Category Archives: Designers & Builders

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH LADY LUCK

Posted on by
5

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH LADY LUCK

Recently WW was contacted by Robert Williams concerning the launch – LADY LUCK. I need to take a deep breath when I read the email – why?, well turns out LADY Luck is a 38ft Vindex built by Jim Young, (unknown year). But a quick glance at the attached photos and I was pleasantly surprised with todays top photo – quite a looker in her day.But too sure about the look after someone got tired of sanding and varnishing. 

Some background ex Robert –  LADY LUCK was owned by Bert Hammer in the1970’s to mid 1980’s. Prior to this period Bert owned another launch named LADY LUCK featured on WW (linked here) at Thames. https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/01/17/lady-luck-a-peek-down-below-4sale/

She was part of the Auckland Volunteer Coastguard main rescue ‘Cutter Group’.

The photo showing the varnish sides was as she was leaving the Tamaki River after a thorough clean and repaint. The photos of her in mainly white colours was taken many years later in possibility Half Moon Bay Marina during the 1990’s.

Can we learn where LADY LUCK is these days.

INPUT ex BILL UPFOLD – Up until late last year Lady Luck was sitting outside a panel beater’s on Union St. Howick. it had been sitting there for a few years then disappeared. Not sure if it has been moved into a shed on the property or moved elsewhere.

INPUT ex ALAN SEXTON – Lady Luck is not a Vindex, she was a design from Jim that predated Vindex, he told the story in his self published memoirs

WHERE IS THE MOTOR-SAILER SOUTHERN BELLE TODAY

Posted on by
2

WHERE IS THE MOTOR-SAILER SOUTHERN BELLE TODAY

Todays woody story features the 35’ ketch rigged motorsailer- SOUTHERN BELLA, launched in 1960. She featured in the August 1961 edition of Sea Spray magazine.

In the top photo we see her preparing for launching at the Devonport Yacht Club. In the Sea Spray article , below, they described her as amateur designed and built by Barney and Peter Soljak (father & Son), alongside they Devonport home.

When launched she was powered by a 50hp BMC Commodore Diesel engine + a 4.5hp Lister auxiliary engine. 

(Story and photos ex Sea Spray magazine via Ken Ricketts)

Southern Belle and Raiona B.O.I. – date unknown

Back in 2019 in another story, DYC related, Chris Leech commented at SOUTHERN BELLE had suffered fire damage and been restored. Chris supplied to photos , the first hauled out at DYC and afloat post repairs. Can we learn more about what happened and what became of SOUTHERN BELLE after this.

CLASSIC WOOLLACOTT YACHT GETS A SECOND CHANCE

Posted on by
Reply

CLASSIC WOOLLACOTT YACHT GETS A SECOND CHANCE

In mid December we ran a story on the Woollacott yacht – JANACE ANNE and reached out for some help saving her from the land fill. Link to that story https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/12/21/classic-woollacott-yacht-jance-anne-needs-a-helping-hand/

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.”

Janace Anne – Terry WilmerDownload
Janace Anne – Malcolm DickensDownload

— 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

CIRCLE THE CALENDAR

SUMMER CRUISING ONBOARD CLASSIC YACHT RANGER

Posted on by
2

SUMMER CRUISING ONBOARD CLASSIC YACHT RANGER

During a deep dive in the WW files I rediscovered an email received from Paul Garnham concerning the classic yacht RANGER. Refer below (edited)

“It was suggested to me that you might be able to assist me locate the current owner of Ranger.  I’m currently digitising my Grandfathers old photos slides from the 1960’s and 70’s and discovered a bunch of photos of Ranger and crew sailing in the Bay of Islands as best I can tell.  The owner of Ranger, Mr Tercel? features in a couple of them.  I wonder if the current owner of Ranger might be interested or even your website?

I assume it was my Grandfather, Charles Garnham, who took the photos, and I can also identify one of the crew as Mac Redmond, who is my father’s cousin”.

Now I’m hoping I did connect the two, but if not hopefully todays story will.

RANGER also made an appearance on the cover of the Dec/Jan 1961/62 issue of Sea Spray magazine (photo below via K Ricketts)

CLASSIC WOODEN BIG GAME BOAT – DOROTHY – FLASHBACK

Posted on by
2

CLASSIC WOODEN BIG GAME BOAT – DOROTHY – FLASHBACK

Back in July 2015 WW ran a great story on the Oliver & Gilpin built launch DOROTHY, link below. At the time we only had one every stunning b/w photograph  https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/07/01/dorothy-2/  There is lots of chat on DOROTHY at the link.

Fast forward to late Dec 2025 and woody John Dawson sent in the great photo above .

Can we learn more about where she is today.

05-01-2025 – INPUT ex CRAIG OGLE – My old mate Wayne owned her in the 90s he sold her to a couple fellas in Wellington as far as I know.

MAYBE LUCKIEST CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH AFLOAT – NANA 

Posted on by
2

MAYBE LUCKIEST CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH AFLOAT – NANA 

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 

CLASSIC LAUNCH – STERLING – Can We Help Out

Posted on by
5

CLASSIC LAUNCH – STERLING – Can We Help Out

Todays woody – STERLING was built by Ernie Lane in Picton and launched in 1925. Lots of details and photos in this April 2019 WW story – link here  https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/04/03/sterling-2/

Last week WW was contacted by STERLING’s owner who advised they were in the process of getting her back up to speed for her 100th next year. They commented that with the help of a tame boat builder, they have removed the dodgy timber and replaced with good Northland Kauri, pulled the engine out and given it an overhaul, reconfigured the main cabin and will replace the very agricultural duck board and raise and reconfigure the aft cabin. Along with a full rewiring, she should be good to go for a wee while. 

That’s all good news put they have a wee problem – in pulling out the old 6 cylinder Ford Lehman, it was discovered that the cast manifold is beyond repair and are reaching out to see if there are any woodys that might know know where they can get a replacement.

So question today is – can we help out, someone must have one in a shed somewhere.

CLASSIC LAUNCH – KARINA – FLASHBACK

Posted on by
Reply

CLASSIC LAUNCH – KARINA – FLASHBACK

Back in Dec 2023 thanks to a tme listing we got to have gander down below on the 1959 Brin Wilson built launch – KARINA. Link to that story here – https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/12/11/karina-a-peek-down-below/

Today thanks to Ken Ricketts and Sea Spray magazine (June 1959) we get to see her as launched.

THE WINNER OF THE XMAS DAY CALENDAR QUIZ WAS DARRYLL HART – correct answer being Sir Frank Mappln

CLASSIC OLIVER & GILPIN LAUNCH – JOANNE

Posted on by
1

CLASSIC OLIVER & GILPIN LAUNCH – JOANNE

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 😉

ENTRY DETAILS HERE https://regatta.org.nz/regatta-participants/how-to-enter-the-regatta/entry-form/

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH MARLINE RELAUNCHED

Posted on by
1
Screenshot

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH MARLINE RELAUNCHED

Over winter the classic wooden launch – MARLINE has been hibernating in the CMC Design boat yard in Opua, Northland.

MARLINE’s custodian these days is Kennedy Warne , who worked on the refit alongside the CMC Design team . 

The launch has a very special history – prior to Kennedy, it was owned by his father Ken and originally built by Ken’s father Leon Warne in 1949/50.

Upgrades to MARLINE included –

• A new walk through transom

• Hand built wooden skylights with etched glass created in the original glass design.

• Reconfiguration of cabinetry and storage in the galley and head.

• Upgrading all water and diesel tanks.

• New elements, anchor winch, solar, electrical boards, refrigeration and oven.

• New Kauri cockpit flooring.

• New duckboard.

Check out the Oct 2025 WW story here for a look at the work-in-progress https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/10/27/classic-wooden-bay-of-islands-launch-marline-gets-a-refresh/

Much of the timber used in the project was from Kennedy’s personal collection, including some kauri timber leftover from the original build. Lovely Rewarewa with beautiful grain, repurposing Kennedy’s aunts dresser top for the head vanity top. Kauri slab from Kennedy’s good friend for the kitchen bench and oven surround.

The yard incorporated and repurposed as much timber as possible, the new handrails, plate holders, new door to the head and new skylight and many small detail elements.

A special touch was a picture of Leon etched onto a Kauri board (see below) as a gift for Kennedy from the yard.