Category Archives: A Peek Down Below

Kairanga – That Was Quick

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KAIRANGA – That Was Quick 

Only last week the 32’ Kairanga popped up on tme, and already appears to have sold, or maybe the owner realised it was too cheap and pulled the listing. In my eyes Kairanga is a real looker and always kept in top condition.

Kairanga’s past is a little cloudy in terms of builder and year – but its been commented on WW before that she is possibly a Baileys and built c.1912.

At one stage in her life she was a work-boat servicing lighthouses and marine construction in the Hauraki Gulf. The work-boat link is supported by the fact that she is built like a brick outhouse eg triple skin kauri – 2 diagonal planks and one horizontal

Forward motion these days is via a Ford 90hp diesel.

Current home is the far north – would be nice to see her back on the Waitemata. Photo below dated 2018.

Photo below ex K Ricketts

27-09-2024 INPUT ex CHRIS KOOGER – The photos and the listing on trade me was when we owned the good ship Kairanga. We had her for 30 years. Loved the boat and was hard to let it go but she is now loved by James and Ann-Marie. I bought the boat I 1992 from Derek Tanner and she was in a very sad state. We hauled her out and trailered her to Bucklands beach where she got a major makeover with the help from Harry Mieyer a boat builder who taught me a lot about boat building and repairs.  I was told by Derek that she is a Bailey built boat, 32 foot. Double diagonal and planked for and aft. About 40 mm thick. Super solid boat that handles the rough seas with no problems. She weighs about 7.5 tons. 

 It had a BMC engine in it when we got it but that was no good and we put the Ford 90hp engine in it. Changed the gearbox 3 times and fitted a hydraulic gearbox in it which was great. New Shaft and driveshaft fitted at the same time. I built the cockpit cover in the later years of our ownership. 

 While out in her we met a chap who said that his family owned her in the sixties and another time out we met a fellow who bought her in 1956.  Fantastic boat that I always felt safe in. My children and many friends have had great times with her and I think about her a lot. Great memories.  Great to see that she is still being loved and getting the regular attention that any boat needs. 

King Fisher – A Peek Down Below

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King Fisher – A Peek Down Below

Todays woody – King Fisher if you believe her tme listing (thanks Ian McDonald) states she is a Shipbuilders design and built in 1998. Someone more worldly than me can advise if that possible.

What I can confirm is that King Fsher is 36’ in length with a beam of 11’5” and draws 3’3”. Built from kauri with f/glass to the waterline.

Forward motion is via twin 160 hp. Chev 4stroke V8 diesels, the engines are said to be ex military. 

Some very tidy interior wood work, but the listing mentions she requires some TLC. Currently located in Helenville.

Te Honu – A Peek Down Below

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Te Honu – A Peek Down Below

The 34’ Brin Wilson built launch – Te Honu was launched in 1963 and has been lucky with her ownership over the years – back in 2015/16 she was given a decent birthday that saw her decks glassed, a re-modelled cockpit and new windows throughout. Then in 2021 she was re-powered and her hull repainted. Link to the Aug 2015 WW story.  https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/08/25/te-honu/

I spotted Te Honu at the 2019 and 2020 Mahurangi Regatta and Dean Wright snapped her in both April and August 2022 in the Kerikeri Inlet + BOI 

Forward motion is via a Ford Otosan 130hp ex Moon Engines, that gives her a top speed of 13 knots.

RATANUI – A Peek Down Below + Serious Incentive To Buy Her

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RATANUI – A Peek Down Below + Serious Incentive To Buy Her

The 31’ carvel planked bridge-decker Ratanui has appeared several times on WW and generated good debate re her age and builder , in the interests of keeping things factual its best to say that she was built in the 1910>1930’s period and in terms of parentage – possibly Bailey & Lowe or that wonderful name that gets attached to so many boats – Lanes 🙂

Most recently Ratanui has called Lake Rotoiti (Nth Island) home and has been blessed with life in a boat shed.

Forward motion is from a Ford D-series, model 2722E diesel that gets her along at a comfortable cruising speed of 8 knots.

A change in circumstances now means Ratanui is looking for a new owner – vendor is very realist re price +/- $30k and is also offering to finance the purchase to an approved / suitable buyer. FYI – boat shed not available for purchase.

So woodys if you are looking for a very roomy, affordable classic either on the lake or relocated back to the briny – contact Kim on 021 169 9699 for more details

Must Have Been A Special On White Paint – Rag Doll

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Must Have Been A Special On White Paint – Rag Doll

Todays woody is taking the decorating term – ‘White-On-White’ to the max 🙂

Built from double diagonal kauri (+ glassed….) she was launched in c.1972. A Bill Couldrey design, she measures approx. 34’ in length, with a beam of 11’3” and draws 2’7”. Powered by a 80hp Ford Diesel engine that gives her a comfortable cruise speed of 7.5 knots.

Being 4sale via a broker – of course there is no name mentioned or visible – can we ID the boat.

INPUT ex Nathan Herbert – todays woody is named Rag Doll – photo below of her before she was ‘modernised’ – photo also ex NH.

Doreen > Haku > Coquette – 1912 Logan Motor Launch – SOS

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Doreen > Haku > Coquette – 1912 Logan Motor Launch – SOS SAVED

When it comes to provenance it would be hard to beat this woody – designed and built by Arch Logan for his brother Robert, named after their sister Doreen. Then in 1945 she was ‘modernised’ by Bill Couldrey, one of the Arch’s few preferred boat builders. She has passed thru many hands and aside for her blue blood, her second claim to fame is that she was used to take the mould off for the popular 33’ fibre-glass launches (Logan33).

Last week I was contacted by her owners who advised that a few months ago while taking her out at very low tide they hit an unmarked reef inside the OBC Bridge on the way out. The damage sustained is that as a result of the keel and prop hitting reef the drive shaft, this was pulled out of the gearbox. I’m told no water entered the boat – BUT the insurance company has written the vessel off so now it is up for sale for $12,500 as-is-where-is. Potentially the bargain of the year.

Given the abysmal listing by the insurance companies boat broker, I’d be amazed if it sells. We plug it on WW today because the boat deserves better.

This WW link will take you to numerous WW stories that feature Coquette (Doreen > Haku)

https://waitematawoodys.com/?s=Coquette&submit=Search

18-07-2023 UPDATE – SAVED !!!! – I can confirm she has been purchased off the insurance company by a previous owner and will be repaired and returning to the north – GREAT NEWS

Te Anau

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TE ANAU

Todays woody the 28’ Brin Wilson designed and built (1966) launch.

An absence of varnished timber equals a vessel that is easily maintained by the DIY boaty. When and if you got the urge to pimp her a little, some varnished trim e.g. grab rails, would really make Te Anau standout.

Built from kauri, a reconditioned Ford 100hp diesel gives Te Anau a comfortable cruising speed of 7.5 knots. An inspection showed her structure was sound but needed some refinishing inside and out.

14-09-2023 UPDATE – Te Anau is back in the water having had the following done work done – photos below

  • scrape, sand, primed and antifoul (2 coats)
  • diesel engine services (oil change, oil filter, diesel filter)
  • new zinc anode
  • propspeed

Glenmore – A Peek Down Below

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GLENMORE
Back in November 2022 we featured several of Picton boat builder Bill Orchard’s boats . One of these was the ex charter boat – the 1958 Glenmore. We learnt from Mark McLaughlin that Glenmore was one of the Pelorus Sound mail boats throughout the 1980’s to mid 1990’s, operated by Ken and Dianne Gullery. She was sold to an Australian owner and moored at Pittwater up Sydney’s north coast. She did the Tasman Sea crossing under her own steam from Picton, which is no mean feat for that type of boat. Mark also sent in the link to her 4sale post.

In the photos below of Glenmore we see her in her orange hull livery during the mail boat years and a the photo of Glenmore on her mooring at Pittwater.
Fast forward to today and the 44’ Glenmore is for sale – from the photos above – appears to be a bargain at sub $100k.                                                                                                               Forward motion is via a Detroit GM671, 240hp Would be nice to bring her home 🙂

Mapu Gets A Refresh + New Woody Event Dates Released

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MAPU GETS A REFRESH 

The 30’ 1914 Lane Motor Boat Co.designed and built launch Mapu has just emerged from the Blair Boats yard in Oromahoe, Harare (Far North) after a some TLC.

Mapu is one of the lucky woodys, still in the family of the great grandfather that built her. Like most woodys from her era she has undergone several additions / configuration to her tramtop / doghouse but the hull is still the original solid carvel planked kauri.

While it appears from the photos that she has lost her varnished coamings – I can report they were never varnished – the finish was a very smart brown paint and made of ply.

Mapu has appeared numerous times on WW – lots of history and photos in the links below.

MAY 2023 https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/05/28/the-launch-mapu-far-north/

JUNE 22 2013 https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/06/22/mapu-2/

JUNE 1 2013 https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/06/01/mapu/

Photo (L) below ex Nathan Herbert 2016

Photo (R) below ex Mark Lane 2013

2023 CLASSIC WOODY ON-THE-WATER GATHERINGS – DATES

Has it stopped raining………. I’m too embarrassed to tell you how many nights I’ve spent on the boat this year, makes the return on investment look very sad. But thankfully most of us don’t measure life on that template.

So on the assumption that the current meteorological conditions will end , we have pulled together a calendar of woody gatherings for the 2023 spring > summer period. Later in the year we will publish the 2024 calendar.

So woodys circle these dates on the calendar, and we will talk to you closer to each event.

In the meantime, light the fire and open that bottle you have been saving for a special occasion.