CLASSIC MASON MARLIN WOODEN RUNABOUT MORPHS INTO A SPEEDBOAT
During the woodys trip to the Clevedon Cruising Club last weekend, one of the members brought along a recent project.
The speedboat SUZI Q started life as a Mason Marlin but her cabin top was toast so the call was made to start from scratch and the end result is what we see above.
Quite an impressive conversion and no doubt a flyer, did not get a chance to talk to the owner but it would be interesting to learn how she performs / handles at speed. I image a windscreen will be on the shopping list 🙂
THIS WOULD HAVE TO BE ONE OF THE STRANGEST COMMENTS ON THE WW SITE
NGARUNUI + LUCINDA ON-ROUTE TO CLEVEDON CRUISING CLUB
DOCKSIDE STROLL
Classic Wooden Craft Overnight Trip Up The Wairoa River
Over the weekend we had our first woodys event for the classic boating summer season – a cruise up the Wairoa River to overnight at the Clevedon Cruising Club. Due to lock downs and weather bombs we had skipped a couple of years so the weekend was long overdue.
Given tidal access restrictions the weekend always starts with an early departure to the mouth of the Wairoa River, the smart ones leave on the Friday.
The weather early (<5am) Saturday morning was raining cats & dogs, but as if prearranged at 5.30am it stopped and we enjoyed a very pleasant dawn passage. The group gathered at 8.45am and journeyed up the river, always a tad anxious but it was a 3.6m tide so all good.
I snapped a gallery of photos of the woodys that are moored on-route – separate WW story tomorrow.
Our hosts , lead by Commodore Alister (Al) excelled themselves from the RIB on-hand to assist with docking to the world famous (on the river) Saturday night BBQ. The evening included raffles, outdoor fires, a singer and karaoke and even dessert provided. I can report no-one in the woodys group stepped up to karaoke the mike 🙂 Woody Dave Giddens donated several ‘old’ sails to the club which will be repurposed as shade sails around the clubhouse.
If you have never been on one of the trips you need to – the club facilities and hospitality is so traditional / old school but in a cool way.
Included in the raffle prizes was a WW chopping board… I’ll need to talk to my copyright lawyer 🙂
We eat very well – sorry about the food pix but thats what you have to put up with 🙂
If you think that classic wooden craft are all sub 7 knotters check out the videos below of a couple of the voom-voomers.
Many moons ago when I was launch captain at the CYA I had a lot of dealings with the then owner of – FORTUNA, the 35’ Henry Scheel designed motor sailer. As you will see from the photo gallery above FORTUNA is very well fitted out and in great condition for a 1949 built wooden craft.
Her tme listing (thanks Ian McDonald) states over $580,000 spent on her, which is possible but I have no memory of the boat being in Peter Brookes yard……… 😉
Back into 2007/8 she had a back to bare timber refit, which included a re-power with a 135hp Lees Ford.
For a 35’ woody that has a 11’6” beam she is more than capable of extended cruising, with all the fruit e.g. water maker, auto pilot, 600L fuel and of course rigged to sail.
Todays woody recently popped up on tme (Ian McDonald ✔️), while the cabin house is calling out for a facelift more in keeping with her hull, as the architects say – she has got great bones.
A woody sympathetic craftsman could easily turn ORMPAPERE into a real looker.
Some background – 22’ in length built by Alf Sanders in the carvel planked method. Forward motion is via a Nissan SD22 4cyl. diesel engine.
Home port is Waikawa Bay, Picton – the perfect base and craft for cruising the Marlborough Sounds
Today we have the latest update on the restoration of LADY CAROLE, as previously co-owner Patrick Crawshaw will walk us thru it – certainly on the home straight 🙂
“A couple of weeks ago the cradle had to be removed for another boat, and so the cover had to come off. After all this time under the plastic, we were able to see Lady Carole for the first time after all the work we had done. Later that day, the cover was pulled back over and she went back into hiding for the home stretch of work to be done – finish line in sight!
The original waterline, which was grooved into the planks, was reinstated.
Window trims with top coats
The glass for the windows arrived and were fitted along with the trims.
Chrome half cowl vents were collected from the fabricators who had to repair them and then they went to the Chromers. Both companies did an incredible job at restoring them.
Plinths had to be made for them to sit on. This is them being pre-fitted to the boat so we could get the plinths right as they angle back and in.
And finally the colours are going on and we can see the colour scheme a bit better. All two-pot rolled on and then tipped off with a brush.
Second coat white, then it will be masked for the blue to form a sharp line.
Lady Carole letters will go evenly spaced just below the walk through instead of either side as they were before.
Mid section is going to be browny red and this goes on tomorrow, so more photos to come once this is done. Rub rail will be white to break up the blue a bit. Waterline will also be white.”
Todays woody is only a mystery because there is no name visible on the vessel or mentioned on tme (thanks Ian McDonald).
What we know is she was built from triple skin kauri (+glass) in 1979 by Shipbuilders and is powered by a 180hp Nissan turbo diesel engine, given her length and engine size she cruises nicely at 10 knots.
I have spotted her several time moored at Waiheke Island and she always looked well cared for.
The 1979 build and some of the design elements (flybridge, stern profile) keep her out of the true classic group but she gets away with it, which isn’t easy on a sub 30’ vessel.
Can we put a name to the launch.
REMEMBER BOAT YARD SALE AT TE ATAU BOATING CLUB TOMORROW
WAIMARIE – CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – A PEEK DOWN BELOW
Last September Dean Wright shared with us photos of the Oliver and Gilpin launch – WAIMARIE on launch day, link below to that story. At the time it was recorded that the date was Sept 1964 and she was 32’ in length. WW Sept 2023 https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/09/22/waimarie-ii-2/
Now thanks to a recent tme post we get to have a gander down below – interestingly the launch date there was given as 1960 and her length being 34’4”.
Built from kauri planks in the carvel technique. Forward motion is via a Ford 80hp Diesel engine that gives her a cruising speed of 8 knots.
The c.1950’s 14’ classic ski boat – CORKER was built by by Bay Boats, Hastings for a Hawkes Bay farming family that holidayed in Rotorua, the the boat was used to ski on Lake Okataina and Lake Rotoiti.
CORKER recently popped up on the tme and to be brutally honest the main reason I have featured her on WW is her paint job, stunning – looks like it may need a refreash but she just looks perfect. Current owners have have not held bak with the TLC and maintain in recent times.
Video below of the 30hp Ford petrol engine running.
HEADS UP – #2 PONSONBY CC Featured Vessels Event Next Week
The PCC is proud to announce their second in the series of “Thursday Featured Vessels” featuring the classic yacht – WAIRIKI on Thursday September 5. This woody was designed by world renowned yacht designer – Arch Logan in 1904 and is now owned by his grandson – Keith Logan.
Recently WW was contacted by ‘Wellington Waterfront’ regarding one of Wellington’s historic pilot boats – ARAHINA, that was available for purchase. Currently moored at Queens Wharf, the 66′ ARAHINA is a beautiful vessel constructed from Kauri wood and was originally delivered to Wellington in 1925.
In addition to its piloting duties, the Arahina played a heroic role in the rescue of dozens of passengers and three crew members from the sinking Wahine on April 10, 1968.
Wellington Waterfront are seeking a new owner who will cherish and preserve the ARAHINA for the next century. Ideally, they hope it remains in Wellington, as it represents a significant piece of the regions maritime heritage. The sale is via court order to pay mounting berth costs.
If you are interested in owning this remarkable vessel, please follow the link below for more details.
As reported last week the 38’ 1968 ex work boat – TAINUI was heading north to Blair Boats in Kerikeri to bring to fruition owner John Sloane’s dream.
In the photos above we see TAINUI leaving the Whangateau traditional boat shed via the beach and then heading north to Kerikeri .
Third photo sees her resting on the lawn at the Blair yard, waiting her turn in the shed.
Last photo is of the Gardner 5LW installed. John commented previously that there is no intention to have an engine box – the mighty Gardner will be centre stage – as per MY GIRL, photo below – we like that 🙂
15-11-2024 UPDATE – to quote owner John Sloane ’The journey begins’ at Blair Boats
18-01-2025 UPDATE – work underway in the Blair Boats shed – we like that 🙂
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