Category Archives: Engines

Ex WOODEN GAME BOAT – ODYSEA (SUSAN ROSE)

Posted on by
2

ODYSEA (SUSAN ROSE)

The 34’ wooden launch – ODYSEA, previously named SUSAN ROSE is a recent tme addition. The listing states that she was built c.1960 in Mangonui, Northland and took 10 years to build.

At on stage in her life she was based in the Bay of Islands as a game fishing charter boat, refer last photo.

Current propulsion is via twin 90hp Ford 4cyl. 2722E diesel engines. In recent (6>8 years) significant work has been done to systems and creature comforts.

Vendor says all she needs is a lick of paint and an oil change……………… maybe needs a top chop as well 😉

INPUT EX TOM FAHEY – Tom sent in the photo below of himself dated 18-02-1989 standing alongside a 199kg marlin he caught aboard SUSAN ROSE

CLASSIC WOODY BOAT FESTIVAL AT THE WHANGAREI TOWN BASIN – 48 Photos & Videos

Posted on by
Reply

CLASSIC WOODY BOAT FESTIVAL AT THE WHANGAREI TOWN BASIN – 48 Photos & Videos

The weekends weather in Auckland certainly wasn’t conducive to boating so on early Saturday morning I pointed the car north and headed to Whangarei for the 2024 Maritime Festival at the Town Basin.

Year two and a quick overview, – more tie-dyed tee shirt vendors and food trucks, a lot more general public – less launches, more large cruising yachts. Steam boat rides were the most popular offering – long queues of kids that probably walked away with a life time memory – well done to all the  steam boat skippers and crew.

Nice to see a couple of woodys from the Waitemata make the trip north – RAWHITI and JOHN DORY. 

As always when she makes an appearance anywhere Dick and Colleen Fisher’s ex pilot boat – AKARANA was the start of the show.

THE AUCKLAND WOODYS HAD AN INTERESTING TRIP HOME ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON 🙂

RAWHITI
JOHN DORY

TUAHINE – 43′ CLASSIC YACHT 4SALE – MAKE AN OFFER

Posted on by
7

TUAHINE – CLASSIC YACHT 4SALE – MAKE AN OFFER

When a classic woody has had the same owner for over 50 years, not a lot of people have popped their heads down below, today we get to do that.

The 43’ yacht Tuahine was designed and built in 1957 by the Dickson family, lead by Roy Dickson’s father (grandfather to Chris Dickson). Dickson senior along with Roy and twin brother had all sailed on Ranger with Lou Tercel and got many ideas from Ranger – longish with narrow beam (9’).

Stepping aboard Tuahine is like entering a time capsule being almost unaltered from new, always a sign that the designer / builder got it right first off. Tuahine even has the original Crown Lynn dinner set and on her bulkhead the pennant / decals recording her off-shore races (1977 and 1979 Auckland > Lautoka).

Home for most of the last 40 years has been the Bay of Islands, where she still resides, upstaging her plastic neighbours in the bay.

Her owners have followed a regular maintenance schedule that has included – recently removing the teak decks and plywood substrate laid and the deck relaid. The windows have also been removed and re-sealed. Other work has included the installation of a new Lombardini engine, new stove, new batteries and new main sail.

If the above sounds like an advertisement, it is – the Wooden Boat Bureau has been tasked with finding the next custodian of Tuahine. Her owners are motivated to sell so if you are looking for true blue classic with one of the best pedigrees in the fleet – contact waitematawoodys@gmail.com for more details on Tuahine, and then make an offer.

CLASSIC 1950’S WOODEN SKI BOAT

Posted on by
1

CLASSIC 1950’S WOODEN SKI BOAT

The c.1950’s 14’ classic ski boat – CORKER was built by by Bay Boats, Hastings for a Hawkes Bay farming family that holidayed in Rotorua, the the boat was used to ski on Lake Okataina and Lake Rotoiti. 

CORKER recently popped up on the tme and to be brutally honest the main reason I have featured her on WW is her paint job, stunning – looks like it may need a refreash but she just looks perfect. Current owners have have not held bak with the TLC and maintain in recent times.

Video below of the 30hp Ford petrol engine running. 

HEADS UP – #2 PONSONBY CC Featured Vessels Event Next Week

The PCC is proud to announce their second in the series of “Thursday Featured Vessels” featuring the classic yacht – WAIRIKI on Thursday September 5.  This woody was designed by world renowned yacht designer – Arch Logan in 1904 and is now owned by his grandson – Keith Logan. 

THE CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH TAINUI RELOCATES NORTH

Posted on by
3

THE CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH TAINUI RELOCATES NORTH

As reported last week the 38’ 1968 ex work boat – TAINUI was heading north to Blair Boats in Kerikeri to bring to fruition owner John Sloane’s dream.

In the photos above we see TAINUI leaving the Whangateau traditional boat shed via the beach and then heading north to Kerikeri .

Third photo sees her resting on the lawn at the Blair yard, waiting her turn in the shed. 

Last photo is of the Gardner 5LW installed. John commented previously that there is no intention to have an engine box – the mighty Gardner will be centre stage – as per MY GIRL, photo below – we like that 🙂

15-11-2024 UPDATE – to quote owner John Sloane ’The journey begins’ at Blair Boats

18-01-2025 UPDATE – work underway in the Blair Boats shed – we like that 🙂

Screenshot

KIWI REBUILD OF A CLASSIC CHRIS CRAFT RIVIERA – Whimsical Mistress

Posted on by
5
Lake Rotoiti 2023 – Alan H

KIWI REBUILD OF A CLASSIC CHRIS CRAFT RIVIERA –  Whimsical Mistress

Last month while discussing the gradual demise of a once nice wooden classic launch with Glen Archer he casually mentioned that he had imported a Chris Craft Riviera from the USA and totally restored / rebuilt her back in NZ. I’ll hand over to Glen to tell the story –  

 “Today I share some images and back story of our 1950 Chris Craft Riviera 20 that we imported from the USA in late 2018 from a deceased estate, the boat was pretty much stuffed, was in parts and had not been in the water since 1991, what followed was a full 3000 hour / 4 year restoration. The boat has 40% new oak frames, a full no soak bottom and a new deck, with it being very hard to see where the new and old timber meet.

The boat was relaunched in February 2023 The boat has been completely refixed fully with new silicone bronze screws and bolts and reassembled using 130 tubes of 3M 5200, stains and paints were imported to ensure period correct and the original MBL158 engine has been brought back to life with lots of new bits.  28 coats of varnish finish the boat off, along with a complete new interior, finished exactly as the boat left the factory. Quite possible the worlds most impractical thing to boat in, yet very high on the smile factor!” 

INDIA  – Picton Clinker & Classic Boat Club

Posted on by
2

INDIA  – Picton Clinker & Classic Boat Club

 Earlier in the week we were contacted by Roy Jones from the Picton Clinker & Classic Boat Club. Roy advised that he had come across a photo of the 1906 Robert Shakespear built launch – INDIA on WW.

INDIA these days is a very active member of the PC&CBC fleet so Roy undertook to pull together an article on INDIA that has appeared in the June 2024 club newsletter.

The PC&CBC is a very active club and meets regularly both on and off the water. This year they celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the club – well done.

If you are time poor fast forward to page 3 and get a wonderful insight into this amazing classic woody.

ALICE – Workboat Wednesday

Posted on by
3

ALICE – Workboat Wednesday

The above photo of the workboat – ALICE popped up on a Ray Morey fb post on the ’Tugs & Workboats of NZ’ site. At the time Ray commented that the photo showed ALICE on the Onehunga Harbour, and shows how she looked when she arrived at Tuakau. She was powered by a 3 cyl, 2 stroke Gardner semi diesel engine. Ray also commented that her previous owner was George Higham.

Can we learn more about this very smart looking craft

A DORA BLU

Posted on by
2

Today we are state side to have a tour of the 1933 Stephens Brothers built 43′ classic woody – A Dora Blu. I was sent the youtube link by John Dawson – now I ask that you ignore the youtube fluff at the start and the obvious sales pitch – trust me its worth checking out. I was very envious of the boat shed, must make caring for a classic a breeze. Her owners attention to maintaining the boats heritage looks and fit out is wonderful, but when they lift the engine bay covers the sight is a very big wow, twin Yanmar JHC120hp engines, proof that you do not need to weigh these old girls down with huge engines.

(note: some confusion on the build year – the nav light boards say 1931)

ID The Russell Yachts Friday Quiz Winner – Ken Fyle. WW burgee on the way – the yachts were – (L) XANTHO & (R) IIEX. As I thought a lot picked IIEX but only 2 correctly had XANTHO.

Probably NZ’s Biggest Classic – TSS Earnslaw

Posted on by
5

Probably NZ’s Biggest Classic – TSS Earnslaw

I had cause to spend sometime last week/end in Queenstown and made the effort to take a ‘cruise’ across Lake Whakatipu on the 1912 built coal fired steamer –  TSS Earnslaw. I have visited Queenstown a lot in the past but mainly for business related events and was always running to a tight agenda – not so this trip.

A wedding invitation was the excuse for a visit, so while the rest of the family went for a long walk I boarded the ship, at nearly 160’ in length she is a ship.

Trip included a brief stop at the Walter Peak farm – a very impressive looking complex.

The conditions were perfect and woodys I would encourage you to do it if you are down that way. Enjoy the photo gallery.

And the wedding was a stunner – the best of everything – people, venue, food, wine and music. I think I danced more in one night than in the last 20 years, hopefully no one was filming 🙂