Category Archives: A Peek Down Below

Yard Mooching

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My Girl

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YARD MOOCHING

Over the last few days I have had cause to be in the vicinity of several boat yards

THE SLIPWAY MILFORD
Jason Prew has his 1925 Dick Lang built speedster – My Girl out and is in the process of re-powering her with a ’newer / better’ version of the 100hp Volvo that powers her. Given an engine box hasn’t been ticked off the To-Do List, this ones being pimped and blinged a little.
The new engine wasn’t the primary reason I called in, I had to see Jason’s just added,  Riviera styled set up for his Robert Brook built classic dinghy. I’m told it all comes apart and tucks away out of sight for photo oppo’s. Thats a relief 😉
Also at the yard are Eileen Patricia , Peter and Jenni Mence’s 1933 Arnold Couldrey designed and built launch. Out for even more enhancements and a coat of paint.
Meanwhile Connie V the 1949, Lane Motor Boat Co. built launch waits her turn.
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Eileen Patricia

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Connie V

MILFORD CRUISING CLUB
Little Jim and Wairiki are out getting some TLC
Little Jim
Little Jim
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Wairiki

PIER 21
Thanks to a call from Dave Giddens, I got to see the recently arrived / unloaded Tasmanian built Couta Boat – Rose. They were stepping my mast. Photos and video footage over on the original WW story https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/07/15/mystery-kiwi-buyer-australian-woody/
Rose
Rose
CLEVER MAN
Jason Delamore who purchased the launch Mahanui off Angus Rogers, is a clever chap and very handy with the tools. Jason has just recycyled an old oak table into a very smart table that alternates between the saloon and cockpit, thanks to a ‘Langun’ base / mounting system (ex UK).
The flip hinges give both a small drinks table and larger table for dinner.
Jason commented that he was pretty happy with the result and breathed new life into some gorgeous timber that will last another 80-100 years on top of its current 80+ years.

Meola

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Meola is at the launching of the Hikarangi
Meola is at the launching of the Hikarangi

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MEOLA 
Woody Iain Forsyth, owner of the 1961, 42’6″’, Miller & Tunnage built ex work boat – Meola is one of the most passionate wooden boating buffs you will meet, so when Iain got the opportunity to travel South to the birth place of Meola, there was no stopping him. Back in 1986 there was a major fire at the Miller & Tunnage yard and sadly their historical records / files of past builds was lost in the blaze.
The highlight of Iain’s trip was tracking down Mary Inglis, wife of Brian Inglis, who built many of the boats at Miller & Tunnage.
The black and white photos above are from Mary’s collection and show the construction of Meola and as launched. WW links below for more details
Below is a stunning photo of another Miller & Tunnage vessel, that Iain uncovered – this ones the 1960 built Deodar, which given the immaculate condition must have been at launching, prior to being commissioned as a Police launch. These days, a pleasure craft – WW links below.
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Georgia

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GEORGIA

Today’s woody is the 28’ Lidgard built launch Georgia, built in 1974 so she slides into the ’spirit of tradition cateogory’, helped by the fact that she was built of 1 1/4” copper riveted, carvel, kauri planks.
As per most Lidgard’s she fits into the ‘FBG’ mold i.e. a 10’ beam on a 28’ boat..
Powered by a 50hp diesel engine.
Reviewing her tme listing (thanks Ian MacDonald) she is very well appointed and the vendor is very motivated for a sale e.g. keeps dropping the price, so someone could get a nice entry level woody for a good price.
WW Bucket Hat Winner – lots of entries, including some very ‘amusing’ ones but at the end of the day there were only two correct entries – the answer to what is the most searched word on WW was – ELECTROLYSIS. Lots of entries like classic or boat or launch BUT you rarely get a single word like that searched – it would be ‘Classic Launch’.
The first correct answer of the two was Jason Prew, but he already sports a WW bucket so I ruled him out of the draw :-), the winner is Mike Elliott. I have emailed you Mike, reply with your postal address and I’ll send you the hat 🙂
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1895 Bailey Gaff Cutter – IDA – Launch Celebration

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1895 Bailey Gaff Cutter – IDA – Launch Celebration
Yesterday (19th July 2020) afternoon John and Lorraine Street officially launched the latest addition to The Classic Yacht Charitable Trust fleet – Ida the 58’ (45’) gaff cutter. Designed by Chas Bailey and built in 1895 by C&W Bailey.
In December 2018 John and the CYCT shipped Ida back from Sydney where she had resided since c.1985. It would be fair to say that she wasn’t in the best of shape – but Wayne Olsen & Mike Smith at Horizon Boats did their magic and today we got to see the 125 year old woody centre stage at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.
I have previously covered the restoration and rigging etc on WW, links below. Also below is a link to the Classic Yacht Charitable Trust website that tells the complete 125 year history of Ida. So I’ll let the photos above tell today’s story.
Below is a video clip of Johns speech – as always very informative and entertaining – turn the volume up and enjoy 🙂
Full History and Photo Gallery

http://www.classicyachtcharitabletrust.org.nz/trust_boats.htm?boat_id=16

Previous WW Stories

Ika

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IKA
Back in mid March 2020 I was contacted by Matt Hodgson who had just purchased Ika and was berthed in Pine Harbour Marina, Auckland waiting for a weather window to take her south to Mana Marina, Wellington. Ika had been recently returned to the water and was a little thirsty e.g taking on water. As tends to happen, after a little while she quenched her thirst and Matt successfully headed south.
I asked Matt to send in some photos and details on Ika – below is what he knows –
Matt believes she was designed in the late 1920’s and was used as a commercial long liner in the Cook Strait from 1933. She’s a Lanes 42ft kauri launch and was modified and revamped by Bob Sinclair in 1996. Sinclair reconditioned the Gardner 5L3 engine in 1996 and added / rebuilt the saloon. You can see in the photos that Ika’s galley has a diesel oven, complete with a wet back.
Matt is currently working away on Ika, so far he has painted the cabinetry white and will redo the inside by sanding, polishing and vanishing the main beams in the saloon and replacing the old carpet with a high quality veneer.
Anyone able to enlighten Matt and myself more on Ika’s past?
Photos below ex Cameron Pollard
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19-07-2020 Input from Don Robertson –
Ika was owned for a while by the legendary Island Bay fisherman Johnny Cataldo.
Johnny knew Cook Strait like no other, so piloted the early Cook Strait swimmers.
He was also the Cook Strait rescue service before the Coastgaurd, and a capable police launch.
I was witness to one of his rescues in Cook Strait, in 1968, as an 18 year old when on the legendary 1912 yacht Nanette we we lost both forestays with our bowsprit in an unforecast severe northerly off Sinclair Head. By waving a tablecloth we attracted Ika passing by and as she took us in tow, we noticed the crew of Hugh Barton’s, of Barton Marine, Shiralee waving for assistance, being overpowered by the conditions and not being able to make progress upwind. So Ika manoeuvred Nanette into a position that we were able to pass a second tow line and proceeded into Island Bay directly under the seagulls feeding off the remains of impressive Groper.
I remember Ika being moored just upstream of the Mana bridge with a much more substantial cabin around the 1980’s
Woody Classics Weekend Clevedon #2 copy

 

Mystery Kiwi Buyer – Australian Woody – Rose

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Mystery Kiwi Buyer – Australian Woody -Rose

After yesterdays balls up around the launch Spindrift I have decided to give launches a wide berth today.
 
In Australia the Couta Boat and the people that sail them are legendary, up there in status with our Mullet Boats.
Now as a result of some social media mooching we have uncovered that a Couta Boat designed and built by master shipwright Jeremy Clowes at Cygnet Wooden Boats in Tasmania has been sold to a New Zealand owner. The photos above show the boat – named Rose, being loaded on to a truck for the trip to Devonport, Tasmania, where she will be shipped to Melbourne then onto another ship to NZ.
All we know about the Kiwi owner is his name is Dave and he resides in Ngatea.
 
So woodys – can we ‘out’ this Dave and also find out where she will be kepted – hopefully not in a mud berth in Thames 🙂
 
I’m sure there are a lot of woodys that would like the chance to view Rose when she arrives – so Dave, hint hint…… can we have a look?
 
(Photos ex Simon Perigo & Matt Morris)
 
31-07-2020 Update – Thanks to a call from Dave Giddens, I got to see the recently arrived / unloaded Tasmanian built Couta Boat – Rose. They were stepping my mast.
 
Rose
Rose
27-09-2020 Update from Dennis Maconaghie – Rose she is now residing and much admired just off Hannafords Wharf in Te Kouma, Coromandel
 

Magic

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PRE – RESTORATION

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THE RESTORATION

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JOB DONE

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MAGIC

Recently I was contacted by Phil Shaw who has completed an amazing restoration on his Healey speed boat – Magic. Like many I’m sure, I was not aware that the founder of the Austin Healy sports car marque – Donald Healey (British racing car driver and engineering guru), back in 1956 had also founded a subsidiary company – Healey Marine. The company produced approximately 1750 craft, with Phil’s 1956, 14’6″ boat, a Healey Ski-master, being the first model built.
When Phil acquired the boat she was crying out for a restoration and as you can see in the photos above, that she received 🙂
 
These days Magic is pushed along by a 50hp outboard that sees her with a top speed of 30 knots, and that woodys is very fast for a sub 15’ mahogany run-about.
 
My biggest challenge with this story was deciding which photos made the cut – Phil photo documented every step of the project, and has a wonderful photo gallery of the restoration.
 
I will let the photos tell the story. Below is a an article in the April 2002 issue of the Healey Marque Magazine.

REMEMBER TO RSVP FOR THE WOODY CLEVEDON TRIP – 15 BOATS ALREADY ON THE LIST + FRESH CLEVEDON COAST OYSTERS

RSVP TO   waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Woody Classics Weekend Clevedon #2 copy

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Stella Rose

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STELLA ROSE

The 33’ clinker built Stella Rose was built by R E Swanson in Queen Charlotte  Sound, Marlborough, South Island and launched in 1967.
The forward motion is via a Lees Ford 70hp diesel engine that gets her along at 8 knots. She sips 4L an hour and given her 2 x 200L fuel tanks – you could lap NZ on one fill 🙂
From her tme listing (thanks Ian McDonald) Stella Rose appears to be a very well appointed woody and good value for the asking price.
Home is the Havelock Marina in the upper South Island.
A Wee Trip To Thames and Coromandel
Woody boat wise, didn’t see anything that hasn’t already appeared on WW but did visit one of my fav spots – Shortland Wharf in Thames, home of the brilliant fish mart that also cooks for you and delivers to the Wharf Cafe & Bar alongside. After a crap day on Wednesday that saw me caught in a hail down pour – today was a stunner, with a sun set to match. The F&C’s were accompanied by my World Famous in Devonport tomato sauce, sneaked it in 🙂 (and to the dietitians out there – the meal was for 2 people)
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Lady Jane

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LADY JANE
The 32’10” Lady Jane was built in 1930, her builder is unknown, a previous owner believed it was built by Lidgards at Kawau Island but others have suggested Sam Ford. The black and white photo above is dated 1948.
Engine is a Ford 80hp diesel and LJ over the last 9 years has undergone a ‘rolling-restoration’ to see her in the condition she is presented in, on her tme listing.
I’m not sure which of the cabin window configuration I prefer – the x3 TV monitors eg  or the x3 ‘eyebrow’ version on the b/w photo.
FYI – there have several Lady Jane launches on WW, seems she was a popular lady 🙂
Would be nice if we could confirm the design / builder?
Harold Kidd Input – The LADY JANE in the black & white photo is clearly a built-up flush-decker of the period 1910-15. The arch-topped side windows are a dead giveaway. Sam Ford was at school at the time.

Classic Wooden Boat Riverhead Cruise

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Classic Wooden Boat Riverhead Cruise

Yesterday’s creek (river) cruise to the Riverhead Tavern was another successful gig on the Woodys Classics Weekend calendar. 14 boats made the trip up the creek and with no ferries working, we had the wharf to ourselves. Always nice to be greeted at the wharf by the publican and woody boater – Stephen Pepperell. We enjoyed brilliant support and service from the rest of the team at the tavern insured the day went like clockwork and 85+people enjoyed a great catch up, chat and lunch. The sun shone at the right times (most of the day) so a good times was had by all. Wonderful to see the support from the people that made the trip by car.
Details on the next event soon 🙂
MORE PHOTO’S @ link below
My crew for the day Chris Miller has posted some great photos on his weblog, I was concentrating on helming the ship and given CM is a pro photographer I left the camera work to Chris. Enjoy 🙂