CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT – GEMINI – A Peek Down Below
Todays woody is the Lanes (Picton) built double ender – GEMINI. Built in 1932, kauri carvel construction , her specs are 33’ x 8’6” x 4’. GEMINI is powered by a 75hp Perkins Sabre diesel engine that gives her a 7>8 knot cruising speed.
Home port is Picton. Marlborough and like most ’Sounds’ boats GEMINI is well fitted out for year round cruising.
Thanks to Ian McDonald for the tme heads up. Anyone able to tell us more about GEMINI.
IS ANYONE BUILDING REAL WOODEN BOATS IN NEW ZEALAND
I’m a big fan of The Wooden Boatshop in Sorrento, Melbourne, Australia.Tim Phillips OAM and his team turn out the most amazing craft – both traditional and spirit of tradition.If you haven’t already checked out their website, do it now. Every post is classic boat porn. Link below + sign up for their e-newsletter and follow on fbook.https://woodenboatshop.com.au
Back to todays headline – I hope I’m wrong but is anyone (professionally) working to this standard? We kill Australia when it comes to the size of your classic movement both in terms of numbers and boats on the water, but sadly we have a very small number of artisans doing mainly restorations and repairs.
Today on WW we showcase the recent (late 2024) launching of – BETTY , a Couta boat built by The Wooden Boatshop.Read more on Couta boats and TWBS at this link https://woodenboatshop.com.au/Couta-Boat
Tim Phillips is even a fan of WW (photo below es 2023 AWBF) – or maybe he just needed a clean, dry shirt after crossing the Bass Straight on his 1925 built ex workboat – STORM BAY
Check out the 10 year conversion / restoration here https://woodenboatshop.com.au/Storm-Bay
MOLLYMAWK – CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT
Today thanks to tme and Ian McDonald we get to view the Wellington based canoe stern wooden boat – MOLLYMAWK, built in c.1930 in Nelson by Jack Guard. Her original name was – VALETTA.Built from kauri her specs are 31’6” x 8’4” x 3’. Powered by a 20hp Hupeh engine.Current owner has had her for 25 years and commented that he has made 50+ Cook Straight crossing in the boat.
A PRODUCT PLUG – (I bought it, no trade bribes) Recently discovered a great boat wax, called ‘Meguiars Flagship Marine Wax’. Not cheap $85 for 475ml but so easy to apply and no residue white marks on fittings etc. The photos tell the story. Just had my boat out for some TLC at the Slipway Milford, her bottom was the worst ever, a sad reflection on the amount of use in 2024 ……….
AND SPEAKING OF PAINT JOBS / SHINE – check out the Couldrey clinker dinghy in the shed at the Slipway Milford, in the final stages of a high-end refurb – soon to be paired up with her Couldrey mother ship 😉
CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – MASEKA – A Peek Down Below
Todays woody is – MASEKA, designed and built in 1968 by Chris Robertson. When launch she was 36’ but now measures 40’ that includes the normal protrusions + a 800mm hull extension.
Her owner Grant Keighley commented that she was built the same year as the launch – WAIMIGA however each owner wanted different looks, WAIMIGA the more traditional style while MASEKA’s wanted the modern look. WAIMIGA has made numerous appearance on WW and was once one of the ‘poster childs’ of the classic wooden launch movement. Photos below for comparison.
MASEKA”s hull is all kauri, double diagonal planking on stringers and frames, originally only glassed to the waterline. Her combings are solid teak. Decks and flying bridge (later addition) are plywood.
Some History Below Ex Her Owner (as they know it ) Any help in adding to this would be appreciated. Its so great when we get such extensive details of a vessel – also always a good sign that she is well cared for, and we like that.
OWNERS
• Built for a unknown family with a business in Newmarket It is possible that the name was from family members eg. Mary, Sera, Karen? 1968-?
• Brian Purdy, who owned North Coast Builders ?
• John Priestley ?
• Gary and Yvonne Sterling 1983-1987
• A partnership of 3 airline pilots 1987-1995
• Grant and Lee Keighley 1995-2025
POWER
• 145hp lay over Perkins, going by the cut out in the starboard engine bearer to accommodate the vertical heat exchanger
• 175hp lay over Perkins
• 2004, 240hp Yanmar 4HLA
The Perkins broke it’s crankshaft so it was decided to bite the bullet and install the Yanmar (non common rail marine diesel) matching 8 degree angled ZF gearbox, high tensile SS prop shaft, Briski 22×18 four blade prop, this transformed the boat giving, reliability, much better performance and economy
To strengthen the hull to cope with the extra power, additional laminated floors installed between the frames in the engine room, frames flinched for additional strength
OTHER WORK (carried out by the Keighley ownership )
• Glassed the hull above the waterline
• Glassing the cabin tops and flying bridge
• Replacement of the deck plywood and glassing
• Extensive system upgrades
WAIMIGA – PHOTOS BELOW
CLASSIC MOTOR SAILOR – SAFARI
Todays woody comes to us tme via Ian McDonald and is the 34’4” motor sailer -SAFARI. What we know is she was built in 1950 by Cox and has undergone a recent refit inside and out. Powered by a 52hp 3 cyl. Fordson diesel engine.
Home is Lyttleton, South island.
Keen to learn more about this very salty looking woody.
LA PALOMA – A Peek Down Below
The 45’ classic wooden launch – LA PALOMA was built in 1955 by Lanes and has made several appearances on WW – refer link below WW Nove 2021 https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/11/13/la-paloma/
LA PALOMA recently appeared on tme and sold rather quickly – probably based on the lowish asking price and her interior presentation. A little too much happening up top for my taste.
We learnt from Ian McDonald’s hawk eyes that she is powered by a Ford 130hp 6 cyl diesel engine that gets her along at a 7>8.5 cruising speed. With a beam 13’8” she is a FBG ;- )In the b/w photo below, from a Oct 2019 Nathan Herbert WW story we get to see her as designed and built.
Enjoy the peek down below.
LAKE ROTOITI CLASSIC & WOODEN BOAT PARADE 2025 CALENDAR WINNERS The competition the other day that offered up a LRCBP calendar to the first 3 woodys that emailed in the correct date of the 2025 parade was proof that the early bird catches the worm. I had recieved 5 correct answers be 5am – the winners were:-D. Holmes / G. Logan / J. McConnell
CLASSIC LAUNCH – DOLPHIN V – A Peek Down Below
Todays 42’ classic launch – DOLPHIN V made a. brief appearance earlier this year (Feb – link below)) where we learnt that she was designed and built in 963 by Swanson in Queen Charlotte Sounds, South Island. She is carvel kauri construction and powered by a Detroit 6v53. Feb2024 https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/02/28/dolphin-v/
Now thanks to Bruce Ryrie – we get to have a look below decks. Enjoy.
31-12-2024 INPUT & PHOTOS ex LEW HENDERSON – Our extended family owned the Dolphin V from about 1965 to 1973 having bought it from the original owner. She was kept in Paramatta and completed many fantastic trips to the Sound with our families – often sleeping 11 for weeks at a time. I believe she was built at Swansons yard in Picton across near where the Echo finished her days. At that time she had a Ford 100 engine. When sold she was reengined to work with a barge out of Paramatta to Mana Island. She was put into survey at that time.
She was similar in design and layout to many of the Swanson boats but one of the biggest they constructed. Originally fitted with a tall mast stepped on the forward cabin. Latter a raked mast was mounted on the main cabin.
When we first had her she was moored in Browns Bay in Paramatta but at nearly 6 ft draft this area became unsuitable. Also lowering a large mast every time to get under the bridge was a challenge. She was then moored in front of the Mana Cruising club before the marina was built. We also had a mooring in Double cove near Picton for the summer months. (photo captions) • Early – about 1966 • Then at the end of our time 1973 – I was only15 and driving her in this photo while Dad was on a rock taking the photo. • A family shot • On the slip at Mana – looks about 1968
CLASSIC LAUNCH SEA ROVER – A Peek Down Below
The classic launch SEA ROVER appeared on WW back in 2014 (link below) Details in the link re past owners. WW AUG2014 https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/08/29/sea-rover-2/
Now thanks to tme and Ian McDonald we get to have a gander down below. She was built in 1960 by the Lane Motor Boat Co.. Kauri carvel hull, her specs are 44’6” x 10’5” x 4’3”. Powered by a120hp Lees Ford engine, that gives her a cruising speed of 7.5 knots.
Can we learn more about her past
CAN WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CLASSIC LAUNCH – JAN MAREE
Recently WW was contacted by Hamish Moore regarding the classic launch – JAN MAREE, that in Hamish’s words is in the family stable and has resided on Lake Taupo for many a year. The family are short on her history and Hamish was wondering if any of the WW followers might know more about her.
The WW post on the Vindex RENA brought some more thoughts to Hamish’s mind and having recently had JAN MAREE surveyed for insurance and the gears have been turning to find out more about her.
What we think we know about JAN MAREE – she was in the Bay Of Islands owned and used by one family line and ownership changed to another family line, Taupo based. Her specs are 33’9” x 10’9” x 3’3″
What everyone would like to know is :-
• Confirm design (Vindex?)- • Who built her and where • Tales of her life on BOI
She lives in a shed on Lake Taupo and is enjoyed by family members for fishing, recreational and sightseeing.
JAN MAREE was recently hauled out and trucked to Auckland and underwent some TLC. • New Heart transplant, now a 320 Cummins • Hull Maintenance and replacement of all skin fittings. • Remove and plug all redundant fittings. • New Dash and systems upgrades, to complement the new Engine package. • New Paint and varnish. The above work was completed by :-
• The Boatbuilders, HMB, • Ray Bryant Marine • Halfmoon Bay Electrical. • Gloss Boat, Tāmaki Park
21-12-2024 INPUT ex MAURIE OGDEN – photo below of WHAKAPARA (BONDI BELLE) on launch day
BONDI BELLE – A PEEK DOWN BELOW & SHE COULD BE YOURS
The classic 45’ vessel BONDI BELLE has a great back story – we have uncovered a lot about her on previous WW stories – links below – but the executive summary is BONDI BELLE was built as S.S. WHAKAPARA, at Whakapara (North of Whangarei) by Charles Bailey Jr. for the Foote family who were saw millers at several Northland locations . Construction started in1898 and she was launched in early 1901. Initially she was a steamer and was converted to diesel in the 1920’s. These days a 130hp Mercedes diesel provides the forward motion.
In the this 2014 WW link there is an amazing history of her past https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/02/17/bondi-belle/
And here we get a peek at her 2017 restoration https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/04/20/bondi-belle-relaunched/
The Wooden Boat Bureau was contacted last week re finding the next custodian for BONDI BELLE. As you can see from the above photos, her current owner has done a wonderful job maintaining her to a very high standard. She presents in ‘sail away’ condition.
Given her size, configuration, provenance and tasteful fit out, BONDI BELLE is offered for sale at a very realistic price, sadly reflective of the current depressed marine sector. I hate to use these words but she would make an impressive live-a-board, probably the best priced waterfront accommodation in Auckland.
Interested parties to initially contact waitematawoodys@gmail.com for more details. Its a busy time of the year so please – genuine enquires only 🙂
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