Category Archives: A Peek Down Below

Cobra

Posted on by
11

Cobra

 

Screen Shot 2019-04-21 at 7.46.21 PM

COBRA

The C. Bailey & Sons ex workboat (fishing?) Cobra was built in 1935 and measures 49’11” x 14’1” x 5’10”. 

If you’re wondering about the ‘almost’ 50’ in length – she was constructed 1” short to enable her to only have 2 crew rather than 3 to allow them to go offshore.
Zoom zoom is via a 180hp Gardner 6L3B.
Alan also added that she was converted to pleasure use in the 1970’s by Shorty Sefton and friends.
It states on her trademe listing that she has been prepared by her current owner for a voyage around New Zealand, and now sports a balancing sail.
Baden Pascoe believes the b/w photo below from 1952 is Cobra at Auckland’s Viaduct
Viaduct 1952

Pania – A Peek Down Below

Posted on by
1

Screen Shot 2019-04-24 at 3.21.04 PM

Screen Shot 2019-04-24 at 3.20.37 PM

PANIA – A Peek Down Below
According to her trademe listing the 30′ Pania was built in 1962 by Cauldry, however in a previous WW story (link below) it was established that she was actually built in 1959 bu L.C. Coulthard.
We do know that she is powered by a Moon Engines 80hp Ford diesel, with keel cooling.
From the photos you will see that she has been very well maintained and I understand only 4sale due to her owners advancing years.
She would make a great intro boat to someone looking at joining the classic wooden boating scene – just needs some minor TLC.

https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/11/14/pania/

Photo below, not long after she was launched.
Screen Shot 2019-04-24 at 3.35.08 PM

The Evolution of Silens

Posted on by
8

image1

image2

image3

Silens

The Evolution of Silens

The launch Silens is owned by good friends of mine – Rosanne and Brian Fulton, and is one of the most used woodys in the CYA fleet. 
When you see the photos below of her fit out you will see why they enjoy her so much. Down below makes most people very envious of her ‘liveability’ (if there is such a word).
 
The main focus of todays story is to showcase how this classic woody launch, built by Harvey & Lang in November 1912, has morphed over the years. The 4 photos above showcase how your woodys were altered over the years to suit the fashion of the day and to match the changing lifestyles of their owners – the bridge deck is my pick.
 
Silens was originally fitted with an Auckland built 14hp Silent Rotor engine (rotary valve) (thanks HDK for the intel), so I suspect thats where her name came from.Later she had a Stearns and then a 25hp Sterling.
P1180805

The Restoration of Rehutai

Posted on by
6

REHUTAI WELLINGTON - EX TONY WHYMAN - 2

REHUTAI WELLINGTON - EX TONY WHYMAN - 38

 

REHUTAI WELLINGTON - EX TONY WHYMAN - 41

REHUTAI WELLINGTON - EX TONY WHYMAN - 44

The Restoration of Rehutai
 
The 43’ launch Rehutai was built by Sam Ford in 1926 and has been owned by Tony Whyman, of Wellington, for the last 25 years, having bought her in November 1994 in Picton, off Lex Parkes, who Tony believes, had her for many years. Tony sailed her to Evans Bay, Wellington, where she still lives.
 
Post purchase Tony took her ashore and commenced a major refit & refurbish, from 1994  to 1997, the work we see above was undertaken by Tony and a boatbuilder working full time, with the help of others working part time.
When purchased she was powered by a ‘tired’ 6 LW Gardner diesel, which Tony replaced during the re-fit with a new John Deere diesel, derated to 186hp.
 Post the work, Tony and family ended up with a very smart woody that they use frequently and should be around for many more years to come.
(Photos and details ex Tony Whyman, via Ken Ricketts – edited by AH)
REHUTAI WELLINGTON - EX TONY WHYMAN - 37

 

Last Chance to Check Out the Logan A Class Guff Fleet

If you haven’t yet seen the A Class Gaff Classic Yacht Exhibition – make the effort to visit the Viaduct this Saturday from 10am to 4pm. Details below & a sneak peek via one of Roger Mills stunning drone videos.

Screen Shot 2019-04-01 at 3.50.49 PM

Gay Dawn – A Peek Down Below

Posted on by
6

Screen Shot 2019-04-08 at 4.40.58 PM

Gay Dawn –  A Peek Down Below
Thanks to GD popping up for sale on trademe, we get to have a peek down below. Her listing states she is 36’, if this is the case she has been stretched a tad because previous WW posts have her at 34’.
Search Gay Dawn in the WW search box to see read / see a lot more on this very tidy bridgedecker.

 

She was built by Bill Waters in 1950 in Auckland, kauri planked, hardwood ribs, kauri decks and glassed.
The zoom zoom comes from a Ford 120hp diesel underfloor in wheelhouse.

WOODY WEEKEND COMING UP – SCROLL DOWN TO VIEW

Woody Lake Boat Project

Posted on by
6

IMG_4477

IMG_4475

IMG_4574

IMG_4576

Woody Lake Boat Project

I’m pretty sure this woody was a trademe listing for a very long time, so when I received a note from Rachel Jamieson from the Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat group telling me Micheal Booth had bought an old wooden kauri 4 seater, carvel construction speedboat for restoration and attached the above photos –  I was so rapped that she had a new owner and her restoration would be completed.
 
I’ll let Micheal Booth tell the story 

“She  belonged to Andrew Lang the previous Harbour Master who now skippers in the Med. Andrew bought the boat in Rotoru and tracked the motor down in Rotoiti which he then restored. He had started restoration but because of his circumstances has elected to sell.

 I believe the boat was used by the Rangiheuia sisters on Lake Tarawera in the early days. It is of kauri construction and has an oregon ply transom. It is powered by an Austin 7 Thetis motor. Apparently the local historian knew of the boat but has unfortunately passed away. Andrew thinks this boat was designed by the  Logans and built by Lidgard. The boat is thought to be around 1934-36.
The boat builders I have taken it to aren’t convinced and wonder if the boat was of an American design but built locally. It measures 4850mm long, 1600mm wide and 1250 wide at the stern.”
 
Michael is wondering if anyone may some more information on the boat.
 

Happy Days Launched

Posted on by
4

20181221_160206_Richtone(HDR)_resized_1

20190215_165112_resized

20190302_104427_resized

WAY BACK PHOTOS

20171106_132530

HAPPY DAYS – LAUNCHED 

In early December 2018 Alan Craig, the Lake Rotoiti boat builder (Craig Marine) sent in a gallery of photos of Happy Days in the final stages of her restoration, I have been bugging Alan for some photos post launching and late last week he delivered. 
 
First some background – Happy Days had been in a barn on a farm in for the last ten odd years. Her build started in 1930 and she was launched in 1933, 24′ in length, to a USA Hacker Craft design.
She has been owned by Peter Davies and was his Fathers boat from near new. Her history looks like this – built in Picton by Vic & Clarrie Olson? (Scandinavian or Swiss?). Built for a Mr Stocker then brought by Tom Davies in 1937, it was sold a while later and brought back again by Mr Davies once the wool price lifted and in 1950 an old, but still new, 1938 Osco marine flathead V8 went in it and is still there now – but wow wait till you hear that motor today – check out the video below. 
 
The likes below share some of her recent history :
 
The restoration    https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/12/10/happy-days/
 
Enjoy  – turn up the volume when you play the video 🙂
Photo below – as ‘found’
Screen Shot 2019-04-05 at 10.23.17 AM

What Are You Doing This Winter

Posted on by
Reply

1

Screen Shot 2019-04-06 at 6.07.31 PM

BOAT CRAFTS

Today I’d like to intro boatcrafts.nz  the new initiative from the NZ Traditional Boatbuilding School – in my words its a very hands-on series of workshops where we can learn / brush-up on the basic fundamentals of maintaining, restoring or building a wooden boat. The trustees, sounds a bit posh 🙂 are just a bunch of passionate kiwi boaties that care about the future of the wooden boating movement and unlike most of us are actually doing something to help us all out.
I’ll let the NZTBBS guys tell the story, see below. Note: Links to the individual courses are at the bottom of the page. Or check out the website.
Have a read and decide what interests you the most – I’m sure the 1st – “ Marine Propulsion Systems” would appeal to all boat owners – but note – numbers are limited to 20, so get in quick. Shortly we will be running a survey asking for your help on what subjects appeal the most – more details soon.
2
3
LINKS
MARINE PROPULSION SYSTEMS 
BUILD A 1/2 MODEL                             
ESSENTIAL SKILLS COURSE
LOFTING
WORKING WITH COMPOSITES
STEAM BEDING AND FITTING RIBS

Ladybird Splashes

Posted on by
6

IMG_1001

IMG_0993

LADYBIRD SPLASHES

There were a lot of smilie faces in Devonport on Wednesday, as Mike Strong got ready to re-launch the 1949 Bert Woollacott designed ketch LadyBird. 

Mike had hauled LB out and into Kevin Johnson’s Devonport shed with the intention of a 6 months re-fit, well as they do, the list of things to do grew a little – fast forward 2+years and LB is looking magnificent.
The team at Boat Haulage, as always, did a slick job of collecting LB and transporting her to Hobsonville Marina. In anticipation of LB being a little thirsty after 2 years in a shed, there was an impressive collection of pumps on stand by, I suspect Mike will be camping on LB for a few nights 🙂
We will show you LB’s interior once Mike has finished putting all the bits back on board, in the meantime you can get a glimpse below at this link.
Question of the day – who’s next in Kevin’s shed? Be quick if you are considering hauling out, it never empty for long :-
Screen Shot 2019-04-04 at 11.32.27 AM
CAN ANYONE HELP SEABIRD OUT
Steve Thomas  the owner of Seabird has a gearbox problem (Paragon RB20 model Serial No: 5D 3527) and is looking for a replacement. Details and photos below.
IMG_1923

Kairanga – A Peek Down Below

Posted on by
9

Screen Shot 2019-03-27 at 7.43.47 PM

Screen Shot 2019-03-27 at 7.45.35 PM

Screen Shot 2019-03-27 at 7.44.43 PM

KAIRANGA –  A Peek Down Below
 
I have admired Kairanga each year at the Mahurangi Regatta and recently she popped up on trademe, so now we get a peek down below. It’s an interesting tme listing, no mention of design / builder, nor year. But she is a looker.
She is 32’, triple diagonal kauri, with a 90hp Ford diesel provide the forward motion. Appears well kitted out.
Chatting with Nathan Herbert, he recalls a mention of being a Bailey. This is backed up by Harold Kidd’s comments back in 2011 on the CYA Forum – HDK said “She is a pretty boat. I have no record of her before 1961 when she was owned by D E Jonas, a member of RNZYS. I’m certain she has been renamed. The cabin top, if original, is reminiscent of those that Charles Bailey Jr used around early 1914. 
Anyone able to tell us more about Kairanga?