Category Archives: 44′>50′

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – LADY TANA > KHUTZE CRUISER  >  FURIOSA – ORIGINAL OUTSHINES REFIT

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – LADY TANA > KHUTZE CRUISER  >  FURIOSA – ORIGINAL OUTSHINES REFIT

Back in Jan 2020 WW ran a story on the 1971 wooden launch – LADY TANA, built by Oliver & Gilpin. At the time we learnt a lot about her via the WW comments section. We have repeated them below.

Now thanks to an email from woody John Dawson, we get to see LADY TANA as launched. A pity about the ‘additions’ …… refer below photos.

Jan 2020 ex Matthew Keys – Lady Tana was built for my grandfather Harry Keys by Oliver and Gilpin in 1971. He cruised extensively in Northland in the early 70s with Whangaroa being a favourite.  Tana rock in the Kerikeri inlet is named after the boat after it struck the rock. Kelly Tarlton made the rescue temporarily patching the hole.  The boat was sold to Warwick Ross in Tauranga where it stayed for many years.  In the 1980s it was renamed the Khutze Cruiser and ran booze cruises out of Paihia for a while.

May 2023 ex Donna Cowslip – My name is Donna Cowsill my grandfather Syd Deadman bought the Lady Tana that was in the 80s. Was the 2nd biggest pleasure boat in Whitianga. Did a lot of game fishing with my dear grandad, can’t remember the year he sold her but he regretted it big time. He down sized to the Waimaro nice boat but nothing could beat the Lady Tana. Queen of the sea

Oct 2024 – ex Tara Busby – She is renamed FURIOSA (Mad Max) and based around Northland/Hauraki Gulf as a liveaboard fishing and diving platform. We dropped the Lady name because she’s more of a bitch than a lady. She’s not elegant and pretty but big, strong and solid! As new owners we intend to modify her appearance to reflect her new name.

TRADITIONAL CLASSIC BOATS MOORED ON THE WAIROA RIVER 

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TRADITIONAL CLASSIC BOATS MOORED ON THE WAIROA RIVER 

Following on from yesterday’s story on the annual Classic Wooden Boat Cruise to the Clevedon Cruising Club, as promised today we share the wooden craft passed moored on the Wairoa River.

Many are semi permanent residents and its interesting to see what (if any) work has been undertaken in the previous 12 months.  All too often these back waters can become parking lots for owners that object to lining the back pockets of the Auckland marina owner fat cats.  So it was nice to see most skippers are keeping up the maintenance on their craft, and pleasing to see a lot of ’new’ arrivals. 

Enjoy the gallery – photo quality varies as the first click was at 6.30am and the light improved as the journey progressed up river. As always click on photos to enlarge.

CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT CLEVEDON SPRING CRUISE HIGHLIGHTS

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Very Early Start Up The River
Follow The Leader
Raffle Prizes

CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT CLEVEDON SPRING CRUISE HIGHLIGHTS

A tad weary writing this story so it will be short and I’ll let the photos tell the story.The weekend just gone saw a fleet of classic wooden craft making the pilgrimage to the CLEVEDON CRUISING CLUB for the annual woodys overnight BBQ.

As always the tide wags the dogs tail so we were looking at a very early trip up the Wairoa River, by early try 6.15am. The smart woody skippers travelled down Friday afternoon and anchored overnight at the river mouth. A great sunset delivered some nice photos.

I took photos of the classic woodys moored on route, it is always interesting to view the deterioration of some craft and the new arrivals. Will do a story on the river trip tomorrow.

Most of Saturday was spent boat hoping and catching up on dockside gossip. Rest assured if you weren’t there you were talked about.Captain Giddens hosted late afternoon drinks on ALLERGY and then we moved onto the clubrooms for the evening.

If you haven’t been to a Woody gig at the CCC its an all-embracing old school night shindig – bbq’s, outdoor fires, karaoke with a professional singer that could make even the worst shower singer sound ok. There are raffles, which I have to report the woodys skippers did very well at – Captain Giddens collecting 4 prizes.
Everything is BYO but the club very generously provide additional food and an impressive dessert table.

Departure home on Sunday was almost as early as Saturday and the forecast wasn’t flash eh N>30 knots. I can’t speak for the others but it wasn’t the very pleasant and if it wasn’t bolted down it ended up on the cabin floor 😦

A big shout out to the classic yachts that joined the flotilla this year, with access to the local knowledge of Barry Abel, the deeper draft yachts had an uneventful  passage on the river . Special thanks to all the woodys that attended by car, your company added to the evening.

Enjoy the photos and start thinking about the Spring Splash At Kawau Island on Labour Weekend.

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – MARNINE – A PEEK DOWN BELOW

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c.1963
2013
2023
2025
2016

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – MARNINE – A PEEK DOWN BELOW

Todays woody is the 50’ classic launch – MARNINE, built in 1961 by the Lane Motor Boat Co. She is probably one of the most admired classic craft in Auckland, aside from her stunning looks and presentation, the location of her berth at the OBC Marina in Auckland ensures that anyone driving along Tamaki Drive, and there are a lot (32,000 + cars a day) can’t help but notice MARNINE.

But woodys until today thats where it ends, a glance from 50m away, today thanks to the generosity of her owner and Angus Rogers camera we get a peek below. Now this was no poised photo shoot, best described as an ‘unfiltered’ look 🙂

With a 15’ beam and weighing approx. 25 tonnes she very much is one of the Waitemata’s majestic classic wooden craft. 

MARNINE has made several appearance on WW, the June 2013 story has a lot of chat about her – link > https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/06/08/marnine/ . A quick search in the WW Search Box will bring up most of her history 🙂

Photo below just prior to launch day.

c.1961

CAN ANYONE TELL US ABOUT THE WOODEN BOAT – LADY JOYCE

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CAN ANYONE TELL US ABOUT THE WOODEN BOAT – LADY JOYCE

Somedays life just gets in the way of writing a WW story, so today’s story is a lazy one eg I was sent the photos above by Dion Lane. Dion had recently purchased the 44’ LADY JOYCE and was seeking more intel on her, makes for an quick story.

Dion commented that he believes LADY JOYCE was built from kauri c.1970 by the ’Carey family’. Home currently is Wellington but she may have spent time in Waikawa, Marlborough, South Island.

The addition of the block of flats doesn’t please my classic eye but as one of my favourite boatbuilders is fond of saying “its only wood and I do own a tungsten tipped chainsaw” 🙂

DAVEY JONES BOOK QUIZ – CLOSES TONIGHT AT 6 pm

Scroll down to yesterdays story for details on the prize and how to enter – FYI – So far the most entries ever to a WW competition and they all have the correct answer ✓ So it seems Davey and vessel are well known around NZ’s coastal ports.

FATHERS DAY SORTED FOR ANYONE WITH SALT IN THEIR VEINS

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FATHERS DAY SORTED FOR ANYONE WITH SALT IN THEIR VEINS

Rarely these days do I pick up a book and can not put it down – well it happened recently. I received an advance copy of Davey Jones just published book – ‘Davey Jones of Wakatahuri’ and its both a cracker read and an amazing account of his boating life and his interaction with the Wakatahuri region. Now I’m sure some of you will be asking yourself ‘ where is that?’ – well its in the outer Pelorus Sound at the top of the South Island, the Marlborough District (refer chart below). The area has been many things to many people – a fish factory, a boatyard, a ship breaking base and a community hub.

Davey Jones arrived at Wakatahuri as a young fisherman in 1956 and still lives there today , on and off when he’s not lapping NZ in his boat.

It’s an additive read that with the help of over 200 photographs will have you hooked. 

And as a bonus – included is a reprint of an equally wonderful read -’Sounds Wrecking Co.’ by Martin Burthold.

So woodys drop a hint to the family re what you want for Fathers Day (Sept 7th) or just order one for yourself – $60+ p&p – all enquiries to daveyjonesofwakatahuri@gmail.com

AND I HAVE A COPY TO GIVE AWAY – just answer correctly the name of the vessel Davey Jones has most recently been lapping NZ on. Enter ONLY via email to waitematawoodys@gmail.com all correct entries go in the draw. Closes 6pm 17-08-2023.

AND THERE ALWAYS HAS TO BE A BOAT PHOTO – this is from Davey’s book and shows the work boat MARLBOROUGH PN47, in Picton Harbour c.1929, built by E R Lane. In the background are VALMARIE, at left, and Ernie Lane’s boat shed, the Picton Rowing Club sheds at right. The vessel under repair at Lane’s yard is a lighter from Port Robinson (Gore Bay)

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – BALSONA – TO GOOD TO BE TRUE STORY

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – BALSONA – To Good To Be True Story

The 50’ Oliver & Gilpin 1967 built wooden launch – BALSONA recently popped up on tme (thanks Ian McDonald) – the asking price was $25k ono, including her Hobsonville marina berth. Now it seems a bit whiffy – big boat, twin Ford 130 hp engines , over $300k spent etc BUT only one photo shown(as above).

BALSONA made a brief appearance on WW in Jan 2021 link here https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/01/26/balsona-classic-launch-parade/

I’d like to be proved wrong but I suspect this offering is an attempt to exit the Hobsonville marina berth lease. These days a lot of marina ownership is really a liability eg est. only 6 years term left x 12 months = 72 payments x maybe $1,200 mth for a 15m marina berth = $86,000. Thence a lot of the berths are for sale at $1,000 or even free.

As mentioned in the listing owner open to partnership, sweat equity / payment.

So if you’re looking for a cheapish waterfront home, BALSONA might be an option. 

CLASSIC WOODYS BOAT SHOW AT OBC

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All Alone & Very Cold – (overnighting due to mast height)

CLASSIC WOODYS BOAT SHOW AT OBC

On Sunday we held the inaugural classic woodys boat show  – hosted by the OBC Marina. 

WW was holding hands with Auckland’s – Outdoor Boating Club on Tamaki Drive as they celebrated their annual open day. Magic location and set up – check out the club here https://www.obc.co.nz

As it seems to always happen at woodys events, the weather was 10/10, a perfect winners day. Check out the photo gallery above.

The day had all the ingredients for a fun family day out – Nice boats + Nice people, topped off with classic trailer boats, classic cars, food/coffee trucks, kids activities and a bonus – the team from LEGASEA , the kiwi hero’s that are dedicated to restoring the abundance, biodiversity and health of NZ’s marine environment – check out the website https://legasea.co.nz

Enjoy the photos, it was a great day and everyone left with a smile on their face.

CLASSIC  WOODEN BOAT – KOMUTU – A Peek Down Below

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CLASSIC  WOODEN BOAT – KOMUTU – A Peek Down Below

Back in October 2019 woody IanMcDonald sent in some photos of the wooden launch – KOMUTU on the hard in Whagarei.We learnt that she was built by Curnow & Wilton in Motueka in 1950>52 (launched Dec 1952) to a Cliff Nalder design. Spec were 42’ x 12’ x 3’6”.                      

Lots more intel in the WW link below.
WW Oct 2019 https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/10/23/komutu-whats-on-for-the-long-weekend/

Fast forward to early 2025 and thanks to a tme appearance we get to have a gander down below. Forward motion these days is via 230hp Detroit 671 engine. 

UPDATE ON THE CLASSIC LAUNCH – COLUMBIA

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UPDATE ON THE CLASSIC LAUNCH – COLUMBIA

On Wednesday we asked for more information on the classic wooden launch – COLUMBIA and the WW readers delivered, link here to that story https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/06/25/looking-for-information-on-classic-launch-columbia/ . 

Then on Thursday night Sandra Gibson sent in the gallery of photos above and advised that “Columbia has been restored by Stanford Boatbuilders, as she had been gutted. And she is now powered by a V8 Cat and she is 2 meters longer. Cruises at 14 knots. Modernized inside and very comfortable.”aunt 

Reviewing the book cover below, her exterior hasn’t changed much in the last 30 years.