Category Archives: Boat Sheds

CLASSIC 1955 WOODEN RUNABOUT – LITTLE HONEY UPDATE

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CLASSIC 1955 WOODEN RUNABOUT – LITTLE HONEY UPDATE

Back in March 2025 WW ran a story on a1955 17’ Mason Marlin runabout named LITTLE HONEY that owner James McConnell was restoring – link to that story here – https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/03/17/little-honey-1955-classic-wooden-runabout/

Over the xmas/ny break James sent in photos above and commented that after managing to dislodge the transom on the 2nd voyage after the initial rebuild, he had now completed the repair.

James pulled the transom back the 1/2 inch it had moved when the motor hit the submerged log.  Cut the buckled veneer off, cleaned it up and epoxied it back in place followed by 8 coats of varnish.

He then put 4 threaded rods from the transom to the next structural point as he felt the motor put a lot of load on the transom.  Lastly a layer of fibreglass tape along the bottom of the transom just in case.

In James words itt’s a goer now and the new perma-trim meant no need for a new prop” 

CLASSIC WOOLLACOTT YACHT GETS A SECOND CHANCE

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CLASSIC WOOLLACOTT YACHT GETS A SECOND CHANCE

In mid December we ran a story on the Woollacott yacht – JANACE ANNE and reached out for some help saving her from the land fill. Link to that story https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/12/21/classic-woollacott-yacht-jance-anne-needs-a-helping-hand/

Chris Leech sent in the update below – “Great progress has been made over the break on Janace Anne. Below the waterline is just about ready for anti foul, the topsides have been stripped back, and given two coats of primer. The cabin top has been water blasted and ready for attention. Down below is has been tidied up, but the current plan is to only get the engine running. We have had the offer of a complete running engine (Bukh 10) if required. The original was handled by Moon Engines.
Please visit woollacott.org.nz for more photos in info + some below.”

Janace Anne – Terry WilmerDownload
Janace Anne – Malcolm DickensDownload

— WAITING ON A WW T-SHIRT ? – A few orders over the break went into the spam file – so if you think Im rude and have not got back to you – sorry – can you re0send your email – thanks

CIRCLE THE CALENDAR

CAN WE PUT A NAME TO THIS WAIHEKE ISLAND CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT – NORTHSTAR

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CAN WE PUT A NAME TO THIS WAIHEKE ISLAND CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT – NORTHSTAR

Just back on dry land after 9 days mooching around Waiheke Island, a mixed bag of weather but you quickly forget the bad days, and there were a few.

Full trip report in the next few days – but today I’m keen to put a name to the launch I spotted in Ostend , near the Waiheke Island Boating Club. 

Looks familiar but the brain is fried , so can we learn more about her.

06-01-2025 INPUT ex MARK MACHAUGHLIN – ITS North Star

https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/12/19/north-star/

MAYBE LUCKIEST CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH AFLOAT – NANA 

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MAYBE LUCKIEST CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH AFLOAT – NANA 

In mid December 2025 WW was contacted by John Woodcock with the good news that the 35’ 1934 classic wooden launch – NANA had just been relaunched after a mammoth undertaking to save her.You see back in June 2023 WW ran an SOS story on the boat, she was in very sad state. In fact the listing was an ‘as-is-where-is’ listing.
As in life, the good lookers tend to receive the special treatment, this wasn’t NANA’s first rodeo – she had been close to an appointment with a back-hoe several times. Link here to her in 2019 post a refit. https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/06/03/nana-3/

Some background – NANA  was designed by C. Bailey Jnr. &  built by C. Bailey & Sons for Mr F Alison of Matiatia, Waiheke Island in1934 & launched in late November / December.

She is 35′ with a 8′ beam and a 3’ draft and built in kauri > carvel

So today woodys we tip out hat to John Woodcock for giving NANA another chance. Still a few bits to finish off but from what we can see in the photos above – NANA is lucky boat.

AND HAPPY YEAR 

CLASSIC WORKBOAT – MARILYN – STILL AROUND?

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CLASSIC WORKBOAT – MARILYN – STILL AROUND?

Todays woody is the 34’6” fishing boat MARILYN, built in 1959 by her owner Thomas Clements. Details below.

Question of the day – is she still afloat and if so where and in what condition.

Photos ex Sea Spray magazine c.1960 via Ken Ricketts

KAWHIA WHARF – 1910 – CLASSIC WOODEN MOTORBOATS FLASHBACK

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KAWHIA WHARF – 1910 – CLASSIC WOODEN MOTORBOATS FLASHBACK

Todays woody photo is of the wharf at Kawia and the large vessel berthed alongside is the harbour ferry – MAHINO.

Of more interest is the collection of small launches , they have a workboat look to them, anyone able to iD any of them.

Photo ex Auckland Libraries heritage collection via Ian McDonald. 

CLASSIC OLIVER & GILPIN LAUNCH – JOANNE

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CLASSIC OLIVER & GILPIN LAUNCH – JOANNE

WW follower John Dawson sent in todays photos of the Oliver & Gilpin built big game launch – JOANNE on what we assume is launching day.

Back in Sept 2017 Dean Wright sent in an ‘old’ photo of her in Whangaroa Harbour. This story created a lot of reader input and photos, which were added to the 2017 story – link here https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/09/20/joanne/

The 3rd & 4th photo above show that there have been a fair degree of ‘updates’.

ATTENTION CLASSIC LAUNCH OWNERS – IF YOU ARE ON OR AROUND THE WAITEMATA HARBOUR THIS ANNIVERSARY DAY (Jan 26th) AND LOOKING FOR AN EXCUSE TO USE THE BOAT – SEE BELOW

The inner harbour classic motorboat drag race is always a lot of fun and the handicappers are very fair so all entrants have a chance of winning on handicap. The honour of first across the line is tightly contested but you’ll have to be capable of 20+ knots to win that prize 😉

ENTRY DETAILS HERE https://regatta.org.nz/regatta-participants/how-to-enter-the-regatta/entry-form/

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH MARLINE RELAUNCHED

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH MARLINE RELAUNCHED

Over winter the classic wooden launch – MARLINE has been hibernating in the CMC Design boat yard in Kerikeri, Northland.

MARLINE’s custodian these days is Kennedy Warne , who worked on the refit alongside the MCM Design team . 

The launch has a very special history – prior to Kennedy, it was owned by his father Ken and originally built by Ken’s father Leon Warne in 1949/50.

Upgrades to MARLINE included –

• A new walk through transom

• Hand built wooden skylights with etched glass created in the original glass design.

• Reconfiguration of cabinetry and storage in the galley and head.

• Upgrading all water and diesel tanks.

• New elements, anchor winch, solar, electrical boards, refrigeration and oven.

• New Kauri cockpit flooring.

• New duckboard.

Check out the Oct 2025 WW story here for a look at the work-in-progress https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/10/27/classic-wooden-bay-of-islands-launch-marline-gets-a-refresh/

Much of the timber used in the project was from Kennedy’s personal collection, including some kauri timber leftover from the original build. Lovely Rewarewa with beautiful grain, repurposing Kennedy’s aunts dresser top for the head vanity top. Kauri slab from Kennedy’s good friend for the kitchen bench and oven surround.

The yard incorporated and repurposed as much timber as possible, the new handrails, plate holders, new door to the head and new skylight and many small detail elements.

A special touch was a picture of Leon etched onto a Kauri board (see below) as a gift for Kennedy from the yard.

CLASSIC WOOLLACOTT YACHT JANICE ANNE NEEDS A HELPING HAND

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HAULED OUT @ DYC

THE WORK BEGINS

CLASSIC WOOLLACOTT YACHT JANICE ANNE NEEDS A HELPING HAND

During the week WW was contacted by the Woollacott Association regarding the yacht – JANICE ANNE that had been recently gifted to the association.

The association have a simple objective – save her from the scrape heap. 

Some background – JANICE ANNE has been neglected for a few years and is in a need of antifouling and a bit of paint, along with some other work. 
The Woollacott Association has hauled her out at the Devonport Yacht Club for approx. two weeks, as you’ll see in the photos the first step was to scrap the weed off and give it a good water blast. Then its onto sanding ready for anti-fouling. Then if possible i.e. spare hands and time permitting, it would be great to get the topside’s sanded and painted at the same time, along with working through getting the motor running. 

So woodys I know its a crazy time of the year but if anyone has some spare time, any support and assistance would be most appreciated, or donations would be of great assistance to cover required materials and hauling/mooring fees. Bank Account Details: Account owner name: WOOLLACOTT ASSOCIATION Account Number: 02-0136-0030719-000

 If you can help out with labour – contact Chris Leech  dds@kcbbs.gen.nz

READ / VIEW MORE ABOUT THE WOOLLACOTT ASSOCIATION HERE https://woollacott.org.nz

LAKE ROTOITI CLASSIC & WOODEN BOAT 2026 CALENDAR

The perfect Santa stocking stuffer – great design and quality printing and only $15 To order a copy – click on this link https://form.jotform.com/253367514763867

BEST NZ CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT OF THE YEAR

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4 months out and she was very thirsty

BEST NZ CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT OF THE YEAR

Hands down the winner of the best woody to make an appearance on WW in 2025 is Jan Barraclough’s , 1921 36’ Arch Logan built – NGAIO.

Yesterday she slipped back into the water at Milford Creek, Auckland after a 4+ month refit at the hands of master boat builder Paul Tingey .

Read / view the work-in-progress at these links.https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/11/15/classic-logan-launch-ngaio-heritage-refit-boat-yard-visit/ https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/10/08/heritage-refit-for-1921-logan-launch-ngaio/

Sadly her owner wasn’t there to see the event, but she will be reading WW today while sipping an Aperol  Spritz on the other side of the world 🙂

It was a very busy morning at the Milford slipway – a total of 4 launches were re launched after getting some pre-xmas cruising TLC

The magnificent 48’ 1965 Lane Motor Boat Co. built  – AROHANUI

The L33 (Logan replica) – SEMELE 

And even a Pelin sneaks onto WW today – well it is xmas 😉