CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – MAHANA
The classic wooden launch MAHANA has appeared before on WW but woody John Dawson sent in this gallery of photos, to give us a better look down below.
She was built in c.1975 by Atkinson and with the date falls into the ‘Spirit of Tradition’ category. A lot bigger than she looks in the photos -– 46’ LOA and not sluggish with a 315hp Yanmar providing the forward motion.
EASTER ON THE WATER – Classic Wooden Boat Cruising
Just back from three days on RD , Friday was one out of the box, simply stunning. Saturday was another goody and Sunday a tad overcast but still warm. Very happy with the number of classic woodys at Rakino Island over the weekend. I managed to catch up with a lot of the skippers, general consensus was ‘grabbing a few days afloat before winter kicks in’.
The white bridge-decker above was a mystery to me, short 4 letter name – Nathan what say you?
On Saturday I caught up with Bill Brown whose family (Corrine & James Brown) owned my launch in the late 1960’s. Back then she was named LADY GAY. Bill works off shore but keeps a very smart woody yacht (SusanJane) at Westhaven for when back in NZ.
We meet a few years ago via a mutual friend and the WW site, the penny dropped re the boat link and Bill sent me a great album of b/w photos from back in the late 1960’s.
I spend a lot of time matching other people and boats from the past so it was extra special to have an ‘own goal’.
One of Bill’s photos below of LADY GAY (RAINDANCE). For those interested more on RD’s past here https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/04/23/lady-gay/
CLASSIC LAUNCH – LADY GAZELLE – A Peek Down Below
The classic wooden launch LADY GAZELLE , designed by Jim Young,has made several appearance of WW, link below to those stories. https://waitematawoodys.com/?s=LADY+GAZELLE+&submit=Search
Sadly back in March 2023 during Cyclone Gabrille, LADY GAZELLE ended on the rocks in the Coromandel Harbour, photo below .
We next saw her in August 2023, being relaunched at Clevedon, photo below.
Today thanks to Ian McDonald spotting a tme post, we get to have a gander down below. The rebuild of LADY GAZELLE isn’t completely finished but it would be a great winter project and then you would be boating next summer.
Do not normally quote $$ but at around $25k its a bargain.
SOS – CAN WE SAVE CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – LIBERTY – FROM THE LAND FILL – SOS
WW was contacted yesterday by the owner of the 30/33’ classic wooden launch LIBERTY that is moored in Whitianga.
As a result of last weeks storm, she has been taking on water and the Harbour Master has advised the vessel will be removed from her mooring and towed to a ramp and sadly then await a visit from the back-hoe.Note: her engine has been partially submerged.
LIBERTY has appeared on WW several times, links below to those stories. But in a nut-shell built somewhere in the 1919> early 1920’s period, 30>33’ in length, powered by a 35hp BMW engine (only 160hrs). Her provenance differs depending on who you listen to – some say built by Lou Burns and Stu McCallum in Te Papapa Onehunga. Harold Kidd has previously commented that he always thought she was the LIBERTY built by F and S Shaw in Devonport in 1919 when both brothers got back from WW1. She had a 12hp Regal originally. HDK suspected she’s been lengthened as well as had a couple of tophamper additions. L.R. Matthews had her in 1947 when Commodore of PCC and Noel Mitchell owned her in the 1960s.
WW Feb14 2020.https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/02/14/liberty-2/ WW Feb22 2020.https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/02/22/liberty-446/ WW May 2021. https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/05/27/liberty-a-peek-down-below/
FREE – CAN SOMEONE STEP UP AND SAVE HER – FREE
(Last two photos above from back in time)
Contact Owner TODAY 027 371 3824
MYSTERY CLASSIC BROOKE MOTOR LAUNCH
Todays woody made an appearance on tme in early 2025 and at the time we were told the launch was designed by Jack Brooke, built of kauri and launched in 1965, was 36’ in length and powered by twin 65hp Ford D Series engines, that gave her a cruise speed of 6>8 knots.
A serious lack of exterior photos, hard to get a good look at the boat, bow on isn’t her best angle. Quite a smart woody down below, juries out on the second story addition……..
And that woodys was all we learnt, so looking to put a name to the vessel and where she is these days (when for sale, Tauranga was the listed location)
(thanks to Ian McDonald for the heads up)
GRACIE – 33’ WOODEN LAUNCH + CLASSIC LAUNCH SILENS SINKS
In 1741 David Hume termed the phase – ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder’ – well it certainly applies to todays wooden vessel. In her tme story (thanks Ian McDonald) her owner says “Gracie is a beautifully proportioned classic wooden launch” , they also say she was designed by Jim Young – the claim to her beauty and designer have been challenged in the tme comments section and would have to agree. To my eyes has a high degree of yacht looks to her.
All the above aside she is constructed from kauri carvel planking, has a beam of 10’9’ and draws 4’3”, built c.1970’s. Her forward motion is from a Nissan 2.7L diesel engine giving her a top speed of 8 knots.
SAD NEWS CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH SILENS SINKS
Several reports have come in about the 1912 Harvey & Lang built, 38′ classic wooden launch SILENS sinking on Thursday/Friday while moored in Algies Bay, Mahurangi Peninsula. The unconfirmed story is that she had left her berth in Westhaven and was traveling to the Bay of Islands. Based on the weather forecast / conditions on Thursday the decision was made to stop in Algies Bay on a mooring.As a result of at this stage unknown water ingress, and possible bilge pump issues, she sank. Her mast is visibly at low tide so hopefully salvageable. Keen to learn more. In my early days on the classic woody scene SILENS was one of the in-crowd and I have happy memories from times aboard. https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/08/16/silens-a-peek-down-below-4sale/
CLASSIC WOODEN 1930’s SPEEDBOAT – WINTER PROJECT
Todays vintage woody recently popped up on tme with a $1 reserve (thanks Ian McDonald).
Now hush my mouth but the chrome fittings would be worth buying her for. But there’s the bones of a nice lake boat there – 20’ in length, made from mahogany , stored under cover its whole life. Designer / builder unknown.
OFF CENTER HARBOR WEBSITE
Regular WW readers will be familiar with the USA based website – Off Center Harbour, but if you aren’t already a member I would encourage you to subscribe.
A day wouldn’t go by when I do not log in to view one off the 600+ video’s from the back library – for advice, inspiration of just entertainment.
At the link below you will find a short video on what the site is all about . https://www.offcenterharbor.com/what-is-off-center-harbor-regular-join/
Below is a random collection of screen grabs showing some of the content.
CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – LADY ETHEL – A PEEK DOWN BELOW
The 34’ 1962 classic wooden launch – LADY ETHEL has previously appeared on WW, link below. In that 2014 story and in her tme listing last year it was stated that she was built by Brin Wilson, this is incorrect. Back in 2015 Chris McMullen advised that LADY ETHEL was in fact built by Morrie Palmer of Devonport, he did the hull and Mr Neil Wilson (owner) finished her off.
WW April 2014 https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/04/17/lady-ethel/ (thanks Ian McDonald)
These days she is powered by a 1988, 72hp Sole (marinised Mercedes) diesel engine giving a comfortable cruising speed of 7.5 knots.
She did sell – at the time based in Motueka. Can we get an update on where LADY ETHEL is now.
CLASSIC 1950’S WOODEN LAUNCH – TAMAROA
We last saw TAMAROA on WW back in 2022 , link below https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/04/12/tamaroa-in-the-bay-of-islands/
Early in the year she made an appearance on tme (thanks Ian McDonald) and this enabled us to get afresh look at some of the enhancements.
Briefly overview of what we know – 46’, Collings & Bell launched in 1954, powered by twin 120hp Nissan diesel engines. She had a new kauri hull fitted about 15 years ago up to the water line.
Interested to learn if she sold and if so where she resides now.
SUMMER WAS A TAD AVERAGE BUT AUTUMN GETS A BIG ✔️
Had a lazy weekend at Rakino Island, condition perfect – as expect Woody Bay was packed and zero woodys, but West Bay was the better anchorage.
If you like gin – try PAPA SALT – Coastal Gin, seriously good and the sea glass bottle ilooks the part on a classic wooden boat 😉
CLASSIC SOUTHERN WOODEN CLINKER – BEATTIEFUL
When I first sighted todays 16’, 1961 built clinker run-about I was a little startled and my first thoughts were had she started life as a project boat at a boatbuilding school were every skill / feature was explored. But as they say – beauty is in the eyes of the beholder and if you pay the bills you can do what ever you want 😉
And she was awarded the top prize at the 2018 NZ Antique and Classic boat show at Lake Rotoiti, Nelson Lakes. So she appeals to them southern folks 🙂
What we know about BEATTIEFUL is she was designed and built in 1961 by Jim Beattie, a kiwi boat builder based in Blenheim, and then in the mid 2000’s she was restored in Blenheim by Wayne Foley of Blenheim. Power is via a 60hp Yamaha outboard.I understand the boat changed hands at the 2026 Nelson Lakes boat show, so nice that she remain ‘local’ and presumably lake based.
(thanks Ian McDonald for the story heads up)
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