Category Archives: CYA Boat

Maka Maile – A Peek Down Below

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MAKA MILE – A Peek Down Below
In a previous WW story we uncovered that the 40’ Maka Maile was built in 1937 by Sam Ford, but rumoured to be not designed by him.Maka Maile is rather unique in that she has only had 3 owners in her 84 year life. During this period she was laid up for approx. 25 of those years.

Her current owner bought her as a shell only and under took a 10 year refit that included re-powering her with twin 120hp Nissan 4 cyl diesels. The engines give Maka Maile an impressive turn of speed – 20 knots max, but she cruises very nicely at 10 knots.

These days she sports a very spacious interior that closely reflects her build year but incorporates modern fittings to make life aboard more comfortable. A surprise feature is the main saloons sliding roof. 
Previous WW stories below

https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/04/19/mako-maile/
https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/07/24/maka-maile-waitematawoodys-hits-3000000-views/
Pictured below anchored in Mansion House Bay, Kawau Island

Read more on Maka Maile’s history here (ex Ken Ricketts)

maka-maile-story-seaspray-magazine-article-april-19921Download
https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/10/17/buying-or-selling-a-classic-boat/

Summer Holiday Flashback

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Summer Holiday Flashback

Todays photo is dated 1969 and shows a camping ground, tagged – ’Smiths Holiday Camp, Paihia ’. Not sure exactly where that was, but its a mirror of my summer holidays at Simpsons Beach Camp on the Coromandel. Even the dinghy in the foreground. My father built me one, it took 4 kids to just move it – built like a brick out-house 🙂

I love the fact that there are so many kids playing in the water and it appears no adult supervision – we have become so PC.


I Feel Like Kim Kardashian

Lots of body shaping, filling (botox) and make-up under way on my old girl – the rudder and surrounding area was a mess and in need of some TLC. New – rudder tube, shaft, arm and bearings have been crafted and installed, yet to sea trial but its just so smooth to operate, the previous setup was very rudimentary.At the same time lots of other work underway, its been a long 3 weeks.

Te Hauraki

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Just A Fu@king Work Boat
Just before Easter (approx. two months ago) I did a two hour in/out haul out at The Slipway Milford for a quick bottom clean, as I was leaving the Milford Creek I passed the 1920 built ex Auckland Harbour Board vessel – Te Hauraki on-route to the Slipway, for a few week weeks TLC.

On Friday owner Rodger Moore proudly re-launched – Te Hauraki after an an extensive refit. Joe Average standing on the dock would struggle to spot most of the work undertaken because to quote Rodger “It’s just a f@cking work boat”, so everything gets covered in paint 🙂 and kept as close to original as possible. But having spent the last 10 days alongside her on the slip I can tell you these days she is a very special work boat and very loved by Rodger and family. Another happy owner and her photo will proudly grace the lunch room wall at the yard. Well done Cam and Jason 🙂

Te Hauraki has appeared on WW before – to see and read more about her here + a great John Street (previous owner) video – click this link .    https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/09/13/te-hauraki/

09-06-2021 UPDATE – Te Hauraki owner, Roger Moore, was pleasantly surprised recently to receive a ph call from his son giving him the heads up on a model of Te Hauraki on display / sae in a gallery on Waiheke Island. It was very quickly snapped up and now takes pride of place in Rogers ‘den’

Linda Out For Some TLC

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LINDA OUT FOR SOME TLC

I said good bye to my slipway neibour today – Te Hauraki (Mondays story), but within minutes she was replaced with one of our finest woodys – the 1927 Colin Wild built launch – Linda. I’ll be honest and admit I experienced a degree of ’short pants syndrome’. Alongside Raindance, Linda looks like the QEII. I’m sure I’ll get over it 🙂 

A lot of people have reservations around coming into the Milford Estuary / Creek but if you choose the right time / tide, its a breeze and The Slipway Milford railway slip, can haul out most classic launches on the Waitemata.
To read / view the wonderful job the Brooke family did rebuilding / restoring Linda in the early 1990’s after a fire that would have seen most other boats heading to the landfill – click the link below https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/11/24/linda-3/

30-11-2025 UPDATE: LINDA leaving the Slipway Milford after a serious dose of TLC

Mystery Tutakaka Launch (Merlin) + Nereides

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TUTUKAKA LAUNCH = Merlin
Dean Wright sent in the above photo of this launch berthed at Tutukaka. No visible name so would be nice if we could ID her.

17-05-2021 Update ex Keeny West – the mystery game boat above is Merlin owned by Brett Bracey.


NEREIDES COULD BE YOURS WITHOUT ANY UPKEEP COSTS


One of the growth boating areas is time share – where you get access to a boat for a set period of time for a set cost.Normally the only boats available in these ‘partnerships’ are pieces of white plastic and a 3rd party is clipping the ticket, with a rather large pair of clippers. For several years Mark Lever the owner of the 1926 classic launch – Nereides, has been making her available to suitable parties via similar agreement to the above. Nereides is one of our best maintained and presented woodys, in fact just drop dead gorgeous, see more photos below. Mark contacted me during the week for a chat and he drop in that a, what he calls – ‘Crew Spot’ was coming available , so I asked for details – I’ll let Mark explain how it works below, but if you are interested give him a call or drop an email for more details    021 747 102 or email mark@workshop73.co.nz


“Nereides is berthed at Sandspit Marina one hour north of Auckland. She is a  glamorous Wellington boat from 1926, gaff rigged main sail, mizzen and headsail perfect for coastal cruising. The skipper looks after maintenance. Looking for someone, or a couple who would like to share the use of this classic launch.The cost is $6k per year with a weekend a month and a week over the summer period.” 

Lipton Cup – 100th Anniversary – Photo Gallery

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Lipton Cup – 100th Anniversary – Photo Gallery

Following on from yesterdays teaser and results oops – I’m a launch person wont know an L Mullet boat from an H Mullet boat – no one died, its a new day, we move on.The winner of the actual Lipton Cup, hosted by the Ponsonby Cruising Club  – L division (22’) was Orion, 2nd went to Limited Edition, with Tamerau 3rd.The H division winner was Corona. As of Sunday night there were no results posted on the PCC website – so at some stage soon 🙂 go there for details.

There are lots of tales around how the PCC obtained the magnificent trophy, which was crafted by the same jewellers as the Americas Cup – you can read more about the history of the cup here https://www.pcc.org.nz/history


I was land based, using a long lens so some are a little fuzzy, but you get the vibe of the day. Sorry if your boats missing – drop me an email and I’ll check the photos, took lots, but some had other boats in the background etc. As always click on photos to enlarge.

Good to see Geoff Bagnall floating around on his launch, must have escaped Gisborne for the weekend 😉 
Photos below ex Don MacLeod

The Start
Rounding The Second Mark
Fleet Leaders Second Mark – Tamatea > Orion > Tamerau > Limited Edition

Haunui Restoration Update #2 + Woodys Classic Event Dates

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HAUNUI RESTORATION UPDATE #2


Last week myself and Jamie Hudson (Lady Crossley) pointed the car south for a pre-arranged visit to the yard where Paul Tingey is performing his magic on the 1948 Colin Wild built woody – Haunui.It was just over 5 months since I was last there and the project is moving along a great clip – check out the WW link below to view the first visit and to read the scope of the job.

Haunui is a very lucky woody – not every boat gets a second life to the extent that Haunui is getting.
https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/11/13/haunui-restoration/

UPCOMING WOODYS CLASSIC EVENTS ADVICE

Ramaroa

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RAMAROA
WW was recently contacted by Andrew Butcher who owns the 42’ 6” launch Ramaroa. Andrew and partner Celeste purchased Tamaroa 18 months ago from a gent by the name of Glen Elis, who had brought Tamaroa up from Napier to Sandspit. Post purchased the Butcher’s relocated her to Herald Island, West Auckland.

Andrew believes she was possibly built by Fred Millar and built from double diagonal macrocarpa in 1970. I suspect a lot of marine ply was used in her cabin top / cockpit. A rather distinctive design, so hopefully someone will remember the boat. Her forward motion comes via a Ford D300 diesel engine.

Like all new owners they would love to uncover / confirm details about her past – can we help?

CLASSIC BOAT 2021 AWARDS 

This morning at 3am NZ time, the 1895 Chas Bailey designed and C&W Bailey built 58′ gaff cutter – IDA, was voted runner-up in the ‘Restored Sailing Vessel Over 40’ category in the Classic Boat magazine 2021 awards –  the winner was Cynara. Full details in the latest edition of Classic Boat. 

A fantastic achievement for John Street and the team at the Classic Yacht Charitable Trust. Read / view more on IDA here https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/07/20/1895-bailey-gaff-cutter-ida-launch-celebration/

Woody Easter Weekend at Kawau Island

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PACIFIC

MY GIRL & LUCINDA

LUCINDA

EILEEN PATRICIA

HAMI (WANDA > WANDA II)
WOTAN

WOODY EASTER WEEKEND AT KAWAU ISLAND

Today’s photo gallery of woodys comes to us from the camera’s (phones) of Jason Prew and Nathan Herbert and were taken over Easter weekend in and around Kawau Island. Boats featured are Jason’s – My Girl, Nathan’s – Pacific, Peter & Jenni Mence’s – Eileen Patricia, Jason & Yan Davies – Lucinda. Plus cameo appearance from Paul Tinghy’s yacht -Wotan and Madeline Rundle’s launch Hami (previously Wanda / Wanda II).


Lucinda was built in 1930 by LC Coulthard and has just been re-launched after undergoing some running repairs at The Slipway Milford. Work included re-powering – out went the 50hp Perkins and in went a 100hp Isuzu, giving her a top speed now of 14>15 knots.

Spirit – The Waitemata’s Newest Woody

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Spirit – The Waitemata’s Newest Woody
Over the Easter break Olaf Wiig and family headed out to Great Barrier Island on the families classic launch – Margaret Anne, photo below. Margaret Anne is a very smart looking woody but this trip she was overshadowed by a new addition – Spirit a 2.4m dinghy that Olaf built at the NZ Traditional Boat Building School. Spirit is a rowing version of the 2.4. dinghy (prototype number 4) of the boats that the NZTBS are hoping to form the basis of a modern Wooden boat building course. Olaf is a trustee at the school and as you’ll see looking at the dinghy a very talented gent.
Olaf built this one as a first boat for my daughter and she chose to call it Spirit. 


On the subject of the New Zealand Traditional Boat Building School , I called in on Tuesday and was saddened to see the team packing up as they have to vacate the building due to funding issues – hopefully the school will reappear one day soon as part of the elusive waterfront Vos boatshed project, probably squeezed in between dragon boats and waka ………. I’ll leave the room now 🙂

Margaret Anne & Primadonna