CLASSIC LAUNCH – FREYA – A Peek Down Below
Launch FREYA was built in 1963 is sits on the fence between a classic and spirit of tradition.
It has been commented that she is a ‘Banshee’ design (but shortened to 30’) from the yard of Alan Williams in Milford, Auckland.
30’ in length and powered by a 60hp Ford Parsons engine ( I suspect the word Parsons refers to the gearbox). Home is Nelson, South Island.
CLASSIC WOODEN WORKBOAT – TENACITY
Back in 2024 the 44’ classic wooden workboat TENACITY was for sale in Nelson as a commercial fishing boat , but the suggestion was she had the bones to make a good recreational cruiser.
At the time we learnt she was a Jack Guard design, built in 1988 from kauri and was powered by a 150hp Gardner 6L3B engine.
Todays woody question is did she sell, and if so did she remain in commercial work or get converted to recreational use.
CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – AVALON – RESTORATION UPDATE #5
Today we have an an update from Tobias Forsyth on his rebuild of the 24’ Sam Ford built (1954) classic wooden launch – AVALON. Tobias words below
“Avalon now has a brand new cabin top sitting on her, all the cabinetry is finished, glass templates are with the glazier and only the final coat of awlwood to go now after many many coats applied everywhere, I have gone through many litres of the liquid gold. I found some beautiful big pieces of the real deal old mahogany veneer from an old cabinet maker on trade me, so I have skinned all the doors to make it look a bit more pleasing to the eye.”
Tobias has promised another update in early July when he is back in country.
To view updates 1>4 click on this link https://waitematawoodys.com/?s=CLASSIC+WOODEN+LAUNCH+-+AVALON+-+RESTORATION+UPDATE&submit=Search
LOVING YOUR CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT TO DEATH – Electro-chemical Destruction / Underwater Rot
The most referenced topic on waitematawoodys is the numerous articles by Chris McMullen on the topic of electro – chemical destruction / underwater rot.
In addition to the on-line searches, I would get 2>3 emails a week. I point them in the right direction, but knowing most people are lazy and don’t read long copy – I normally finish by saying “its simple do not bond and throw away your zincs”. Sadly I would estimate 50% do not follow the advice. Next time I see a photo of their woody hauled out they say “I just have a small one on the prop shaft and rudder”. I normally delete their ph number from my contacts list. A wee tip – if you own an iPhone you can set the phone to only ring if the caller is in your contacts list. What happens is the call automatically goes to answer ph without ringing.
LINK BELOW TO A 2023 WW STORY ON THE TOPIC + LINKS TO ALL THE OTHER CHRIS MCMULLEN STORIES. https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/03/18/loving-your-boat-to-death-electro-chemical-destruction-underwater-rot/
Many years ago my boat RAINDANCE was bonded and zinced , removed over 10 years ago BUT as the photos below show – the damage was already done.
CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – ASEREHT -A PeekDown Below
The classic wooden launch – ASEREHT has only made one brief appearance WW, back in 2020 when I spotted her mooching around Rakino Island.
Back in January of this year she was for sale and thanks to her listing we get to see and learn more about her.
Built in 1989 by Geoff Bagnall she is 34’ and powered by 135hp D Series Ford that gives ASEREHT a comfortable cruising speed of 9.5knots.
As with anything that came out of Geoff Bagnall’s Milford shed she very well built and appointed with all the systems needed for safe , comfortable cruising.
CLASSIC SOUTHERN WOODEN LAUNCH – KAREN JOY
Todays 26’ wooden launch – KAREN JOY has recently popped up on tme. We know very little about her other than that KAREN JOY is powered by an older keel cooled Lister engine.
Home port is Dunedin so probably able to handle some sporty conditions.
Any of the southern WW woodys able to tell us more about KAREN JOY.
CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT – KORARI II – A Peek Down Below
Back in 2017 the 1964 built, 36’ Mason Clipper – KORARI II made an appearance on WW but we never got a gander below. Now thanks to Ian McDonal’s eagle eyes on tme we get to see her impressive interior.
KORARI II is powered by twin 135hp Perkins HT6364M diesel engines.
CLASSIC WOODEN MOTOR-SAILER – KAIKOURA – A Peek Down Below
The 36’ classic wooden motor-sailer – KAIKOURA was for sale earlier this year, and it must have sold because I had numerous people enquiring about her – she ticked a lot of boxes and her size was an added bonus i.e. not too big.
KAIKOURA was built in Wellington in 1959, builder unknown, for a Mr. Palmer, it has been commented that she was a ‘Scottish Drifter’ design. She was used as a pleasure craft by the Palmer, then Blundell families through the 1960s. In the early 1970s Kaikoura was commercially used by ‘Mana Island Transport Services’ then from 1972 till 1974 as the Wellington Police launch. Kaikoura’s fourth owner from 1974 to 1999 was Mr George Jannis. George added masts and sails initially and a new engine, new keel bolts and fuel tanks in 1988. Kaikoura made many trips to the Sounds over these 25 years, then finding a home there with a new owner till 2008. From 2008 to 2017 Kaikoura, now based in Dunedin, was frequently used as a harbour and peninsula pleasure launch and occasionally entering, and winning club sail races (in her class of one). Ten days after taking ownership of “Kaikoura” in late 2017 her owners did the first of several trips to the bottom of Stewart Island, they also made a winter trip to Wellington, the Sounds and D’Urville Island.
Forward motion is via a Cummins B Series 6BT5.9 As you would expect for a Southern lass she is very well appointed.
Given my attraction to the work-boat look, in another life she could have been mine 🙂
SAD NEWS ON THE EX WWII NAVY 72’ SHIP – KUPARU News reports have her abandoned off Ninety Mile Beach on the West Coast of the North Island over the weekend. Crew all safe and rescued by helicopter. 2018 WW story on the vessel here https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/10/04/hmnzs-kuparu-hdml/
CLASSIC LAUNCH – MARISTELLA OUT FOR SOME TLC AND A SHAVE
The 1936, 40’ , Sam Ford built classic wooden launch MARISTELLA hauled out at Milford this week for some TLC and shave. Some great historical photos and a peak down below in the WW links below –
https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/07/30/a-snapshot-of-the-classic-wooden-launch-maristella/
https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/09/03/classic-wooden-launch-maristella-a-peek-down-below/
Westhaven was once one of the better marinas in terms of growth but looking at MARISTELLA seems Westhaven is as bad as all the others these days.
In addition there will be some differed maintenance to her rubber stock area, but thats par for the course on these old woodys.
Have to love a railway haul out and the gentle ‘roller’ method of position a vessel in the yard.
CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – MAKURA – A Peek Down Below
The classic wooden bridge-decker MAKURA was designed and built in 1949 by Collings & Bell, and is approx. 40’ in length.
Forwar motion is from a 115hp 6 cyl. Ford diesel engine.
Back in January 2025 we shared some photos of MAKURA from her past – lots of intel in that story on her ownership and re-powers over the years.
Link below https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/01/18/classic-wooden-launch-makura/
The b/w photo above is from Sea Spray magazine July 1951 edition and shows her as built.
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