Category Archives: Designers & Builders

BAY OF ISLANDS CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – WAIREKA

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PRE HAIRCUT

BAY OF ISLANDS CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – WAIREKA

Last week WW ran a story on a Chris Robertson designed launch named – ROAM, the story prompted Desiree and David Stuart to contact WW with more intel on what Desiree described as the Chris Robertson ‘Fast Cruiser”. 

We will do a separate story tomorrow on the launch KAREMOANA (sister ship to WAIREKA) that appeared  in the June 1968 issue of Seaspray magazine.

Today is all about the Stuart’s launch – WAIREKA. The Stuart family are Kerikeri boatbuilders (D&D Boatbuilding – Waipapa) and WAIREKA is there personal craft.

I’ll let Desiree tell the story – 

“We have been told that WAIREKA is the last of 5 of five of Chris Robertson vessels built, launched in 1974. Four were built in quick succession, by both Chris and Brin Wilson, however, we have no evidence of a launch date, just that she is clearly built by Chris. (There are some aesthetic aspects that are clearly his and routinely appear on his other builds.)

WAIREKA’s history as we know it – Owned by ourselves, and previously in partnership with our late uncle, Duncan “Cookie” Stuart, prior to that Jack and Carol Rogers, prior to that Bob and Beryl Harkin  – the trail then runs cold.

We know that WAIREKA was built when Chris Robertson was based next to Salthouse – on Target Rd? She was launched with her flying bridge which was most def. from a Mark 1 Corsair. (Now in the bin).

She’s had a lot of love lavished on her (my bank account says way too much) since coming into our ownership, but what can you do, she’s part of the family 🙂

WAIREKA is currently out of the water for engine (2725 Otosan Ford) and drive-train (Velvet Drive) work – she should be heading back into the water in the Bay of Islands, later this month.”

WAIREKA has made a couple of cameo appearances on WW, first back in January  2014 at Patio Bay, Waiheke Island and then in January 2025 in the Bay of Islands in a cruising report from Dean Wright.

JAN 2014 WAIHEKE IS.
JAN 2025 – B.O.I.
RSVP – boat name to waitematawoodys@gmail.com

A WOODEN BOATING TIME CAPSULE – 1913 NZ YACHTSMAN 

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A WOODEN BOATING TIME CAPSULE – 1913 NZ YACHTSMAN 

Yesterday in the post I received a package from Denis O’Callahan, past owner of MV TASMAN. Denis had recently been going thru his ’to good to throw out’ files and found a collection of old boating magazine from 1911, 1913,1938 and 1958 – after a quick glance I had to put them away before I wrote the whole day off 🙂

A couple of things did catch my eye – 

1. The above advertisement for the Central Boating Company, promoting the Hyde Propeller and Regal engine – which CBC were agents for. I assume the motor boat in the advertisement is named REGAL as a result of its engine and that it ran a Hyde Propeller – caption reads 15.38 knots, very impressive for the size of boat. But, back then there were very little home comforts aboard, so significantly lighter. Further on in the issue we learn that REGAL did have a 32hp Regal engine and her specs were 32′ in length with a 6’10” beam, She was also for sale, no price mentioned.

Do we know what became of REGAL

2. A boats for sale listing from 1913, see below. One of my pet frustrations with boat dealers is they never show / list a boats name, in fact even go as far as removing the name from the photos if the name is visible . The vessels name is an integral part of its DNA, equal to designer / builder / specs etc.

One can only assume the boat dealer is too insecure to publish the name. 

Well after reading the 1913 December issue of New Zealand Yachtsman seems the insecurity has been around 100+ years, after reading the listing I wasn’t able to put a name to any of the launch for sale descriptions. The reference to a race winner on the 3rd from top listing might make that one identifiable. 

MODEL BOAT OR SMALL CRAFT – WHERES THE LINE

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MODEL BOAT OR SMALL CRAFT – WHERES THE LINE

Todays story is a little different, during the week WW was contacted by John Chambers who own the classic – MV NGARUNUI, a friend of John’s, Steve Lowery, is building a rather large (1/10 scale) model of the ‘old’ Police launch – DEODAR II.  Looking at the photos I’m sure there are more hours in this project than building a clinker dinghy.

The craft will be radio controlled and have all the bells and whistles – twin screw + lighting (including police lights).

Specs are –   length  1450mm, beam  480mm, draft  approx. 100mm. Very keen to see the completed build. 

A MONDAY TEASE – I have admired the 50’ launch – MARNINE for 20+ years as I have driven along Tamaki Drive and glanced across to the OBC marina. Have never managed to get aboard on my many visits to the marina but now thanks to Angus Rogers, MV CENTAURUS,  we get a gander – make sure you log on Monday for the full story.

WHERE IS SHE NOW – CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – RAWHITI

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Coromandel c.1962
Snells Beach c.2015

WHERE IS SHE NOW – CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – RAWHITI

As a result of Tuesdays story on the mystery boats at Coromandel WW was contacted by Jackie Carey with updated intel on the vessel LADY WINN , seen in the photo, now added to the story , link to that story here https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/09/02/mystery-wooden-vessels-at-coromandel/

Jackie also enquired about a 28’ kauri launch named RAWHITI that was built in 1962 by her father, Harold Carey, in the shed (Strongman Bros) shown in Tuesday’s photo. The launch was sold in 1963 when the family moved from the Coromandel to live in Golden Bay in the South Island in 1963.

Via the wonders of the WW Search Box I was able to send Jackie a link to a Nov 2015 WW story on RAWHITI – link here https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/11/28/rawhiti-mv/

Jackie was very happy to see her looking so beautiful and given the WW story was 10 years ago, hoped she is still being looked after.  Jackie and her sister’s are hopeful of seeing RAWHITI  again. 

So woodys can anyone enlighten us on where RAWHITI has been for the last 10 years and who owns now.

RSVP – boat name to waitematawoodys@gmail.com

CLASSIC LAUNCH TAINUI – RELAUNCH DAY DRAWS NEAR

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CLASSIC LAUNCH TAINUI – RELAUNCH DAY DRAWS NEAR

WW has been following the restoration of the 38’ 1967 built classic launch – TAINUI for several years and as we can see from todays photos from Blair Boats, the big day is not too far off. Wonderful work being done and owner John Sloane must be over the moon.

Lots of previous WW stories covering her past, but looking at todays photos its hard to believe she was once a Harbour Board workboat. 

Check out the previous updates at this linkhttps://waitematawoodys.com/2025/02/17/restoration-of-classic-launch-tainui-update/

Photo below from ‘way back’ 🙂

A QUESTION FOR WOODY BOATERS – Why have a mast on a classic motor boat

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A QUESTION FOR WOODY BOATERS – Why have a mast on a classic motor boat*

Can You Spot The Difference Between The Two Photos Above Of SKIPJACK ?

*It is something I get asked a lot, mainly when someone is restoring a classic wooden launch and trying to decide if they should reinstate the wooden mast that they have seen in older b/w photos. My answer is always yes and this based on the belief the mast was never about sailing power — it served practical, traditional, and aesthetic purposes. It was used to hoist navigation and signal flags, support lights or an awning, and sometimes rig a small boom for lifting dinghies or stores. A few launches even set a steadying sail to ease rolling in a swell. 

But most importantly, to me, reinstalling a mast preserves originality and gives a launch a proper profile and balances her shape — and adds character. So in short: not for sailing power, but for utility, stability, and looks.

Still on the topic and focussing on the area of stability, during the week Greg Billington the owner of the 1918 Chas Bailey built launch – SKIPJACK contacted me following up on the story we did on SKIPJACK. Greg had two things he wanted to share – 1. SKIPJACK was no longer for sale, he had seen the light and decided to keep her ✔️ – we liked that.

And 2. Share a recent experience around masts on old classic launches – I’ll hand over to Greg to tell the story:

“I thought I would share something that may be of interest to readers. Along the lines of ‘a little knowledge is a dangerous thing…’

I was offshore on one occasion when a beam sea knocked the boat over such that I had this thought – ‘that heavy wooden mast must go.’ I had this thought because it appeared that bringing the mast back up was an issue. It wasn’t, obviously. Nevertheless, I thought I would lower the centre of gravity and improve the righting moment with a shorter, lighter mast. So, I installed an alloy mast, which did make the boat significantly stiffer, but sometimes more than I wanted. 

After much thought and further reading, I decided that the original wooden mast must have made the boat more tender i.e. slowing and dampening roll and therefore making for a more comfortable ride. Guess what? It did. So, I am attaching a couple of pics showing the alloy mast, and then the old wooden mast back where it belongs and I can say that the motion in any sea is considerably improved. Which goes to show, and I don’t mind admitting, that the boat builder knew far more than me.”

And woodys for the record the 2nd photo above is the wooden mast 😉

RSVP – boat name to waitematawoodys@gmail.com

CLASSIC LAUNCH FEATHER GETS SOME TLC

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Happy Owner

CLASSIC LAUNCH FEATHER GETS SOME TLC

Todays story is stepping over the self imposed Berlin Wall of classic craft – you see FEATHER has DNA dating back to 1912 when the Arch Logan designed 33’ DOREEN and then fast forwarding to the early 2000’s when Eric Knight started making the L33 fibre-glass replicas off a mould of DOREEN.

The concept appealed to FEATHER’s owner but he commissioned some tweaks – like forward motion from a 4-stroke outboard and an awful lot of at the time wonder material – think carbon fibre. End result was the very special craft we see today.

In the USA there is a new word appearing at some of the classic regattas – its ‘GLASSIC’, and is used to describe craft that appear to be old, wooden, classic craft but are made from f/glass. In my eyes a classic is wooden and always will be.

 I’m sure the fisheads that sit on the classic yacht association steering group will one day soon, in their hunger for dollars to fund their yacht races, tweak the membership criteria and allow GLASSICS to join up. Rest assured WW will stay pure 🙂

Back to FEATHER – after several weeks hauled out at the Slipway Milford getting some serious TLC that included a JPPJ* – she slipped down the railway slipway back into the Milford Creek on Thursday looking better than new. (*Jason Prew Paint Job) Photos & videos – Cam Malcolm, Jason Prew and Alan H)

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – MOOSE – RESTORATION UPDATE #2

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – MOOSE – RESTORATION UPDATE #2

Last Wednesday we did an story on the TCL work boatbuilder Alan Craig had done on the classic wooden launch – ALPHEUS. During the chat with Alan I nudged him for an update on the 28’, 1938, Collings & Bell built – MOOSE restoration, and today woodys we get to share what’s been happening in the Craig Marine shed.

Links below to the previous stories, including the extraction of MOOSE from her lake front boat shed.

WW May 8th https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/05/08/classic-launch-moose-a-sneak-peek/

WW May 26th https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/05/26/classic-launch-moose-on-the-move/ As seen in the gallery of photos Moose is well under way. Plenty of rib and rot repairs done and as Alan commented ‘undoing the sins from years of repairs’. 

With the likelihood of a new Yanmar engine, the old unit has come out. The plan is to try and use the existing V drive. 

As MOOSE will end up out on a Jetty most of the time, the cabin roof will be getting a protective layer of f/glass. Alan remarked that while it seems a shame to cover the nice tongue & groove roof, they want MOOSE to live on many more years yet.

Now that she is in a cradle the boatyard team can attack the underside and are starting work on an interior layout. 

DAVEY JONES NEW BOOK QUIZ WINNER – JAMES HUTCHINSON. Congratulations to James, for all those that missed out – copies available at daveyjonesofwakatahuri@gmail.com

FATHERS DAY SORTED FOR ANYONE WITH SALT IN THEIR VEINS

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FATHERS DAY SORTED FOR ANYONE WITH SALT IN THEIR VEINS

Rarely these days do I pick up a book and can not put it down – well it happened recently. I received an advance copy of Davey Jones just published book – ‘Davey Jones of Wakatahuri’ and its both a cracker read and an amazing account of his boating life and his interaction with the Wakatahuri region. Now I’m sure some of you will be asking yourself ‘ where is that?’ – well its in the outer Pelorus Sound at the top of the South Island, the Marlborough District (refer chart below). The area has been many things to many people – a fish factory, a boatyard, a ship breaking base and a community hub.

Davey Jones arrived at Wakatahuri as a young fisherman in 1956 and still lives there today , on and off when he’s not lapping NZ in his boat.

It’s an additive read that with the help of over 200 photographs will have you hooked. 

And as a bonus – included is a reprint of an equally wonderful read -’Sounds Wrecking Co.’ by Martin Burthold.

So woodys drop a hint to the family re what you want for Fathers Day (Sept 7th) or just order one for yourself – $60+ p&p – all enquiries to daveyjonesofwakatahuri@gmail.com

AND I HAVE A COPY TO GIVE AWAY – just answer correctly the name of the vessel Davey Jones has most recently been lapping NZ on. Enter ONLY via email to waitematawoodys@gmail.com all correct entries go in the draw. Closes 6pm 17-08-2023.

AND THERE ALWAYS HAS TO BE A BOAT PHOTO – this is from Davey’s book and shows the work boat MARLBOROUGH PN47, in Picton Harbour c.1929, built by E R Lane. In the background are VALMARIE, at left, and Ernie Lane’s boat shed, the Picton Rowing Club sheds at right. The vessel under repair at Lane’s yard is a lighter from Port Robinson (Gore Bay)

FAMOUS UK SAILOR TOURS NEW ENGLAND – USA

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FAMOUS UK SAILOR TOURS NEW ENGLAND – USA

One of the many classic boating channels I follow is the very popular small dinghy cruising guru Roger Barnes, star of his own highly popular YouTube channel (link below). Roger recently visited the USA, primarily to promote small dinghy cruising at the recent wooden boat show at the Mystic Seaport Museum.

In the 20 minute video Roger gets to sail on numerous cruising dinghies, visits boatyards and mooches around many port towns . The journey started in Maryland, Washington DC.  and finished in Maine. 

Sit back and enjoy a tour of the wooden boating scene in North America, and woodys it’s not all about dinghies 🙂

LINK TO ROGER BARNES YOUTUBE CHANNEL  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtzWwFEMaEVXejzRKgPjPNA