Category Archives: Designers & Builders

Young-Old Man’s Blather.

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Russel Ward aka Mr Steam + boat builder Joe Wheeler

Today’s post is to quote the writer (Russell Ward) a ditty on his teenage boating years & sheds some light on the Bayswater boat builder, Joe Wheeler, who is largely unsung but deserves attention.Click the link below to view/read the story/photos.

Harold Kidd knows more about Joe and can be sure to chip in on this one.

Pour yourself a cup of tea & enjoy the story 🙂

Click this link (blue text) to view Young-old man’s blather

Russell in his element

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Joe Wheelers last boat built -seen here at Stillwater

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Percy Vos Dory

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Percy Vos Dory

Waitematawoodys follower Sam Leijen, has asked for some help, In 1964 Vos built an 18ft dory at a cost of 300 pound, that was used in the Waitomo Caves for many years, it was retired in 1990 and now sits at the Waitomo Museum under the lean of the roof. Photos above, including the plans.

Sam is keen to get a better understanding of the plans so that one day he can build a replica. He is looking for a better understanding of some of the plan details & asks for any comments to clarify the meanings in the plans.

Hopefully a ww follower can help Sam. I can email the plans if anyone wants a better ‘view’.

4 Norm Beetson Sisters

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Kakariki
Naiad
Gayella
Acquiesce

THE FOUR NORM BEETSON DESIGNED ‘SISTERS’

Thanks to Mark McLaughlin sending in a photo of Acquiesce we now have photos of all 4 of the Beetson designed sister’s. Interesting to compare the ‘changes’ over the years.

Apparently all four boats were featured in the 1950’s on the cover of Sea Spray, would love to get a scan/photo of the cover & the article inside the mag – Harold ???

Scroll down to the previous post for details on the 4 launches – Acquiesce, Gayella, Naiad, Kakariki (launched as Georgella)

Video footage of the varnishing of Trinidad with Awlwood MA (Uroxsys)

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How did Trinidad get that look?

If you have seen Trinidad in the last few months you would have gone………….. WoW……………… thats amazing. Well now thanks to the wonders of modern technology (a time lapse camera & Gareth Cooke’s photography & editing skills) you can watch how the team at Greg Lees Boatbuilders, working with Awlwood MA (Uroxsys) achieved that amazing finish on her topsides.

The process went like this –
1. Old coatings removed
2. Yellow primer applied
3. Two coats rolled / brushed on
4. Three days of heavy ‘wet on wet’ spray applications, with a good block sanding between coats
5. Final coat applied as a single coat to achieve best leveling

Now this is all stunning but do not think its a pro-only product, the results us amateurs can achieve with 6 > 8 coats using a hand brush is pretty wow.

A Special Woody Weekend

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The Vos and Ostick clan launching the book in true Percy Vos style. This flag has launched may boats from the P. Voss yard
M.C. Rod Jenden
William Ostick, Percy Vos’s great grandson and John Harvey, Ernie Harvey’s Grandson.
Jocelyn Skinner, Percy Vos’s daughter
Jocelyn Skinner, Percy Vos’s daughter
Sir Bob Harvey
John Street
The crowd. Model of Paul Markson on the bar and Rod Jenden.
Model of Korea (courtesy of Monty Jones. Note the period cars
Guy (Mink) Goodman and Fishing boat Sandra modelled by Bruce Tantrum. Mink worked of Sandra throughout her construction.
San Elizabeth (model by Peter Peal)
The man – Baden Pascoe

A Special Woody Weekend

Today was a special day on the woody boating front – Baden Pascoe officially launched his book ‘Launching Dreams – Percy Vos – The Boat & His Boys’ at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. We saw over 300 of the classic boating fraternity & people connected to Percy Vos – family, friends & ex work mates join together to celebrate the event & rub shoulders. Great speeches but the key message of the day came from John Street to Sir Bob Harvey (Chairman of Waterfront Auckland) & that was that the Vos Shed project was LONG over due & action was need NOW. Todays audience certainly agreed 🙂

A few photos from the launch / morning tea.

Copies in your local book-store now or from Baden on badenhp@xtra.co.nz

 

Alwyn

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Maroro, Alwyn,Waharoa
SEVERN

ALWYN

Currently for sale on trademe. Listed as a 1927 Logan (however Harold Kidd believes she was launched in April 1910). Fully reconditioned BMC Diesel, 4 berth. Two Burner gas cooker & BBQ. Chemical toilet. Fish Finder GPS .VHF Radio. Gas Detector 120 litres diesel .120 litres water..Steady sail. Solar charging system.15k spent 4 yrs ago having cabin & decks covered in marine ply & fibre glassed by professional boat builder.

Asking $35,000, – an affordable entry into classic boating.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=661146172

 

GREAT NEWS ON THIS LOGAN FROM HAROLD – 24/11/13, read the comments section for details on the uncovering of this Logan.

Hey, this has been an extremely valuable exercise in that a “new” Logan launch has been found. If this launch IS ALWYN, then she WAS built by Arch Logan after the Logan Bros yard closed down. I was always aware that there was a launch under construction or at least ordered at the time they closed down. 

So I had a good trawl today on Papers Past using a variety of key words and eventually hit the jackpot. In the NZ Herald of 10th February 1912 there is an entry saying that J. Horton Swales (who I knew had built all his own many yachts and launches until then) had had a handsome new 32ft x 7ft10in x 2ft launch built by Mr. Arch Logan of Stanley Bay. SO, Arch built THREE launches after the closure, ALWYN, DOREEN/HAKU/COQUETTE and NGAIO. 

Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa and I’m delighted to have erred because we now have a new Logan. I wish I had known that when Robin and I wrote the Logan book. Mind you, I’ve found a lot more Logan boats since the book went to press, but none as significant as this one, I think.

Therefore the owner does have an ARCH LOGAN launch built in late 1911 (not 1927, but that’s relatively unimportant in the scheme of things). 

That must add a heap to its intrinsic value!

Don Brooke at the Classic Yacht & Launch Exhibition speaking about Jack Brooke & Bob Stewart

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VIDEO ONE – Don Brooke speaking at the 2013 CYA Classic Yacht & Launch Exhibition, hosted by the Tino Rawa Trust, which showcased the acclaimed designers Jack Brooke & Bob Stewart. Both Don & Robert Brooke spoke briefly at the launch ‘morning tea’ about their father Jack & fellow yacht designer Bob Stewart. Also view VIDEO TWO (below) which features of Don’s brother Robert, speaking on the same topic.

Robert Brooke Speaking On Jack Brooke & Bob Stewart @ Classic Yacht & Launch Exhibition

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VIDEO TWO – Robert Brooke speaking at the 2013 CYA Classic Yacht & Launch Exhibition, hosted by the Tino Rawa Trust, which showcased the acclaimed designers Jack Brooke & Bob Stewart. Both Robert & Don Brooke spoke briefly at the launch ‘morning tea’ about their father Jack & fellow yacht designer Bob Stewart. Also view VIDEO ONE (above) which features of Roberts brother Don, speaking on the same topic

Turakina

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TURAKINA

When I ask Peter Brookes to send me some photos from the re-launch on Thursday at Pier 21 of the C-Class Turakina (C77), I did not expect to receive all these wonder shots showing the major re-fit Peter has just completed on her. As we have come to expect from Mr Brookes she is simply stunning & another of our classics that now joins a very special group that should have a bronze plate that reads ‘Restored by Brookes Boatbuilders’.

Turakina was designed by Arnold ‘Bill’ Couldrey and built in 1949 Leo H Clark . She is double skin kauri – 30′ / 8′ / 5′. Turakina is a sister ship to Tuirangi (C35). Bill Couldrey was a protege of Arch Logan. These 2 vessels look like clones of Tawera and Gypsy.

Photos of the re-fit can be viewed here     www.classicsail.net

(Little Jim can be seen waiting patiently for her turn in the shed)

Woody Weekend

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If you are at a loose end this weekend I would encourage you to attend the Classic Yacht & Launch Exhibition.

The Tino Rawa Trust is again hosting the Classic Yacht & Launch Exhibition at Karanga Plaza (next to the Viaduct Events Centre) this Friday 4th to Sunday 6th October, 10am – 4pm daily. The event is run alongside the 2013 Auckland Heritage Festival ‘Maritime Heritage On The Waterfront (Sept 28 – Oct 13) promotion.

There is an amazing collection of classic yachts & launches, classic dinghies, small yachts & picnic boats on display. Plus some wonderful Robert Brooke line drawings of our classic fleet & models on display. This years event focuses on the acclaimed designers Jack Brooke & Bob Stewart & will include a selection of their vessels. I have included above a few ‘quick snaps’ I took today as the vessels were starting to arrive.

Remember to check out the CYA’s permanent on-the-water display at the CYA Marina, Heritage Landing, Silo Park at the Wynyard Quarter.

Cheers Alan