Category Archives: Boat Sheds

MYSTERY MAHURANGI WORKBOAT – RURU

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MYSTERY MAHURANGI WORKBOAT – RURU

Todays woody comes to us from Dave Balderston via hid cubby Dave Stanaway. 

Dave B. spotted the boat hauled out at the Cement Works Marina up the Mahurangi River in Warkworth.

The Daves and myself are keen to learn more about the boat and what the plans are for her.

18-04-2024 Input ex Ari at the Quayside Boat Yard – Yes, Ruru was designed and built by Chris Robertson for John Spencer to help them transport gear and maybe the odd animal between John’s island farms in the Coromandel and the mainland. As can be seen by her condition, she had been left unused for years, with the Spencer’s having larger barges to do this kind of work nowadays. One of Chris’ Son’s, Martin, has since acquired her and collectively with the crew here at Quayside Boatyard, plan to bring her back to her former glory and utilise her as a river/harbour work boat.

WAITERE II SOS

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WAITERE II SOS

Looking for a very cool winter project – 1913, Joe Slattery built 26’ Mullet Boat is in need of a new guardian. Her tme asking price is $1 but its more about finding the right person/persons to take her over, so her owners are open to all offers. Originally an H2 class. Has been in the same family for the last 50 years.

A lot of repair work has been completed and the current plan is to relocate the boat to Westhaven marina very soon. To view and read more about her just search Waitere II on tme.

The gallery of photos above are from varying time periods, reproduced to give you an insight into what she once was and her current presentation. 

SEA HAWK + Turbulence At The CYA

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SEA HAWK

On a recent ’Ex NZ Post Office Construction Staff’ fb post, a Dave Hansen posted the top photo ( location Amberley Beach, early 1980’s) his the story was actually about the truck, but the partial photo of a vessel named – Sea Hawk sparked the attention of a reader named ‘Wolf Man’ who supplied a current day photo and advised the vessel was still on the same section.In his post Dave Hansen commented that the section and contents were neglected due to the owner being a guest of the state eg in prison. On a follow up visit the boat and truck were gone. So at some stage the boat returned.

Keen to learn more about the boat and what’s been happening to her these last 40 years.


JOYCE TALBOT RESIGNS FROM CYA
Dockside chatter has CYA Secertary Joyce Talbot resigning from the CYA after 20+ years. An example of missing her attention to detail – in the March 2024 issue of the CYA’s newsletter ’Sheerlines’ , the editor infers that last weekends Classic Woody Cruise To The Riverhead Tavern, was a CYA event – well folks nothing could be further from the truth………. When it comes to the CYA I’m even amazed they know how to spell the word ‘launch’. I bet the editors laptop always tries  to auto correct it to ‘lunch’ 🙂

And I’m told the CYA vice chairperson has also resigned………………………

ec CYA Sheerlines Mar2024

AUCKLAND WOODEN BOAT FESTIVAL – Off The Water Gallery – Part 2

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AUCKLAND WOODEN BOAT FESTIVAL – Off The Water Gallery – 70+ Classic Woody Photos

Today we focus on the spectacular collection of smaller woody craft that were displayed in and around the viaduct events centre – to a large % of the shows audience that had some salt in their veins this was a trip down memory lane.

Just so much care and attention has been furnished on these wooden craft. Sadly I suspect that a lot are now in the ‘display’ category. And as we all know with wooden boats you have got to use them or else they deteriorate quickly and then the cost to bring back is just too steep.

The minders / owners of the craft on display were overrun with people wanting to rely their own experiences and memories of the boats. Hopefully the show has ignited some interest in finding the craft that they enjoyed in a past life. The was certainly no shortage of owners looking for new blood to take over their artefact.

Enjoy the gallery and remember you can enlarge the photos if you click on them and the link to the other half of the festival – the classic woodys berthed dockside is below. https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/03/04/77770/

RSVP – waitematawoodys@gmail.com

AUCKLAND WOODEN BOAT FESTIVAL – Dockside Gallery – 75+ Classic Woody Photos – Part 1

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AUCKLAND WOODEN BOAT FESTIVAL – Dockside Gallery – 75+ Classic Woody Photos

Slight change of format today. Normally we do one big gallery of event photos, but the 2024 Auckland Wooden Boat Festival deserves two stories – why? Well in the eyes os of the woodys I spoke to, the off-the-water (in the shed) exhibition was on equal footing to the exhibition afloat. So woodys come back tomorrow to see the off-the-water gallery, you won’t be disappointed.

From my mooching the #1 feedback I got was ‘where do they all come from’ i.e. people have never seen this number of classic wooden boats together #2 (from owners) was ‘it is so great to meet all the owners / caretakers’. I think a lot of people were quietly hoping their partners were thinking “there are other zany people out there, my partner isn’t the only eccentric old boat nut in town”.

For a three day outdoor event in Auckland we were gifted to have two (Fri/Sat) days of amazing weather, Sunday was a on/off rain day but it didn’t seem to slow down the people. I believe over 8,000 people were counted thru the dock-gate (it was free entry).

The photos tell the story today – its takes a lot of people to pull something like this off, so well done to all those that rubbed up against the show and well done Tony and team for pulling it all together.

PART TWO – THE OFF-THE-WATER SECTION – LINK BELOW https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/03/05/auckland-wooden-boat-festival-off-the-water-gallery/

AS ALWAYS – CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE

AND YES I DID BUY THE T-SHIRT 🙂

RSVP – waitematawoodys@gmail.com

SPARTACUS – Why You Can’t Stop The TLC

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SPARTACUS – Why You Can’t Stop The TLC

Back in August 2019 Baden Pascoe drew our attention to a 32’ launch named Spartacus that was parked up in a paddock in Waipapa, Northland (top two photos).

Fast forward 4+ years and she’s is on tme and looking VERY neglected and offered up for sale, a suspect a ‘on-behalf-of’ sale. There is talk she may have started life as a NZ Navy cutter.

Question of the day, did she sell or will someone in Kerikeri not need to buy firewood this winter?

RSVP > waitematawoodys@gmail.com

MOTUEKA MARINA – TIDE IN

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MOTUEKA MARINA – TIDE IN

Almost always when John Burland sends in photos from the Motueka marina the tide is out, not in todays photos from earlier in the month.

So woodys today we get to see the woodys afloat and its certainly a better look 🙂 Enjoy.

The ‘ditty’ was sent in by Dave Stanaway – Dave commented – ‘Below is a ditty I learned as a 12 year old. An old retired seaman thought good for me to learn as I spent all my school holidays on towboats. Funny thing was when studying for second mate I was told to forget such a ditty.’

RSVP > waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Classic Woody Day Boat Project

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Classic Woody Day Boat Project

Every so often we get approach to find new custodians for woody craft, mostly it is a pile of firewood but sometimes its gold.

Woody Alistair McRae) owner of Lady Margaret (ex Lady Mary, ex Happy Wanderer) contacted me regarding a 23’ classic open day boat that has been stored under a cover in one of his sheds for a number of years.

Not a lot is known about her past but the exterior of the hull planking has been scraped and pretty much all paint has been removed. The interior and deck has been rebuilt to what appears to be a high standard. There is no motor, steering or wiring. Her beam is 6’9”. With a nice small Yanmar fitted she would be a perfect lake boat or Bay of Islands picnic boat.

All of the hard (and expensive) work has been done – I understand the owner is looking for a buy price of $5,500 – that woodys is a bargain. Buy her, pop in storage until winter, and relaunch in Spring.

I would be amazed if Cam from {the} Slipway Milford doesn’t snap her up, perfect wet day inside work for the team 🙂

Interested parties to contact Alistair at  alistairm@oceaniamarine.co.nz

Boat Club Yard Sale

Circle Saturday 24th Feb in the diary – the Te Atatu Boating Club are hosting a yard sale – full details in the poster below. Come along and grab a bargain to book a spot to sell your stuff.

NGATIRA REFIT UPDATE

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NGATIRA REFIT UPDATE

Back in June 2016 Steve Horsley was on the verge of selling his 1904 Charles Bailey Jnr built 49’ B-Class gaffer – Ngatira, link below to that story. Thankfully he didn’t and not long after he hauled her home onto the front lawn for a few wee jobs. June 2016 https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/06/14/20032/

As so often happens the To Do list kept growing and next thing Steve’s into a total refit. Long term WW readers will remember Steve previously rebuilt Ngatira almost single handed. He is a seriously talent man and puts a lot of ’tradesman’ to shame.

I caught up with Steve over the weekend at the Mahurangi Regatta, Steve is a past commodore of the Mahurangi Cruising Club and produces their stunning year book.

I asked Steve how the few wee jobs were coming along and he shared the above photos. Ngatira is now closed in and the varnish (Uroxsys) is getting applied. 

Steves gifted with a very considerate wife – Jo, not many would up up with a 1904 collection of kauri planks to remain at the front door for several years 🙂

I was brave and asked for an ETA back in the water – all I could get was soon Houghty, soon 🙂

23-09-2024 UDATE – Its been a long winter but owner Steve reports that its all down hill now and he will be splashing this summer – fingers crossed.

SEAGULL – West Coast Woody + Mahurangi Regatta Classic Woody Launch Parade Details

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SEAGULL – West Coast Woody

During the week to woodys Jeff Norris and Dave Stanaway sent in photos of the very salty looking woody launch – Seagull, that was hauled out at Dargarville on the West Coast of the North Island for some TLC.

Both gents commented that Seagull had an ex lifeboat, maybe even surf-boat look to her, but thats all they could add, so super keen to learn more about her.

07-2-2024 INPUT EX OWNER - Hi I am the owner of Seagull, pictures of her on the Doraville slipway in a post a couple of weeks back.

She was built in England 1900 -1904 as an admiralty barge, She was bought to NZ as a ships lifeboat. Spent the first 70 years of her life on the Kaipra , I bought her from Waiheke Island and bought her “Home”. She has had 4 names during her life. Seagull, Her launch and present name, Lady Irene, Spicer, and Rakapi.

Mahurangi Regatta Classic Woody Launch Parade

Will be sliding up the coast later today for the 2024 Mahurangi Regatta and the classic woody launch parade on Saturday morning – need to knows below

10.15am ASSEMBLE OFF SCOTTS LANDING

10.30AM HEAD OFF IN INDIAN FILE TOWARDS SULLIVANS BEACH

Note: there will be a clearly marked lead vessel and at Sullivans a MCC craft (probably a landing craft named- J Barry Ferguson) will pilot the woody fleet for two circuits of the bay.

COMMS: VHF CHANNEL 17

PHOTOS – SMILE AND WAVE IF YOU ARE NEAR RAINDANCE 🙂