Category Archives: Boat Sheds

MYSTERY CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – 1933

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MYSTERY CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH  – 1933

Last month I was a mission to locate some bronze/brass cowl vents for the classic ex workboat PRIMADOONA, owner James Hutchinson is the son-in-law of one of my oldest boating friends (Dennis Ross) – we go back 40+ years. So James gets auto access to the WW Aladdin’s cave of cool boat bits. I knew I had some of varying sizes but just where in the lock up was the challenge. Fast forward and on the 2nd deep dive jackpot (photo below)

During our chats James mentioned he had been scanning some of his late mother-in-laws old photos and came across some very cool ones of the MIL’s brother’s boat. James believes his name may have been Remy Burridge, but the name of the craft isn’t recorded.
Most of todays photos are dated 1933. James commented that the family would just pull the boat up in front of their house in Garnett Road to clean it.

Interesting ‘tram top’ that may then been original or added soon after launching as a flush decker.

I have teased Nathan Herbert on this story several times in the last 2 weeks – but I suspect he will ID the launch before I’ve consumed my first caffeine shot of the day 🙂

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – CHARLYN 

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – CHARLYN 

Todays woody photo of the launch CHARLYN comes to us from the Kopu Marine Precinct fb page in Thames via Ian McDonald.

Peter Deeming commented that CHARLYN was built at Ashbys Boat Yard in Opua, Bay of Islands and Peter worked on her from start yo finish. 

In the photo she looks a quite a big girl, made even bigger looking by the addition of that conservatory………
Can anyone tell us more about the launch.

CLASSIC LAUNCH – MARISTELLA OUT FOR SOME TLC AND A SHAVE

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CLASSIC LAUNCH – MARISTELLA OUT FOR SOME TLC AND A SHAVE

The 1936, 40’ , Sam Ford built classic wooden launch MARISTELLA hauled out at Milford this week for some TLC and shave. Some great historical photos and a peak down below in the WW links below –
https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/07/30/a-snapshot-of-the-classic-wooden-launch-maristella/
https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/09/03/classic-wooden-launch-maristella-a-peek-down-below/

Westhaven was once one of the better marinas in terms of growth but looking at MARISTELLA seems Westhaven is as bad as all the others these days.

In addition there will be some differed maintenance to her rubber stock area, but thats par for the course on these old woodys.

Have to love a railway haul out and the gentle ‘roller’ method of position a vessel in the yard.

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH AWARIKI GETS SOME TLC

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH AWARIKI GETS SOME TLC

Back in early 2025 the 1967 Owen Woolley built 32’ classic wooden launch AWARIKI underwent a re-fit at the Slipway Milford yard, the work included the removal of her small flybridge ✔️ – Links to the work below + a 2025 photo of her at The Slipway Milford, waiting on the tide.

Feb 2025 https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/02/19/classic-wooden-launch-awariki-gets-a-top-chop/ April 2025 https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/04/03/two-classic-wooden-launches-getting-some-tlc/

Alan Sexton was mooching around the Sandspit Yacht Club yard recently and spotted AWARIKI in the tent getting some TLC, including a bottom shave and new antifouling. During the work the team doing the work uncoveredsome soft wood issues around the shaft log which have been repaired, the boat builder commented to Alan that it was similar to the problems found on TAREE. Maybe a common Woolley issue.

Nice to see that the new owners of AWARIKI arecontinuingthe TLC thatprevious owner Kerry Lilley did during his tenure.

CLASSIC WOODY SITTING THERE ROTTING

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CLASSIC WOODY SITTING THERE ROTTING

There is a fb page titled ’Sitting there rotting, help save me – New Zealand’ most of the posts are plastic boats but occasionally a woody pops up.

Todays woody is one such post – the supporting copy on most of the posts is to the point eg free, be quick back hoe booked.

Yesterdays post was novel reading – reproduced below

 FREE Boat.  Huge Restoration project.  

This Photo was 2015 clean and antifoul haul out, Trying to find more recent photos and will make a trip to take more photos of here current state.

ENGINE HAS BEEN UNDER WATER, Stupid questions will be ignored. MAST HAS BEEN REMOVED 

1916 Miller & Tonnage. My Mother lived on her for 26 years. She is being kept afloat by auto bilge pump. Hull is mostly in good condition, Decks and cabin are rotten.

Mums options are, 1: the boat comes home to my property to rot away, 2: Boat is taken to a yard and destroyed… 3: Someone makes a terrible decision and chooses to restore her. <<<Pretty Please I love this Boat 

EDIT..   Doh….  Boat is in Opua Bay of Islands

Can we name the vessel

IF YOU THOUGHT CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCHES WERE LOW PRICED – Check out OMICRON

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IF YOU THOUGHT CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCHES WERE LOW PRICED – Check out OMICRON

The 20’ classic sloop OMICRON was built in 1945 to a Harrison Butler design at the Percy Vos yard in Auckland. She made a cameo appearance on WW back in November 2019. 

Full length 1” kauri planking, kauri deck and teak cabin and cockpit coamings + all the proper metals in the bolts and rivets.

As testament to her build and easy of sailing this 20’ has even been offshore.

And the added bonus is a purpose built road trailer.

Her tme listing mentions she needs some TLC so its safe to assume todays photos are not recent.

OMICRON is one of those classics that look perfect from any angle.

At sub $30k someone needs to buy this woody, its so much boat and drop did gorgeous 🙂

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH HAUL OUT DAY

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH HAUL OUT DAY

Todays classic wooden boating photo comes to us from John Dawson, and other than it being tagged ’Northland’, thats all John knows about the photo.

So woodys can we learn the location and possibly ID the craft being hauled out.

(photo ex Toby Hyman)

CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT – MAHENO

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CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT – MAHENO

Todays woody is described as a 38’ Morgan design, built by JackGuard. 

She was launched in 1966 and has strong work boat styling. 

Forward motion is from a 210hp Caterpillar V8 that gives her a comfortable 8.5 knot cruising speed, 10.5 tops.

Being a southern lass (Marlborough Sounds) MAHENO is very well fitted out. The marine chandlers down south won’t get rich selling varnish 😉

SILENS – A CLASSIC BOAT OWNERSHIP  OPPORTUNITY – WHO WILL STEP UP

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Post Sinking

SILENS – A CLASSIC BOAT OWNERSHIP  OPPORTUNITY – WHO WILL STEP UP

Yesterday WW was contacted by the owners of the 1912 Harvey & Lang built, 38′ classic wooden launch – SILENS and advised that post her recent sinking (refer WW story link below) they had made the decision to walk away from SILENS. https://waitematawoodys.com/2026/04/01/an-update-on-the-sinking-of-classic-wooden-launch-silens/

WW has been asked to help locate a suitably woody enthusiast interested in taking her on as a project, that has the time, resources and space to work on her.

A lot of people buy an older wooden boat and do not bother with a survey and subsequently discover they own a black hole that they are constantly tipping money into. SILENS could be the opposite eg you know exactly what you are acquiring and any surprises have been identified.

SILENS was/is great boat and probably just needs a systems upgrade. Do not let a couple of days under the waves put you off – the membership list of the ‘Classic Submariners Club’ is not as exclusive as most would think. Even my own woody has spent time (weeks) sitting on the bottom.

Interested parties to initially make contact via email to facilitate the process re liaising with the insurance company. Contact Leigh-Ann leighann.newton24@gmail.com

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH MATAROA RETURNS HOME & GETS SOME TLC

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH MATAROA RETURNS HOME & GETS SOME TLC

In late 2023 the Wooden Boat Bureau brokered the sale of the 1928 Joe Slattery, 36′ classic wooden launch – MATAROA. Named KENYA when launched. At the time she was berthed in Wellinton and her new owner relocated (by road transporter ) the vessel to Auckland. 

Fast forward  to 2025 she was transported by road to the South Auckland (inland) yard of Burnand marine for a birthday. 

Thanks to John Dawson’s eagle eye on fb we get to have a gander at the work and her re-launch in November 2025.

Its always a win win when we get a good looking woody coming home to the Waitemata ✔️

A selection of previous MATAROA WW stories here, lots of photos and history

Oct 2016 https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/10/31/mataroa-kenya-2/

Jan 2017 https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/01/27/mataroa-re-launched/

April 20217 https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/04/29/mataroa-kenya-3/

April 2023 https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/04/03/mataroa-kenya-looking-for-a-new-owner/