SANDSPIT LAUNCH MOVES INTO THE SHED
Last month we featured a smart looking woody launched that was under a ’tent’ near Greg Lees Boat Yard. At the time we learnt from Greg that in another life he was named POLLY and spent time around Kawau Island.
We can report that the launch has moved into the yards slipway / boathouse and work is underway to complete the rebuild.
Link to previous story here https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/11/18/mystery-classic-wooden-launch-at-greg-lees-boatbuilders/
DANCER – 30’ STEAM LAUNCH
Todays wooden is the 30’ steam powered launch – DANCER, designed by Peter Sewell and built by owner John Olsen. DANCER is strip planked cedar (+ f/glass) and has a beam of 6’ and draws 2’6”.
The short video of DANCER on the Waikato River was filmed (drone) by Wesley Harcourt. The steam engine is diesel powered – more details in the video narrative.
DANCER is a frequent visitor to the Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade and appearance in a lot of my post event coverage on WW.
Back in Feb 2021 DANCER appeared on WW – link below https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/02/20/ss-dancer/
One of John’s many talents is making traditional rope fenders. John very kindly made a pair for my launch RAINDANCE – see below. + link to how to make the fenders https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/05/01/classic-rope-fenders-how-to/
CAN ANYONE HELP OUT WITH A WOODY STORAGE PROBLEM
Paul Hinton is considering acquiring a 1903 W.H.B. ex pilot boat that is currently hauled out in Diary Flat – she appeared on WW – link here https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/05/31/mystery-1902-pilot-boat/
The problem is Paul is currently finishing another project and needs to temporally ‘park’ the pilot boat for >6 mths.
Paul can be contacted at pm.hinton@gmail.com
A tip sign an agreement re max time frame, and state that if exceeded Paul will be responsible for any removal / disposal costs 😉
CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – ALBERTA – 4sale
The classic 1913 wooden launch – ALBERTA was designed and built by H N Burgess, in Parnell, Auckland.
Alberta is a woody that I have always admired when visiting Lake Rotoiti, she has a rather prominent waterfront berth and is one of those lucky craft that looks dam near perfect from any angle.
Her specs are 28’ in length and has a beam that would make her a trailerable classic – given the cost of a marina berth in most NZ cities thats a serious bonus.
Powered by a 30hp Lombardini, new in the boat approx. 5 years ago, with 138 hours on the clock – not a lot of places to go to on the lake 😉
Configured currently as a day / picnic boat she is all good for overnight / weekend cruising.
Fresh from a visit to one our best classic boat yards (Craig Marine) where she had a refresh to paint and varnish work.
Starting to sound like a woody 4sale advertisement – well she is. And probably the buy of 2024, even allowing for transporting her back to the Waitemata and setting her free again 🙂
Link here to a 2022 WW story – lots more photos and links to previous ALBERTA stories https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/09/15/alberta-a-peek-down-below/
Interested parties contact her owner Jon Dustin for more details – honedustin@gmail.com
INPUT ex PAUL DRAKE – I came across the photo below of ALBERTA which I took in 2006 at North Harbour Marina. Pre Rotoiti days and without a dodger.
CLASSIC 1927 WOODEN GAME BOAT – ALMA G II RE-LAUNCHED
For the last 18+ months WW has been following closely the refit / restoration of the 1927, Collings & Bell built game boat – ALMA G II.
On Wednesday I pointed the car north and attended the re-launching celebration at Opua, in the Bay of Islands.
Today is about sharing the day with all the WW readers – In previous WW stories (links below) we have extensively covered her past and how she progressed to what we are viewing today.
Tomorrow on WW we will run the videos I recored of the speeches, Waiata and blessing.
Co owners (brother & sister) Shelly and Brett Arlidge, grand children of the original owner – E C Arlidge, are to be commended for ensuring ALMA G II will still be cruising the Bay of Island waters in 100 years time.
I really like the interior fit out, its a take on the old school look and she even sports a reconditioned Ford Lees 130hp diesel engine, no ‘black box’ electronics connected to this engine.
Boatbuilder Craig McInnes and the team at CMC Design have excelled themselves with this project.
The game chair and salon table are original 1927 items.
The gallery of photos comes to us from the cameras of yours truely and professional B.O.I. photographer Dean Wright. As always click on photos to enlarge 😉
Restoration #1 https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/05/01/restoration-of-alma-g-ii-begins/
Restoration #2 https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/12/06/alma-g-ii-restoration-update-2/
Restoration #3 & #4 https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/08/14/classic-wooden-launch-alma-g-ii-restoration-updates-3-4/
THE PEOPLE – A fantastic number of people turned out to celebrate the re-launch, seems anyone and everyone with a link to the boat or game fishing in the Bay of Islands was there.
A 48’ CLASSIC WOODEN MOTORBOAT – BUT WHERE WOULD I KEEP IT
The 48’ Lidgard built (1948) motor launch RANUI is quite a ship, her interior layout is reflective of an apartment, it is just so spacious and being varnished, oozes traditional character.
Boats of RANUI’s size are normally a challenge to find a home for eg a marina at a reasonable cost. Well woodys RANUI’s owners wants a sale and are prepared to include the 14m Bayswater marina berth in the $210k asking price.View more of RANUI here https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/07/08/ranui-a-peek-down-below/
Interested parties to initially contact waitematawoodys@gmail.com
CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT IONA II MAKES A SPLASH – NZ Restoration Of The Year
We have been following (link below) the refit the classic wooden launch IONA II at the Slipway Milford yard since late May. Last week she slipped back into the water , check out the video below – don’t you love a railway haul-out, such a gentle procedure.
IONA II was built in 1994 to a Bruce Askew design so sits very comfortably into the spirit of tradition category. The recent work commissioned by her owner has magnified her existing appealing looks and made her even more easy on the eye.
Probably the finest example of the Slipway Milfords work – so a big shout out to Cam, Jason, Jan and team. Easily the restoration of the year in New Zealand.
I’m pretty sure nothing on the boat has escaped an upgrade or replacement – the biggest being ditching the Nissan TD23 60hp diesel engine and installing an electric propulsion set-up.
A few finishing touches to be completed at the marina – we will do another update when completed.
As always click images to enlarge.
IONA II – RESTORATION STORY https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/05/28/iona-ii-gets-a-birthday/
MAYBE NOT A CLASSIC – MAYBE A RESTOMOD – You Tell Us
Some woodys just slip into the classic category via the term ’spirit of tradition’, todays 46’ woody slips out of the either category – in the auto world it might be called a restomod.
What we know (thanks to Ian McDonald) is that she started life in 1974, built by F. Edes to a Brin Wilson design. The hull is carvel 32mm solid kauri planked, splined and epoxy glassed, decks have been re-clad with plywood and epoxy glassed also. When back in the water forward propulsion will be via twin 120hp Ford 2715E diesel engines.
Anyone know what her name was / is.
A POLL – VOTE BELOW – STILL A CLASSIC or NO LONGER A CLASSIC
MYSTERY CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH AT GREG LEES BOATBUILDERS
Todays classic wooden launch is only a mystery because o one was home at Greg’s Sandspit yard when I was mooching around.
I’m sure Greg will comment soon with details on the vessel 🙂
19-11-2024 UPDATE ex Greg Lees – the launch was once named POLLY and resided at Kawau Island for an extended period. Previous owners include Dave Jackson.
05-08-2025 UPDATE – progressing nicely.
TODAYS THE CUT OFF FOR ORDERING WW GEAR FOR XMAS – Link Below https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/11/09/waitematawoodys-gear-limited-summer-offering-romance-ii-update/
CLASSIC EX GAME BOAT – SAPPHIRE – A Peek Down Below
Back in August thanks to Dean Wright uncovering a launch day photo (see below) of the 48’ Oliver & Gilpin built ex game boat – SAPPHIRE, we got an insightcintohow she looked back in 1972 and we also uncovered a recent out-of-water photo.
How thanks to Ian McDonalds hawk eyes searching tme we get to have a gander below. Enjoy.
WIND ROSE – Sailing Sunday
The 53’ Phillip Rhodes designed yawl – WIND ROSE was built by the Salthouse yard and launched in 1967.
WIND ROSE has spent a large chunk of her life doing laps of the Pacific, Australia and NZ. Recently the Robertson Boat Yard has given her a refresh.
And she has just changed hands – and woodys if you wanted an indication of the boat sales market favouring buyers – WIND ROSE sold for sub $200k. That would have to be the buy of the last 2 years.
Enjoy the photo gallery.
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