At the end of last year WW was contacted by the owners of the launch – RAMOE, who advised that the planned restoration had stalled and the tough decision had been made to find a new owner to take on the project.
Last week WW was contacted by a Christchurch based gent named Mat Pascoe regarding a 20’ clinker craft he had just acquired.
Mat was hoping that the WW readers could help either confirm what he has been told about the craft and / or learn more.
Mat advised he purchased the old girl for $1, with the intention of getting her floating again. The lady Mat brought it off had no confirmed history, her dad was storing it possibly for someone and he passed away leaving the property it was at to her in his will and she wanted it gone asap.
At the time of purchase it was based in Kaiapoi. The river there was a working port up till the 1970’s so Mat thinks maybe it worked out of there. The seller also seemed to think it came from Sumner, it could have been tied up in Moncks Bay but she said she was just guessing at something her dad told her years ago.
As far as can be observed the hull is all native timber and it is all copper rove and rivets. The cabin may have been made later as it is possibly pine and plywood. Mat questioned if she may have been a fishing boat at some time. It’s fitted out with a single cylinder diesel. Possibly Dolphin brand but Mat can’t find any info on them making diesels. (Mat is by trade a diesel mechanic) Mat has had a good dig around and scraped a bit of paint off in the places where you would expect a name would be and has not found anything.
Mat is 100% she was originally open topped with maybe a small deck at the bow and stern. He can see a change in the wood work in these areas where the cabin has been fitted. Probably explains why it is so narrow in the beam. Mat commented that a lot of the center line is made up of short lengths of timber scraped together as we. It’s like it was just built from what was around.
So Southern woodys – anyone know more about the boat or recognise her.
Back in August 2025 we ran a story on the launch LADY JANE that after a submariner incident was being auctioned off. Link here to that story
We understand she did sell but to whom we do not know.
(edited – the wires out shorted / lost in translation – all too hard AH)
Over the break woody Barrie Abel sent in the top two photos of LADY JANE.
In the second photo we see Brian Harkin and his team at Pine Harbour after they did an awesome repair on her bow after storm damage 15 or so years ago. So woodys and update / news on the whereabouts of LADY JANE.
Barrie also shared the photos below of his classic launch – MATIRA, hauled out at the CLEVEDON CRUISING CLUB yard for some TLC. Lucky man to have access to a shed 😉
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”
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.”
— 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
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
28-02-2026 – UPDATE ex IAN MCDONALD – Dont know the background but earlier in the weeke NANA was spotted being towed back fro Gt Barrier Island to Sandspit.
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 😉
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