Category Archives: A Peek Down Below

Lola – NZ37 + Easterly – Picnic Boat

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LOLA – NZ37 + EASTERLY – PICNIC BOAT

Todays story comes to us from retired boat builder Allan Hooper, just back from an extended trip to visit family the USA (Carlsbad just north of San Diego). I’ll let Allan tell the story :-

Prior to leaving I made contact with Morgan Spriggs the current owner of Lola, an NZ37. Lola was built at Jim Young’s NZ Yachts in 1969-70 while I was the foreman. 

I was very keen to see the boat after all these years. Morgan has spent  a lot of time restoring Lola and she looks as good as the date she left the factory apart from a few alterations and replacements. Morgan was excited to meet me and be able to talk about the build of the boat.

The hull construction is 4 skins of 1/4’” Kauri cold moulded with all of the back bone, floors, transom and bulkhead boundarys set in the mould. The hull was sheathed in Epoxy and glass. After the hull was taken off the mould the bulkheads and the interior were put in place and gunwales fitted.

The cabin,  cockpit and decks were built on a separate mould complete with paint work, glazing and hardware. Then in an operation taking only a couple of hours, was lifted and placed on the hull, located over the bulkheads, glued and fastened down.

The techniques developed to build these yachts enabled a NZ37 to be built from start to finish in 4 weeks.

Read and view more on Lola here https://www.latitude38.com/lectronic/lola-55-year-old-kiwi-sloop-finds-home-san-diego/

Morgan‘s father Robert owns a beautiful picnic boat, Easterly (photos below), an ex  Maine lobster boat on which we toured the San Diego bay.

It was used by Denis Connor is a chase boat when he was sailing in the Americas cup. Robert Spriggs has owns the boat for 22 years and it is in as new condition, you could have eaten your lunch of the engine or engine room floor.

The teak cockpit sole is the best laid teak I have ever seen, the timber selected is absolutely perfect, as was the whole boat.

The waterfront at downtown San Diego has a beautiful collection of maritime exhibits including a sailing immigrant ship the “Star of India” which was a regular visitor to New Zealand in the 1800s, once a year it is taken out for a sail.

Further along the waterfront is the USS Midway launched in 1945, she was finally laid up in the 1990s. If you’ve never been on an aircraft carrier it’s well worth a visit. 3.5 acres of 3 inch thick steel makes up the flight deck. It is an interesting harbour to visit and extremely busy as it is alongside the international airport, a military airport, a naval base, several marinas and the city. When you go out on the bay you see it and hear it all.

The Younger Generation – Australian Wooden Boat Festival Film

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The Younger Generation

Our friends across the ditch in Tasmania that pull together the Australian Wooden Boat Festival, commission some wonderful short films that provide an insight into the people and vessels that help make the AWBF so special.

We have featured several in the past and todays one is just such a cool, warm, feel good story. We meet Matt and Iefke – a young couple that were drawn together by a shared passion for wooden boats and are now building the boat of their dreams – Tarkine. 

Both Matt and Iefke take us on the journey of how they meet, and express in words the reason why we do what we do and why we love wooden boats.

If today is anything weather wise like yesterday – find that spot x in the house and sit back and enjoy this short film.

To learn more about the upcoming Australian Wooden Boat Festival  – Feb 10>13 2023 – Hobart Waterfront – click here https://www.australianwoodenboatfestival.com.au

Day Boat Without The Marina Costs

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Day Boat Without The Marina Costs

Its always a a challenge to squeeze the bits  that make boating enjoyable into anything sub 20’, the owners of Tawa (previously Matariki) have managed to do it in a 16’ boat – so well done.

Built in 1958 by a A. Westrupp from double diagonal kauri (+f/glass) and presented in a very high finish – in fact she has won numerous awards at both the north & South Island Lake Rotoiti classic boating events.

The diesel heads amongst us would struggle to ID the 30hp engine – its a German MTU from an old WWII German submarine.

The bonus of Tawa is that she resides on a trailer so no marina fees and your boating locations are almost unlimited. (Thanks Ian McDonald for the tme listing heads up)

ATHENA – The Woody Buy Of The Year – $30,000 ono

Without going into details – the owner of the woody Athena has told me to find the right buyer and sell her – there’s even a B.O.I. marina on offer (extra)

Full details here https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/06/01/athena-next-caretaker-wanted/

A Call For Help

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CAN ANYONE HELP

Woody Bruce Ryrie has taken on a project – a c.1960’s Couldrey classic launch that he acquired from the Firth of Thames. Unfortunately no name, so the first ask is does anyone know more about the boat?

The second ask is a little bigger, as you can see in the above photos there are a few planks that need replacing and Bruce would really appreciate a hand with the work, or even some guidance.

The launch is hauled out at Clevedon.

WE ARE LOSING OUR WATERFRONT – Okahu Bay Haul Out

It has recently been brought to my attention that our friends at Auckland Council are very anti boating – read below a summary of what’s been happening –

It’s not only the government that thinks it knows best.  Auckland City has determined that the Haulout at Okahu bay, known as the Orakei Landing, will be shut down and the area will become a park reserve!  The local board, despite overwhelming submissions against any change, decided in its woke way that the Landing haulout facilities, which have been a part of Auckland since the year dot, should be closed to provide another park.  The haulout has and is being used by many owners of traditional wooden boats where owners as well as professionals work on them near to their homes.  With the closure of this there will be no inner harbour haulouts on the Southern side of the harbour.  There are also a number of professionals who will be out of a job or whose businesses will be reduced because of losing this facility.  Auckland once touted itself as the city of sails.  It seems it no longer thinks this is part of its makeup.In credibly the committee of the RAYC sent out an email to its members encouraging them to vote to close the Landing.  That was done in a way which unless you read it carefully and understood what was happening would have led to many members completing the form supplied to submit for closure!  It all smells a bit.

If you are even slightly motivated to voice your concern re the closure of the Okahu Bay haul out area – I suggest to use the channel I find works best with local politicians – they hate negative publicity – contact the chairman of the  Orakei Local Board – Scott Milne direct via Facebook and leave a message – link here https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100007006489029

AND TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR YOU TO VOICE YOUR CONCERNS SEE BELOW

Local Board members that voted in favour of closing the hardstand*: 

· Scott Milne: scott.milne@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz / 021 876 326 

· Sarah Powrie: sarah.powrie@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz / 021 142 2913 

· Margaret Voyce: margaret.voyce@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz / 029 880 9900 

· Troy Elliott: troy.elliott@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz / 021 658 769

Marlin Munroe

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MARLIN MONROE

The 19’ Sutton and Mason 1966 built Marlin Marauder – Marlin Monroe made a very brief appearance recently on tme, probably brief because the asking price was $10k.

On face value that is a lot of classic boat for the money.

Built with double diagonal kauri and powered by Mercruiser inboard + stern leg that sees her topping out at 35mph.

The matching dinghy is a nice touch.

Estrela

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ESTRELA

The 43’ 1920’s built launch – Estrela has made a few appearances on tme over the areas and has sadly slipped into the ‘Live-Aboard’ category these days. Its being promoted as the cheapest home you can buy in Auckland.

She was built by Joe Fell, is a double-ender built from triple skin kauri and powered by a Hino H07C 158hp diesel.

Her Panmure River berth is available for rent – so woodys – a waterfront home or rescue her and set her free on the Waitemata again 🙂

(Thanks Ian McDonald for the listing heads up)

She appeared on WW back in 2018 and there was some discussion re her provenance – possibly not a  1920 Joe Fell boat, read this link for more info. Remember to also read the comments section 😉 https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/10/03/estrela/

Dundonald > Tranquila

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DUNDONALD > TRANQUILA 

Early last week we ran a story on a launch named – Tranquila (link to that story below) at the time hawk-eye Nathan Herbert commented that it appeared to be the Don Brooke designed – Dundonald post a name change.

Fast forward one week and woody John Dawson confirmed that Nathan was correct and sent in the gallery of photos above. John commented that the launch was for sale back in April 2021. 

Tranquila is 37’ in length, built from DD kauri (f/glassed) and powered by a Ford 120hp Otsan 6.2L 6 cyl. diesel that gives her a cruising speed of 9.5 knots- top speed is approx. 13 knots. https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/08/02/tranquila/

Colleen – Launch Day

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JAN

Boat builder Alan Craig (Craig Marine) sent in todays’ gallery of photos of the Brin Wilson designed launch – Colleen owned by Bill Stevenson. We see her being launched at Lake Tarawera where she still resides today. Appears that there were a few challenges with the lake level.

Colleen is a near sister ship to the other Stevenson family launch – Jan, refer photos below. Jan is maintained in an as new condition, some credit for this goes to Alan who has repainted and varnished the whole boat at different stages.

Also keen to ID the launch that is helping drag her off.

INPUT ex Hamish Moore “I have spoken with Mother on this, Jocelyn Stevenson. Seems you have amended some of the points already. – Typo, Spelling of the family name. ‘Stevenson’

Some info what what Jocelyn can recall;

Colleen was on Lake Rotoiti for a few years prior to been relocated to lake Tarawera, possibly up to 5yrs.

The launching of Colleen shown here could be at Lake Rotoiti and the little Tug boat could well be Sir Williams first boat on Lake Rotoiti, un-confirmed and details of the vessel unknown.

A notable mentioned needs to go to Norm Keane who was a local boat builder that Sir William employed to maintain all the boats, including Jocelyn in Auckland, and his property at Lake Rotoiti and I’d say Colleen while still in the family ownership. If I recall correctly one of your articles in the past may have mentioned Norm Keane.

Last I heard, Colleen has had some work done over the years and some of which was completed by Danny Pearce boatbuilding out of Rotorua. I’ve lost contact with Danny. However we had attempted to head down and cast an eye over Colleen but life just got to busy.

Jan remains in family ownership, by Sir Williams Grand daughter.

It would be fantastic to see some photos and and article on Colleen if you managed to shake down someone who has the knowledge and contact.”

Tamahere SOS

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TAMAHERE SOS

Back in May 2018 when I was loitering around the waterfront at Sandspit I was taken by the 40′ canoe stern 1904 launch – Tamahere. She must have changed hands around the same time and at some stage relocated to Kerikeri, Northland.

Sadly she has suffered a mishap due to deferred maintenance and has taken of a lot of water, but didn’t sink. There is a long list of required work to get her sea worthy again but her current tme price / bid is sub $600. Auction closes this Sunday at 9.52am. (thanks Ian McDonald for the listing heads up)

As the owner states ‘definitely a project not for the faint-hearted’ – but a bargain entry into the wooden boating movement.

The phots below are from 2018 at Sandspit.

Also more here from a May 2017 WW story  https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/08/02/tamahere-a-peak-down-below/

Dont normally link to tme but time is not Tamahere’s friend https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/boats-marine/motorboats/listing/3695932222?tm=email&et=47&mt=16373835-5D46-4FFE-A44C-B8ECA6A92162&bof=EC22CNjd

Nereides Makes A Splash

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NEREIDES MAKES A SPLASH

In between lock-downs in June 2021 I had cause to do a trip to Tauranga and took up Doug Owens invitation to visit the yard to get a peek at the refit of his 1937 Colin Wild built 55’ yacht – Nereides. The project was well underway and the commitment to best in class and standard of workmanship was already on display.

Yesterday Doug made contact to let me know that Nereides was back in the water and aside from some final interior work the refit was complete.

The gallery of photos above says it all, the pilot house just glows – well done to Doug and son Mohi. We will keep you updated as the final items are ticked off the to-do list. 

Link to 2021 story https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/06/13/nereides-gets-a-facelift/

Photo below at haul out – post refit