Category Archives: 36′>38′

THE REVAMP OF REHIA

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THE REVAMP OF REHIA

Early last month we ran two stories on the 1938 Colin Wild built launch – REHIA and her upcoming refit at {the} Slipway Milford yard. Links to those stories below. 1st Report  https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/05/03/classic-launch-rehia-gets-a-birthday/

2nd Report https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/05/10/rehia-2024-refit-report-2/

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 😦

(photos ex Jason Prew, Joe Telford, Alan H)

UPDATE 20-06-2024 LOTS OF WORKSHOP / HANDS ON PHOTOS HERE https://www.facebook.com/share/p/MtAdzgzeQt1oSUgG/

LYNMAR

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Roger Miles
Mahurandi Regatta 2024
Mahurangi Regatta 2024

LYNMAR

The launch – LYNMAR has made several appearance on WW over the years. I first happened on her when I shared a few weeks in Geoff Bagnall’s boasted at Milford Creek. At the time LYNMAR was owned by Brian Burrell who resided at Tryphena, Great Barrier Island. Whenever LYNMAR was due some TLC Brian would come over to Geoff’s and haul out and live aboard while undertaking the work. 

We soon became friends when I started bring ‘leftover’ meals along for him 🙂 At the time I learnt that the launch was built by John Lidgard in the late 1960’s.

Back 2015 LYNMAR was out on the slip at Milford for some work – the link below has a lot of photos and details – make sure you read the comments section.  https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/06/27/lynmar/

I once called on Brian at his quirky property close to the Tryphena wharf – Brian being a collector of marine jetsam and floatsam I was hooked by an amazing display of boat stuff.

Some years later LYNMAR started making cameo appearances at the Mahurangi Regatta, so I assumed she had changed hands. Number 2 & 3 photos above are from the 2024 regatta.

The lead photo taken by Rogers Miles popped up last week on fb.

IONA – TAUPO

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IONA – TAUPO

Now do not be confused  with todays woody – it is IONA as spotted in the weekend by Jason Prew at the Motuoapa Marina in Taupo. Jason commented that she is a sster-ship to IONA II that currently sits on the hard at {the} Slipway Milford.

Photos below of the work happening on IONA II.
In the last photo below we she IONA II’s room mate – REHIA which has a fast approaching re-launch date. More on her later in the week.

What Became Of The Launch – PARMA + Te Atatu Boating Club 65th Anniversary Celebrations

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What Became Of The Launch – PARMA

WW had an enquiry during the week in regard to the 1958 Brin Wilson designed / built 37’ launch – PARMA. WW readers may recall that back in August 2022 we reported that she  had stuck one of the Auckland Harbour bridge concrete foundations and as good as sunk. She was assisted to Hobsonville Marina, hauled out and sat there for approx. 5 months. Then in December 2022 we made several call outs to any woodys looking for a ‘free’ project boat.

The threat was that she would be despatched to the crusher before Christmas if no one stepped up.

So todays question is – was she saved and if so is she sitting in someones paddock or did she head to the land-fill.

UPDATE – Great news – she was saved and now resides on the Kaipara Harbour. Photos & video below ex Zach Matich via Jason Prew. I understand Ron Matich was the one that did the refit / restoration – well done:-)

Te Atatu Boating Club 65 Anniversary Celebrations – full details at the link below https://www.teatatuboatclub.co.nz/events

REHIA 2024 REFIT – Report #2

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REHIA 2024 REFIT – Report #2

Last we we reported in on the 1938 Colin Wild built launch – Rehia and its xxxxx underway at the Slipway Milford. Today we get an update on the work-in-process. With the current good weather Auckland is experiencing the team at the Slipway have not been holding back, in fact even Cam Malcolm has emerged from his engineering workshop to get ‘on the tools’ 🙂

Sometimes it is quicker to build new than try and save – so a new cabin door has been added to the work list. 

The wonder finish Uroxsys (Alwood) always repays attention to prep, so the 100% back to bare wood will look stunning when it gets the treatment. Her owners will reap the rewards of this work for years to come, and as I said last week, you can’t spend too much on a Colin Wild craft 🙂

LINK TO #1 Report https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/05/03/classic-launch-rehia-gets-a-birthday/

27-05-2024

MELODY 

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MELODY 

Todays photo above is most likely the launch MELODY,  it popped up on Lew Redwood’s fb – with the boats name and possible date for the photo being 1940>1949.  

The photo was captioned ’The motorboat MELODY at a jetty’.

Back in June 2021 WW was contacted by Donna Lewis, a kiwi living in Australia who had purchased a collection of 1/2 models from a garage sale on KAWAU ISLAND , the models made their way to Australia when the buyer immigrated. Fast forward they were getting on in life and wanting to down scale so they contacted WW and the models were sent back to NZ.

At the time of the 2021 story (link below – lots of chat in the comments section) we learnt that one of the 1/2 models was most likely MELODY (see below) and K Ricketts commented that the builder was Roy Lidgard and sent in a screen grab (refer below) of MELODY taken from a old home movie shot by KR c.1954 https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/06/29/lidgard-1-2-models-help-needed/

Are we able to learn more about the launch and what became of her.

Poor quality – ex 8mm movie footage

INPUT ex K Ricketts – magazine article below + 2017 photos

Mystery Lyttelton Launch

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Mystery Lyttelton Launch
Again only a mystery because her owner didn’t include a name on tme (thanks Ian McDonald). If we believe the tme story she is a Logan, built in1908, 36’ in length. Powered by a 1970, 65hp Rustin Rover (???) 

And that woodys is all me know – any southern readers able to enlighten us more on the launch.

BUY OF THE YEAR – HEAO – LOGAN 33 – A Sailors Motor Boat – Reduced Price – Low $80’ks – Click link below for details. https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/02/29/heao-a-peek-down-below-4sale/

OMOKOROA – APRIL 2024 UPDATE

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OMOKOROA – APRIL 2024 UPDATE

Following on from yesterdays story on the launch – Omokoroa where we got a peek back to her earlier days, today thanks to a nudge we gave her current custodian – Lyndon Chambers we get to see some to the work thats gone into refitting the boat.

First up is a video from early 2023 of Omokoroa being hauled out to commence the project. Lyndon commented that they used Omokoroa for a while before haulout and he has worked on her reasonably solidly since then. The topsides were repaired and glassed before haul out and he has screwed and glassed plywood over 100% of the hull so hopefully a dry boat now. Not too much left to do and she will be back on the water soon depending on what Lyndon decides to do to the interior.

View previous Omokoroa WW story here https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/04/24/omokoroa-in-former-times/

06-05-2024 INPUT EX ROB HARRIS – below photos from when Rob owned ( many years ago) the launch, location – Beachlands 

NOR-EAST A Peek Down Below

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NOR-EAST A Peek Down Below

Back in February we did a story on the 38’,  1959 Fred Wilkins designed, Allen Williams built launch – Nor-East. That story was a great comparison of her as launched and with the help of a Feb 2019 photo of the craft moored in the Tamaki River we were able to see the ‘additions’ (I’m being polite) check out that story here, lots of great photos  https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/02/18/nor-east-before-and-now/

Current forward propulsion is via twin Ford 80hp Diesel engine that get her along at 8 > 10 knots. There were two almost sister ships – Sou East and Nor West

Now thanks to Ian McDonald and a recent tme listing we get to have a gander down belo

OUTSTANDING IN A PADDOCK – Duke of Marlborough

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OUTSTANDING IN A PADDOCK – Duke of Marlborough

When I received the photos above the first thoughts were ………… where and why. 

Chatting with the sender, Ant Smit, I learned that the location was the MacKenzie Basin, which is situated approx. 1/2 way between Christchurch and Queenstown in the South Island. The area is almost the dead centre of the island.

Ant advised that a friend was on a motorcycle tour and spotted the boat and couldn’t not stop and snap a few photos.

I quick chat to my WW steam guru – Russell Ward and we learn she was purchased ex Picton and should currently be viewed as ‘art’. Lets hope there is a long term plan to restore her.

Her back story is a good read and she appeared on WW in May 2020 – link below. We learned then she was made of steel in 1987 and was originally named – James Torrey, and was used for trout fishing tours on Lake Tarawera –  lots of details in the story. In the photo below we see her at Picton when she was running as a commercial passenger vessel.     https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/05/17/ss-duke-of-marlborough/

Anyone able to enlighten us more on her future 

INPUT ex DAN CONAGH (owner) – I can confirm that I’ve purchased and moved the Duke to a section of land I own in Twizel. Our intention is to restore, repaint and return to service on one of the lakes in the MacKenzie District.

Unfortunately the boat is showing the signs of having been stored next to the ocean in Picton. The hull has some rust that requires attention. The wooden topside has some sun damage. New varnish required, and the PVC roll up sides are beyond repair. The photos in this article are very recent as I was up there on Saturday cleaning up all the coal spread across the floor inside.