WW has been contacted by Martin Orme regarding a small launch that interests him as a restoration project. Martin came across it under a tree in Wainuiomata, Wellington.
Martin commented that he thinks he can just make out the name MARETOSA on the stern, or something close to that , and not sure if that name is the original. So woodys can anyone help Martin out with intel on the vessel.
PERFECT XMAS SANTA SACK ADDITION – Classic Woody Calendar
Once again the team at the Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Association have produced a stunning 2025 calendar – probably the best ever, but I’m biased as I snapped a lot of the photos :-)A bargain at $15 – order here https://form.jotform.com/233366600330850
CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – FLORENCE – Getting Some TLC
The classic wooden launch – FLORENCE has made several cameo appearance on WW, mainly via Dean Wrights camera as he has been cruising the Bay of Island.
Back 2013 we had a peek down below and then in2014 we had a wonderful insight into her past – links to this two stories below
Last week while in Opua for the re-launch of ALMA G II, I spotted FLORENCE hauled out.
Florence was designed and built in 1910 by H N Burgess, Parnell Auckland – as was yesterdays woody ALBERTA – that man had a very good eye for designing good looking craft.
The question of the day – what’s happening on the bow with this two small section cut out, both port and starboard sides.
The classic 1913 wooden launch – ALBERTA was designed and built by H N Burgess, in Parnell, Auckland.
Alberta is a woody that I have always admired when visiting Lake Rotoiti, she has a rather prominent waterfront berth and is one of those lucky craft that looks dam near perfect from any angle.
Her specs are 28’ in length and has a beam that would make her a trailerable classic – given the cost of a marina berth in most NZ cities thats a serious bonus.
Powered by a 30hp Lombardini, new in the boat approx. 5 years ago, with 138 hours on the clock – not a lot of places to go to on the lake 😉
Configured currently as a day / picnic boat she is all good for overnight / weekend cruising.
Fresh from a visit to one our best classic boat yards (Craig Marine) where she had a refresh to paint and varnish work.
Starting to sound like a woody 4sale advertisement – well she is. And probably the buy of 2024, even allowing for transporting her back to the Waitemata and setting her free again 🙂
CLASSIC GAME BOAT – ALMA G II – RE-LAUNCHING CEREMONY
Yesterday we covered the relaunching of the 1927, Collings & Bell built game boat – ALMA G II.
Co owners (brother & sister) Shelly and Brett Arlidge, grand children of the original owner – E C Arlidge, hosted a very proper ceremony, with a welcome, a history of the boat, a Waiata and formal blessing. With the restarts of a working boat yard in the background and large crowd I have attempted to record the ‘formal’ parts of the ceremony – TURN YOUR VOLUME UP.
One of the missions of waitematawoodys is to archive this content for future review and reference. I encourage you to spend a few minutes and take in the wisdom being shared.
CLASSIC 1927 WOODEN GAME BOAT – ALMA G II RE-LAUNCHED
For the last 18+ months WW has been following closely the refit / restoration of the 1927, Collings & Bell built game boat – ALMA G II.
On Wednesday I pointed the car north and attended the re-launching celebration at Opua, in the Bay of Islands.
Today is about sharing the day with all the WW readers – In previous WW stories (links below) we have extensively covered her past and how she progressed to what we are viewing today.
Tomorrow on WW we will run the videos I recored of the speeches, Waiata and blessing.
Co owners (brother & sister) Shelly and Brett Arlidge, grand children of the original owner – E C Arlidge, are to be commended for ensuring ALMA G II will still be cruising the Bay of Island waters in 100 years time.
I really like the interior fit out, its a take on the old school look and she even sports a reconditioned Ford Lees 130hp diesel engine, no ‘black box’ electronics connected to this engine.
Boatbuilder Craig McInnes and the team at CMC Design have excelled themselves with this project.
The game chair and salon table are original 1927 items.
The gallery of photos comes to us from the cameras of yours truely and professional B.O.I. photographer Dean Wright. As always click on photos to enlarge 😉
THE PEOPLE – A fantastic number of people turned out to celebrate the re-launch, seems anyone and everyone with a link to the boat or game fishing in the Bay of Islands was there.
CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT IONA II MAKES A SPLASH – NZ Restoration Of The Year
We have been following (link below) the refit the classic wooden launch IONA II at the Slipway Milford yard since late May. Last week she slipped back into the water , check out the video below – don’t you love a railway haul-out, such a gentle procedure.
IONA II was built in 1994 to a Bruce Askew design so sits very comfortably into the spirit of tradition category. The recent work commissioned by her owner has magnified her existing appealing looks and made her even more easy on the eye.
Probably the finest example of the Slipway Milfords work – so a big shout out to Cam, Jason, Jan and team. Easily the restoration of the year in New Zealand.
I’m pretty sure nothing on the boat has escaped an upgrade or replacement – the biggest being ditching the Nissan TD23 60hp diesel engine and installing an electric propulsion set-up.
A few finishing touches to be completed at the marina – we will do another update when completed.
2024 CENTREBOARD CUP – Traditional Centreboard Classic Yachts
A cancelled happening had an upside – I pointed the car to Marine Parade in Herne Bay Auckland to see the start of the 2024 Centreboard Cup.
The race started back in 2013 and is based at what the locals call ’Sloane Beach’ – one of Aucklands hidden gems.
The traditional centreboard yachts do two laps of a course that takes in Watchman Island and the Chelsea Buoy (off the Chelsea sugar works).
Numbers were done this year but that seems to be the norm of late – but on the plus side, the fleet was 300% up on Fridays CYA Classic Weekend Rally turnout 😦
I’ll hand over to Andrew Mason who supplied the results.
“The winner Scullet L56 finished in 52:20. Rangi Manu L52 was 2nd just 48s later. Melita L28 withdraw on leg one. All boats had a most enjoyable day on the water.”
Beach / Clubrooms below
CAN WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CLASSIC YACHT – MANURUA Recently WW was contacted by a gent considering purchasing a Bob Stewart designed 1965 yacht (Camelot design) named MANURUA. The craft is currently in Opua, Northland but the story goes that she was apparently built by Oliver and Gillpin in Tauranga, and possibly operated as a dive charter vessel in Bay of Plenty. The current owner doesn’t have much history, so woodys can we confirm / expend on the above.
CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – LADY ADELAIDE OUT FOR SOME TLC
I Have been spending too much time at the Sandspit marina – as an example 4 trips in the last 10 days………
One of the upsides is bumping into a few woodys that I have not caught up with in a few years.
Last week I snapped some photos of the 1922 Dick Lang built 36’ launch – LADY ADELAIDE. Then yesterday there she is hauled out for some TLC. Back in November 2021 when she was for sale we ran a ‘peek down below story’ on her, link below, and now get to see her out of the water.
LADY ADELAIDE is one of those classic wooden craft that just looks right from any angle. When done to her owner on the condition she presents in and the ongoing ‘investment’ in systems and salty look.
MAYBE NOT A CLASSIC – MAYBE A RESTOMOD – You Tell Us
Some woodys just slip into the classic category via the term ’spirit of tradition’, todays 46’ woody slips out of the either category – in the auto world it might be called a restomod.
What we know (thanks to Ian McDonald) is that she started life in 1974, built by F. Edes to a Brin Wilson design. The hull is carvel 32mm solid kauri planked, splined and epoxy glassed, decks have been re-clad with plywood and epoxy glassed also. When back in the water forward propulsion will be via twin 120hp Ford 2715E diesel engines. Anyone know what her name was / is.
A POLL – VOTE BELOW – STILL A CLASSIC or NO LONGER A CLASSIC
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