Category Archives: Boat Sheds

Hami (Wanda II)

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HAMI (Wanda II) 

Today we get to take a gander at the stunning work that Tom Rundle has been undertaking on his classic launch – Hami, previously named Wanda II. Wanda II was built in 1948 by the Lane Motor Boat Company, and as launched she was 38’6”. Tom purchased Hami off Chris Horsey, brother of Steve Horsley of SY Ngatira fame. View photos from then at link below: https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/11/25/wanda-ii/

Under Tom’s watch Hami has had a major refurbishment with all the latest bells and whistles added, but very cleverly tucked away out of sight. Power comes from twin BMC Commodore 55hp diesel engines. You can view the early days of the project here:   https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/11/12/wanda-ii-refurbishment/

In Tom’s words “the exterior is fairly under control, its now back to teak comings and decks glassed. New hatches bar the original butterfly hatch which was saveable, and gradually changing out the old windows. Cockpit still to top coat and a few touch ups. Systems are on track- all new electrical, plumbing, steering and tankage. The interior is about 80%, still some lining and finishing, but usable for summer.”

Chatting with Tom he was very complementary to the help and guidance given to him by boat builder Geoff Bagnall and Curly Salthouse, Tom says he even followed some of the advice 🙂 The fold away dinghy davit is by Larry Randell of Randell Stainless and a work of art.

Tom has very high standards so I had to lean on him to get the above photos, once Hami is finished we will go back for a A > Z story on the project.

MIZPAH – Sailing Sunday

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MIZPAH – Sailing Sunday

Today’s classic photo comes to us from Lew Redwood (via Ken Ricketts) and is of the yacht Mizpah, seen here off Leigh. The two crew are – Earnie & Ted Torkington.

15-11-2021 Harold Kidd Input – This MIZPAH is the Logan Bros yacht built in November 1895 for A.L. Wilson of the NZ Herald as a centreboard 2 1/2 rater.

IF YOU ARE WANTING WW GEAR B4 XMAS – NOW’S THE TIME TO ORDER – LINK https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/11/11/58095/


FREE TO A GOOD (or bad) HOME
I’m told the yacht below is/was an 18’ racing skiff, project came to a halt several years ago – comes with the trailer. Maybe not 100% free – a few cartons of beer and the boat and trailer are yours. Auckland based.MUST BE PICKED UP IN 6 DAYS EMAIL waitematawoodys@gmail.com if interested

La Paloma

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LA PALOMA

Back in October 2019 Nathan Herbert shared with us the b/w photo above of the launch – La Paloma, at the time we were unable to uncover more about the launch.

Then as WW is so good at – we fast forward to earlier in the week and Alistair McRae owner of Lady Margaret (Happy Wander / Lady Mary) from Whangarei lets us know they had just hauled La Paloma out at the Port Whangarei Marine Centre yard. Alistair commented that La Paloma has been owned by Alan Scott for many years and kept in a boat shed at Kissing Point, Whangarei.

Would love to know more about the launch and when the obelisk was added.

Woody Sleeping Place

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Woody Sleeping Place

Recently the boys at The Slipway Milford ‘moved-on’ one of their semi permanent woodys – Lonestar, a 28’ woody that had its hand up for saving for lengthy period. Sadly covered boat shed space comes at a premium and commercial reality set in – so Cam and Jason loaded Lonestar up and took her to an off the beaten track woody boat park. Lonestar will not be lonely, there is small flotilla of craft being worked on or repurposed.The selection of photos ex Jason Prew will either make you happy or sad – my view – they have been saved from the back-hoe > box of matches, so who knows there is always a chance someone will step up to the plate 🙂
Check out WW tomorrow for a hero > zero woody story.

2022 Lake Rotoiti (Nth. Island) Classic & Wooden Boat Parade – Buy This Boat & Be There ……. Maybe

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2022 Lake Rotoiti (Nth. Is.) Classic & Wooden Boat Parade – Buy This Boat & Be There (Maybe)

The above New Zealand built kauri 18’ ex race boat is a project at Murton Timbercraft in Nelson and Peter Murton is looking for someone to takeover funding > ownership of this woody. To quote Peter – ‘finished to any stage’. Originally powered by a 6 cyl. Ford flat-head engine. So woodys buy the boat & get Peter to go into overdrive and maybe…….. you will be winning Best Restoration at the 2022 Lake Rotoiti (North Island) Classic & Wooden Boat Parade. See below for details.

Come And Join One Of New Zealand’s Coolest Boating Events – 4 FEB – WAITANGI WEEKEND 2022

Next year, is the 25th annual boat parade and fun weekend and the Lake Rotoiti crew would love to see as many classic or wooden boats of any type join our parade, and make it the biggest ever. The parade starts in the Okere arm of the lake on Saturday morning. It’s expected that around 100 boats will be on the lake.

Following parading by the bigger boats around Okawa Bay, all boats park up for inspection along the beach at Wairau Bay, where everyone enjoys their picnic while on the beach side reserve the fun and games start. View last years parade at the link below -175+photos.

https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/02/09/2021-lake-rotoiti-classic-and-wooden-boat-parade-175-photos-videos/
So woodys circle Waitangi Weekend 2022 in the diary – it is one of the top 3 classic woody gigs on the boating calendar.

For more information contact secretary, Rachel Jamieson at info@woodenboatperade.co.nz  (or phone 0272812101)

What Became of Ngaro (Apache)

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What Became of Ngaro (Apache)

Woody Paul Drake, sent in the above photo of the launch Ngaro, formerly named Apache. In the photo we see her on Lake Taupo in the 1950’s. Paul was wondering if anyone knows where she is now. She was at Taupo for quite a long time but has also been gone for quite a long time (slightly Irish statement).
Paul believes that she could be a Lidgard and is 28’ in length.

The boat sheds in the photo lasted until 1963. The Drake launch – East Wind occupied the last shed on the left and seventy years later still occupies a berth in the same spot. Their other launch – Sir Francis, occupied the shed seventh from the left and now occupies the berth next to East Wind – view both boats below :

EAST WIND https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/06/27/lake-taupo-wooden-boats/

SIR FRANCIS https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/07/15/sir-francis-relaunched-john-street-video-series-part-one/

WE HAVE ANOTHER CYA COMMITTEE ZOOM MEETING ON TUESDAY NIGHT

I wonder if anyone in the last 4 weeks has grown some gonads and will front the elephant in the room e.g. clarification of the 40 berth Heritage Basin sub-committees intent i.e. will the classic vessels berthed there be a true representation of the CYA’s Classic Yacht Policy, as per the constitution – “New Zealand or foreign designed yachts, launches, dinghies, boats, vessels of all sizes, description, ages, whether powered by wind, steam, combustion or otherwise’. OR woodys – a parking lot for what I understand the sub-committee openly refers to as ’The Heritage Sailing Fleet’. Read more by clicking the Tui banner above.

The original conceptual sketch*, below, of the CYA’s current marina (Heritage Landing) certainty portrayed a fair mix of craft 🙂 *david barker

Whangarei Town Basin – Mystery Launch + Paea P3552

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Whangarei Town Basin – Mystery Launch

Keith and Heather Nicholson sent in the above photo of an old post card of the Whangarei Town Basin. The photo first appeared on a Mitchell Hutchings fb post. 

In the photo, lower right, we can see a launch hauled out – so todays question is – can we put a name to the boat?

Heather mentioned that their beloved woody – Paea (photo below) was for sale on tme. An amazing classic, the 72’, 1942 ex Harbour Defence Motor Launch (P3552) offers so many boating opportunities.

29-09-2023 UPDATE – photo below of Paea about to be relaunched after some TLC – TLC doesnt really fit a vessel the size of Paea 🙂

05-10-2023 UPDATE – Back in the water. we understand that six months ago the boat was put inside a shed and dried out, the seams were splined and the hull was fiber-glassed. The Fodens were removed and replaced with Cummins. (details & photos ex Ken West)

Outboard Boating Club – Way Back

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OUTBOARD BOATING CLUB – Way Back

The above photo surfaced on the OBC’s fb page a little while back and didn’t really spark much chat, other than that Paritai Drive was looking very bare – only one house 🙂 , the model of the bus on Tamaki Drive must help with the date – so woodys can we date the photo and possibly ID any of the vessels?

New Flag For My Boat – A little big (7’x4’), but the real McCoy – cotton cloth, everything sewn on, bronze fittings.

Toroa – Gets A Birthday

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Haulout

TOROA – Gets A Birthday


Back in 2014 Toroa made an apperanace on WW (link below) and generated a lot interest in the comments section. What we learned was that she was built by Chas Bailey & Sons c.1950’s, is 28’ in length (including the hanging off bits at both ends) with a 9’ beam of and a draft of 2’6”. Constructed of kauri, in 1966 she was bought by Coastguard and used until 1968 as a patrol boat and training vessel. The price was 4000 pounds paid for with the assistance of the ASB Bank and the Golden Kiwi lottery. What became of her after 1968 is a tad cloudy but owners may have been, John Cheswass / Water Keen / Michael McMahon. https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/10/07/toroa/

In approx. May 2014 Brian & Judy Simpson purchased the launch and transported her to Lake Taupo, where she remained for the last  6 1/2 years, before being hauled out for some TLC that included a repaint and anti-foul. Brian advised that Toroa was recently slipped back into the lake after the refurbishment which was done by Judy and Brian, under the watchful eye of Larry Palmer, boat painter extraordinaire at Taupo Marina. Larry also trailer-ed Toroa out of and back into the lake. 

Toroa is powered by a 4 cylinder, 4L Ford diesel engine, fitted in the 1980’s. She uses around 4 litres an hour at 1700 revs achieving a comfortable cruising speed of 6-7 knots. In the top set of photos above she is looking very grand. In the 2nd set we see her being hauling out.

Clansman

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CLANSMAN

The photos above of Clansman we sent in by Ed Higgins of her launch day at Half Moon Bay marina. Ed commented that Clansman was designed and built by Morrie Walker at Bucklands Beach. Modeled on the wheelhouse and cabin design of – Highlander. Morrie a qualified boat builder, who served his time with Percy Vos.

Constructed of laminated marine ply on kauri frames. Powered by a rebuilt 6LXB Gardiner engine, with 2 to 1 reduction gearbox.

Poor health forced the sale to a buyer in Tauranga. 
Tragically Clansman some time later, caught fire and sank off Little Barrier Island, and was a total loss. A sad end for what was a beautifully designed and built vessel.Interesting to note the fuel prices on the Mobil sign. Can anyone tell us the launch date?

You Don’t Normally See Boat ‘Stuff’ 4sale On WW – But I Do Most Things James Mobberley Asks Me 🙂 Two Engines 4sale.

ENGINE ONE – Mazda S2 – 60hp + GearboxThe engine below is new but 30 years old, has been running. James commented that these Mazda diesels were fairly common in the 1980s > 1990s.The seller is asking ‘around’ $2k – a cheap set-up . Email james@moonengines.co.nz  if interested.


ENGINE TWO  – Volvo MD 1B – 8>10hpThe engine was rebuilt several years ago by a ships engineer. Ideal for a 16’>20’ open clinkerAsking $1500 cash. Call Peter Le Gross 0274925254