Category Archives: A Peek Down Below

Valerie – Gets A Birthday

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VALERIE – Gets A Birthday
During my recent trip up north, aboard Lady Crossley I visited the Opua Marina to attend the launch of Lady Ellen. While mooching around the hard-stand I spotted the 1929, Lane Motor Boat Co. built, 35’ launch Valerie. I last saw her in early 2018 in Whangaroa.
Valerie has had a change of ownership and is getting a ‘make-over’. When I spotted her at Opua , boatbuilder Ian Wood was hard at work getting her ready for a pre-xmas re-launch. The work would be best described as a ‘rollin restoration’. Included in the work to date is a re-power – out with the 65hp Ford and in with the 115hp Yanmar, check out her new prop – me thinks his old lady will be able to lift her skirt and dance 🙂

Read / see more on Valerie here:

The Folly of Buying A Fixer-Upper With Mates

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The Folly of Buying A Fixer-Upper With Mates

Click the link below to read / view this great tales from ABC News – Australia, about 6 mates that took on the restoration of  – Southwinds (previously named Valhalla), a 70 year old, 18m, Hueon pine built classic ketch.
Thanks to Andrew Christie for the heads up on the story.

ASTROLABE – A Peek Down Below

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ASTROLABE – A Peek Down Below

I had the pleasure recently to inspect Astrolabe, the 51’ 7” Bruce Clark designed, John Salthouse built 1974 sloop. As you would expect from any craft from John Salthouse’s hands, she is a work of art – 1 3/8” kauri, splned and glassed. She has had a serious amount of blue water under her keel and has enjoyed 27 years of continuous ownership.
Sadly her owner has reached a stage in life where he would like the yacht to have a new caretaker – not just anyone, you would have to be a passionate woody to be in the running for stewardship of Astrolabe.
I post todays story to give you something to think about over the Christmas break. The boat was not ‘dressed’ for photos, these are  just ‘snaps’ from my iPhone.
If you are a serious woody looking for a classic cruising yacht that ticks all the boxes – looks, designer and builder creds, blue water capable and maintained for the last 27 years to an extraordinary standard – in the first instance,  contact us at the email below. waitematawoodys@gmail.com
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Oiseau de Mer

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Oiseau de Mer
Todays woody is a 30’ Hartley, built by Hughie Wells and launched in 1963. Built from kauri – carvel, with a 9’8” beam and draft of 2’6”.
Her 100hp 6 cyl. Ford diesel engine is unfortunately seized hence her current status on trademe of $103 & reserve met.
Currently located in Akaroa. Could be the makings of a very low entry woodys project.
Party In A Boat Shed
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Walked into The Slipway Milfords Christmas party last night and you would have thought you were attending the waitematawoodys AGM, the SWM crew were all decked out in WW t’s. Great old school gathering, caught up with lots of woody boaters.
Stunning smoker/BBQ from Anatole Perry, assisted by Andrew Miller – the spare ribs were to die for 🙂
And yes, I’m standing on a nail box 🙂
K CLASS BOOK WINNER
Incredible number (an all time record) of entries to yesterdays quiz. Slightly worrying that so many of you knew that Flora McKenzie ran a brothel in Ring Terrace, Herne Bay. A few even owned up to having met her 😉
So folks – the winner of a copy of Jenni Mence’s book – K CLASS was Jason Prew
The runner-up prize of a WW T-shirt was Brett Evans

A Spirit of Tradition Woody + Win Prizes

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A Spirit of Tradition Woody

Today’s launch was designed American designer – Ted Brewer and appears to be based on the traditional Maine lobster boat. She was built in New Zealand in c.1989 from strip plank cedar epoxied and glassed. She measures 30’ overall with a beam of 9’1″ and draws 2’4”. A fully reconditioned Nissan SD22 provides the forward motion.

Her tme listing (thanks Ian McDonald) is very impressive and she appears to be good value for the asking price. Home port is Kerikeri.

WIN YOURSELF A COPY OF THE HOT OF THE PRESS BOOK – K CLASS

This could be the final WW competition before Santa slides down the chimney. As always – entry is via email only to waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Entries close midnight Friday 20-12-2019 . All correct entries will go into the draw for a copy of the book – K Class by Jenni Mence. Plus a bobby prize – a waitematawoodys t-shirt, drawn from all email entries received – correct or not.

Q waitematawoodys editorial assistant – Flora McKenzie shares her name with a pioneer  Auckland business women from the waterfronts past. What line of business was Flora in? Remember – enter via email only.

 

 

Dolphyn – Sailing Sunday

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DOLPHYN – Sailing Sunday

During the week I was contacted by Joe Pallante who along with his partner has just purchased the 34’Don Brooke designed yacht Dolphyn. Other than the length, possible build date of c.1970 and designer Joe knows very little about the yacht. Via the comments section on WW Robert Brooke has kindly ‘pointed’ Joe in the direction of brother Don.
The yacht was purchased off a Canadian gent and is moored in Shoal Bay, Auckland.
Can anyone help Joe out with some history on the vessel?
LADY ELLEN – Re-Launching
Have spent the weekend in Russell for the re-launch of Bruce Mitchinson’s 1950’s Supreme Craft – Lady Ellen – check out tomorrows WW story to view the action. Stunning weekend in the bay.
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1958 16′ Runabout

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1958 16′ Runabout

I first saw todays Woody at the Lake Rotoiti (Nelson Lakes) Classic Boat Show and now thanks to tme & Ian McDonald, we get to see her ‘in the flesh’.
The woody is one of only 320 16’ Century Resorter runabouts built in the Michigan factory. 
She is still powered by her original (rebuilt) Ford Interceptor 272 / 150hp V8 engine.
The custom built trailer is a work of art and compliments the boat perfectly.
 
Mahurangi Cruising Club 2020 Yearbook OUT NOW
Just in time for Christmas – the Mahurangi Cruising Club 2020 Yearbook is now on sale. For most of us the best option to grab a copy is via Boat Boats in Westhaven (on-line as well) or order via the MCC facebook page. 
Design guru Steve Horsley is back on board and the book looks amazing. At $20 its the perfect Santa sack filler. 
The MCC are the powerhouse behind NZ’s biggest on-the-water wooden boating event -the Mahurangi Regatta , so pull the wallet out and buy a copy, as well as a great read you will be helping the MCC run the regatta.
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Arethusa – New Wheelhouse Project

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Arethusa – New Wheelhouse Project
 
Back in October as part of another story I mentioned that Arethusa was inline for a treat – her Bay of Islands owner, Dean Wright has decided to a build / install a new wheelhouse. Arethusa is almost 100 year old (99) so a perfect centennial present for the 33’ Bob Brown built ex gaff rigged cutter. Arethusa these days is configured in work-boat / launch style.
 
The new wheelhouse is being made from Iroko by John Gander – John is a shipwright extraordinaire, served his apprenticeship and worked for Careys for many years. 
Included above are the design drawings for the wheelhouse and an existing photo for comparison. 
We will be following this project on WW with much interest – love a good project.
 
To see / read more on Arethusa, including restoring & installing a Gardner 4LW – more links there  https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/12/31/restoring-installing-a-gardner-in-arethusa-revisited/

Lady Margaret Back Home (briefly)

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Lady Margaret Back Home (briefly)
There has been some robust debate on WW in regard to the 38’ Lady Margaret’s pedigree, for WW records it goes like this. Built in Mt Albert in 1955 by L. Deacon. As launched she was named Lady Mary, sadly her builder / owner passed away in 1956 and Lady Mary was sold to Mr John Senior, who changed her name to Happy Wanderer. At some stage she was renamed again to Lady Margaret (what must be the most popular name in classic motor boating).
When launched she was powered by a 6 cylinder Perkins later changed to a Ford 6cyl. 90hp diesel engine. This was upgraded to a 120hp version in the late 1990’s >early2000’s by her then owner at the time Steve Varley. Steve has commented on WW that he sold her to the South Island (Blenheim) around this time. LM remained in the South Island until recently purchased by Alistair McRae, who over the last week has relocated LM to Auckland, but sadly for Auckland woodys, her time here will be short, home port will be Whangarei.
I caught up with Alistair last Monday at the Orams yard in Westhaven as she was unloaded from the transporter and re-launched. I briefly went aboard for a chat, sorry didn’t take many photos as she was in ’transit’ mode. Alistair has promised more when he sorts her out. I can report that she is a very fine woody and with some TLC will be a stunner.

16-07-2020 Photo below hauled out in Whangarei for some TLC

Lady Margaret Jul2020

Twilight

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TWILIGHT
The 32’ carvel planked launch Twilight was built in 1954 by Strongman in Coromandel.
Power comes from a Perkins 4. 108 diesel engine.
Over the last 8 years Twilight has undergone an extensive ‘rolling restoration’ that included reconditioning the engine and gearbox, photos below.
Thanks to Ian McDonald for the tme heads up.