Category Archives: Engines

Valerie – Gets A Birthday

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VALERIE – Gets A Birthday
During my recent trip up north, aboard Lady Crossley I visited the Opua Marina to attend the launch of Lady Ellen. While mooching around the hard-stand I spotted the 1929, Lane Motor Boat Co. built, 35’ launch Valerie. I last saw her in early 2018 in Whangaroa.
Valerie has had a change of ownership and is getting a ‘make-over’. When I spotted her at Opua , boatbuilder Ian Wood was hard at work getting her ready for a pre-xmas re-launch. The work would be best described as a ‘rollin restoration’. Included in the work to date is a re-power – out with the 65hp Ford and in with the 115hp Yanmar, check out her new prop – me thinks his old lady will be able to lift her skirt and dance 🙂

Read / see more on Valerie here:

LENORA – Woody Runabout

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Mystery  LENORA – Woody Runabout

John Wicks sent in the above photo of this very cute woody. John spotted her at the West Harbour marina launching ramp, mid December. John’s first thought was an early Mason Clipper, but the shape isn’t right for that. 
The blokes with her thought she could be an import, possibly from the US, and that she’d spent some “lake time” (Taupo?). She’s certainly been looked after.
John couldn’t tell how she’s planked, but it’s over stringers on web frames. The Volvo Penta engine and stern drive are apparently original gear. 
Anyone able to enlighten us on this woody?
Input from Angus Rogers – It is Lenora now back on Waitemata Harbour owned by John Stephens. It was a home build by Mr John Tonkin who was a dental surgeon. He built it on his basement in Auckland and then used it at his holiday home in Taupo for many years.

The Folly of Buying A Fixer-Upper With Mates

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The Folly of Buying A Fixer-Upper With Mates

Click the link below to read / view this great tales from ABC News – Australia, about 6 mates that took on the restoration of  – Southwinds (previously named Valhalla), a 70 year old, 18m, Hueon pine built classic ketch.
Thanks to Andrew Christie for the heads up on the story.

A Spirit of Tradition Woody + Win Prizes

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A Spirit of Tradition Woody

Today’s launch was designed American designer – Ted Brewer and appears to be based on the traditional Maine lobster boat. She was built in New Zealand in c.1989 from strip plank cedar epoxied and glassed. She measures 30’ overall with a beam of 9’1″ and draws 2’4”. A fully reconditioned Nissan SD22 provides the forward motion.

Her tme listing (thanks Ian McDonald) is very impressive and she appears to be good value for the asking price. Home port is Kerikeri.

WIN YOURSELF A COPY OF THE HOT OF THE PRESS BOOK – K CLASS

This could be the final WW competition before Santa slides down the chimney. As always – entry is via email only to waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Entries close midnight Friday 20-12-2019 . All correct entries will go into the draw for a copy of the book – K Class by Jenni Mence. Plus a bobby prize – a waitematawoodys t-shirt, drawn from all email entries received – correct or not.

Q waitematawoodys editorial assistant – Flora McKenzie shares her name with a pioneer  Auckland business women from the waterfronts past. What line of business was Flora in? Remember – enter via email only.

 

 

1958 16′ Runabout

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1958 16′ Runabout

I first saw todays Woody at the Lake Rotoiti (Nelson Lakes) Classic Boat Show and now thanks to tme & Ian McDonald, we get to see her ‘in the flesh’.
The woody is one of only 320 16’ Century Resorter runabouts built in the Michigan factory. 
She is still powered by her original (rebuilt) Ford Interceptor 272 / 150hp V8 engine.
The custom built trailer is a work of art and compliments the boat perfectly.
 
Mahurangi Cruising Club 2020 Yearbook OUT NOW
Just in time for Christmas – the Mahurangi Cruising Club 2020 Yearbook is now on sale. For most of us the best option to grab a copy is via Boat Boats in Westhaven (on-line as well) or order via the MCC facebook page. 
Design guru Steve Horsley is back on board and the book looks amazing. At $20 its the perfect Santa sack filler. 
The MCC are the powerhouse behind NZ’s biggest on-the-water wooden boating event -the Mahurangi Regatta , so pull the wallet out and buy a copy, as well as a great read you will be helping the MCC run the regatta.
MCC YB 2020 Cover

Twilight

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TWILIGHT
The 32’ carvel planked launch Twilight was built in 1954 by Strongman in Coromandel.
Power comes from a Perkins 4. 108 diesel engine.
Over the last 8 years Twilight has undergone an extensive ‘rolling restoration’ that included reconditioning the engine and gearbox, photos below.
Thanks to Ian McDonald for the tme heads up.

Martha

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MARTHA

We haven’t had a small clinker on WW for a while so Andy Hammond’s 14’ Sea Craft gets to shine today. Martha is kept in Cambridge but is a regular attendee at the Lake Rotoiti Classic and Wooden Boat Parade.
She was built c.1950 and is powered by a 6hp Petter diesel from the 1970’s, and sports a forward and reverse gearbox.
Andy is moving onto another woody project and needs the room so Martha is on the market for what I consider is a fair price – $4k, this includes a very smart tilt boom trailer. Break all my rules today – anyone looking for a very cute day boat contact Andy at. atepushrods@gmail.com.

Proteus

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Proteus

Mark Erskine was prompted when reading the recent WW article on the 1957 Owen Woolley launch to dig out the above photos of the 1967/68 Owen Woolley, twin 140hp TS3 powered launch – Proteus.
Todays photos were sent to Mark  by the then new owner, Terry Poole in November 2018. Terry had just purchased the launch – that had been moored in Wellington for years and had the launch transported by road to Auckland. The launch had been neglected and remained unused for many years before selling to Terry, and both TS3 engines – that would have been fitted from new – had done low hours. In the 3,500hrs range each from memory.

Both engines have rare, locally made, cast alloy marine conversions, including water cooled exhaust manifolds, coolant water reservoir that bolts to the engine thermostat housing, incorporating a mounting for Lees type heat exchanger, separate oil coolers, etc. Mark commented that he had seen this marine conversion on a previous single TS3 engine launch and although that conversion was badly corroded by decades of mindless neglect, the conversions appeared well designed and made. Mark doesn’t know who designed them or where in NZ they were cast, but possibly a long gone foundry in Otahuhu.

Mark has not seen Proteus in person and like us would be keen for an update on the status of the vessel. She does looks very similar to the Wellington based 1968 Owen Woolley launch – Acheron (also twin 140HP TS3 powered), but without Acheron’s  6 foot extension to the stern.

So Woodys – does anyone know where Proteus is (Gulf Harbour?) and intel on her?

Westhaven Marlin

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Westhaven Marlin

Now the headline might have excited a few fisherman but todays story isn’t about a game fish being sighted in the Inner Harbour.
Last Friday while driving along minding my own business, I spotted the above Marlin Marauder  parked up outside the Mercury dealer – Marineworx. Appeared to be receiving some TLC to the stern drive/leg.
Rather a smart woody in very good condition – anyone able to tell us more about her? There was no name on her stern. Her builders plate stated she was ‘Custom built by Sutton Mason & Co Ltd, Mt Roskill, Auckland.
Now on the subject of big game, I would be amiss if I didn’t remind the Auckland based Woodys about the big garage sale today at Salthouse Boatbuilders – details below and folks, a very nice bronze and timber game chair is centre stage.
ADDRESS: Salthouse Boatbuilders, 84 Rame Rd, Greenhithe, Auckland 0632
WHEN: TODAY – 9th November 
TIME: 10.am > 2pm
 
REMEMBER – CASH ONLY

Someone Stop Me

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Some One Stop Me
If I lived near a lake or Mahurangi etc – I would not be posting this story, I would be on-route to New Plymouth to buy this very cool double diagonal cold moulded kauri double ended day boat (thats a mouthful).
She measures approx 14’4” with the rudder on, built in 1970 in York Bay, Wellington.
Her motion is via a Petter 3.5hp diesel inboard, that was fitted c.1980s and has only done 40 hrs. Gearbox has N/F/R.
Her trailer hs been refurbished and fully road worthy.
Rod Prosser / Shawn Vennell – one of you must need another woody at the lake – perfect for the kids…………………
Thanks to Ian McDonald for the trademe heads up 😉