We have been following the refit / refurb of the Mason Clipper – Alibi at the Greg Lees Boa Builders yard at Sandspit.
Early this month ‘Alibi” came out of Lees shed after 5 months and slipped briefly into the water and out again on to the hardstand. The stern legs will be removed and serviced and painted along with engine servicing, some electrical work and general bits and bobs, this work will take a few months. We’ll keep you posted 🙂
(thanks to Mason Clippers fb for the photos)
CIRCLE THE CALENDAR
Put a ring around November 18th – for the Karapirp Classics – Off the water boat show followed by on the water activities, open to Classic and Wooden boats, Classic jet boats and home built boats of the 1960-70’s at the Horahora Domain – more details closer to the event.
I was poking around some old WW files and came across the above photo of the 1894 Logan built gaffer Waitangi, the photo is dated 1897 and shows her hauled out near the Logan yard in Devonport, Auckland.
The image was originally sent in by Keith Humphreys.
The colour photo I took back in Sept 2018, that is 121 year apart – most impressive.
In the WW story link below there is a video filmed by Roger Miles back in 2016, gives us a good insight into sailing Waitangi.
During the week I stumbled on a YouTube video on the Southern Woodenboat Sailing channel – this 11 minute video showcase the ex Tasmanian crayboat – Margaret Pearl.
Built in 1958, 60’ in length she was about to be dispatched to the landfill in Portland, located on the southwest coast of Victoria, Australia, when up stepped Jim and Sam Woods, who were brave enough to take on the restoration / conversion project. Whilst she sports a Tim Phillips designed rig, most of her use is under power at a steady 9 > 10 knots. The canvas does come out but I suspect its more for aesthetics 🙂
Have a watch and listen to Tim tells us about why he choose a wooden boat, where he found her and the work that went into her to get to the condition we see her in.
As a bonus Tim shares some sage advice for when considering taking on the restoration of any woody.
Enjoy – I did 🙂
Someone tell me this is a p_ss take. Spotted during the week at Half Moon Bay Marina. My 1st thought was it was a ‘mule’ for an electric propulsion experiment.
Todays woody story kicked off with an email from Kane Westgaard concerning his launch – Chrystal Voyager and a request for help uncovering some of the boats history. She started life as a motor-sailer, but that is just about all that is known about her. The guy that sold Kane the boat did not know anything about boats and was just using her as an apartment.
Given its a Hartley design and launched in 1971, normally I would not have finished reading the email – but she was built by Lionel Jefcoate, who was a master boat builder so she makes an appearance on WW today. Read more about Lionel Jefcoate here https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/03/12/lionel-jefcoat-boatbuilder-wood-craftsman/
Her story goes like this – she is a ’South Seas’ Hartley design and Kane and a buddy brought her from Tauranga approx. a year ago and were of the belief that there were only be a couple of soft spots that needed addressing, well surprise surprise the boats been in a shed at the Te Atatu Boat Club for over 2 months and guys have been tipping in vast amounts of labour and money.
Can we help Kane out with any intel – I might be wrong but you’d have to assume that there was a name change along the way – Chrystal Voyager sounds a tad ‘flower child’ / tarot card 🙂
06-05-2024 INPUT BELOW ex TONY SHORT –
My brother Peter and I were the first crew members (1971?) on ‘Crystal Voyager’, for the original owner Russell Berry. From (1969/70-1971) Russell would take Pete and I on alternating weekends (Sat & Sun) to Governors Bay to help (as much as young teenagers could), assist him and the builder Lionel. Although this Hartley design was for concrete, it was of course built with timber (& extended to 40’). All the timber came from Des Hunt’s sheep farm in Pigeon Bay. The boat was originally named ‘Lady Lee’ after Des’s wife Lee Hunt. After launching, Peter and I crewed for a number of years, accumulating many experiences, and some quite scary. LOL. I remember, attempting to leave the Lyttelton Yacht Club (Naval Point Club) pier in a strong southerly, we ended up on the rocks .. sideways to the southerly. Fortunately with the help of 20-30 bods (rushing out from the Yacht Club), we were freed. (Quite a story.) Another time with rollers reaching into Pigeon Bay wharf while attempting to attach a landline, our bow was pushed under the wharf with one surge and with the next surge raised us up, lifting up the entire end of the wharf (& punching a hole into our foredeck). Many stories .. many memories. We so often went to Pigeon Bay (PB) (a 90 min journey. 30 min to Lyttelton heads, 30 across the 3 heads [& crossing Port Leavy could be quite dicey] and 30 min into PB.) we were almost considered ‘locals’. Back then, the ’Lady Lee’ was fondly referred to as the “Push Button Gin Palace”. And as a young teenager, I wondered why. But concluded the emphases was on ‘gin’ not ‘palace’. And ‘Push Button’? .. Hardly! It was at least a year before ‘forward’ & ‘reverse’ gears were controlled from the wheelhouse. Up until then ‘muggins’ here, (lol) had to drop down into the cramp, hot! engine room, recking of diesel! and heave (with all the strength a young lad could muster) on the gearbox leaver, into neutral, reverse .. then Russell would shout “forward”! .. “reverse” .. “forward”, all the while the boat tossed & turned. Hahaha, Fortunately I don’t easily get sea sick, but crap, I couldn’t get out-of-there & back up on deck quick enough.
Again, many memories, and many more stories.
I wish the new owners of ‘Crystal Voyager’ much happiness, many wonderful times and the ‘makings of remarkable memories’.
10-05-2025 INPUT EX RUSSELL TEBAY – My adopted grandad Russell Berry (person I was named after) was as stated the man that had this vessel built. Des Hunt was also a friend of the family. My late Father Mark Tebay I believe also crewed maybe with the short brothers (names really ring a bell) at times on this vessel.
While I was very young born 1979 i do have fond memories of this lovely vessel in pigeon bay going out fishing and having fun. This was definitely called the Gin Palace (always had gin on board) for the captain of course.
I do remember a few instances where grandad would back his Ford panel wagon down the wharf at pigeon bay with his organ so he and friends (brass band I’m told) would take the boat out playing all sorts of music and having a good time. Oh the memories. I hope this email reaches the new owners and I wish them well on their journey with this fantastic boat.
When Grandad sold this boat he brought the Nautalis which is now in Auckland taking tours as it was.in ww2 I think it was with the red cross ship which came complete with bullet holes in th back transome..
Over the last week I received several emails concerning the 40’ launch – Roamer that was on tme listed as ‘as is where is, any offers considered’. When had I had a look for her it was showing as withdrawn, so fingers crossed that a new owner was found. Roamer last appeared on WW back in July 2016 – link to the story below https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/07/01/roamer/
Roamer was built in 1911 in Ferrymead and has been modified multiple times over the years. Recently including a new cabin top to increase the height inside the main cabin. Repairs were done by Davie Norris Boatbuilders/Norris family over many years. The top photos show how it was in the water before she unfortunately sunk at the moorings 12/11/20. Since then she has been stored at Davie Norris Boatbuilders awaiting final repairs to make her watertight again. The engine, a Ford diesel had been serviced and ran. Unfortunately Davie passed away recently and the Norris syndicate who were looking after the Roamer were unable to keep her and get her back on the water. The tme listing was a shout out to locate a caretaker for her.
AUCKLAND’S WATERFRONT PINK ELEPHANT – THE PERCY VOS SHED
Nearly 8 months ago I asked WTF was happening with the Vos Shed, while strolling the waterfront yesterday I detoured to have a look – and, looking worse than ever – note the old newspapers on the windows 😦 Come on Auckland Council / Panuku – open the bloody doors.
Following up on yesterdays story which had a photo of the 1934 Cox & Filter built launch – Robyn Gae hauled out at the Te Atatu Boating Club hardstand, today we get to share a better view of the project.
WW understands that the launch was / is being re-launched this week. The seams have been re chalked and next year once they have ‘settled down’ will be faired then.
As mentioned yesterday, this launch was very close to having a date with a back-hoe – fantastic to see she dodged that bullet and gets another life afloat.
If the new owner reads this – would love to learn more about the work done and to see some interior photos.
Several coming and goings mid-week – Raindance slid down the railway at the Slipway Milford. And then she passed Castaway being ‘assisted’ to the Slipway to take Raindance’s vacated spot. Probably the fastest Castaway has moved in a while 🙂 Video of Raindance ex WW cadet reporter Luca Beachman. Now if some of you are thinking – “didn’t Raindance have a paint job less than two years ago” – yes you are correct. I could say that Jason Prew and myself were never 100% happy with the colour – Snow White’ on a classic woody and that the new ‘ Mediterranean White’ is a better look, while there some truth in that, the old girl suffered some hull damage on the marina in one of the many storms Auckland has had, so that is the real reason 🙂
The last photo is of the 1934, Cox & Filmer built launch – Robyn Gae, getting ready for re-launching at the Te Atatu Boating Club. Very happy to see that she is being cared for – at one stage a ‘beehive’ restoration was on the cards, see WW SOS story link below. Big ups to the new owner of the choice of blue for the coamimgs – big call but it really works and would get the Cameron Pollard tick of approval I’m sure 🙂 https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/06/21/robyn-gae-sos/
During my frequent visits to Thames I used to see Manukura the 50’ c.1960 Shipbuilders built launch on the hard stand at the Thames marina, always looking a little sad. Then in 2021 we got the good news she had a new owner and work had recommenced on her restoration, and that the plan was to transport Manukura to Whangamata where the work would be finished. Link here to her history and time in Thames. https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/07/12/manukura/
I was contacted earlier in the week by owner Allen Watson who advised that Manukura is in the process of a major refit. All new wiring, plumbing, gear boxes, shafts, engine mounts for the Ford 120hp 6 cyl diesel engines plus a new lay out inside. The photo gallery above gives us a peek into the work.
Over the weekend Lake Rotoiti’s favourite boatbuilder – Alan Craig (Craig Marine) held an open day at his workshop in Paengaroa (Te Puke) , the first three photos above are from the day. The blue hulled launch in the first photo is the 1930 Sam Ford built launch – Marjorie Rosa in for deferred maintenance, will be looking shipshape again very soon.
A new convert to the wooden boating world is Geoffrey Fiebig, who recently purchased off Jason Prew a Frostbite named Meteor, sail #13. Geoffrey as you will see has started the thank less job of stripping the interior planks. 10/10 for attire, the new WW cap completes the look 🙂
30-05-2023 UPDATE – a nameless woody drew to my attention that many (30+) years ago a Tauranga newspaper article appeared about a young man/teen named Jason Prew who dragged Meteor out of a derelict shed on a lake and restored her to go sailing. Note the miss spelling of the surname Brew -see below
waitematawoodys.com #1 for classic wooden boat stories, info, advice & news - updated daily - 15+ million views 