Category Archives: 32′>34′

Traveler

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TRAVELER TAUFALE

The 1931 L. C. Coultard built 31’ launch – Traveler has recently popped up on tme, another example of the number of wooden boats out there that are under the radar. She is a newbie to me.
Her hull is kauri planked and she is powered by a  1965, 70 hp, Ford (Lees) 2701E diesel engine (rebuilt). A nice entry level woody for someone looking at getting into classic wooden boating.
Can we expand on where she has been for the last 89 years?
OOPS SLIGHT BALLS UP. TRAVELER IS ACTUALLY TAUFALE. I DID THIS STORY FROM MY MOB PHONE SO  DID NOT SEE THE PHOTOS IN LARGE FORMAT. THE NAME TAUFALE IS ON THE NAME BOARDS. OWNER IS A DICKHEAD FOR USING THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE VERSION ON THE AD. I JUST ASSUMED IT WAS ANOTHER COULTARD LAUNCH. 
Taufale has appeared on ww before.

Woodys Cruising The Bay of Islands – Summer 2019/20 – Part One

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Linda – 1927 – Colin Wild

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Nautilus – Oliver & Gilpin

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Darleen – 1920 – Possibly Bailey & Lowe

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Echo – 1935 – Les Coulthard

Echo – 1935 – Les Coulthard
Echo – 1935 – Les Coulthard

 

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Thetis – 1955 – Lane Motor Boat Company

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Lady Crossley – 1947 – Colin Wild

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Lady Ngaio – 1928 – Collings & Bell

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Manapouri – 1960 – Parkes

Omega – 1965 – Quality Boats
Waimana

WOODYS CRUISING THE BAY OF ISLANDS – SUMMER 2019/20 – Part 1

Just got home yesterday from 10 days mooching around Waiheke and while clearing the in-box I spotted an email from Dean Wright, now Dean is a Bay of Islands based professional photographer with a passion for wooden boats. He even owns one  – the 1917, Arethusa.

Now any email from Dean normally contains some stunning photos and yesterdays one was a cracker – too good to run all as one, so I will split them in two.
Today we have featured pleasure launches – the first being one of the smartest classic wooden launches in our fleet – Linda. She has appeared on WW many times so if you want o know more just enter Linda in the WW search box.
I love the photo above because its the personification of our classic wooden boating movement.
Below I have included a photo of the 2018/19 built ‘spirit of tradition’ launch – Grace, and with her beautiful lines, she could only ever be a Salthouse 🙂
I have captioned the Woodys that I have been able to ID. To read more on the boats featured, use the WW search box 😉
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Grace – 2019 – Salthouse

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Dolphyn – Sailing Sunday

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DOLPHYN – Sailing Sunday

During the week I was contacted by Joe Pallante who along with his partner has just purchased the 34’Don Brooke designed yacht Dolphyn. Other than the length, possible build date of c.1970 and designer Joe knows very little about the yacht. Via the comments section on WW Robert Brooke has kindly ‘pointed’ Joe in the direction of brother Don.
The yacht was purchased off a Canadian gent and is moored in Shoal Bay, Auckland.
Can anyone help Joe out with some history on the vessel?
LADY ELLEN – Re-Launching
Have spent the weekend in Russell for the re-launch of Bruce Mitchinson’s 1950’s Supreme Craft – Lady Ellen – check out tomorrows WW story to view the action. Stunning weekend in the bay.
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Arethusa – New Wheelhouse Project

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Arethusa – New Wheelhouse Project
 
Back in October as part of another story I mentioned that Arethusa was inline for a treat – her Bay of Islands owner, Dean Wright has decided to a build / install a new wheelhouse. Arethusa is almost 100 year old (99) so a perfect centennial present for the 33’ Bob Brown built ex gaff rigged cutter. Arethusa these days is configured in work-boat / launch style.
 
The new wheelhouse is being made from Iroko by John Gander – John is a shipwright extraordinaire, served his apprenticeship and worked for Careys for many years. 
Included above are the design drawings for the wheelhouse and an existing photo for comparison. 
We will be following this project on WW with much interest – love a good project.
 
To see / read more on Arethusa, including restoring & installing a Gardner 4LW – more links there  https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/12/31/restoring-installing-a-gardner-in-arethusa-revisited/

Twilight

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TWILIGHT
The 32’ carvel planked launch Twilight was built in 1954 by Strongman in Coromandel.
Power comes from a Perkins 4. 108 diesel engine.
Over the last 8 years Twilight has undergone an extensive ‘rolling restoration’ that included reconditioning the engine and gearbox, photos below.
Thanks to Ian McDonald for the tme heads up.

Classic Wooden Boat – Waiheke Island – Patio Bay Party – 50 Woody Photos And Video

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Classic Wooden Boat – Waiheke Island Party – 50 Woody Photos

At the weekend anyone thats serious about classic wooden boats headed to Patio Bay, Waiheke Island for the best event on the calendar – the Classic Yacht Association yacht race + Xmas party BBQ at Margaret and Bert Woolicott’s waterfront bach. Last year was cancelled due to bad weather, so we were all way overdue for this years gig.
As is almost always the case with woody events – the sun shone, the wind blow at the right time and everyone had a blast.
The race down saw an impressive mix of yachts – the numbers boosted by great support from the Townson fleet.
Lots of new faces and a healthy mix of ages. To those that think Patio Bay weekend is a ‘boys weekend’ – check out the photos, the movement is in good health 🙂
If someone could bottle the smell / taste of the Pohutukawa fired BBQ’s – I’d buy it – whether its bangers or venison steaks, everything gets equal status on the BBQ’s.
CLASSIC WOODY LAUNCHES IN THE BAY
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YACHT RACE FINISH
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HOME TIME
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See below another stunning video of the race / passage down by master camera man Roger Mills 
Patio Bay Race 2019 from Roger Mills on Vimeo.

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Is This The Best Restoration Of A Sub 36’ Wooden Classic Launch

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Is This The Best Restoration Of A Sub 36’ Wooden Classic Launch

Todays woody has made a few guest appearances on WW. I first bumped into the 34’ Kailua when she was owned by Waiheke woody – Graham Guthrie. Graham looked after her like one of the family, retaining master tradesman – Mark Stapleton, as the ‘hired-hand’. Mark looked after the annual maintenance and undertook any structural repairs when and if required.

Kailua was designed and built in 1961 by Bob Salthouse using double skin kauri, with teak/mahogany combings. As launched (b/w photo below) she was named Lady Beryl. She was built for L M Lincoln of Glen Eden, and to quote Harold Kidd ‘there were further clones because it was such a damn nice boat’.

Back in 2016, Graham sold Kailua – it was a slightly unusual sale i.e. the buyer wanted a Waiheke Island mooring, which are almost impossible to buy – but there was an easy solution –  buy a residents boat and acquire the mooring 🙂 Only one problem , the buyer fell in love with Kailua. So next thing she is being hauled out at the Nautique yard for the biggest birthday of her life, we are talking a no budget, no expense spared re-build (refer photos below of the process).

If you walk the docks as much as I do you learn that most marinas have a lot of boats whose owners became addicted to the restoration process, then when finished realised that there were other things happening in their life that rate higher on the family ‘to-do-list’. Now fast forward a couple of years and her owner has purchased again and their instructions are very short and sweet – sell Kailua please.
 
So woodys, if you are looking for a turn-key classic launch that without a doubt is the finest in the sub 36 feet category – Kailua is your boat. Initial expressions of interest to waitematawoodys@gmail.com
 
SOME INFO:
 
Kailua is a very deceptive classic, she is fast – several years ago James Mobberley from Moon Engines, shoe-horned in a 160hp turbo Hino engine & this provides Kailua with the means to lift her skirt & dance i.e. 10>12 knots cruising speed. She won the CYA Rudder Cup launch race in the 2009/10 season. 
Moon’s have done the same transplant to several other classics (Falcon and Romance II) placing them all in the serious zoom zoom category (for old classic wooden craft). The one difference with Kailua is that her owner in 2016 commissioned a super yacht standard engine insulation fit-out, so unlike her sister re-powers, she now has a subdued hot-rod purr 🙂
 
Included in the 2016 re-build was new paint job and Uroxsys varnish treatment inside and out. Professionally re upholstered, carpeted and new teak flooring + new galley and head set up. Viewing her, what is so cool is that her owner has retained the fittings that make her what she is – a very special classic woody.
 
For seriously interested parties – I have a copy of the 2016 Beale Boats structural survey, prior to the re-fit and the vessel will be hauled out from December 3rd for her annual maintenance, thereby providing interested parties the opportunity to view the vessel out of the water. 
 
I’ll be bold and make a predication – if Kailua does not sell soon, her owner will re-list her in late 2020 and most likely achieve a sale price $50k above what she can be acquired for today. 
Some one wanting a state-of-the-art, fully restored, fast and good looking woody – to view / entertain friends and business associates on for the America’s Cup and associated events will snap her up.
Lady Beth : Kailua

Lady Beryl

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Woody Classics Weekend BBQ Cruise to Clevedon Cruising Club – 60+ photos

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Impressive Haul Out Area

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Heading Home

Woody Classics Weekend BBQ Cruise to Clevedon Cruising Club – 60+ photos

Morning woodys, as you will see from the above photo gallery the weekend woodys cruise up the Wairau River to the Clevedon Cruising Club was a great trip – had the 3 F’s that always make for good times – Fun, Friendship & Fraternity.
To hit the right tide window it was a very early start for most i.e. 6am at the marina – the smart ones, left Friday night.
We assembled at the river mouth around 9.30am and were met / piloted up the river by Barrie Abel, and woodys I have to say – just as well Barrie volunteered, because if you believed Navionics at times we were traveling over dry land, when in fact we had 3m of water under us. So a big thank you Barrie. Barry owns the 1912 woody – Matira, I will do a WW story on her on Wednesday.
Several boats missed the rendezvous but still safely made their way up the river.
After arriving at the clubs jetty late morning, the group split up – some went walking, some snoozed, and the rest hopped in the dinghies and ventured to the upper reaches of the river. We got very close to the Clevedon township before the fuel starting running out. Luckily a few had spare fuel so it was passed around like a good wine and everyone took a slip. I was aboard Dave Gidden’s dinghy and we had about 1cm in the tank when we switched off. Spotted a few interesting woodys along the way – Nathan Herbert and I would love to hear more about the launch – Liberty (tagged below).
Some wowser decided that 5pm would be drinks time, so a few of us had to retire to Dave Giddens floating man bach – Allergy for a cup of tea…..
The evening centred around a BBQ at the CCC, which is a fantastic set up and the members hospitality was first rate.
As a thank you for hosting us, we presented a donation to the club and rewarded Barrie Adel for his services with a bottle of Appletons finest Jamaican Estate golden rum. Club Commodore – Bruce Robson also now sports a WW T-Shirt 🙂
In return we have a CCC burgee for our virtual clubhouse.
On a personal note I would like to thank all the woody boat owners for ‘opening’ your boats up for the club members to inspect thru-out the day. Good chat was had.
We must have behaved ourselves, as we have been invited back – so woodys, more details to follow, but we will be repeating the cruise early 2020 e.g. April.
🙂 a visit to the GENTS was amusing – the uninitiated were in for a foot wash – the system was good old kiwi DIY at its finest 🙂 I can report that the LADIES was Regent Hotel standard.
Photos: myself and Nathan Herbert
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Now I’ll bore some of you with the below video of my Raindance, taken by Nathan Herbert aboard Jas Prew’s launch – My Girl. I think it’s the only time Jason has ever let me pass him 🙂

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Parma

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PARMA

The launch Parma hasn’t made an appearance on WW, other than a small cameo appearance, mainly because many moons ago, back in the heady days of the CYA forum, I got my hand slipped for saying that Parma held the record for the longest appearance on trademe :-). While life moves on, my skin is thicker and I suspect she is / was in new ownership.

I note in her current trademe listing the question is asked about previous ‘rot’ issues which we are told have been righted, so today Parma finally gets a chance to shine on WW.

What do we know about her? – she was built in 1958 by Brin Wilson, carvel planked, measures a tad over 34’ and is powered by a 1970, 6 cyl. Ford (Fordson 2700 series) 40hp diesel engine.
She appears to be presented in good order and is well fitted out. Owner must have a taste for Heineken 🙂

UPDATE 07-07-2022 Parma had again been 4sale for an extended period of time and had reverted to ‘live-aboard’ status at Bayswater marina – please to be able to advise that she appears to have been sold and received some TLC – new paint job.

2019 Thames Traditional Boat Festival – 100+ Classic Wooden Boats

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2019 Thames Traditional Boat Festival

Woody Ian Gavin was travelling with family in July and included the Thames Traditional Boat Festival (Henley-on-Thames) in the itinerary.
Its an event on my bucket list, so I was a little envious when Ian handed me a USB stick with 100+ photos of the event. Special thanks to Ian for sharing.
Included in the Festival was a special Dunkirk Little Ships section. As you would expect it was a very civilised affair with the boats moored up to the river bank and they took turns at parading up and down the river.
The large rowing barge is an ex/retired Royal barge that has been recently restored.
Included on the day were a selection of old motorbikes and cars, including a few amphibious one.
Enjoy the gallery 🙂