Category Archives: A Peek Down Below

Athena – A Peek Down Below

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Athena – A Peek Down Below

Todays woody is the 1962, Des Donovan designed / built motor sailer – Athena. She last appeared on WW back in Feb 2019 – link below to that very informative story. Lots of photos, history and comments there.

Thanks to a tme listing we get a look down below. A snap shot – specs – 48’/12’11”/5’5” and powered by a Gardner 127hp diesel.                                                                                          

Her listing fails to mention that she is member of the ‘Submariners Club’ i.e. she has spent time below the waves. She also spent time in the ownership of one Alan Johnson, one of very few people 100% banned from the WW site, but that is another story…..

(photos ex M. Skinner ex trademe)

WW 2019 Story  https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/02/03/athena/

NGAHI – Gets A Makeover

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NGAHI – Gets A Makeover

Back in July 2016 the launch Ngahi made a brief appearance on WW – link below, at the time there was some good chat in the comments section but we never did establish her design / build date. https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/07/14/ngahi/

Fast forward to early March 2023 and Ngahi had just emerged from Glen Burnnand’s shed after some serious TLC that included –  redoing the exterior with all new teak cabin sides, new glass, rebuilt swim platform, new teak sliding windows and detailing. Owner Ash Weeks is very cock-a-hoop with the work.Ngahi was whisked off to Ash’s factory for a completely new interior – Ash’s trade is high end commercial interior cutouts so we expect to see a wow interior.

We look forward to seeing the finished work.
In the mean time – anyone know anything about her provenance.

Captaur – A Peek Down Below

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CAPTAUR – A Peek Down Below

The 30’ launch – Captor previously made a brief appearance on WW back in January 2016,  at the time we learnt from her then owner that she was built in Taupo in 1967. Planked cedar with glass top sides. Link to that WW story here https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/01/09/captaur/

Now thanks to the eagle eye of Ian McDonald we get a look down below from her recent tme listing.

Captor is 30’ in length and has a beam of 10’ and draws 3’.  Forward motion is via a 110hp Nissan SD33T that sees her topping out at 8 knots.

As you can see from the photos she is well fitted out and with 450L fuel and water tanks able to do some serious cruising.

Can we ID her designer and uncover some of her past.

10-04-2023 INPUT ex PAUL DRAKE – “When at Taupo, CAPTAUR was on a mooring just outside SIR FRANCIS’s boat shed. She had no visible name so we called her THIRTY FOOTER. We must have been told that she was thirty feet long. I believe that we thought she had been amateur built by her doctor owner.

She appeared well before 1967 (the supposed build date) as evidenced by the boat sheds which were removed in 1963.

The first photo below, which I took, has appeared before on ww and is dated May 1963 or 64 (boat sheds recently gone).

The second photo shows her with a bit of bright work which enhances her in my view. The date on this photo is pre ’63 . SIR FRANCIS’s boat shed far left.

So CAPTAUR is 60 plus years old and has been well looked after.  As you would say – ‘we like that’.”

Versaiiles – SOS

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VERSAIILES – SOS

Todays woody was built c.1960, carvel planked, 24’ in length and powered by a Lister 50hp diesel engine. And that folks is the some total of what we know about her.

She is up for sale on tme by the Seaview Marina, Wellington, to recoup unpaid costs.

The interior doesn’t quite match the exterior in terms of presentation but could be a low cost buy for someone. Last time I looked the highest bid was around $1k. Closes Tuesday late afternoon.

Anyone know more about the launch – almost differently had a name change since 1960.

1926 Collings & Bell Launch

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1926 Collings & Bell Launch – MANAAKI

If the tme story supporting todays woody is to be believed she must have had several realignments – supposedly built in 1926 by Collings and Bell and one of the half-a-dozen boats built for the Zane Grey big game fishing fleet.  36’ in length and carvel hulled. Forward motion is via a 75hp Ford (Lees) diesel engine.

Can not read the name on the stern – can we ID the boat and confirm the above details. Would be nice to know what she has been up to over the years. I was commented that she had recently relocated to Auckland from Northland.

INPUT EX GAVIN BRADLEY – Yes, that’s Manaaki looking very much worse for wear. She was moored briefly inside the entrance to Marsden Cove Marina either just before or after changing hands in 2021and was looking reasonably loved at the time. And just to clarify, there were 4 boats built for the Zane Grey Sporting Club – Otehei, Manaaki, Zane Grey and Lorna Doone. Lorna Doone was wrecked at Peach Island in Whangaroa Harbour many years ago (1970’s?). The other 3 are still afloat. The bill from Collings and Bell for the 4 boats was 2000 pounds! Total. Refer below copy of 1927 balance sheet for the Zane Grey Sporting Club.

MATAROA (Kenya) – Looking For A New Owner.

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MATAROA (Kenya) – Looking For A New Owner.

The 1928 Joe Slattery built 36’ launch – Mataroa (previously named Kenya) has popped up on WW numerous times – enter her name in the WW search box to see and read a lot more on her.

The link below has a cracker of a story from 1970 when she had a near sinking at Gt Barrier Island.https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/04/29/mataroa-kenya-3/

Back in 2016 she received a refresh to her exterior but her interior remained almost un-touched, which it still is today.

Powered by a Ford 80hp diesel, like all Slattery designed craft she has a respectable turn of speed (11 knots).

Mataroa’s owner for the last 6+ years has made the big call and decided that she deserves a new custodian that will complete the final work to bring her back to her former glory. As they say “all the hard works done” just needs someone handy with the tools to tidy the interior up.

Very realistically priced – expressions of interest to – waitematawoodys@gmail.com

REHIA – A Peek Down Below

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Rehia Underway Apr2023

REHIA – A Peek Down Below

The 36’ launch – Rehia, designed and built in 1939 by none other than Colin Wild, our foremost wooden boat craftsman, has been undergoing a rolling restoration since changing ownership back in late 2021. 

Last Sunday at the Woodys lunch cruise to the Riverhead Tavern, Rehia was front and centre looking very majestic.

When purchased her interior was a tad tired and new owners Amanda and Joe have given Rehia a revamp and she is looking rather dapper. (As purchased photos below)

I’m told that the next project is renewing the varnished coamings.

PATHFINDER (Eunice. K)

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PATHFINDER (Eunice. K)

Today thanks to Ian McDonald’s eagle eye and a tme listing we get to have a gander at the 39’ bridge decker – Pathfinder. Constructed of kauri, single skin carvel, she is powered by a 130hp Ford diesel.

Back in Oct 2017 she made an appearance on WW under the name – Eunice K and we learned she had been renamed – Pathfinder. Link below. Check out the comments section, good chat on the vessel, don’t think we ever 100% identified her provenance.  Maybe today. https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/10/17/eunice-k/

YESTERDAYS WOODY PUZZLE WINNER IS DANIEL THOMAS– WHO WON THE DRAW. THE CORRECT ANSWER WAS – ARETHUSA EX HEREWARD PICKMERE, NOW OWNED BY DEAN WRIGHT. The photos are by Winkelmann via the Auckland Library.

Dauntless – A Peek Down Below

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Dauntless – A Peek Down Below

Recently Dauntless popped up on tme as a project boat that failed to progress to actually being a project.She was possibly built by Lanes in 2027, but this is unconfirmed and there is a lot of chat in the comments section of WW in a past story 2013 WW story – link here https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/06/03/dauntless/

Powered by a Isuzu diesel – that is just about all we know.

Auckland To Get A Wooden Boat Festival

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AUCKLAND TO GET A WOODEN BOAT FESTIVAL

Well woodys it’s been a long time in the cooking pot but at last it’s a happening thing. Circle 24th Feb > 24th March 2024 in the diary. Bankrolled by Auckland Council’s Unlimited Major Events division, the Wooden Boat Festival will be part of a month long Ocean Festival.

Having previously spoken to the brains trusts behind both the Australian Wooden Boat Festival and the Port Townson – USA, Wooden Boat Festival their advice was start small and grow organically. Also it’s not all about old large gaff rigged yachts, the home built wooden canoe needs to be also front and centre. Public access also needs to free.

The fact the event name has BOAT in it and not YACHT is a positive sign 😉

JOKE OF THE DAY – Vos Shed

In reply to my question what’s happening with the Vos Shed ? –  I got “we have a paying tenant , a film crew are currently using it” WTF….. every time I see / hear that the Maritime Museum are involved in anything, it’s the kiss of death. We live in hope, but if I had $10 for every time I have been told “I shouldn’t tell you this, but it’s happening, an announcement soon” I would be a wealthy man. 

THERE IS ALWAYS A BOAT

Went to the boat show yesterday – lots of on-the-water vessels, most with a price tag on them. The ’trade’ exhibits were down in numbers but still good to catch up with the normal crew. Zero woodys to be seen – but if I suffered a bang-on-the-head and had a desire for a plastic boat, I’d be looking at a Sasga Yachts – Menorquin 42’ HT – lots of wood on show and built in Spain.