Category Archives: Designers & Builders

SONGBIRD – A SPIRIT OF TRADITION WOODY

Posted on by
2

SONGBIRD – A SPIRIT OF TRADITION WOODY

It is pretty rare these days to see the launch of a new wooden boat so Bill Townson’s SONGBIRD gets to make an appearance on WW via the ’spirit of tradition’ umbrella.

Todays photos and comments (below) come to us from Hugh Gladwell.

“Bill Townsons new launch Songbird went overboard at the Warkworth Cement Works on Wednesday. A backyard designed and built wooden launch is a rarity these days. She is 3 skin kauri and Alaskan yellow cedar glassed inside and out with no stringers or ribs. Powered by a Yanmar 110. The standard of finish is impeccable. Bill is now 82 and has been building her with his wife Mona for the last 6 years. Mona explained that she didn’t actually work on the boat but supervised Bill throughout.”

WW MERCHANDISE – IF YOU ARE THINKING OF ORDERING – DO IT NOW – DOWN TO SINGLE DIGIT NUMBERS ON MOST T-SHIRT SIZES AND LESS THAN 12 CAPS IN STOCK 

MYSTERY WOODEN LAUNCH ON THE MOVE 

Posted on by
5

MYSTERY WOODEN LAUNCH ON THE MOVE 

Todays classic wooden launch looks vaguely familiar but the WW brain draws a blank.

The photo comes to us from Bryan McMurtrie via Maurice Sharp. The photo was tagged  – Burnside Bros, Papatoetoe – International truck traveling from Papatoetoe to Tamaki River. In the photo the rig is rounding the bend on Mt Wellington highway on the outskirts of Mt Richmond Domain in Auckland.

Can we ID the boat – please tell me its not a Vindex………..

INPUT ex ALAN SEXTON – She is a 32′ Vindex, originally named Pai Rawa Atu, very skillfully home built by boiler maker Des Gray (he was a foreman at Steel Tanks and Structures) over a 5 yr period at their Papatoetoe home, double diagonal kauri hull powered by an upright T6.354 145 Perkins. Launched early 1972. I know all this because she was berthed beside us at HMB when my father owned Tarata. She is still around, has been re-engined and renamed, I believe lives at Gulf Harbour these days

CLASSIC WOODEN BOATS AT SANDSPIT MARINA 

Posted on by
Reply

CLASSIC WOODEN BOATS AT SANDSPIT MARINA 

Today we have a report in from Mark Newcomb who was stooging around Sandspit Marina and the Club hardstand over the weekend. 

The first classic woody above is one we normally see at the Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade – its named RURU was possibly built in 1935 by Lidgard, 19’ in length.  https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/07/22/ruru/

In the second photo we see JUANITA, the 32’ , 1951 Allan Williams designed and built classic launch, getting some serious pre-summer TLC. https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/03/21/the-rebirth-of-juanita/

In T he third photo we see LADY MAY, a Salthouse 37, spirit of tradition classic. If its the same launch I spotted at KAWAU ISLAND over Labour weekend , I think is is running a Hamilton Jet unit.

Lastly we have the 36’ , 1922, Dick Lang built launch – LADY ADELAIDE looking like she is about to be hauled out. https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/11/22/lady-adelaide-a-peek-down-below/

CLASSIC LOGAN LAUNCH NGAIO HERITAGE REFIT – BOAT YARD VISITS

Posted on by
2
Robert Brooke (L) – Paul Tingy (R)

CLASSIC LOGAN LAUNCH NGAIO HERITAGE REFIT – BOAT YARD VISITS

Recently WW has been following a major re-fit/build on the 1921 Logan designed and built classic wooden launch – NGAIO. Link below to the progress updates.  https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/10/08/heritage-refit-for-1921-logan-launch-ngaio/

I visited Milford during the week to view the work underway on the launch – MONTEREY (yesterday’s story – scroll done) so took the opportunity to check out NGAIO.      On previous visits there has been mainly deconstruction, template and repair work – yesterday we got to view first-hand the skills of boatbuilder Paul Tingey. So rather than ‘bury the photos on the end of the existing story, I made the call they deserved their own story. (I will also add them to the existing on-going story)

While at the yard I caught up with 3 generations of the Brooke family working on the family launch – LINDA. Robert came over to inspect the work on NGAIO and even though in the photo above it looks like Paul Tingey is having a chat with the headmaster – Robert had high praise for Paul’s work.✔️

LINDA

30-11-2025 Been a tad slack on the update photos – three sets (visits) below. Re-launch is close.

CLASSIC LIDGARD LAUNCH MONTEREY GETS A BIRTHDAY

Posted on by
4
2013

CLASSIC LIDGARD LAUNCH MONTEREY GETS A BIRTHDAY

The 1946 Lidgard built 32’ classic wooden launch MONTEREY has been a regular member of my boating inner circle over the last 20 years of classic boating. 

MONTEREY changed hands last year and over winter has been getting a refresh down below. Relax the above photos may appear a tad ‘refrigerator’ in colour but most of the timber trim and furnishing have been removed so the next photos we share she will look smarter.

Monterey is currently hauled out at the Slipway Milford for a Jason Prew Paint Job (JPPJ) and removing the decades of built up antifoam from her bottom. While out some of the systems and thru-hulls will be upgraded.

Very happy to see MONTEREY getting the TLC she deserves and hopefully more photos soon.

Two of my favourite MONTERY photos from the past below ❤️ (The stern signage was ex me having a quiet day in the studio)

UPDATE – Final coats of the Jase Prew Pint Job

CLASSIC WOODEN BAY OF ISLANDS LAUNCH – MARLINE GETS A REFRESH

Posted on by
Reply

CLASSIC WOODEN BAY OF ISLANDS LAUNCH – MARLINE GETS A REFRESH

Today’s woody story features the beautifully built MARLINE — a 1949/50 ex-game boat crafted by Leon Warne, and remarkably, still in the same family after three generations.

Now owned by Leon’s son, Ken Warne, the custodianship torch has been passed to Ken’s son Kennedy Warne, who’s been spending countless hours alongside the skilled team at CMC Design Boatbuilders in Opua, giving MARLINE some well-earned TLC.

MARLINE arrived at the CMC Design workshop in late April 2025. As Sian Steward from CMC Design explains, Leon’s master craftsmanship remains front of mind in every decision as they carefully upgrade and refresh her. While she was in impressive condition on arrival, she’ll leave looking that little bit sharper — the perfect birthday present as she celebrates 75 years afloat.

Relaunch is set for December 2025 — just in time for a well-deserved Bay of Islands summer.

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCHES NAMED SPEEDWELL 

Posted on by
3

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCHES NAMED SPEEDWELL 

I suspect I’m going to get  history lesson today…… The above photo surfaced on a Maurice Sharp’s fb feed and was captioned “The motor launch Speedwell om the Waitemata Harbour – 1920’s – 1930’s” (NZ Herald). Searching WW we get a link to a ROSEMARY M story where Harold Kidd advised the ROSEMARY M had once been named SPEEDWELL – link to that story here https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/09/07/rosemary-m/

Harold also made reference to his and Robin Elliott’s book – Vintage NZ Launches’where we see another SPEEDWELL, this time one of several launches of the same name owners by WA ‘Wilkie’ Wilkinson . To my eye this SPEEDWELL (2nd photo above)  is not the one in Maurice’s fb post.

Can we correctly put a builder / date on this one.

13-10-2025 INPUT ex GREG PHILPOTT – advertisement below appeared c.1920’s Bay of Islands Swordfish Club yearbook.

Off to Whangarei today for the Whangarei Maritime Festical – fingers crossed Monday will be a great story 🙂

KEY INTEL October 11th and 12th 2025

Whangārei Town Basin – Free Entry

More info: www.whangareimaritimefestival.co.nz


HERITAGE REFIT FOR 1921 LOGAN LAUNCH NGAIO

Posted on by
4

HERITAGE REFIT FOR 1921 LOGAN LAUNCH NGAIO

I have very few regrets in life and only one when it comes to classic wooden boats. What is it ? – not buying the 36’ Arch Logan launch NGAIO when I had the opportunity. BUT – hand on heart, NGAIO went to a better owner, Jan Barraclough.                                    

Over recent years Jan has undertaken what we call a rolling restoration – and the centenarian has never looked better. BUT – there’s my better and Jans better, so currently NGAIO is undergoing a major refit to return her helm / cockpit area closer to as-built allowing for some creature (height) comforts.

Artisan  classic boatbuilder Paul Tingey started on the project this week and no time was wasted in removing her existing ’structure’. Given the presentation of the existing structure, photos below, most of us would have been very happy as is, but not Jan and we admire her for commissioning the work and look forward to the re-launch.

Check in for updates.

20-10-2025 UPDATE – work continues, today we see the reinstatement of a tram-top window to match her earlier style. Also we see the ‘brains’ trust pondering and a photo from her early days.

REVIVING A CLASSIC – INSIDE LEADER BOATBUILDERS AS FANTASIA PREPARES TO LAUNCH

Posted on by
2

REVIVING A CLASSIC – INSIDE LEADER BOATBUILDERS AS FANTASIA PREPARES TO LAUNCH

Back in November 2023 I was mooching around Leader Boatbuilders on the Panmure River and Dave Patterson showed me around the 36’ 1968 (possibly 1963), Harry Biddle built (to a Crestcraft design)  launch FANTASIA . Link to the 2023 story here  https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/11/16/fantasia/

Today thanks to Mark McLaughlin’s visit to the shed last week and his guided tour from Ken we get to see what’s been happening to FANTASIA in the last 3 years. If I recall she came into the shed for a paint job, and now look at her – close to relaunching after an extensive refit 🙂 We love companion selling e.g. “Would You Like Frys With That?”

Mark commented that the new hull colour gets his tick of approval and I agree. We need more colour afloat – the bias for white-on-white must make Coastguards work a challenge .

Photos below from the past and prior to entering the shed + 2023 work in progress.

INPUT ex NATHAN HERBERT – I understand that these were Customcraft. Crestacraft were fibreglass trailer boats

CLASSIC WOODEN BOATS – TAUPO MOOCHING

Posted on by
Reply

CLASSIC WOODEN BOATS – TAUPO MOOCHING

Most of todays woodys have appeared on WW before but its always nice to see that they are being cared for.

A woody, my lips are sealed, was at the lake doing a recce on a woody there and snapped a few photos for us.

Also today we share a couple of photos from a recent project on CENTAURUS, owner Angus Rogers is a talented DIY’er and after the recent re-power took on upgrading the dash. See below 

‘OLD’
‘NEW’