Viveen @ Te Komua Raira @ Te KoumaTamureAltairOlive Rose @ Waiheke IslandAlma G @ Russel Wharf
A Pot-Pourri Of Woodys
Today’s collection of classic launches come to use from a collective of woodys photographers that are cruising the Hauraki Gulf and outer waters – thanks to Angus Rogers, Murray Deeble, Colin Pawson and Lindsay McMorran.
We featured Lady Margaret on WW when she relocated north to Whangarei , now in the talented hands of Alistair McRae, Lady Margaret is looking very smart after some lock-down maintenance and recently getting her top sides painted and new antifoul – all set for summer cruising.
The 38′ Lady Margaret was built in 1955 by L. Beacon of Mt Albert. Lady Margaret has had more name changes than most woodys and shares the LM tag with a lot of classic woodys – so a little birdie tells me another could be on the way – hopefully they won’t stray too far from the previous – maybe Happy Lady, second thoughts maybe not – sounds like a ‘lady of the night 🙂 Lots more to read and view herehttps://waitematawoodys.com/2020/10/31/lady-margaret-happy-wanderer-lady-mary-gets-some-tlc/
Very chuffed to advise that the 1939 Colin Wild designed and built launch – Rehia has found new owners after an extend spell on tme. Bought by a young family that have the desire and commitment to return her to her former glory. Which she deserves, being woody royalty i.e. ex the Colin Wild stable. When a boat survives 80+ years in almost original configuration, it tells you that the designer got it right.
WW will follow this one closely, being ‘nice people’ the first project was fitting a holding tank – had to cash a few credits in at The Slipway Milford to get the work done at short notice – thank you Mr Prew 🙂 Lots of past Rehia stories on WW, search her name in the WW Search Panel – for lots of photos.
24-02-2022 Input ex Scott Taylor – Scott sent in the sketch and photo below of his fathers (Mac Taylor) time spent on Rehia on boom patrol during the WWII, Mac drew the pencil sketch of which Scott has the original.
The 1955, 38’ Supreme Craft built, ex game fishing classic launch Aquarius first appeared on WW back in Sept 2018, at the time she was hauled out on Waiheke Island and in a very sad state and we were reaching out to find a passionate woody that would take her under their wing – see that story here https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/09/01/aquarius-sos/ In April 2019 we reported that someone had stepped up to the mark and Aquarius was being transported back to the mainland and hopefully restored – see that story here https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/04/16/aquarius-saved/ Then in June 2020 we got to have a gander at the scope of the project, lots of photos here https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/06/10/aquarius-restoration-update/
Now thanks to a tme listing we get a peek at the almost finished job, the listing tells us the interior need finishing and a final coat of paint to the exterior. I understand a lot of work has gone into the project – could be an easy entry into woody boating for someone prepared to roll their sleeves up.Her forward motion is via twin Ford 85hp diesel engines. Below is a peek at her journey 🙂
UPDATE 22-12-21 – photos below from the past sent in by Shamus
30-10-2022 UPDATE – Recently popped up for sale on tme. Still a work-in-progree but some bling being assembled to go on her 🙂
RESULTS OF YESTERDAYS CYA HERITAGE BASIN POLL – 85% BACKING FOR OPEN TO ALL CYA VESSELS – Over 1000 votes cast. Very high number of individual people visiting the site yesterday, 2nd only to a Mahurangi Regatta weekend story. Thanks also to all the emails and calls – I understand peoples hesitancy to comment ‘publicly’ on the site 😉
I had an email from a long term CYA launch owner “Greetings Alan, In my anger I voted thumb down when I wanted to vote for all wooden boats in the marina. Anyway to change it?”
New woody owner, Sam Mendlowitz gave me the heads up on the ex work boat – Sea Hawk and the fact that she was very close to having an affair with a back-hoe. As the heritage architects say – its got good bones and we need to find her an owner. I understand that the asking price is low and all relative to the intentions of the next owner, I almost never put links on WW but this woody needs saving – the tme listing # is 3380519991.
Check her out and if its not you, please forward this WW story to anyone that might be her saviour. Current home is Picton.
Sloanes Beach Regatta and Centreboard Cup
A quick heads up from the Herne Bay Yacht Club – the annual Sloanes Beach Regatta and Centreboard Cup is on this coming Sat 11 Dec 2021. FYI – the post-race prize giving and music is running as a vaccine pass event, so please be ready to show your vaccine pass.
As in previous years, the day will feature around-Watchman races for boats entering the Centreboard Cup. Come along and enjoy the spectacle of traditional mullet boat racing.
The rough plan is as follows. Sat 11 Dec Sloanes Beach Regatta & Centreboard Cup 1130 Race Entries accepted at Sloanes Beach 1200 Race Start 1: Mullet Boats and other boats 18’ and over, which we expect to be following the long course 1205 Race Start 2: Boats under 18’, which we expect to be following the short course (Race only runs if enough boats show up.) Followed by Prize Giving & Music
Times are estimates only; all activities are weather dependent.
The ex work boat Wakatoa recently popped up on tme, thanks Ian McDonald. She made a brief appearance on WW back in March 2014, link below. At the time she was berth at Thames and it was commented on WW that she had been listed in the CYA Classic Register booklet as being built c.1939 in the Hokianga. https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/03/05/wakatoa/
The tme listing now has her as being built in 1929, and comments that she stated her life towing harbour barges. We now know she is 36’ and powered by a 130hp Isuzu 6BB1 that gives her a 7>8 knot cruising speed.
If you are looking for a nice salty looking double-ender, bidding is sub $10k, so she could be a bargain.
HOW MANY MORE SUMMERS WILL YOU LET SLIP BY WITHOUT A BOAT………
Waitematawoodys has a sister – its called the Wooden Boat Bureau and we sell classic wooden boats – launches, yachts, big and small. We like to fly under the radar, as do most of our clients. Someone asked me what I did the other day – below sums it up (sounds a bit fluffy, in reality I just sell boats.
Inform and enthuse interest in the joys of owning and sailing traditional and classic wooden boats. And we do this by promoting partnerships between the boats, the sellers and the buyers, for the benefit of all. At the end of the day – its all about the boats, as most will out live their current owners.
Myself and David Cooke (MV Trinidad) are almost always available to offer advice to sellers and buyers – in the interests of marital harmony – in the first instance email to the below
Its only a mystery because the broker selling it has deleted the name…….. She is 36’ in length, has a beam of 10’5” and draws 3’3”. Built in 1963, from kauri and carvel planked. The forward motion is via a 80hp Ford diesel.Home is probably Northland.
Can anyone put a name to the boat, so we can have a record of her on WW.
27-11-21 Update from John H (previous owner) the boat is named – Poseidon
Today we get to take a gander at the stunning work that Tom Rundle has been undertaking on his classic launch – Hami, previously named Wanda II. Wanda II was built in 1948 by the Lane Motor Boat Company, and as launched she was 38’6”. Tom purchased Hami off Chris Horsey, brother of Steve Horsley of SY Ngatira fame. View photos from then at link below: https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/11/25/wanda-ii/
Under Tom’s watch Hami has had a major refurbishment with all the latest bells and whistles added, but very cleverly tucked away out of sight. Power comes from twin BMC Commodore 55hp diesel engines. You can view the early days of the project here: https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/11/12/wanda-ii-refurbishment/
In Tom’s words “the exterior is fairly under control, its now back to teak comings and decks glassed. New hatches bar the original butterfly hatch which was saveable, and gradually changing out the old windows. Cockpit still to top coat and a few touch ups. Systems are on track- all new electrical, plumbing, steering and tankage. The interior is about 80%, still some lining and finishing, but usable for summer.”
Chatting with Tom he was very complementary to the help and guidance given to him by boat builder Geoff Bagnall and Curly Salthouse, Tom says he even followed some of the advice 🙂 The fold away dinghy davit is by Larry Randell of Randell Stainless and a work of art.
Tom has very high standards so I had to lean on him to get the above photos, once Hami is finished we will go back for a A > Z story on the project.
Mooching up the Tamaki River in early May, I spotted this house boat moored in the upper reaches of the Tamaki River. The top two photos are from then. Now thanks to tme, we get a peek down below.
Its 36′, made of ferro cement and started life as a Hartley yacht – that folks is all I’m going to say, I’ll only get myself in trouble 🙂
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