Category Archives: A Peek Down Below

Tautai > Lady Jan – A Peek Down Below

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Tautai > Lady Jan – A Peek Down Below

Back in April 2018 I was contacted by (the late) Michael Goldfinch who had just purchased the classic launch – Tautai. Michael advised that Tautai designed and built in 1962 by Max Carter and prior to about 2004 went by the name of Lady Jan. Back then she was presented in the “traditional” white and baby blue typical of the era. A friend of Michael’s bought her in 2003 and did an extensive makeover. 

First forward to Feb 2022 and Tautai is for sale and we now get to have a peak down below and learn more about her. She’s powered by a Lees Ford 120hp engine that gets her along nicely at 7 > 8 knots. Spec’s –   39’ in length, 11’9” beam and draws 4’7”

Tautai is one of those lucky boats where her numerous owners have all cared for her and invested in upgrades thru out the years – a walk through transom, larger boarding platform, new toughened glass throughout, bow thruster, new electronics, radar, auto-helm and auto winch – and a whole lot more. Just prior to coming on the market Tautai had a trip to the beauty parlour for a full repaint and varnish in Burnnand Marine’s shed.

She has also circumnavigated the North Island. I’m very happy to be able to advise that she has a new owner, who while ’new’ to the classic wooden boat scene is a very talented gent in the automotive restoration field. And chatting with him, her name will revert back to Lady Jan – we like that 🙂

New owner is very keen to learn more above the vessels past.
Photos below from back in 2019 when receiving some TLC hauled out at the Te Atatu Boating Club yard.

13-04-2022 Input From Darryll Hart – Top photo below is off a painting of Lady Jan in Schoolhouse Bay on June 04 1985. Painting was done by Denis Davies (family friend) in October 1994.

For a bit of history on the boat – we bought her from Gary Barnett who was a car dealer in Otahuhu and he used to cruise with Sequoia, Monterey and Ngarunui, all the boats featured in for sale advertisements  around this Lady Jan article.The dimensions in the article are incorrect.

She is 36 ft long by 12ft wide and was built in 1961 in Onehunga. Originally had a 590 series Ford Trader in her with a manual gearbox.

Fuel was stored in 44gal like tanks either side of the underfloor engine and Gary Barnett added a further 50gals foward when fuel was in short supply in the early 80s up north.At 8 kts she had a range of 70 plus hours.

Haumoana

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HAUMOANA

The 1949 Colin Wild designed and built launch – Haumoana has made several appearances on WW, primarily because its a Col Wild, so it is very special and secondly because its owned by a very nice Lake Rotoiti couple that kindly host us when we are at the lake for the annual Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade. Link below to past story. Haumoana measures 30’x9’5”x4’ and has undergone several refits in her life.

WW link  https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/06/05/haumoana/

One of neat things about WW is when out of the blue you get an email like the one below from Doug Peacock whose father – Chris, once owned Haumoana and kept her at Half Moon Bay marina.

“My parents owned Haumoana from about 1990 through to mid 2000’s. I was showing my father your Waitamata Woodys site last night for two reasons, 1. I’m obsessed with your site it’s really incredible what you are doing telling the stories of all these wonderful boats with so much history, and 2. Because I’d seen there were some new photos of Haumoana on Lake Rotoiti that I wanted to show him.  

Next thing he disappears down stairs for a while and came back with a photo album dedicated to Haumoana. I took a quick few iPhone shots of the photos to share with you, sorry they have a lot of reflection.  He said he has heaps more stuff he couldn’t find last night. 

Anyway I have great memories of summers away on Haumoana and am chuffed that it’s being kept in such great shape by it’s current owners.”

In the last photo above the lad on the left is Doug. Photos below of Haumoana on Lake front Rotoiti.

I Told A Woody Lie

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I Told A Woody Lie

Several WW stories ago I asked the question about a certain woody being the biggest wooden classic, floating down under – seems I was wrong 🙂 The 100’ Sea Breeze III takes that title surely. Built in 1976, it would have to be stamped as a ’spirit of tradition’ vessel. Formerly named Ulysses and owned by the Kiwi that tops NZ’s Rich List – Graeme Hart, these days she appears to be in charter.

Twin Detroit 12v71 450hp engines get her off the dock and know doubt deliver an impressive speed underway.

Not a classic but a woody and cool to get a peek down-below 🙂

Popeye

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POPEYE

The woody day boat Popeye last made an appearance on WW back in August 2018, at the time we uncovered a lot of history on her – see WW link to read and view  https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/08/28/popeye/

A few months ago her owner, Adrian Howitt contacted WW advising that she was most likely for sale and that he was testing the water on tme.

Popeye was built in c.1941 and started life on the Hokianga Harbour as a fishing boat. She has twice been given a birthday – back in c.1998 by Greg Lees Boatbuilders in Sandspit and in 2015 by Colin Brown Boatbuilder. 

The photos above are more recent from when Adrian gave her a ‘general spruce up’ (his words) A newish (2012) Yanmar 1GM provides the forward motion.

Nautical Car Boot Sale – This Sunday – 3rd – Sandspit Yacht Club

Seeing you have an extra hour to play with on Sunday (end of day-light-saving) why not point the car north and do a road trip to the famous SYC car boot sale – lots to see and buy + there is a live band and great coffee & food.

Sale starts at 8.30am > 10.30

Lots of other activities to do in the area, so get off the couch and head north.

WOODYS CRUISE TO CLEVEDON POSTPONED – NEW DATE TBA

RAMOE – A Project

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RAMOE – A Project

Recently WW was contacted by the owner of the launch Ramoe, who was looking to find a new owner to complete the restoration of the boat. At the time they commented that ‘they have all the gear needed, she just needs to be put back together’. The boat has had the deck stripped back and cabin sides to glass over, also the windows need to be fitted. Ramos has been fitted with new Volvo Penta 75hp engine.

In the ‘old’ photo above she looks very smart. Anyone interested or wanting to know more – contact owner at steve.b.mouldey@gmail.com
Also interested in learning more about the boat – designer / builder etc etc 

Amazing Restoration of 1912 Classic Lake Boat – Lion

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Amazing Restoration of 1912 Classic Lake Boat – Lion

How did I miss this story on fb from a year ago – back in August 2020 on WW we covered the amazing restoration of the 38’ launch built in 1912 by James McPherson in Dunedin for Hugh McKenzie of Lake Wakatipu (thank you HDK for the intel)

How today thanks to a fb post by the company that restored her – the Repair My Boat Yard (formerly Southern Classic Boats) in Invercargill, South Island, we get to see Lion, back on Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown.

Hats off to everyone that was involved in the project – she is up there with Rawhiti in terms of attention to detail and workmanship.

View the restoration story here https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/08/03/restoration-of-mv-lion/

And a peek back at per restoration here https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/03/15/lion/

27-04-2023 UPDATE – video footage of Lion at the 2023 Southern Lakes Classic and Historic Boating event.

Nereides II

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NEREIDES II

Nereides II would have to one of the biggest woodys built in NZ in terms pf length and volume – the Oliver and Gilpin built launch was launched in 1974 and is 66’ in length, with a 15’ beam. Tripe skinned diagonally laid kauri with some of that ‘fg’ stuff on top.

A one owner boat she has sent most of her life cruising the Kings and outer islands on fishing and dive trips, hence the fuel tanks – 5,455L. Powered by twin GM Detroit 671s rated at 275hp a side.

Being ex survey, and reviewing the tme photos (thanks Ian McDonald) Nereides II is very well spec’ed.

100 Year Old Classic Clinker 

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100 Year Old Classic Clinker 
Back in late 2015 I rail-roaded a good friend into buying a beautiful classic clinker day boat – he lives on Waiheke Island and it was a perfect match for him. WW link to the 2015 story here https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/11/21/an-evill-boat/
Well as always seems to happen, life gets in the way of hobbies and the old girl just isn’t being used – so the decisions been made to pass her on to her next caretaker.

As her owner is a far better wordsmith than I am, I have reproduced the trademe listing story below:

“I am reluctantly selling my beautiful 108 year old boat. This clinker built tender/lifeboat is purported to have been built in 1914 likely by one of the Miller Bros (precursor to Miller & Tunnage est 1922) It is claimed to be one of two launched on the back of the tug “Dunedin” on Jan 6th 1914 ( see photo) 14′ length. 6′ beam. The craftsmen in Port Chalmers, where some of the finest boat-builders in NZ and their clinker built craft are amongst the most sought after collectibles around.

Powered by a single cylinder 7HP Yanmar Diesel, installed by Miller & Tunnage in 1961. It propels the craft at 6 knots and is extremely economical. Running for hours straight on a cup of diesel. The engine was last serviced in 2019 and has not run since, so it will need some TLC but should be simple to get going again as it’s fool proof. (I have a 1970 BMW D7 marine engine, semi complete with many new parts, i was going to replace the Yanmar with, that I would consider selling separately.)

It was used as a salmon boat in Port Chalmers for 30 years and then spent ten years on Lake Taupo until I bought her 7 years ago.

I used her a fair amount until 2019. The last owner told me he spent $40,000 restoring her and I can believe it. She has teak decks and posts. Huge bronze hinges and a magnificent bronze bilge pump and prop. Brass whistle and controller and anti- aircraft gun cartridge cases as rod holders! The woodwork is good for her age and the bespoke trailer is really solid. She’s a joy on the water and capable of handling any seas in safety. Extremely stable with 4 on board. Like most of its kind she lets in a little water on first entering the sea but takes up rapidly within 24-48 hrs. This is a superb piece of New Zealand seafaring history. I am looking at offers over $7,500 but it is more important to me that she goes to a good home so if you love classic boats and want to own a piece of our boat building heritage then get in touch.”

To view more photos – click here https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/boats-marine/motorboats/listing/3526252981

Kokoru Ravaged In Marina Fire – A CALL FOR HELP

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Where it started – if only the wind had been blowing the other way

KOKORU RAVAGED IN MARINA FIRE – A CALL FOR HELP

Late on the afternoon of 14-03-2022 I started receiving messages from woodys about a fire at east Aucklands – Pine Harbour Marina , that was / had desecrated 5 vessels. Looking at the early photos coming thru on social media – one of the vessels appeared to be a classic launch. Within minutes another image appeared that clearly showed that the woody was the 1960 Jack Morgan built 38′ woody – Kokoru. A woody that less than 4 weeks before I was crawling over taking photos of, post a 18+ month restoration that included her owners spending most of the CV-19 lockdowns working on her. On that day do not think I have seen more proud and happy boat owners and a week later they attended the Woodys Picnic at Stillwater and Kokoru was rafted up on the wharf for everyone to view. 

While taking photos the owners asked that I just use only a few exterior ones on WW and that when she was 100% dressed up, I could reveal more. Well woodys sadly that day never came, as Kokoru was one of the vessels at Pine Harbour that through no fault of their own, was left in ruins by an onboard fire on a neighbouring boat – with the combined size of the insurance claim being seven+ figures I won’t speculate, other to say the dockside chat is that the explosion > fire was related to a battery installation. 

I posted one photo of Kokoru the following day, but in respect to her owners, refrained from showing more. 

Last Friday talking with the owners, who are still distressed with the whole affair, I was thrilled to be told that the decision had been made to rebuild Kokoru – a mammoth undertaking, that has some big hurdles upfront – the first being – where to find the kauri, that magical timber that sadly these days you can not just order from Placemakers. 

So woodys todays story has two parts:

(1) to congratulate the owners on making the rebuild call – to quote them “you can’t take it with you but you can leave a legacy”

(2) to shout out to the classic wooden boating community for a source for the kauri Kokoru needs  – which is approx 8 lengths approx 150mm x ideally 8 metres. But beggars can’t be choosers so it’s what ever can be found. Obviously prepared to pay – any ideas on who we can talk to – contact me on waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Kokoru has made several appearances on WW before so I have included the links below to her back story. Its interesting to read that she is no stranger to incidents that would have been the end of most modern day vessels – back on 10th April 1968 during Wellington’s Wahine ferry disaster (loss of 51 lives on the day), Kokoru was one of the vessels that went out to assist the rescue of the passengers – after returning one load she headed out again and was rolled on her beam by a monster wave, the force of which ripped one of engines from its bed. Kokoru limped back to port, taking on water. But as a testament to Jack Morgan’s boat building skills, Kokoru was hauled out and repaired. 

WAHINE DISASTER https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/02/26/kokoru/

POST RELAUNCH (11/02/22)  https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/02/11/kokoru-a-sneak-peek/

FIRST EXTENDED TRIP (28/02/22).  https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/02/28/woody-classic-waterfront-picnic-weekend/

The gallery of photos below are reproduced purely as a record of the craftsmanship and mastery that went into the refit of Kokoru and to provide inspiration and reference during the rebuild. As always click on photos to enlarge.

Ngarunui – A Peek Down Below + 4sale

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Ngarunui – A Peek Down Below + 4sale 

The launch Ngarunui was designed by Jim Young c.1955/7, I’m unsure of the builder, was it also Jim Young – can anyone advise? Built from kauri planks, carvel on ribs, she measures 48’ in length, with a beam of 12’ and draws 4’8”. Power is via a 200hp Doosan L136T engine that gives her a comfortable cruising speed of 8.5 > 10 knots, at idle she will do 5 knots, so only slips fuel. A bonus is a 20hp Yanmar auxiliary with its own prop, not seen often these days but a nice comfort factor. The Yanmar also drives the freezer compressor.   As seen in the photos she really fits into the motor sailer category and comes with good set of sails – note the wooden mast shown in the photos above has been replaced with a new alloy one, but the wooden ones are available (needs repair).

With a combined fuel tank capacity of 1200L and 800L water Ngarunui is well set up for extended cruising. And of course a 12’ beam makes for a comfortable life aboard. Very well priced for 48’ launch presented in her condition.

For more details on the sale and specifications contact waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Ps photo below was from the 1967 Whangarei> Noumea yacht race start and shows Ngarunui with varnished coamings.