Category Archives: A Peek Down Below

Korawai

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KORAWAI
Yesterday we ran a story on Jim Greenaway. Jim & wife Lesley owned Korawai in Tauranga from about 1973 to 1981 / 82.
Jim’s main trade was a cabinet maker but he was also a semi-pro boat builder and did a lot of work on Korawai – new galley, teak deck, etc. The family spent many weeks aboard her – including five weeks or so at a stretch every summer at Mercury Island.
Korawai was built by Owen Woolley in 1962 for a F. Niel of Bridge St, Panmure. She is a sister ship tp Taree. Previous owners include Beau Farrell. I photo below I took in January, 2010, anchored off Oneroa, Waiheke Island. (details ex Harold Kidd & Colin Pawson)
Do we know where she is now?
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The story of Jim Greenaway – A Rather Productive Kiwi Boatbuilder

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The story of Jim Greenaway – A Rather Productive Kiwi Boatbuilder

I was sent the profile of Jim Greenaway by his son Rob, who penned it. I recommend you read it, it’s a great read.
How I came to be sent the story is classic WW,  Rob was mooching around the web & found an old article I had done on the CYA forum (in the days b4 WW) on a launch named Korawai & Rob tracked me down.
Tomorrows WW story is on the launch. There will be some great photos dating back to the mid >late 1970’s, make sure you check it out.

ARGO – Mason Marine Clipper 26

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ARGO – Mason Marine Clipper 26

In recent years there has been a resurgence in the restoration of the Mason Marine motor boats. Aside from being very smart craft, the ability to pop them on a trailer & take them home, cuts out the savage marina costs. Her owner has had her since 1993, in later years she was always a project to be completed but life got in the way.

Todays deep vee Clipper 26, Argo, & is for sale on trademe, she looks a little tired after sitting out in the weather for years but the bones are their. Her looks are deceiving. Her hull has been tapped her out and she sounds good. Internal wood work needs a lot of attention.

Although the Clippers originally never had a flying bridge, one was added with hydraulic steering top and bottom.
This boat comes with a 6.4 GMC Diesel motor (not converted) Volvo stern leg plus the standard bits and pieces that were on her originally.

The photos of her in her original glory are from Pete Miller’s web site. Got to love the photo from the “old times” checking for fuel leaks whilst the character n the background has his smoke.

Argo had a wide beam of 9’6” & interesting construction of strip plank cedar glassed on the exterior and ribs on the interior. Fuel consumption must have been fierce with twin 283cu inboards  originally, later replaced by a 440cu Magnum 4bbl and she had a third with a 440 cu Magnum with a 6 BBL carb. But then fuel was dirt cheap in those days.

So Woodys anyone looking for a project?

Lady Margaret For Sale – Buyer Beware

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Lady Margaret A Peek Down Below

Lady Margaret was built in 1948 by Peter Gardiner in Whangarei, given her looks, to a brief that must have said “I like Chris Craft boats, build me one”.
She has a 3” double diagonal kauri hull, & is powered by Ford 120hp twin diesel engines, one of which (port side) is seized.
Her seller, an infamous lurker on WW, has either tried to or has sold several boats in recent times, I won’t comment on these boats as the last time I did I was told – “we know where you live / where you keep your boat – be careful……………..”
On her trademe listing the seller states that the boat was listed by one of Auckland’s biggest brokers for $112k, then $98k & now he is selling it for $49k ono. I wonder why the falling asking price ? Dockside chat tells me she has been hauled out in the last year, can anyone enlighten us on the reason for the haul out & the nature of any work?
You can read more on her past at this 2013 WW link https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/04/16/lady-margaret-2/
Tip Of The Day: WW always encourages people to do a survey b4 buying a classic wooden boat.
UPDATE 09-08-2018 Photo below (dated 11/04/2018) sent in be a woody.
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UPDATE
Lady Margaret – Listed on Tom Nesbitt website – the asking / starting bid is $40k
Robin Gae – has just appeared on the same site, I’m told a coat of paint & its now double the purchase price. Nice of him to use some WW photos + video in his listing.
UPDATE 23-09-2018 After being banned on trademe the seller has now popped up on facebook marketplace
UPDATE 24-09-2018 SOLD – see below (owners name deleted)
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Waimata

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WAIMATA

Resident Lake Rotoiti boat builder Alan Craig (Craig Marine), sent me the above photos of the 28’ launch Waimata. She has just been at Alan’s yard for a hull paint job.

Alan commented that while a resident on Lake Rotoit she is not always seen at the annual Wooden Boat Parade.

Her owners believe she is a Collings and Bell built in 1926 & bought buy the Corson family around 1939 to bring to the lake. They changed the name so we are not sure of her original name.

Her zoom zoom these days is via a Nanni diesel, prior to this she had a Grey Marine & previous to that, something much bigger that made her “really go” according to her owner.

Interested to know if the builders plate is original? – I have not seen one like that before.

Waimata is a very well maintained woody & with Alan’s input is looking very smart.

So woodys – what do we know about this boats past?

Input from Paul Drake –

The C & B builder’s plate in this morning’s WW post is of interest.
Below is a pic of SIR FRANCIS’s plate from 1916. Notice the slight difference in phone numbers.
Rather unusual to have a phone number on a builder’s plate, don’t you think?
These days one might include an email address!
Alan H Question – when did Auckland ph numbers change from 4 to 5 digits?
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Working Waterfront Boatbuilders Shed – 50 photos

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Working Waterfront Boatbuilders Shed – 50 photos

As I’ve send many times before, if your want a stunning day weather wise, schedule a Classic Yacht Association event – the hit rate must be 9/10.

Over 100 CYA members & friends made the trip north to Lees Boatbuilders at Sandspit – our host for the day, Greg Lees, turned on a brilliant woody event – we had everything – woody projects underway, the best collection of 1/2 models I seen outside of the RNZYS walls, a photo montage recording the history of the yard & the vessels built over the years.

 Center stage was Jenny & Angus Rogers – Mahanui, in the shed for a new deck, alongside her was a very original Chris Craft that was getting a restoration. 

The varnish guru Dale has already applied 23 coats, with 6 more to come. Compared to our old girls, these American woodys are very lightly built, amazing that so many have survived.

Outside we had Anna & Nic Davidson’s – Juanita, on one slip & Barbara & David Cooke’s woody flagship – Trinidad, alongside the wharf. In midstream was Yvonne, waiting her turn in the shed.

On the hard was a selection of small craft built by either Greg, his father Tim or other local craftsman. Not woodys but certainly classic were Greg’s two English built, aluminium Albatross runabouts – the very rare 4 seater is next on Greg’s to-do list. Included are a few photos of other woodys in or out of the water.

Greg gave an articulate talk on his families boatbuilding history & how they came to be situated on the Sandspit foreshore. At the end he announced the official launch of the 2018 Rudder Cup launch race to be run on Friday 14th December to Sail Rock & back. See flyer below, I encourage all woody owners to consider participating. At this stage we (I’m on the race committee, along with Jason Prew, Nathan Herbert, Baden Pascoe & Barbara & David Cooke) are calling for expressions of interest in racing – entry to the race is by invitation, as per the original race format in 1908.

 Big ups to Greg & family + staff for turning on the day, including BBQ. Special thanks also to the CYA committee members that pulled it all together. 

Lastly a little something below for the petrol heads – Greg had on display his Jesser BSA 500cc twin, hill climb racer. Built in 1962 by Les Jesser, she is a 2 time Australian  class champion. 

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CYA Rudder Cup 2018 flyer

A Spot of Koha – Seafood or Vension for Boatbuilding Guidance

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A Spot of Koha – Seafood or Vension for Boatbuilding Guidance

The owner of Cobweb, Matt Debono has sent me an unusal request, I get a lot of  WW emails but this one was a first. I have included it below, just as I received it.

“This is probably not a usual e-mail for you. I send you this because of the passion you have for wooden boats. In saying this my yacht Cobweb isn’t even a classic wooden boat. She is a 35ft Laurie Davidson design launched in 1975 with a 3 skin kauri construction under glass… modern classic?

I have recently purchased Cobweb as a bit of a project as I wanted to learn how these wooden boats were constructed and learn some skills myself as the craftsmanship that goes into them astonish me. I saw her potential as a good yacht and got her for a good price. What I am asking for is if you know anybody in the South Auckland region that may share the same passion who has some experience in boat building of this nature who may want to pass some of their skills and experience on to a younger guy like me.

As you can see I have Cobweb sitting on my front lawn, I have opened her up and I’m not too far away from scarfing the inner 2 skins after I let the timber dry a bit. I have all the tools and machinery required however a bit of guidance would go a long way. Whoever comes to help could obviously expect a reward, I can fill freezers up with Venison or seafood fairly easily… or pay cash.”

So woodys, if you have the skills & an empty freezer – drop Matta note mpdebono@hotmail.co.nz

Lots of photos (50) on Monday from the Lees Boatbuilders shed visit 😉

Mystery Launch – Steadman 38

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Mystery Launch – Steadman 38

Today’s woody is a mystery because the broker chooses not to disclose the launches name on the trademe listing (thank you Ian McDonald for the heads up).

We can tell you she is a Steadman design, built in 1960, with 1 planked kauri hull & maitai decks. She measures 38’ in length but her listing says her beam is 4’5” (that has to be wrong) & a draft of 3’5”. Zoom zoom comes from a 6cly 120hp Ford diesel.

She is a big solid girl, sleeps 8 & apopears to be pretty while fitted out. What do we know about her past & a name would be nice.

The NAC electric teal cabin top is unusual…………

 

SOUTHERN ISLES – A Peak Down Below

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SOUTHERN ISLES – A Peak Down Below

Thanks to her trademe listing (ex Ian McDonald) we get to have a peek down below on the 36’ Southern Isles.

Built by Tom Wells at Wakatahuri, Forsyth Bay, Pelorus Sound & launched in 1953 she has a beam of 10’6” & draws 5’.

Her zoom zoom is via a 127hhp Gardner 6LX.

She was featured on WW before in Dec 2017 – link below, where you will find lots of history from John Wicks.

Southern Isles

Update ex Cameron Pollard – photos below show her in 1950, just prior to launching & in work – beaching the ship Matangi.

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20-08-2018 UPDATE – John Wicks just advised that he had recently run into the couple who owned her while she was in Clevedon. They told him they’ve just sold her to someone related (not sure exactly how) to the Wells family of Wakatahuri, and that she’s heading back down to where she was launched, which has to be a good thing.

Fifer

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FIFER

I’m hoping today is a wet, rainy day – why?  todays story on the restoration of the 67’ Canadian motor yacht – Fifer, is such a great read.

Fifer was built in 1928 by the Hoffa- Beeching Shipyard in Vancouver BC, the company went on to merge with the Boeing Company in 1929.

Her owners are passionate woody boaters with a long history of classic wooden boat ownership. She is powered by twin 102hp Gardener 6L3, which are over 40 years old & still going strong.

The owners & Fife’s story is told on their weblog – link below.  You will see from some of the photos above she has had a few ‘adventures’ – read her story it’s very addictive reading – Enjoy.

https://www.yachtfifer1928.com/blog/