Category Archives: Designers & Builders

KINGFISHER > VENGER > AVENGER

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KINGFISHER > VENGER > AVENGER

The John Lidgard built launch – Kingfisher* was built c.1965, her owners Noel / Thora and son Gary Sparnon finished the boat off at the Lidgard shed in Glen Eden. With Noel being a cabinetmaker the fit out was to a very high standard. When launched she was 43’, with a beam of 13’6” and drew 3’6”. Her hull is 3 skins kauri with the 2 inner skins on opposite diagonals and the outer skin full length fore and aft + f/glass. 

As launched she was named Avenger and kept at Te Atatu.The Sparnon family did not keep her long because by 1968, the family were living in Paihia, Bay of Islands.

Prior to Avenger there was Olympia II, also built to hull & decks stage by John Lidgard c.1962-63, with Noel S again fitting out the interior – link to previous WW story below. https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/10/15/olympia-ii-2/

Noel S also built the Avenger II after her, having bought a 42′ molded Cookson hull, onto which he added & completed all the varnished teak coamings & interior himself, at his daughter’s property in Avondale, Avenger II was later sold.

Noel S never actually kept any of his boats very long after they went in the water. Kingfisher was quite unique  when launched having a fly-bridge styled in to her coamings making it visually part of the boat i.e. not appearing to be an add on or afterthought.

There are still some gaps in her ownership records, Ken Rickets has established that she was bought c.2015 off a policeman who had been living aboard her for an unknown length of time up to 2015, at Westpark Marina, by Richard & Bernadette Schofield. During their ownership they re-conditioned her Ford 120hp diesel engine and Borg Warner gearbox. 
 She was sold c.2018 to her present owner, then Mangonui resident Brett Walford. Now retired Brett has moved to Great Barrier Island and has the boat for sale, still based at Mangonui. 

Brett W also changed her name to Kingfisher*, he commented to KR he made the change because as she cruises around 8 knots and this is an ideal trolling speed to catch kingfish.

Both of the last 2 owners have spent collectively large sums on maintenance and upgrading of the interior and equipment, hence she is in very good condition and more or less just as KR remembers her when launched.  Keen to fill in any ownership gaps, in particular Noel Sparnon’s son, Garry Sparnon, who may still be in NZ and hopefully he gets to view this story and might be able to embellish it more. (Update – have been in touch with Gary Sparnon , he is still in NZ, father Noel died 3 years ago aged 96. Gary was very happy to read todays story, but has nothing to add. He will however keep a look out for any old photos. AH)

(Thanks to Richard and Bernadette Schofield, and Brett Walford and wife for providing access to the data and images and Ken Ricketts for pulling this story together – edited a lot by Alan H)

Photos below are pre March 2017

Milford Yard Update

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DAUNTLESS
ENDEAVOUR

MILFORD YARD VISIT

Lots of woody activity at the Slipway Milford. The launch – Dauntless being hauled for a quick dose of TLC, more on her here https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/03/28/dauntless-a-peek-down-below/

The 1953 A Couldrey designed, Brin Wilson built launch – Endeavour , under tent, is coming to the end of her refresh – most impressed with the new name board on the stern – nice touch. The gent in the photo is Luca Beachman, the great grandson of her original owner, Borrie Beachman and has been beavering away on the project – no doubt securing his future path to ownership 😉 More on her here https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/01/27/endeavour-gets-a-birthday/

Just across the yard at the Milford Cruising Club slip – the launch Ngahi, photo below, was being relaunched after an extensive re- fit/refurbishment – hopefully we will see interior photos soon. More here https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/04/10/ngahi-gets-a-makeover/

NGAHI

WHAT IF

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WHAT IF

Yesterday I came across this amazing photo / plan on Lew Redwoods fb – it originally appeared in the NZ Herald on 7th December 1955.

Up there with the ‘how come we missed out on a waterfront sports arena a few years ago – probably see answer – stifled by small minded Auckland City Council bureaucrats.

In 1955, plans were being discussed to turn the Meola Reef, Westmere, Auckland area into, well, basically the Western Springs version of the Wynyard Quarter.

Shipbuilding firm Roy Lidgard Ltd proposed to the City Council and Auckland Harbour Board “a beautiful marine base in the Waitemata Harbour between Westmere and Pt Chevalier.

There would be no big boat building on the site, and buildings put up to service yachts and launches would be of pleasing design, surrounded by trees, shrubs and lawns.” There would have been American-style jetties, parking for 220 cars on the peninsula, at least six tennis courts, a club pavilion, and a small beach on the opposite side of the boat installations.

It fell through, of course, and has wound up in the collection of “Ideas that never quite made it off the drawing board” in Auckland’s history.

Inaugural Southern Lakes Classic & Historic Boat Gathering

Proud owners of proxy. 40 historic and classical boats from all over the South Island gathered in Queenstown at the weekend for the inaugural Southern Lakes Classic & Historic Boat Event, which included a mass cruise behind the TSS Earnslaw.Click out this ODT link to view / read a report on the day https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/queenstown/boat-event-lake-wakatipu-%E2%80%98huge-success%E2%80%99

NGAHI – Gets A Makeover

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NGAHI – Gets A Makeover

Back in July 2016 the launch Ngahi made a brief appearance on WW – link below, at the time there was some good chat in the comments section but we never did establish her design / build date. https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/07/14/ngahi/

Fast forward to early March 2023 and Ngahi had just emerged from Glen Burnnand’s shed after some serious TLC that included –  redoing the exterior with all new teak cabin sides, new glass, rebuilt swim platform, new teak sliding windows and detailing. Owner Ash Weeks is very cock-a-hoop with the work.Ngahi was whisked off to Ash’s factory for a completely new interior – Ash’s trade is high end commercial interior cutouts so we expect to see a wow interior.

We look forward to seeing the finished work.
In the mean time – anyone know anything about her provenance.

Voyager – Sailing Sunday

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VOYAGER – SAILING SUNDAY

Back in late 2022 WW was contacted by Anthony Finlay in regard to the yacht – Voyager. Antony commented that he had recently purchased the yacht and was hoping to uncover details on her past. We have some intel – probably designed and built c.1950 by T.L. Marshall in Hastings. She is built from yellow pine with Oregon planking – 27’6” in length, a beam of 8’2” and draws 4’6”.

Its been recorded that she was sold in the early 1960’s and was relocated ’north’. There is also chat that she may have been sailed to Canada.

Can anyone help Anthony out – by confirming / correcting the above information and supplying details on where she has been in the last 60 odd years.

Input ex Neil Chalmers – there was a series of Sea Spray articles on her build (Robin Elliott may have the SS dates) .  A Jack Taylor design ? Back in the 1960’s Voyager was a regular at Okahu Bay . The owner subsequently had the K class Anthea.

Input ex Robin Elliott – Voyager, 1950, Designer Jack Taylor, builder T.L. Marshall

Sail number F-90
NZYF Number 790. Number Remained unallocated in 1969 and she did not pick up her NZYF registration until 1976 NZYF Register

T.L. Marshall (Onehunga, Hastings) 1950/66+? (Moored Napier); T.E. Linnell 1968+? ; J.& E. Bray 1976+? (Still Registered as Owner NZYF 1982); R. Ellwood (Opoitiki) 1983+? (Still Registered as Owner NZYF 1991); S.B. Richardson (Tauranga) 1999+?

AYMBA says blt 1950

27’6″ x 22’10″x 8’2″ x 4’3″ 364 sq ft berm 2700lb outside 8 hp eng 1953, 4 hp Stuart Turner 1968

SC Jan 1951: Added to the Napier SC register.
SC Mar 1951: Marshall’s new keeler recently completed a cruise to Tauranga and back.
SS Mar 1951: says new yacht… just returned from Xmas cruise SS Sept 1952:lines laid down May 1948′ built in Napier
SS Nov 1952: Cover and photos p6, lines and construction.
SS Mar 1966: For Sale
SS May 1968: Registered

Note: SC = Sea Craft Magazine, SS = Sea Spray Magazine

WOODYS CRUISE TO RIVERHEAD PUB TODAY – 18 + boats, checking in tomorrow for a trip reports 🙂

Thetis – Shed Visit

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THETIS – Shed Visit

The 45’ classic launch – Thetis, built / launched in 1955 by Lanes is currently tucked up in a shed in Opua getting serious TCL.

One of the better looking big classic, she always looks fast even when at anchor.

Read / view more on her at this WW link https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/06/20/mv-thetis-4sale/

Pre haul out / TLC

29-03-2024 UPDATE – Thetis has a new owner and already she has returned (via road) to Auckland and there are plans afoot to restore her to her former glory. We will keep you updated. Check out the photo below on the hard, she looks just so smart and fast just sitting on there on the stands 🙂

The Classic Yachting World Has Gone Doolally

Reading the latest issue of ClassicBoat magazine, I see they are reporting that glassfibre classics will soon be seen on the Mediterranean classic yacht racing circuit.

The CIM (Comite International de la Mediterranee du Yachting Classique) have made the call to accept glassfibre classics on the racecourse. Refer below extract from CB for more details.

Given the size of the yacht fleets turning up for NZ Classic Yacht Association races these days, they will be following suit and probably let 8Y8’s into the fold 🙂

RSVP – boat name and approx crew # to waitematawoodys@gmail.com

KOTARE  Re-launched

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KOTARE  Re-launched
Todays woody is the 28’ launch – Kotare, built and launched in 1961 by Frank Wilkins to a 1960 design of A N (Bill) Couldrey. Kotare first appeared on WW back in 2014. Over time we uncovered an amazing amount of history on the vessel. The 2022 WW story when wooden boat builder Alan Craig gave us a shed tour on restoration / rebuilding of Kotare has all the references, photos and links to her past – link to the 2022 story below https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/10/10/kotare-restoration-boat-shed-tour/

Last week Alan Craig advised they had just relaunched Kotare at Lake Rotoiti. Her owner had just finished the interior refit in his shed inTe Puke since Alan and the team at Craig Marine finished painting Kotare last year.  Alan commented that she looked pretty sharp. The work had been done in a pretty confined space and they hadn’t really been able to stand back and look at it till now. A new 35hp Beta diesel has been put in to replace the BMC.

As we have come to expect of anything that slides out of the Craig Marine shed Kotare is a stunner.

Restless – 4sale

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RESTLESS 4sale

Todays woody is the 40’ yacht – Restless built by the Tercel Bros in 1920 to a Alden/Tercel design. Now to save you having to do the maths, that makes her an impressive 104 years old. Constructed of kauri, her beam is 11’3” and she draws 6’ (lead keel).

During her life Restless has seen a lot of the South Pacific and back home is a regular contestant in the Bay of Islands Tall Ships Race.

Any boat to survive a decade needs to have been in the hands of caring wooden boat lovers – Restless has been lucky, her owner of 55 years Tim Beattie is one such gentleman and Restless is always presents in beautiful condition.

Her sail wardrobe, mast and rigging reflect her ocean cruising life. Her second means of forward propulsion is a 58hp Fordson diesel (1965), overhauled in 1990 – that gives her a comfortable 6 knots.

If you haven’t already guessed it – yes Restless is for sale. Classic wooden craft of her pedigree and condition rarely come on the market. There are several options for her next owner in terms of her interior – the one I would favour would be retaining the period layout and just treat her to a refresh e.g. upgrade the hardware – stove, head etc.and refresh the upholstery. Or you could just sail away and enjoy her as Tim and family have.

Initial expressions of interest to  waitematawoodys@gmail.com

LOVING YOUR BOAT TO DEATH – Electro-chemical Destruction / Underwater Rot

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LOVING YOUR BOAT TO DEATH – Electro-chemical Destruction / Underwater Rot

The subject of electrochemical destruction and wooden boats has been covered extensively on WW – in fact the Chris McMullen articles are the most referenced stories on the site. At the end of todays story I have listed links to these stories.

Today thanks to Chris McMullen and Baden Pascoe we get to share an article they penned for the 2023 Mahurangi Cruising Club Year Book*, this article succinctly backgrounds the topic and suggests what as a wooden boat owner you should be looking out for and what to do to protect your wooden boat. READ IT. But if you are lazy – let me spell stout for you – DO NOT FIT ANODES or BOND YOUR WOODEN BOAT.

Note: PDF version below for easier viewing for the visually challenged – i.e. most of us 🙂

MCC YB 2023-Loving Your Boat to DeathDownload

(*Article reproduction with the permission of the Mahurangi Cruising Club©️)

LINKS TO PREVIOUS WW STORIES

https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/11/20/what-does-electrochemical-deterioration-in-a-wooden-boat-look-like/

https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/12/30/electro-chemical-damage-in-wooden-boats-update-revisited/

https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/03/28/the-most-referenced-viewed-story-on-waitematawoodys/

https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/11/08/want-to-see-what-in-a-wooden-boat-looks-like/

THE LOG OF TAMATEA – A20 

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THE LOG OF TAMATEA – A20 

Earlier in the week a nugget of gold dropped into my inbox – Mark Newcomb sent in a copy of his families yacht – TAMATEA A20 log book (refer PDF file link below to read)

The log book covers the background to the building of the yacht and her first race + some wonderful insights into life in the WWII period.

Tamatea was designed by A.C. Robb and built by A. Couldrey, launched in Jan 1937.

Amazingly the yacht was built from one kauri log, grown on the owners property in Waitakere (note: log was from a ‘dead’ tree)

Click on the blue text below to open the PDF file, the original of the log book is in the hands of the Maritime Museum, so probably this file is the only record, given the Museum’s track record with ‘losing’ things 😦

Click to access logbook-of-tamatea.pdf