Category Archives: A Peek Down Below

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH ALPHEUS FINDS A NEW LAKE HOME – AND SOME WELL EARNED TLC

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH ALPHEUS FINDS A NEW LAKE HOME – AND SOME WELL EARNED TLC

How’s this for a spot of serendipity, or maybe just Siri listening in 🙂 

Yesterday I was chatting online with Alan Craig at Craig Marine, the central north island master boatbuilder / restorer about the 42′ classic wooden launch – ALPHEUS. Craig mentioned that they had recently completed some work on her a few months ago. Mainly TLC, tidying up some of the bright work and a few repairs. 

These days home for ALPHEUS is Taupo, at the marina down in Turangi. Craig commented that the location was definitely not the place to be doing that kind of work in autumn but they were lucky with the weather.

Then bingo today on WW in the comments section a gent named Brian Murphy mentioned he owned ALPHEUS from 1992/3 until he sold her to Ian and Rosalind about 2015. Brain’s family has huge memories of a superb ownership and many enjoyable summers.We used to moor her on D52 at Gulf Harbour. Last I heard of her she was on Lake Taupo as a live aboard (edited) 

Back in the early days before the demise of the classic yacht association motor launch division, Ian Rosalind and ALPHEUS were regular attendees at the multitude of events we hosted. Very happy to see she has a new life on the lake.

View more photos here from a June 2020 WW story https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/06/04/alpheus-a-peek-down-below-lady-ava-sinks/

Photo below showing the TLC was overdue 😉

WAIKARO – Exceptional Classic Wooden Boat 

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WAIKARO – Exceptional Classic Wooden Boat 

Todays woody story features the 33’ Roy Parris designed and built (1978) classic launch – WAIKARO. Some history, I brokered the sale of WAIKARO to her current owners back in 2021. At the time she was a very practical classic sedan cruiser , that had been lucky to have good past owners and Geoff Bagnall as their boatbuilder. 

Her new owners were newish to classic craft and over the next 4 years undertook a rolling restoration / refit – lots of system upgrades and corrected some deferred maintenance. Work included removal and full service of anchor windlass, replacement of 7 windows, with 8mm toughened, new engine mounts, exhaust, hull repaint, replacement of nav lights and wiring, fitting of bow thruster, new anchor chain & anchor and new Lawrence plotter/sounder.

But it didn’t stop there – with a lot of lobbying from myself and Jason Prew (Slipway Milford) WAIKARO’s coamings were taken back to bare wood and she got the Awlwood (Uroxsys) treatment + the additional of some shiny bronze bits. And that transformed WAIKARO into the striking craft we see today. See below photo of WAIKARO as purchased with painted coamings.

As per most of Roy Paris’s builds forward motion is via a 120hp Ford 2715, non-turbo. With her semi displacement hull, the 120hp sees her comfortably cruising at 9 knots, with a top speed of approx. 14 knots. Construction is carvel planked kauri. Her beam is just short of 10’ and she draws 3’3”. (Fits a 10.5m marina berth).

MYSTERY SHIPBUILDERS WOODEN LAUNCH + SPRING SLASH REGATTA DETAILS

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MYSTERY AC DCS – SHIPBUILDERS WOODEN LAUNCH + SPRING SLASH REGATTA DETAILS

Well todays woody is only a mystery because (1) the owner didn’t put the vessels name on tme (thanks Ian McDonald) and (2) the phots are out of focus, stopping reading the name board.

All that aside we learnt that the launch was built in 1959 by Shipbuilders, is 36’ in length and powered by a 90hp Ford Dorset engine.

Hull is 3 planks of diagonal kauri so built like the brick out-house.

As for the Sea Nymph transplant canopy on top…………………….. I suppose it would be simple to remove ✓

UPDATE – as advised by John Bullivant the boats named AC DECS and resided on the Tamaki estuary, near the Panmure yacht club. It is shown in the ‘a woody tour of the Tamaki river’ WW story and also featured in a Feb 18 2023 WW story – linked below. https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/02/18/ac-dcs/ Ken Ricketts advised it was named WHIRONUI and has previously commented that she was most likely a Shipbuilders ‘kitset’ boat.

CIRCLE THE CALENDAR – LABOUR WEEKEND SPRING SLASH REGATTA @ KAWAU ISLAND

The place to be on the long holiday weekend of October 24>27th is Kawau Island and the crew at the Kawau Boating Club and Ponsonby Cruising Club are again hosting the world famous (in NZ…) Labour Weekend Spring Splash Regatta. waitematawoodys are chuffed to by involved with organising the classic woody parade on Sunday, details in the flyer below + downloadable PDF file, which includes the entry (free) form for the sailing events. Link below to 2024 eventhttps://waitematawoodys.com/2024/10/29/kawau-island-spring-splash-regatta-review-70-classic-wooden-boating-photos/

ATTENTION YACHT SKIPPERS – If the coastal classic isn’t your scene, put the Kawau Spring Splash Regatta on your radar ✔️

LABOUR WEEKEND SPRING SPLASH (2)Download

EX WORK BOAT ARGO – A Peek Down Below

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EX WORK BOAT ARGO – A Peek Down Below

Back in May 2022 we ran a story on the 55’ ex commercial fishing boat – ARGO, that at the time she was berthed at the Kaipara Boating Club (west coast of Nth Is) during an extended (3yr) cruise around New Zealand. Link here WW May 2022 https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/05/22/argo/

Fast forward and she is currently calling Milford (Sth Is) home and has recently popped up on tme (thanks Ian McDonald).

A very tasteful conversation to pleasure use and being built in 1944 by Miller & Tunnage ARGO is more than capable of handling any conditions that Mother Nature might throw at her.

ARGO is powered by a 240hp Caterpillar D334 diesel engine that gives her a comfortable cruising speed around 8.5 knots.

So woodys today we get to have a gander below decks.

CLASSIC LAUNCH LADY JANE REMAINS UNSOLD AFTER SINKING INCIDENT

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CLASSIC LAUNCH LADY JANE REMAINS UNSOLD AFTER SINKING INCIDENT

The classic wooden 34’ launch – LADY JANE appeared recently on fb, it was a being auctioned by Turners Trucks, and hadn’t reached the reserve price when the auction closed. Thanks Ian McDonald for the heads up.

Reading the listing the seller states that the boat and engine ‘had taken on water’ so I assume she is now a member of the submariners club.

For the record the engine in her is a Ford 80hp diesel.

Hard finding a buyer to take on such a craft, even harder when the seller lists it as fibreglass Roy Ford boat……

Lots of chat re designer/builder in the comments section of this July 2020 WW story link below https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/07/01/lady-jane-3/

And in case you were wondering the highest bid was $5,145, makes you wonder what the reserve was.

UPDATE – NOW SOLD

TAREE – OWEN WOOLLEY CLASSIC LAUNCH RECEIVES SOME TLC

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TAREE – OWEN WOOLLEY CLASSIC LAUNCH RECEIVES SOME TLC

While walking the docks at the recent Classic Woody Boat Show at the OBC I bumped into boatbuilder Colin Brown, who mentioned the recent work his son-in-law Josh Hawke (Kauri Classics ) had undertaken on the 1966 36’ Owen Woolley built classic launch – TAREE.

TAREE was in the Kauri Classic shed for work to her running gear e.g. new shaft log and floors + some planking work.

Check out the fb video at the link below.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BB1XuaWUU

BOAT BOOT SALE TOMORROW (Saturday) AT THE MILFORD SLIPWAY BOAT YARD

We have an impressive number of woodys turning up to off load their excess goods, and given what I know about them, I suspect there will be some real bargains on offer. Remember to bring cash, but I’m sure bank transfers will be fine for larger ($) items.

DATE: SATURDAY 02 AUGUST

TIME: 10am > 12pm

VENUE: 5 Omana Road, Milford

LEGENDARY EX BIG GAME WOODEN LAUNCH SEEKS PASSIONATE NEW CUSTODIAN

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c.2005 tbc
2025
2025

LEGENDARY EX BIG GAME WOODEN LAUNCH SEEKS PASSIONATE NEW CUSTODIAN

The 42’ ex game boat KITTY VANE has a wonderful back story, starting life in 1956 big game fishing and owned by the Going family in Tutukaka, Northland. She has appeared numerous times on WW, starting back in March 2015 when we reached out to learn more about the craft. Link below to that story and others – lots of chat in the comments section.

Fast forward to July 2021 and we learnt that KITTY VANE had been purchased in Auckland and returned to Northland with the intention of a full restoration. As can be seen in the above photos the worked has started and most of the hard yards have been ticked off. Unfortunately circumstances have changed and the decision has been made to find a new owner that can complete the restoration.   As she sits now, under cover in Kerikeri, KITTY VANE is a blank canvas that her next owner can refit to match their style and budget.

As the architects say when working on heritage buildings – KITTY VANE has good bones and has not been ‘altered’ too much from as built.
KITTY ZANE has always been a good looking woody and with a new passionate owner, we look forward to seeing her back on the briny.

Her owners are very realistic in terms of an asking price, so interested parties to initially make contact via michelle@zewnealanddesign.co.nz

LINKS TO PREVIOUS WW STORIES: WW March 2015 https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/03/21/kitty-vane/
WW April 2020 https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/04/20/kitty-vane-where-are-you/
WW July 2021 https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/07/03/kitty-vane-update/

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH SUSAN ROSE > ODYSSEA 

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1975
1984
2025

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH SUSAN ROSE > ODYSSEA 

Our first glimpse of the 34’ ex game fishing boat SUSAN ROSE was in August 2017, (2nd photo above) this 1984 photo and others were shared with us by Dean Wright. At the time we saw her docking at Paihia in the Bay of Islands – link below to that story.                            https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/08/17/susan-rose/

Now thanks to a tme listing we get to see her back in 1975 (top photo) and today, re named ODYSSEA, with an extra ‘story’ on top and a lot of upgrades.

Her back story is she was launched in 1960 in Mangonui, Northland but it has been reported that it took 18 years to build her. Design unknown.

In c.1991 she was repowered with twin 90hp Ford 4cyl. 2722E diesel engines that gives a cruising speed of 8 knots. 

The seller comments that all she needs is a lick of paint and an oil change. These days she is Auckland based.

SPOILER ALEART – THE WW SITE OR THE WRITER ISN’T THAT SMART – NO ONE PICKED UP A PREVIOUS STORY WHERE THE BOAT NAME WAS SPELT – ODYSEA………… sorry and just too tired to write a replacement 🙂

32’ MYSTERY CLASSIC BRIDGE-DECKER – Help Needed Identifying

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32’ MYSTERY CLASSIC BRIDGE-DECKER – Help Needed Identifying – WAINUI

Todays woody is another recent tme vessel (thanks Ian McDonald), no name but looks familiar.

What we do know is she is currently based in Wellington but previously ( 2 years ago) was in the Christchurch area. Before that Auckland was her home.

The seller has undertaken some updates to her exterior and general maintenance to the engine and drive line. Interior looks like it needs some TLC.

Forward motion is via a 3.6L Fordson 4 cyl. diesel engine.

Anyone able to put a name to the craft and hopefully provide an insight into her past.

29-07-2025 UDATE ex CARL – The 32′ bridge deckers name is Wainui originally from the Kaipara sent many years as a fishing boat. an then come over to Auckland around 2000 where she had a major refit and then was a much loved family boat.

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – LADY ALLISON > NORLOCK + BOAT BOOT SALE

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – LADY ALLISON NORLOCK + BOAT BOOT SALE

After yesterday bumper story on the 2025 Classic Woodys Boat Show at OBC Marina, I thought your eyes may need a rest, so a short one today.

The wooody launch NORLOCK recently popped up on tme, thanks Ian McDonald, in a previous life she was named LADY ALLISON.

The listing states that she was built in 1958 by Colin Wild, I suspect this isn’t correct as I’m told Colin Wild’s last boat was in 1955 and he died shortly after that. 

What we do know she is approx. 33’ and powered by a 140hp Lees Ford engine that has her cruising at 8 knots.

Interior looks quite smart and she appears to be another bargain buy at $9k ono.

Can we learn more about the vessel and clear up her heritage.

CIRCLE THE CALENDAR – ONLY 10 DAYS UNTIL THE BOAT BOOT SALE AT THE SLIPWAY MILFORD YARD – AUG 2nd

We already have a great group of boaties looking to off load their treasure , details below. Still not too late to secure a spot, or just rock up on the day.