Category Archives: A Peek Down Below

ALIBI – Re-Launched Briefly

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ALIBI – Re-Launched Briefly

We have been following the refit / refurb of the Mason Clipper – Alibi at the Greg Lees Boa Builders yard at Sandspit.

Early this month ‘Alibi” came out of Lees shed after 5 months and slipped briefly into the water and out again on to the hardstand. The stern legs will be removed and serviced and painted along with engine servicing, some electrical work and general bits and bobs, this work will take a few months. We’ll keep you posted 🙂

(thanks to Mason Clippers fb for the photos)

CIRCLE THE CALENDAR

Put a ring around November 18th – for the Karapirp Classics – Off the water boat show followed by on the water activities, open to Classic and Wooden boats, Classic jet boats and home built boats of the 1960-70’s at the Horahora Domain – more details closer to the event.

PLAYMATE – A Peek Down Below

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PLAYMATE – A Peek Down Below
The Sam Ford 1936 built launch – Playmate (named ‘My Playmate’ when launched and changed to Ida Mae and then back to Playmate) , has popped up twice on WW – both stories in Sept 2014. At the time we uncovered so much about the launch – now thanks to a tme listing we get to have a better look at the ship. Links to the 2014 stories below – do check them out.
https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/09/02/playmate-ida-mae/ https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/09/04/ide-mae-playmate/

A quick overview = 39’ , powered by a 80hp BMC diesel – everything else you would want to know can be found in the links above 😉

Margaret Pearl – Cray Boat > Cruising Boat

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Margaret Pearl – Cray Boat > Cruising Boat

During the week I stumbled on a YouTube video on the Southern Woodenboat Sailing channel – this 11 minute video showcase the ex Tasmanian crayboat – Margaret Pearl.

Built in 1958, 60’ in length she was about to be dispatched to the landfill in Portland, located on the southwest coast of Victoria, Australia,  when up stepped Jim and Sam Woods, who were brave enough to take on the restoration / conversion project. Whilst she sports a Tim Phillips designed rig, most of her use is under power at a steady 9 > 10 knots. The canvas does come out but I suspect its more for aesthetics 🙂

Have a watch and listen to Tim tells us about why he choose a wooden boat, where he found her and the work that went into her to get to the condition we see her in.

As a bonus Tim shares some sage advice for when considering taking on the restoration of any woody.

Enjoy – I did 🙂

Someone tell me this is a p_ss take. Spotted during the week at Half Moon Bay Marina. My 1st thought was it was a ‘mule’ for an electric propulsion experiment.

LENORA – 18’ Woody Runabout

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LENORA – 18’ Woody Runabout

With the constant escalation of Auckland marina berth costs more and more woodys are considering a craft that will fit in the garage / driveway. Today we have a peek at a unique 18’ runabout that started life in the early 1960’s at the Devonport Naval Base in Auckland.

The story goes that there were two boats built to the same design – the first boat was (possibly) built to take the Queen Mother fishing on Lake Taupo, in the early 1960s, and the second for old family friends of the current owner, they had a house at Rainbow Point, Taupo. The boat was fitted with a Volvo Penta Stern drive. The colour of the block (bronze) suggests it was either the first or second stern drive ever imported. When the house at Rainbow Point sold – the current owner bought the boat of the family. It had sat under cover for 60 years odd – she was as dry as a bone. Her new owner, a highly skilled furniture restorer commenced a restoration that included – engine reconditioned, new exhaust manifold, complete rewire, new upholstery, 1,000 hours on the woodwork and paintwork, new covers. An amazing project that accumulated with the craft winning ‘Best Presented Boat’ at Aucklands Outboard Boating Club (OBC). Power is from a 1962 Volvo 75hp stern drive (petrol)

Sadly her owner isn’t a boatie and has only used the runabout 4 times in the last 4 years so the hunt is on for a new custodian. (Thanks to Lindsay McMorran) for the tme heads up)

Seller contact email details – john@js.co.nz

INPUT EX ANGUS ROGERS – the craft was designed by Woolley and built in New Plymouth for the Tonkin family

ROAMER & The VOS Shed

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ROAMER & The VOS Shed


Over the last week I received several emails concerning the 40’ launch – Roamer that was on tme listed as ‘as is where is, any offers considered’. When had I had a look for her it was showing as withdrawn, so fingers crossed that a new owner was found. Roamer last appeared on WW back in July 2016 – link to the story below https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/07/01/roamer/

Roamer was built in 1911 in Ferrymead and has been modified multiple times over the years. Recently including a new cabin top to increase the height inside the main cabin. Repairs were done by Davie Norris Boatbuilders/Norris family over many years. The top photos show how it was in the water before she unfortunately sunk at the moorings 12/11/20. Since then she has been stored at Davie Norris Boatbuilders awaiting final repairs to make her watertight again. The engine, a Ford diesel had been serviced and ran. Unfortunately Davie passed away recently and the Norris syndicate who were looking after the Roamer were unable to keep her and get her back on the water. The tme listing was a shout out to locate a caretaker for her.

AUCKLAND’S WATERFRONT PINK ELEPHANT – THE PERCY VOS SHED

Nearly 8 months ago I asked WTF was happening with the Vos Shed, while strolling the waterfront yesterday I detoured to have a look – and, looking worse than ever – note the old newspapers on the windows 😦 Come on Auckland Council / Panuku – open the bloody doors.

MANUKURA – Restoration Update

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MANUKURA – Restoration Update

During my frequent visits to Thames I used to see Manukura the 50’ c.1960 Shipbuilders built launch on the hard stand at the Thames marina, always looking a little sad. Then in 2021 we got the good news she had a new owner and work had recommenced on her restoration, and that the plan was to transport Manukura to Whangamata where the work would be finished. Link here to her history and time in Thames. https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/07/12/manukura/

I was contacted earlier in the week by owner Allen Watson who advised that Manukura is in the process of a major refit. All new wiring, plumbing, gear boxes, shafts, engine mounts for the Ford 120hp 6 cyl diesel engines plus a new lay out inside. The photo gallery above gives us a peek into the work.

Photo below is dated July 2021 

SILVER SPRAY – Heads North

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SILVER SPRAY – Heads North

I was contacted last week by John Briers the ’newish’ owner of the 1926 Joe Slattery launch – Silver Spray.

Sliver Spay has made numerous appearances on WW – search her name in the WW search box to see / read more on her provenance.

John purchased the launch off boat builder Glen Burnnand, who gave her a serious birthday back in 2019.

The recent work at Glen’s Orakei Basin shed included upgrading the boats electrical battery systems, and she received several coats of varnish and repainting throughout, plus lots of other modifications.The mid term plan is to relocate Silver Spray to a  new home in Russell, Bay of Islands, on a mooring in front of the Duke of Marlborough Hotel, that will be a nice addition to the vista from the house bar. 

Silver Spray is powered by a Perkins 4108 and has a very impressive turn of speed for a 26′ woody.

I have to say that when John mentioned the recent work I was hoping the two ‘Haines Hunter’ cabin top windows (refer below) would have been replaced, never mind a wee job for the woody boys in Opua 😉

JOMARLI – A Peek Down Below

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JOMARLI – A Peek Down Below

Todays woody is the 32’ launch – Jomarli, designed and built in 1959 by Jack Taylor. She has a beam of 10’6” and draws 3’. A 120hp Ford Lehman Diesel engine gives Jomarli a comfortable cruising speed of 7>9 knots.

From the above photos ex a recent tme listing (thanks Ian McDonald) we can see she is well appointed . I believe she has since sold.

ORDER VIA EMAIL HERE waitematawoodys@gmail.com

TEMPEST – A Peek Down Below

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TEMPEST – A Peek Down Below

Back in May 2020 on a road trip to Kerikeri I spotted the 30’ 1964 McGeady built launch – Tempest moored at the Dove Bay Marina, link below to that story. At the time she was looking a little un-loved. https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/09/13/korawai-an-update/

Prior to the 2020 story she made an appearance in October 2014, back then she was a well maintained woody. Link below, lots of detail there . https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/10/26/9340/

Fast forward to earlier this year she popped up on tme, so today we get a peek down below. 

Forward motion is via a 95 hp 6 cylinder Ford diesel.

ORDER VIA EMAIL HERE waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Puruwai

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PURUWAI

Sometimes the odd email in the WW inbox sips between the cracks – today woodys is one of those, back in June 2022 Mike Ogier pointed me to a fb marketplace post on the yacht Puruwai – a kauri planked 40′ restoration project. Her story stated that she had been ’sailed internationally.At the time she was in s yard in Te Puna, Bay of Plenty.

Question of the day, did she sell and what became of her.