Category Archives: 44′>50′

MARINUS – A Peek Down Below 

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MARINUS – A Peek Down Below 

The 46’ launch Marinus was designed by A. Deeming and built by Barr Brown (Wellington) in 1946. Over the years she has undone several rebirths, starting as a bridge decker and the most recent one has in her owners words “converted it into a modern style displacement cruiser’. Lots of time and $$ have been spent on her and she presents these days as a high-end wooden launch.

The level of the work and presentation probably helping her be the fastest selling woody in the last 12 months – less than a week on the market.

Some specs- 46’ x 12’4’ x 4’ – her hull is heart kauri, carvel planked and in the 2019 refit play/glass has been utilised. Marinus is powered by twin Cummins 85hp Diesel engines.

As sold she was very highly spec’ed and in my eyes excellent value for a vessel her size.

Lots of photos and chat on this previous WW story – https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/12/12/marinus-where-is-she/

MV USSCo – 4sale

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MV USSCo 4sale

The 45’ launch – M.V. Ussco was launched in 1936 as the Donald Sutherland, built for the first Labour Govt. as a tourist / passenger vessel. She was also previously known as Sea Hawk.

She has spent time as a fishing vessel, and other unconfirmed duties maybe as a lighthouse tender before use as a private cruiser.

Built from 4 skin kauri she has a beam of 12’ and draws 4’, a Gardner 6L2 provides the forward motion and like most southern woodys she is fully spec’ed.

Her owner Pete Worsnap has recently placed her on the market – as architects say “she has good bones” and while she requires a little work, she is priced accordly eg offers around $25k. And that woodys is a lot of boat for the money.

We are a little light on photos, but in the first instance interested parties to contact Pete direct either ussco1936@gmail.com or 021 998 159

Spec sheet downloadable below

ussco-1936-collings-and-bell-4sale-specs-1Download

Athena – A Peek Down Below

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Athena – A Peek Down Below

Todays woody is the 1962, Des Donovan designed / built motor sailer – Athena. She last appeared on WW back in Feb 2019 – link below to that very informative story. Lots of photos, history and comments there.

Thanks to a tme listing we get a look down below. A snap shot – specs – 48’/12’11”/5’5” and powered by a Gardner 127hp diesel.                                                                                          

Her listing fails to mention that she is member of the ‘Submariners Club’ i.e. she has spent time below the waves. She also spent time in the ownership of one Alan Johnson, one of very few people 100% banned from the WW site, but that is another story…..

(photos ex M. Skinner ex trademe)

WW 2019 Story  https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/02/03/athena/

Tokatea

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TOKATEA

The 44’ WG Lowe & Sons built (1959) ex work boat, recently popped up on tme and our woody spotter Ian McDonald advised that it was once his boat. 

Tokatea was built to Goverment spec for Fisheries as a Patrol Boat and lighthouse tender and based at Coromandel until she was retired from service in 1987/88 and bought privately and taken to Tauranga. In recent years she has called the Marlborough Sounds home.

Built from solid kauri – hull and decks she has a beam of 12’5”and draws 5’. Forward motion is via a Gardner 6LW

Got to love the axe in the wheelhouse – a nod to her work boat days 🙂

Back in 2016 we learnt a lot about Tokatea in a very informative WW story – link below to read how Ian purchased Tokatea. https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/07/28/tokatea/

Dauntless – A Peek Down Below

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Dauntless – A Peek Down Below

Recently Dauntless popped up on tme as a project boat that failed to progress to actually being a project.She was possibly built by Lanes in 2027, but this is unconfirmed and there is a lot of chat in the comments section of WW in a past story 2013 WW story – link here https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/06/03/dauntless/

Powered by a Isuzu diesel – that is just about all we know.

Woodys Riverhead Tavern Cruise – Record Turnout – 21 Woodys

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Woodys Riverhead Tavern Cruise – Record Turnout – 21 Woodys – Trip Report 

Yesterdays upper harbour cruise to the historic waterfront Riverhead Tavern ticked all the boxes – perfect weather and sea state, best (21- record) turnout of classic craft we have had, great food and as always – nice people 🙂

100% record of no oops on the sand/mud banks, but LOTS of timber floating around kept the skippers on their toes.

The above photo gallery tells the story of the day – enjoy.

UPDATE – Photos & Videos below from the camera of Tracy and Alan Gilder aboard Pirate.

REHIA
LADY JAN
PACIFIC

NEXT WOODYS EVENT – SATURDAY 15TH APRIL – STILLWATER DOCKSIDE PICNIC 

Thetis – Shed Visit

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THETIS – Shed Visit

The 45’ classic launch – Thetis, built / launched in 1955 by Lanes is currently tucked up in a shed in Opua getting serious TCL.

One of the better looking big classic, she always looks fast even when at anchor.

Read / view more on her at this WW link https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/06/20/mv-thetis-4sale/

Pre haul out / TLC

29-03-2024 UPDATE – Thetis has a new owner and already she has returned (via road) to Auckland and there are plans afoot to restore her to her former glory. We will keep you updated. Check out the photo below on the hard, she looks just so smart and fast just sitting on there on the stands 🙂

The Classic Yachting World Has Gone Doolally

Reading the latest issue of ClassicBoat magazine, I see they are reporting that glassfibre classics will soon be seen on the Mediterranean classic yacht racing circuit.

The CIM (Comite International de la Mediterranee du Yachting Classique) have made the call to accept glassfibre classics on the racecourse. Refer below extract from CB for more details.

Given the size of the yacht fleets turning up for NZ Classic Yacht Association races these days, they will be following suit and probably let 8Y8’s into the fold 🙂

RSVP – boat name and approx crew # to waitematawoodys@gmail.com

TE UIRA RELAUNCHED

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TE UIRA RELAUNCHED

Ian Smith from the Sydney Wooden Boat School has just aired a new video he shot during the recent Aust Wooden Boat Festival in Hobart. Its titled ‘Around the Boatyards Ep2’ – and focuses the Cygnet Wooden Boat yard and we get a great overview of the recently relaunched 1896 C&W Bailey (NZ) built 45’ yacht Te Uira.

Also an overview of other CWB projects recently completed or underway. Enjoy.

Special thanks to Andrew Christie for the heads up on the video

Lots of background on Te Uira and photos of the restoration at the links below

Previous 2015 WW story https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/07/15/sos-1896-chas-bailey-yacht-to-be-broken-up/

Previous 2019 WW story https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/05/19/restoration-of-te-uira-begins/

Three Minutes Of Wooden Boat Porn

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3 Minutes Of Wooden Boat Porn

Last month I bombarded you with a several photo galleries of the 2023 Australian Wooden Boat Festival.  As part of the wrap up of the festival, the organising crew have pulled together a 3min short film that utilises a lot of aerial film footage. The video gives us a wonderful overview of the festival, the Hobart harbour and waterfront – if there is any saw dust in your blood – Hobart February 2025 needs to be circled on your calendar. As festival director – Paul Stephanus says “This festival is one of a kind” . And its the largest event of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere and surprise surprise woodys – its free, no charge – we like that.

Find a comfortable chair and prepare to be wowed.  

TIP: To enlarge screen size – scroll over the screen above and click on the icon I have highlighted below

RSVP (boat name & approx crew #) TO waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Woodys On Tour – Hobart – Australian Wooden Boat Festival – 50’ HALVORSEN MOTOR LAUNCH

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Woodys On Tour – Hobart – Australian Wooden Boat Festival – 50’ HALVORSEN MOTOR LAUNCH

Hello Woodys

While the Australian Wooden Boat Festival is done and dusted the woody camera is loaded with photos – today we feature the 1947 built, 50’ Halvorsen motor launch – Minocqua. Designed and built by famous Australian boat builder Lars Halvorsen, she was one of seven built in the late 1940’s. If my memory is working, the Australian Americas Cup legend – Ian Murray owns one (possibly this one).

76 years later she is still a very imposing vessel and stands out anywhere.

Something for the petrol heads – check out the video below of a 1945 Tasman Marine engine, two stroke, 3hp, single cylinder. Built by the Tasman Engineering Company. 

TURN UP THE SOUND

And Then They Were Gone 😦