop hitting reef the drive shaft, this was pulled out of the gearbox. I’m told no water entered the boat – BUT the insurance company has written the vessel off so now it is up for sale for $12,500 as-is-where-is. Potentially the bargain of the year.

Given the abysmal listing by the insurance companies boat broker, I’d be amazed if it sells. We plug it on WW today because the boat deserves better.

This WW link will take you to numerous WW stories that feature Coquette (Doreen > Haku)

https://waitematawoodys.com/?s=Coquette&submit=Search

18-07-2023 UPDATE – SAVED !!!! – I can confirm she has been purchased off the insurance company by a previous owner and will be repaired and returning to the north – GREAT NEWS

KORORA – 32’ Townson Needs A New Owner

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KORORA – 32’ Townson Needs A New Owner

WW was recently contacted by the owner of Korora, a 32’ Townson ‘Moonlight’ 1972 built keeler and advised that due to a few speed bumps in life, a new owner was needed.

As always its best to talk to the owner but who I can tell you is below – 

• Built in 1972, kauri hull construction, comes with main/1/2/3/storm/spinaker – headsail is self-furling.

• Power is via a Yammer 2GM20, 18hp. Solar panel, and comes with a 2020 inflatable dinghy and Johnson 3.3hp outboard.

• Owner tells me it has a competitive sailing record in the Townson Association – sail # 1360

• Westhaven marina berth possibly available for rent

Interested – very attractive price – contact Mike Going on email at –  thegoings@xtra.co.nz

Classic Canadian Wooden Boat Eye Candy

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Classic Canadian Wooden Boat Eye Candy

Today we get to have a dockside gander at the 20+ fleet of classic craft that came together for the 2023 Ladysmith Heritage Festival at the Ladysmith Community Marina in the town of Ladysmith, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. 

The photo gallery is via the camera of Maurizio Hublitz, one of Maurizio’s fellow woodys commented that he is fixated with sterns, but it’s all about showcasing / recording the vessel names.

Over the years I have enjoyed Maurizio’s event reports and been very envious of the set up at the Ladysmith Community Marina, reading this years report I was surprised that there is a dispute underway in regard to future access to the marina area – in fact they have been issued with an eviction notice to be out by Dec 31 2023 – I won’t bore you with the details but it appears that New Zealand isn’t the only country with indigenous (minority) land ownership issues. Fingers crossed sanity rules so this remarkable location can be enjoyed by everyone.

Politics aside – enjoy the photo gallery. Great to see the ex work boats sharing the limelight 🙂

As always – click on photos to enlarge 😉

Silens & My Girl – 1940’s

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SILENS & MY GIRL – 1940’s

During the week the above photo popped up on a Robert Bestow fb post. In the photos we can clearly see the 1912, Harvey & Lang built launch – Silens in the foreground and behind her the 1925, Dick Lang built launch – My Girl.

The photo was tagged Whangarei Town Basin but no date. Chatting with My Girl owner Jason Prew, who had not sighted the photo before, Jason commented that it was most likely from the early > mid 1940’s, as she had a new top added in the late 1940’s.  Jason also recalled that the two launches were based in Whangarei as part of the war time coastal patrol fleet.

Silens went on to have numerous re-births in terms of cabin layout – check out the WW story link below to view the evolution https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/04/22/the-evolution-of-silens/

My Girl also had some appendages added but the 2018 restoration that Jason undertook returned My Girl to almost match todays c.1940’s b/w photo. 

Refer below current photos of Silens and My Girl.

MY GIRL
SILENS

WW Caps – the new low profile, canvas cloth caps have been a winner – the new understated colour topped with the dark brown WW embroidered logo has a dash of understated style. I have reorder 3 times and stocks are getting low – order today – just click the email link here and tell me your name, postal address and number of caps required ( best order was x5) I’ll come back to you with payment details – $38 + $6 p&p. waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Robyn Gae Lives On

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ROBYN GAE LIVES ON 

Following up on yesterdays story which had a photo of the 1934 Cox & Filter built launch – Robyn Gae hauled out at the Te Atatu Boating Club hardstand, today we get to share a better view of the project.

WW understands that the launch was / is being re-launched this week. The seams have been re chalked and next year once they have ‘settled down’ will be faired then.

As mentioned yesterday, this launch was very close to having a date with a back-hoe – fantastic to see she dodged that bullet and gets another life afloat.

If the new owner reads this – would love to learn more about the work done and to see some interior photos.

16-06-2023 UPDATE – Back in the water at TBC

Winter Woody Yard Report #2

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RAINDANCE
CASTAWAY
ROBYN GAE

Winter Woody Yard Report #2

Several coming and goings mid-week – Raindance slid down the railway at the Slipway Milford. And then she passed Castaway being ‘assisted’ to the Slipway to take Raindance’s vacated spot. Probably the fastest Castaway has moved in a while 🙂 Video of Raindance ex WW cadet reporter Luca Beachman. Now if some of you are thinking – “didn’t Raindance have a paint job less than two years ago” – yes you are correct. I could say that Jason Prew and myself were never 100% happy with the colour – Snow White’ on a classic woody and that the new ‘ Mediterranean White’ is a better look, while there some truth in that, the old girl suffered some hull damage on the marina in one of the many storms Auckland has had, so that is the real reason 🙂

The last photo is of the 1934, Cox & Filmer built launch – Robyn Gae, getting ready for re-launching at the Te Atatu Boating Club. Very happy to see that she is being cared for – at one stage a ‘beehive’ restoration was on the cards, see WW SOS story link below. Big ups to the new owner of the choice of blue for the coamimgs – big call but it really works and would get the Cameron Pollard tick of approval I’m sure 🙂 https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/06/21/robyn-gae-sos/