Post the Slipway Milford’s year end bbq the yard kicked into gear as three of our finest classic launches arrived / left the creek – Gay Dawn (ex MCC Slip) after a Jason Prew Paint Job, Tasman after some TLC – or as Russell Ward says – in for a shave and some war paint. Then Rehia also for a shave and a very fast head replacement . Not often we see three lookers in one spot.
Talking of spots, check out the photo below – someone really needed a pair of disposable overalls 🙂
Way too much eating yesterday, but we never learn.Santa did find me, but i now need a bigger boat.
Bay of Islands woody – Dean Wright recently dropped into the shed of Classic Boats in Kerikeri (website link below), one of the projects underway is a complete replanting of the 100 year + classic above, named Puffin. Master boat builderHerbert Crumb-Gartner was just about to turn the hull over- wonderful craftsmanship on display. Dean has promised to call back and update us on the project.
INPUT From Herbert Krumm-Gartner – I am restoring ‘Puffin’ for her current owner of over 30 years. I first laid eyes on her in a shed in Russell about 3 years ago. Her owner phoned me up asking if I would be interested in restoring her to her former glory.
She is now 102 years old and was built as a fishing boat south of Sydney by some carpenters.
The current owner has all the history of her, he even knows, I think the great grand sons of her builders. When I had a look at her I realized that restoring her planking would not be satisfactory at all, as most of her laps had cracks where the copper rivets were, plus lots of the ribs were broken.
I suggested to the owner to completely re-plank and re-rib her. Instead of having 11 planks a side I decided to go to 13, which reduced the overall size of the individual planks considerably. I have retained the deck that the current owner built in the 1990’s. She will be re-powered with a 14hp Nanni diesel engine. Most of her interior, like seats, floor boards, etc, will be re-furbished and re-installed.
At present she is right way up, back in the shed and we are steaming in new Tanekaha ribs. Puffin is just under 18ft long.
Todays 28’ woody just popped up on tme (thanks Ian McDonald), the listing states that she was built by Lanes in Picton c.1918 and spent her early life around the Marlborough Sounds and French Pass and then more recently at Mapua. For the last 50+ years has been stored in an apple shed in Mapua, where she still is today.
Has been in one family ownership for almost 50 years.
Was originally powered by a Standard Gas Egine Co. diesel and is offered for sale with an addition Petter diesel.
Big leap of faith given the only photos are obviously at least 30 years old. Would be nice to learn more about Waione. I suspect that WW has a cub reporter very close to the apple shed so hopefully more to follow 😉
Wouldn’t it be great if we still had businesses like the above around today. One stop shops.
I was up and down the creek today myself – giving the 95 year old a bottom tickle up – 2023 was such a crap season Raindance didn’t get the normal amount of use. So from entering and exiting the creak the watch said 38 minutes – service with a smile, well almost …… things a tad busy at The Slipway Milford with only 96>hrs till closing the door.
We have been following the refit / restoration of the 28’ Salthouse built, A Couldrey designed, 1968 launch – Pirimanui – links below to the last few years stories on WW.
This week the Blair Boats yard advised that the day had come and she would be re-splashing later this week.
Stunning workmanship and hats off to her ’newish’ owner for the level of commitment to the project.
Update – Pirimanu back in the water, all windows replaced with new teak beading, all new varnish inside and out (14 coats of alwood gloss) inside cabin repainted, new electronics solar and bilge pumps, new gear box and refurbished engine. (Photos and words ex Blair Boats fb.
May 2022
02-01-2025 UPDATE ex NIXON FLYER (a previous owner) now in her new Bay of Islands home
Time for some xmas goodwill – a little quiz with a cool prize. As always entry is ONLY VIA EMAIL, you can only enter once, all correct entries go into the draw. Quiz ends on Friday December 15th at 6pm. Winner announced on WW. (photos shown above random selection only)
THE QUIZ QUESTION: Which boat builder / designer has had the most boat / name mentions on the WW site – email your entry to waitematawoodys@gmail.com
THE PRIZE: A copy of the Best Selling Book – ’Shipwright, Boatbuilder, Yachtsman’ by Gilbert J. Littler + A WW sweatshirt (L/S, size XL only) + A WW Burgee
The photo above comes to us from Papers Past > NZ Herald 5 March, 1928 and show the 35’ launch – Ika after she had been salvaged and towed into Whangarei Harbour.
The launch had set out from Auckland on a fishing trip but her (near new) 15hp engine broke down near Tiritiri Island and she started to drift off shore. The weather on Tuesday 27 February 1928 saw her drift approx 50 miles and in addition she was taking on water. The crew of 3 put a mayday call out and the R.M.S. Niagara located Ika near the Hen & Chicken Islands. Her owner/crew made the difficult decision to abandon ship and Ika was left to drift with the expectation she would sink.
While the crew were steaming to Sydney aboard Niagara, the vessel Eva put out to salvage Ika and towed her to Whangarei.
Question of the day is – who designed / built Ika and what became of her
(Photo sent in by K Ricketts)
BAYSWATER 12M MARINA BERTH – SHORT TERM RENTAL / PURCHASE – very attractive pricing. Email waitematawoodys@gmail.com
SOORY FOR LATE POSTING OF YESTERDAYS STORY – I SET THE CLOCK TO PM INSTEAD OF AM
Last week B.O.I. woody Dean Wright popped into the CMC Design boat shed in Opua and snapped a few photos of the restoration of the 1927 Collings & Bell built launch – Alma G II. The last update was in May, link here to that story https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/05/01/restoration-of-alma-g-ii-begins/
The old girl is getting a serious refit, some diagonal planking being added to hold the old girl together 🙂 anything that gives her another 100 years of life is better than slowly decomposing on a swing mooring up some estuary .
Her Lees Ford has been reconditioned – check out this video of the test bed run.
My part time resident (1/2 year in Tasman area and the other 1/2 in Germany) has just returned to NZ and wasted no time checking out the Riwaka Inlet waterfront – todays photos shows a recent addition – the very funky Kahurangi Boat Shed Coffee House. Tied up alongside is the launch Aurora II. Rumour has it that you can get a good fix of caffeine there, when its open 🙂 (closed when John Burland was there).
The 38’ launch Aurora II was possibly built in 1927 by Collings & Bell, that is if we believe her 2016 tme listing. Thanks to Harold Kidd for the input on a WW story from Feb 2016 – link below
Auroroa II’s semi permeant spot at the end of the Riwaka Wharf has been taken by a launch that was once named ‘Hatterleys’ (last photo above) that at first glance has Lidgard written all over her. But a call to the 4sale phone number on the front screen told me it was built c.1960 in Whangarei, Northland by a M. Ryan. Anyone able to better ID her / confirm the build details. The seller is contactable on 021 026 23890 – if not sold by xmas she is off to the landfill 😦
08-12-2023 UPDATE ex John Burland
The owner of Aurora II is named Oli and he the back story to the boat is – Aurora II is 1923 built, kauri, worked as a whaler out of Akaroa, has a massive V8 up forward and that when the owner retired from whaling, he took off and replaced the superstructure and used her as a pleasure boat.
Oli was selling coffee from a the boat shed but the Tasman District Council (TDC) had issue with that so he moved the set-to the boat – But guess what ‘you can’t have commercial activities in a coastal environment (plus some other bylaw) and there is a $700 daily fine – so sadly the poplar cafe has now closed.
John commented Oli has a cart at the Motueka Sunday Market, so if you’re local, make sure you support Oli. (photos below ex JB)
The woody market currently seems to be very crowded with project boats that need finishing / saving, most have a price tag best describe by the somewhat famous line from the 1997 Australian movie The Castle – “Tell Him He’s Dreaming’. Well todays woody isn’t a dream, its good value at $500 ono.
Now there’s no motor but the tme story (thanks Ian McDonald) says there is one available for $3k but given its a Volvo 130hp to match the stern drive unit in the boat, you would probably be best to ditch both and start again 🙂
The launch is approx. 30’ and currently in the Taupo area and the trailer isn’t included in the price.
It stated that previously it was an icon of Lake Taupo so fingers crossed the Drake brothers can jump in with some more details.:-)
INPUT ex PAUL DRAKE – This is REGARDETTE, formerly VENTURE, understood to be ex-Airforce. She has been at Taupo since the early 50’s I would say, or even earlier – possibly arriving soon after the finish of WW2. She had a Chrysler Crown which now lives in brother Michael’s shed. The Crown gearbox is now firmly bolted to the back of ROMANCE’s Chrysler Ace, where it is doing excellent service. Little else is known.
waitematawoodys.com #1 for classic wooden boat stories, info, advice & news - updated daily - 15+ million views 