Then in December 2023 we had a note from Mark with some photos of a rather smart helm chat he was building and advice that the project was still underway but any boating in the summer of 2023/24 was not a happening thing.
Back in June 2025 after chatting with Mark he sent in todays photos with the promise of some ‘almost finished’ ones, so I held off. Sadly the promised photos never arrived so after a year I post the above and fingers crossed this bumps Mark into an update 🙂
CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH WINSOME II (MAUDE T > LATEX) 4SALE
Todays feature classic wooden craft is WINSOME II, the 36’ William Hand designed launch was built in 1924 by the Lane Co., Freemans Bay, Auckland.
WINSOME II has appeared on WW numerous times over the years as we have followed her movements around New Zealand.
Today thanks to her current owners we get an extensive deep dive into her past. I have included below a brief overview but encourage you to open / download the PDF file attached to todays story to experience her amazing visual and written history.
Built 1924 – LOA 36’, beam 9’6”, draught 2’9”, kauri chine hull.
Launched as MAUDE T for David Teed, the then mayor of Newmarket, Auckland. Purchased by a Capt. A.E. Emanuel, a ships’ pilot who came to NZ from Shanghai. Re-named LATEX. Commandeered 1940 by the RNZAF, served in Auckland and Tauranga harbours ferrying trainee pilots to and from airports. Acquired by Andy Donovan 1945, used as a charter boat, big game fishing, etc Re-powered with Gray V8 gasoline engine, Cruised at 20 knots. Wheelhouse added 1952. Repowered with Nissan SD 33 diesel 1991. Bequeathed to grandson Andrew Lusty c.1995. Then an unknown owner took her to the Bay of Islands. Found in 2002 by Mike Allan (Marlborough) and trucked and sailed down to Havelock, Marlborough. Refurbishment is ongoing, continued by Chris and Julia Knowles from 2002.
Maintained with significant assistance from Richard Browning (mechanic/electrical engineer) who also refurbished hull, and installed new galley, conversion to all-round LED lighting, installation 40 V solar panel and associated control panel. WINSOME II is powered by a Nissan diesel SD 42 T 120 HP straight 6 cylinder that had a marinised cooling system installed 1995. Refurbished motor installed 2016. Her comfortable speed range (cruise > max) is 8 > 10 knots.
Todays photo gallery are a mix of dates, used to give an overview of her adventures.
Today’s story has two objectives.
To record and share the remarkable history of this beautiful 100-year-old classic so that her story is preserved for future generations.
And to help find her next owner – not simply a buyer, but a custodian who recognises they are acquiring one of New Zealand’s maritime treasures… a vessel that also happens to stop people in their tracks wherever she goes.
14-07-2026 INPUT ex ELLEN ANDERSON – Daughter of the “unknown owner” (mentioned above) that took WINSOME II to B.O.I. – the old photo below is Ellen at the helm as a little girl.
Todays launch is a recent arrival on tme (thanks Ian McDonald), before I comment I reproduce the sellers comments “Shes a bit rough around the edges but got solid bones. A lot of boat for the money.”
It states she is a Sam Ford design but I struggle with that and at some stage an owner must have had access to sheets of plywood at a good price and didn’t own a protractor i.e. not a lot of curves to be seen.
All that to one side asking price is only 12k, so a low cost entry level 36’ launch. What we know – 1964 build, triple skin kauri, powered by a 120hp Ford, home port Tauranga.
CLASSIC SOUTHERN WORKBOAT – ELIZABETH DN.61 – CONVERSION
The 36’ 1956 Miller & Tunnage (Port Chalmers) built classic wooden launch – ELIZABETH started life was a work boat, built for E.J. Pile of Moeraki. Her reg # being DN.61 .
From her tme post she was converted to pleasure use in 2000. Post the conversion she has lived on Lake Wanaka (fresh water).
Forward motion is via a 75hp Ford 6 cyl.2715E engine.
Like all southern girls she is well fitted out for comfortable life afloat, including a heater.
If the top photo above is current and with her parentage, its a good buy at 28.5k. Thanks Ian McDonald for the heads up
I regularly rave on about the virtues of the USA based video blog – OFF CENTER HARBOR, it is subscription based but if you need an example of value for money check out this video on the building of the plank-on-frame wooden launch – MAGGIE-ANN.
Todays video is a snapshot of the projects, accumulating with launch day. OCH ran a 44 part series on master boat builder Peter Buxton’s A>Z build.
This video is just one of over 500 in the library that subscribers have access to. OCH is the worlds leading reference tool for advice, direction and enlightenment for everything wooden boating.
WW was contacted earlier in the week by Bob and Lea advising they were the ’new-ish’ owner of NGATEA, the 1909 built 31’ carvel kauri planked launch.
Her builder is unknown but there has been speculation that she might be by Collings & Bell.Built for the Works Department (which helps the C&B story, as they did a lot of work for the Works Dept and the Navy) for use on the Hauraki drainage scheme
Currently powered by a Yanmar 3cyl diesel 30vhp.
Approximate owner dates – Lands and Survey Dept from 1909 > c.1923. Kapiti Island rangers boat for nearly half a century 1923 > 1973. R Saunders 1973 > 2008. Alan Codyre 2008 > 2026. And now Bob and Lea. While operating as the Kapiti Island rangers boat she was used for mail and supply runs, and also for sea rescues up as far as Whanganui. Reg Saunders purchased her after she broke her mooring at Kapiti Island and was grounded suffering damage to its stern. Reg faithfully rebuilt her, which is probably why she remains in such great condition to this day,
Bob is yet to discover whether the cabin was modified at that time. Bob has given NGATEA a topsides repaint over the past 7 weeks while on the slip.
While NGATEA currently remains on her mooring in Ivey Bay, Wellington, later this year she will move to the Marlborough Sounds and be housed there.
SURE BEATS AN OLD BUS / MOTORHOME – AN APARTMENT THAT FLOATS
Yesterday we had a classic launch that looked like a block of flats, today we have an apartment that is a boat.
Todays craft is appropriately named – THE BARGE, she made a cameo appearince on WW back in January 2024, but at the time we learnt zero about the craft.
Today thanks to Alan Sexton and a Bay of Islands cruise he did in February 2024 , where he spotted THE BARGE in Whangaroa Harbour , we get to learn and see more about this rather cool house boat. Alan S tells the story below –
“We encountered The Barge in Whangaroa in February 2024 during our Northland Cruise. Of course our first thoughts on seeing her were one of “amazement”, but of course curiosity got the better of us and on the way back from a kayaking trip had a chat with the owners (can’t remember their names). They were very friendly and welcomed us on board for a tour.
The Barge was built during the Covid times in a shed near Uretiti in about 18 mths. The owner is / was a house builder so that of course heavily influenced design/build. Hull is a catamaran, philosophy was literally to be a “home afloat”, in particular the lady’s insistence on a full size kitchen.
Construction is construction ply, tanalised pine, aluminium window joinery and house paint. I don’t think she was glassed over. Most of the marine fitout came from Trademe, Facebook market place and other used equipment emporiums. Shaft drive engines were Nissan SD22 diesels, the fuel tanks were 2x 44 drums in each hull, water tanks were 3 cubes in each hull. The upper level was built separately from hull / lower level for transport limitations. The owner said the boat builders at Marsden Cove were just about apoplectic when she arrived on transporters for assembly and launching. Cruises at about 5 kts under power and owner said although he of course watches the weather she handles ok in a bit of a sea. Certainly not an example of beauty but functional to the max.”
The 34’ classic wooden launch SOUTHERN SEAS was launched c.1966, most likely built to a Shipbuilders ‘kit boat’ design. Her hull is triple planked kauri (f/glassed over).
Back in Sept 2025 she came on the market, and thanks to Ian McDonald we get to have a peak down below. The photos are a good example of a seller not maximising the vessels features eg most photos are very cluttered with items that should be removed, but its their boat, their money.
Back in 2014 she was powered by a Lees Ford 6cyl. engine, but was re-powered in 2018 with a Ford D Series (2nd hand).
