Category Archives: 36′>38′

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH ALMEDA GETS A REFRESH

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH ALMEDA GETS A REFRESH

 On Friday I point the car north for a quick trip to Sandspit Marina for the relaunch of the 36′ classic wooden launch ALMEDIA.
Some background – built by Alan (Snow) Waters in approx. 1972, designer unconfirmed but most likely by Walters himself with design leanings to John (Jack) Brooke.

Single skin strip plank hull and decks appear to be 2 layers of tongue & groove. She is powered by a 6 cylinder Ford. Home has been the Matakana River for 25+ years. Owner Kim needs a medal for his work ethic, the dock chat was that it was the speediest haul out and work schedule seen at the yard. Started on Dec 22nd 2025 = 4 weeks turnaround.  Possibly helped by the self imposed rule ‘ No Beers Till Launch Day’ 🙂                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Pre launching I caught up with Gregs Lees and his team at Lees Boatbuilders, Greg reports a healthy calendar of work to start the year, so thats good news for the wooden boating movement.

UPDATE FEB2026 – nice to she her out and about, at anchor in Bon Accord, Kawau Island. Photos ex Angus Rogers

REMEMBER TO PICK UP A COPY OF THE 2026 MAHURANGI CRUISING CLUB YEAR BOOK – 4SALE AT THE PRIZE GIVING – ONLY $20

2026 RUSSELL CLASSIC TALL SHIPS SAILING REGATTA

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2026 RUSSELL CLASSIC TALL SHIPS SAILING REGATTA

Following on from the weekends story on the Russell Boating Club’s classic wooden launch parade (link below), today thanks to BOI photographer – Dean Wright we get to enjoy some stunning photos from the race.

Classic launch parade https://waitematawoodys.com/2026/01/10/bay-of-island-russell-classic-launch-parade/

Later in the week you will be able to view the just of the race fleet here  https://russellboatingclub.org.nz/tall-ships.html

To view the full race results click here https://russellboatingclub.org.nz/results/tall_ships_2026.htm

Below is the recently re-launched – MARLINE, the 1949/50’s Leon Warne built classic launch – out following the fleet.

A few of the zoom zommers watching the yacht race

CHRISTMAS 2025 – NEW YEAR 2026 CLASSIC WOODYS CRUISE 

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CHRISTMAS 2025 – NEW YEAR 2026 CLASSIC WOODYS CRUISE 

I have talked previously about the weather that we all experienced at the start of the annual cruise, so I’ll skip that other than to quote Billy Connolly – “ There’s no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothes”.

Life on a small launch with a wife, dog and a paddle board can be challenging – normally takes us 2>3 days to get used to living in close proximity, but we have managed this for 18+ years. The bad weather days / nights that include having to take the pooch ashore for a pee in 40+ knots at 6am are quickly replaced with good food, good books and good booze 🙂 One of the positives of evil weather forecasts is low boat numbers, when things improved and we moved to Oneroa for a supply stop, the only other craft in the bay was a yacht and that was ‘washed up’ on the beach.

Today is a bit of a photo bomb from the 10 days  – anchorages visited, food, boats we saw, boats we nearly bumped into and general good times afloat. 

Hopefully the lucky ones are still out there enjoying the weather.

ps check out the woody champagne flute in the last photo – I have the bug bad 🙂

CLASSIC WOODEN BOATS ENJOYING SUMMER CRUISING

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THETIS – HAURAKI GULF
GAY DAWN – HAURAKI GULF
ROA -HAURAKI GULF
WAIARI – HAURAKI GULF
AOTEAROA – HAURAKI GULF
JUANITE & MARINUS – Oneroa
ARETHUSA – BOI
KOROWAI – BOI
POSEIDON – BOI
KAIKOURA – BOI
SOUTH SEAS – BOI
RATBAG – BOI

CLASSIC WOODEN BOATS ENJOYING SUMMER CRUISING

Over the 2025/26 xmas / new year period a couple of woodys have been sending in photos of classic craft that they have seen out and about. Angus Rogers onboard the motor launch CENTAURUS has been mooching around the Coromandel / Bottom End of Waiheke Island and Murray Deeble on his Townson yacht MORGANA in the Bay of Islands. 

The evil weather we had around the 27th >31st keep a lot of boats in the marina and those out were not moving around much . Angus recorded winds of 68 knots in Te Kouma at anchor. 

Quite a few washed ashore and sales of SaltAway will be high this month with a lot of dinghies / outboards flipped over in the high winds. 

PHOTO BELOW FROM ABOARD CENTAURUS

BAY OF ISLANDS – RUSSELL  – CLASSIC LAUNCH PARADE

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VIDEO EX IAN HOLT

https://www.facebook.com/groups/316224205161973/permalink/25652234717800906/?mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=KPLPuWDP0YaaYW1o#

BAY OF ISLANDS – RUSSELL  – CLASSIC LAUNCH PARADE

Yesterday (Friday 9th) saw a group of woody classic boat owners participate in a parade of classic craft as part of the Russell Boating Club – Tall Ships Regatta weekend.

Great turn out with an even mix of launches, ex game boats and ex work boats, looked like perfect conditions and a great time by all. 

Part of the event was a log rally which my spies tell me was a tad too long and my lips are sealed but maybe a few skippers may have been using the smart phones for more tha just phone calls……..

Photos thanks to Hilton Ward onboard SPINDRIFT.  (as always click on photos to enlarge)

Today (Saturday) will be a biggie on the water with the running of the 50th Tall Ships Sailing Regatta.

WINNERS ARE GRINNERS – The winner of the log rally was the Owen Woolley built launch – KORAWAI, owned by Tania and Matt Cooper. Photo below of Matt (R) and cabin boy Grant Gibbs. I suspect they won it fair and square – I know both well and both are luddites when it comes to technology 🙂

12-01-2026 UPDATE BELOW – ex Margo & Jamie Hudson

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH MARLINE RELAUNCHED

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Screenshot

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH MARLINE RELAUNCHED

Over winter the classic wooden launch – MARLINE has been hibernating in the CMC Design boat yard in Opua, Northland.

MARLINE’s custodian these days is Kennedy Warne , who worked on the refit alongside the CMC Design team . 

The launch has a very special history – prior to Kennedy, it was owned by his father Ken and originally built by Ken’s father Leon Warne in 1949/50.

Upgrades to MARLINE included –

• A new walk through transom

• Hand built wooden skylights with etched glass created in the original glass design.

• Reconfiguration of cabinetry and storage in the galley and head.

• Upgrading all water and diesel tanks.

• New elements, anchor winch, solar, electrical boards, refrigeration and oven.

• New Kauri cockpit flooring.

• New duckboard.

Check out the Oct 2025 WW story here for a look at the work-in-progress https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/10/27/classic-wooden-bay-of-islands-launch-marline-gets-a-refresh/

Much of the timber used in the project was from Kennedy’s personal collection, including some kauri timber leftover from the original build. Lovely Rewarewa with beautiful grain, repurposing Kennedy’s aunts dresser top for the head vanity top. Kauri slab from Kennedy’s good friend for the kitchen bench and oven surround.

The yard incorporated and repurposed as much timber as possible, the new handrails, plate holders, new door to the head and new skylight and many small detail elements.

A special touch was a picture of Leon etched onto a Kauri board (see below) as a gift for Kennedy from the yard.

BEST NZ CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT OF THE YEAR -NGAIO

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4 months out and she was very thirsty

BEST NZ CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT OF THE YEAR – NGAIO

Hands down the winner of the best woody to make an appearance on WW in 2025 is Jan Barraclough’s , 1921 36’ Arch Logan built – NGAIO.

Yesterday she slipped back into the water at Milford Creek, Auckland after a 4+ month refit at the hands of master boat builder Paul Tingey .

Read / view the work-in-progress at these links.https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/11/15/classic-logan-launch-ngaio-heritage-refit-boat-yard-visit/ https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/10/08/heritage-refit-for-1921-logan-launch-ngaio/

Sadly her owner wasn’t there to see the event, but she will be reading WW today while sipping an Aperol  Spritz on the other side of the world 🙂

09-01-2026 UPDATE – It’s the little details that make all the difference. NGAIO’s wheel was just a tad too big, the boys at the Slipway Milford, dived into the treasure chest of old / good boating bits and refurbished a ‘new’ wheel – perfect ✓

It was a very busy morning at the Milford slipway – a total of 4 launches were re launched after getting some pre-xmas cruising TLC

The magnificent 48’ 1965 Lane Motor Boat Co. built  – AROHANUI

The L33 (Logan replica) – SEMELE 

And even a Pelin sneaks onto WW today – well it is xmas 😉

THE REFURBISHMENT OF CLASSIC COLIN WILD LAUNCH – TASMAN BEGINS

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Ready for re-launch
Back home at OBC

THE REFURBISHMENT OF CLASSIC COLIN WILD LAUNCH – TASMAN BEGINS

The classic 38′ wooden launch TASMAN, built/launched in 1929 by New Zealand foremost wooden boat builder – Colin Wild, has made numerous cameo appearance on WW as her past owners were attendees at most of the major classic boating events in and around the Waitemata Harbour. A few years ago ownership of TASMAN changed hands and her new owners are perfect custodians of this soon to be centenarian.They have committed to undertaking a rolling restoration that will see TASMAN celebrate her 100th birthday in 2029, looking better than the day she slid down the Wild slipway.
In owner, Stephen’s words – ” This is the first of a stepped plan of restoration for her centennial at Easter 2029. This first stage was completed by Marineskills at Half Moon Bay. The primary task was the removal of the original 1929 foredeck canvas to ply, glass and strengthen the foredeck.  

This required removal of all the furniture, toe rails, winch and sundry gear.  The 1960-period guard rails were replaced with a reduced rail around the work area forward.  

Old winch and gear chromed, salt water wash-down pump fitted and new spare-man provided. Toe rail teak restored and rebuilt. Sundry other works around ‘Tasman’ included restoration of period navigation lights in wheelhouse roof mounted boxes to reflect the originals.”

We look forward to future updates on the refurbishment and will keep the WW readers updated.

(Photo below dated Feb 2021 of TASMAN in Whakaatakalaka Bay aka OBC, Auckland by Nathan Herbert)

Feb 2021

CLASSIC LAUNCH HITS THE ROCKS AT BROWNS ISLAND – SOS  – CAN WE SAVE SILVER SEA FROM THE CRUSHER

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2016 PHOTO BELOW

CLASSIC LAUNCH HITS THE ROCKS AT BROWNS ISLAND – SOS  – CAN WE SAVE SILVER SEA FROM THE CRUSHER

Back in 2016 we ran a story on the 36′ classic wooden launch – SILVER SEA, at the time the story generated a lot of chat and photos. Link below https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/01/19/silver-sea/

Yesterday afternoon WW was contacted by fellow classic boat owner Mark McLaughlin – details below –
“ I was down at RAYC this afternoon for my son’s Optimist sailing and found Silver Sea being towed in by the Harbourmaster. He told me she went onto rocks today at Brown’s Island and the keel got punched into the hull. She went down to the gunwales at the cockpit but they managed to keep her afloat long enough to get her into Okahu Bay. She was quickly pulled ashore to the old hardstand area (brutally!) and will stay there for 48hrs before disposal by the Harbourmaster unless someone wants to take her on. Sadly the owner is not insured and apparently this was to be his final trip in the boat before selling her. The Harbourmaster said it is unlikely the owner will have the resources or energy to fix her.”

Check out the video below – the haul-out was VERY agricultural……………….
So woodys anyone out they prepared to step up and take on saving SILVER SEA Anyone interested should contact the Harbourmasters Office.

WW MERCHANDISE – IF YOU ARE THINKING OF ORDERING – DO IT NOW B4 STOCK RUNS OUT

CLASSIC WOODEN BOATS AT SANDSPIT MARINA 

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CLASSIC WOODEN BOATS AT SANDSPIT MARINA 

Today we have a report in from Mark Newcomb who was stooging around Sandspit Marina and the Club hardstand over the weekend. 

The first classic woody above is one we normally see at the Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade – its named RURU was possibly built in 1935 by Lidgard, 19’ in length.  https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/07/22/ruru/

In the second photo we see JUANITA, the 32’ , 1951 Allan Williams designed and built classic launch, getting some serious pre-summer TLC. https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/03/21/the-rebirth-of-juanita/

In T he third photo we see LADY MAY, a Salthouse 37, spirit of tradition classic. If its the same launch I spotted at KAWAU ISLAND over Labour weekend , I think is is running a Hamilton Jet unit.

Lastly we have the 36’ , 1922, Dick Lang built launch – LADY ADELAIDE looking like she is about to be hauled out. https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/11/22/lady-adelaide-a-peek-down-below/