Category Archives: Boat Sheds

The Boats Of Neville Robinson

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The Boats Of Neville Robinson

Late August we ran a story on Neville Robinson Boats (link below) – his daughter Marie Breden came onto the WW site and …. Today thanks to Marie’s generosity we get to see a gallery of the boats that Neville whether built or altered (Marie’s words). The 6 she recalls are – I’ll let Marie tell the story:

“ My first memory of Dad’s boat building was when he built a speedboat in our garage. He named it Cee Bee II and was very successful in his racing days.The first boat Dad built was “Marco Polo”, built in our backyard for some local fishermen. Next was Music, built from scratch, as a family we spent many hours in the boat shed building her. Unfortunately she caught fire and burnt to the waterline. Dad managed to get his hands on some of the burnt timber and made a scale model incorporating the timber into the finished piece. After Music, and I think I’ve got the order correct, was Harmony, Souza, Largo and finally Coda. Jim Carey, previously from Picton, built the hull for Harmony and it was sailed across and finished in Wellington by Dad, and possibly another but I can’t remember sorry. Coda was purchased in Picton, the wheelhouse was removed and rebuilt by Dad, giving it his look and practicality.“

Link to August story below – includes wonderful input from Paul Drake and Marie (as above)

Neville Robinson Launches

Friday and Saturday on WW we will have a more detailed look at the launches- Coda and Music.

Where Is Manurere

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Where Is Manurere

I was contacted yesterday by Leith Menzies regarding the launch Manurere ( Flying Bird) – Leith was only 10 when his extended family owned her, from memory she was approx. 32>34′ and very narrow. I’ll let Leith tell the story:

“Manurere was on the Manukau Harbour, probably moored at Weymouth when owned by Mr. George R. Moore of Papatoetoe. George was my grandfather.

About 1958 she was moved over to a mooring at Kawakawa Bay. In 1959/60, Manurere was purchased by George’s two sons-in-law, Mr. Russell E. Thomas of Meadowbank and Mr. Jock S. Menzies (my father) of Manurewa and moored in Okahu Bay. Both brothers later bought the launch – Lanai. Later my father (Jock) purchased White Cloud and then Charisma, a 36′ Vindex.

In 1961, she was slipped at the Lane Motor Boat Company, Panmure and a (war-surplus) petrol V8 Scripps engine was installed. Soon after Manurere was taken up to Mr. Phil Barton’s Beachhaven boat shed where a bridge deck was added.

We had many enjoyable trips away on Manurere. Eventually she was sold and replaced with Lanai. Later Manurere was used as a long-liner and worked out of the Viaduct. I wonder where she is now?”. My grandfather went on to purchase – William R. She was about a 25 ft woody and kept on a mooring at Weymouth”.

So woodys – can we help Leith out on what became of Manurere and also expand on her details – builder etc

Southern Woody Speed Boat

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Southern Woody Speed Boat

Jason Prew is currently on a road trip tearing up the highways and backroads of the South Island. I was pleased to see he wasn’t totally engrossed in the world of 4×4, the above photos come to us from the Otago Settlers Museum. Link below

https://www.toituosm.com/#!home

The photos above are of a speed boat named Minx built in 1958 by Les Booth, Les also built the mini-me model in front. This would have caught Jason’s eye – he has a radio controlled model of his very quick classic launch – My Girl. Video of 1st run, prior to finishing below.

The Minx speed boat was originally powered by a Hillman Minx 4 cyl engine, but not long after launch this was replaced with a V8, must have been very quick.

Also another My Girl model – they are popular builds https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/02/27/my-girl-mini-me/

HOWS THE SHED CLEAN OUT GOING FOR THE WOODYS BOOT SALE ON NOV 26TH?

How It Used To Be Done – Launching of Quo Vadis

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How It Used To Be Done – Launching of Quo Vadis

Todays woody photos come to us from Lance Lange via Nathan Herbert and show the launch that Lance’s grandfather and boatbuilder Phil Lange  built – Quo Vadis. 

Quo Vadis was built for the Hopper family.and the photos are from her launch day – must have been a very proper occasion – even had a man of the cloth in attendance.
In the last photo above, I’m assuming the launch to the left od Quo Vadis is Nathan’s – Pacific.

Photo below of Quo Vadis taken in Jan 2020

William Steer > Graham John > William Steer

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William Steer > Graham John > William Steer

The c.1950’s built launch William Steer has made a few cameo appearances on WW, but todays photos come to use from Hagan Parvin’s fb via John Dawson.

William Steer was built in Nelson by Don Calder and launch in 1961 at Motueka. At one stage her name was changed to Graham John, but has reverted back.

Believed to these days call Napier home.

Anyone able to enlighten us more her past.

WOODY BOAT – BOOT SALE

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WOODY BOAT – BOOT SALE – THE SLIPWAY MILFORD 
Two years ago we ran one of our most popular woody events – a classic woody ‘BOOT SALE”, hosted by the Slipway Milford. Well folks its on again, circle Saturday 26th November in the diary. 
Lets be honest, we all collect / hoard boat bits. Could be a good time to gain some more space and earn a few dollars. Waitematawoodys and The Slipway Milford are hosting the sale at their boat yard in Milford, Auckland. Details below. So woodys, be brave and get together anything boat related that you think needs a new home and bring it along – there is only one rule – items must fit in a car boot 🙂 But we will make an exception for grandad’s kauri clinker dinghy. Most of the items will be displayed outdoors and space will be limited so drop me an email to reserve some space  waitematawoodys@gmail.com
AND IT IS CASH ONLY.

CLASSIC YACHT BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS
7.00PM THURSDAY 10 NOVEMBER at the Royal NZ Yacht Squadron.
The Classic Yacht Charitable Trust would like to invite you, your family and your friends, to celebrate the 125th birthday of Thelma, the 1897 Logan gaff-rigged cutter, and the 130th birthday of Gloriana, also a Logan built gaffer. 
Our special guest will be David Barker, the world-renowned maritime artist, who has extremely generously created a new painting, which features our classic fleet and entitled “Start”, to assist in our fundraising effort. Come and meet David and find out how you can take home this fabulous artwork.
This fun evening, with like-minded classic boating enthusiasts, will also be a crucial fundraising event for all seven of the boats in the trust – Thelma, Gloriana, Waitangi, Ida, Frances, Ethel and Rainbow II.
So, please support this event and we know you will have a fun evening.Tickets: $30pp   Order your tickets here

Lazy Days > Amokura

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LAZY DAYS > AMOKURA

Have had a request from Jackson Lidgard for intel on the 38’ 1955 Lidgard built motor-sailer he and his father are currently doing a major refit/restoration on.

Jackson commented that she was originally named Lazy Days but renamed to Amokura sometime in the 1970’s or 80’s by the second owner. The story goes that the second owner was a Safe Air pilot from Picton who sailed her down from Auckland.

Jackson’s  family bought her 2 years ago after she had deteriorated living on a swing mooring in Havelock Sound for the last 20 years or so. When purchased they were told it was a John Alden design but have been unable to confirm this. 

Currently 4 months or so into her restoration in a shrink wrap shed on the Waikawa handstand. The top photo above was before the current project commenced.

Any information on the yacht would be greatly appreciated. For those woodys using Instagram there are regularly updates under the blog handle of  @todothingsblog A random selection of photos from the blog below.

And for those wondering around the surnames of the builder and the restorer – yes there is a link but very distant.

RSVP waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Mystery Launch Off Devonport Yacht Club – Raumati II > Moeraki

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MYSTERY LAUNCH OFF DEVONPORT YACHT CLUB – Raumati II > Moeraki

Todays mystery launch photo comes to us via Mitchell Hutchings fb from the Parsonson Family collection.

There appears to be a working-bee underway at the Devonport Yacht Club on what must be the western slipway.

The Mason Clipper in the photo must help date the photo.

19-10-2022 INPUT FROM FRANK WARNOCK – I am almost certain that the launch in Mondays report moored off the Devonport Yacht Club was Happy Wanderer owned by John Senior. The working bee was replacing a rail on the Western slipway or cementing an existing one back after a storm. The date would be the 1960s.

30-10-2022 INPUT ex Nathan Herbert – the vessel is Raumati II > Moeraki

2023 TALL SHIPS REGATTA – DETAILS BELOW

RSVP waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Spindrift – The Build & Launching

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Spindrift – The Build & Launching

On Friday we featured the launch – Spindrift and asked for more details – well as you can see from the above photo gallery we certainly got an answer 🙂
Firstly Spindrift is a new build, launched in early December 2021 – designed by Gary Underwood (design #71) and owner built by Hilton and Melva Ward. 
To quote Hilton she is a 10 metre, multi-chine ply passage maker powered by a 35hp Beta (Kubota) engine.

Hilton has a very informative blog on the whole back story from design to first cruise, link below. I have just ‘cherry picked’ a selection of photos for todays story.  https://thenewspindrift.blogspot.com/?m=1

Spindrift calls Ngunguru Estuary, Northland home, but there are plans for some serious cruising this summer. The build commenced in early 2016, but Underwood did the design work two years prior  – see sketches below + model Hilton made to see how it would look in real life.

As always – click on photos to enlarge 😉

01-06-2024 – photo below ex Natalie Collinson fb anchored at Ngunguru

Another Day Another Woody Boat Yard

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Another Day Another Woody Boat Yard

The Milford Slipway was looking very woody friendly this week, the yard full + Pacific was slotted in next door at the Milford Cruising Club yard.

The TCL is continuing on Valsan and Laughing Lady up for a pre summer tickle up.