The above photo of the launch Defender, previously named Scripps III, was taken by H Winkelmann and appears to have been ’torn’ out of a 1918 copy of NZ Yachtsman.
In a 2013 WW story Harold Kidd commented that Scripps III was pretty quick with her 4 cylinder Model K Scripps, bore 5.5″ and stroke 6″ = 475 cu ins =7.6 litres. It was a straightforward side-valve engine with twin ignition, producing vast gobs of torque. The above photo was tagged as saying on the day of the photo she nearly hit 17 knots.
Her specs were 35’ x 7’6” beam. At the time she was owned by a Mr. E. LeRoy.
Question of the day – can anyone ID the white hulled launch (race #94) in the background.
Saturday was one of those days when what weather conditions you had depended on where in Auckland you where. A few woodys made the call early and stayed home, the glass half full woodys were rewarded with a good day. The only H2O arrived around 3pm as we were getting ready to head back down the river. Once out of the river mouth it was ‘thank god’ for GPS, sea mist and a light drizzle covered the coastline.
As always its great to catch up after winter and see who’s been doing what to their craft.
Big thanks to the skippers and helpers that assisted with the wharf docking, made harder by a bin-liner (my new name for Bayliner plastic launches) that was claiming squatters rights at the end of the wharf. Good skipper handling skills and many lines saw everyone alongside without any grazes or bruises.
Lastly special thanks to Mark and Sue Edmonds for co-ordinating the location and organising the classic motorbikes that joined us on the lawn. Everyone was very smitten with the 3 wheeler – I understand a Morgan with a Matchless V twin transplant.
Earlier in the year we ran a brief story on the 35’ launch Kurangi, at the time we didn’t generate much intel on her but today we can share more.
Built in 1960, from single skin kauri carvel, her builder is unconfirmed -15 years ago when her owner purchased her he was told Kurangi was a Oliver & Gilpin design / build but this doesn’t sit well with the O&P gurus 🙂
Who ever penned the design, she has very good lines and is well built.
Kurangi is propelled by a Ford 6cyl. 100hp diesel and has a speed range of 7.5>9 knots.
Unlike so many woodys – Kurangi has an impressive service history and has been well maintained – in recent times – new frig/freezer, new toilet, new starter motor and batteries, new canvas canopies, heat exchanger serviced.
The boat has also just had an out-of-water survey for insurance purposes.
After 15 years of family cruising her owners are now at a stage in life where boating is a challenge so have made the decision to pass Kurangi onto new owners. OBC marina available tbc.
Interested parties looking for a turn-key classic launch , ready for summer cruising – contact the Wooden Boat Bureau for more details waitematawoodys@gmail.com
Bay of Islands woody Dean Wright sent in the above photo and video of a very salty woody trailer boat, Dean took the photos on Saturday as Momo cruised back up the Kerikeri inlet.
If the background noise in the video doesn’t match what you would have expected from Momo – relax, you ears aren’t playing up – Momo is powered by an o/board. The noise is coming from Dean’s woody – Arethusa’s Gardner 4LW.
Would love to learn more about Momo.
A bonus for the Gardner nuts – link below to a past WW story on Arethusa, which backgrounds the restoration and installation of the Gardner 4LW in Arethusa.
Big thank you to all the woodys that attended the Boat Boat Sale at The Slipway Milford on Saturday – a lot walked away with a WW cap and burgee tucked under their arm 🙂
VICTORIA CLASSIC BOAT FESTIVAL – Vancouver – Dockside Tour
Last week we had a story about Peter Knowles and his travel to the Victoria Wooden Boat Festival vis his v-blog ‘Boat Life – Travels With Geordie’. Peter very briefly showed us some of the craft arriving – today we get a dock-side wander, complete with captions for the classic woodys.
I hope the people at Auckland’s maritime museum see this video – re their upcoming Auckland wooden boat festival next year. The stand out observation is the mix of yachts + launches + work boats + small craft – it is all mixed in together and thats what works all around the world – not rocket science……………..
INPUT ex Neil Chalmers – Great video , at 2 56 there is the NZ yacht ‘Two Sisters’ (was sail no. F3) . Has a Woollacott look about her. I often wondered where she got to .
A picture of her at Bon Accord Kawau appears in the ‘Cruising in NZ Waters’ by GR Paul (below). This was the go to book in the 1960’s before to the RAYC Cruising Guide was published.
REMEMBER BOAT BOAT SALE 11am SATURDAY @ MILFORD SLIPWAY – 5 OMANA ROAD, MILFORD $BRING CASH$WW MERCHANDISE FOR SALE
THE REBIRTH OF CENTAURUS I often remark on WW that some boats get lucky in terms of owners and some sadly do not – Centaurus the 1969, 42’ Bailey & Sons bridge-decker is one of the lucky ones. A succession of owners have cared for her over the years, but even the best practices and intentions aren’t enough to ensure a 50+ year old wooden craft is 100% fit for purpose.
When Angus Rogers purchased Centaurus in late 2019, he had already compiled a ’To-Do’ list. Work started immediately on the projects that would make her more live able and comfortable for extended cruising. Fast forward to September 2020 and she was hauled out for an upgrade on systems and the installation of a bow and stern water thruster unit.
Fast forward to June 2021 and Centaurus was out again for a below the water-line back to bare wood refurbish.If you know Angus you will know that in-between all this there were dozens of other enhancements going on.
Fast forward to 2023 and the decision was made to undertake a refit that would see Centaurus live on for another 50 years. Initially most of the work was based around the decision to re-power with a new John Deere 175hp engine, this replaced the original Cummins V6 215hp that was the size and weight a small elephant. As anyone that has done a transplant knows, the to-do list just keeps growing…….
Below is a list of some of the work undertaken, I’m sure a few things got forgotten along the way, but its a tad scary. Well done Angus. WW has recorded a lot of the work over the last3 years, use the WW Search Box to view. Centaurus re-launched last week and looks stunning, ever the perfectionist Angus has another to-do list to finish her off, but he is under the pump to have her at the upcoming Woodys cruise to Clevedon on Sept 30th > .
Overview of recent work One new water tank, two new fuel tanks, all new plumbing and valves and fuel filter, fuel and water sight tubes and valves, new fuel breathers, new28x23 inch propellor, new and re-positioned motor water intake and toilet water intake and valves all Truedesign nylon and piping, new toilet outflow valve, new 175hp John Deere with ccv and a second alternator (Balmar 175 amp) engineered onto continuous belt, new 2.5:1 ZF gearbox, new fibreglass exhaust system, replaced exhaust on Webasto diesel heater with genuine Webasto parts, installed SaltAttack injection system for flushing motor, built dorade tubes for the 4 half funnels on the sides of the wheelhouse, created a soft closure hatch in the cabin top for the future when needed, new insulation for engine room hatches and around fuel tanks. Cleaned up all bilges under motor and painted white. Able to use existing shaft, dry seal and jack shaft which were all replaced two years ago. Anti-fouled hull and Propspeed to new prop.
Todays woody was nearly one of those projects that got started then life and time got in the way – thankfully Simon Raikes discovered the hull and took on the project.
What we see above is the result of Simon’s very talented skills. Simon’s company Craftbuilt won the 2023 Supreme Award at the Master Joinery Awards.
The launch is 30’ in length, constructed of diagonal laminated kauri planks and powered by a 80hp Ford D series engine. Not a lot more is known about the launch, so if anyone recognizes her – let us know.
A woody friend, Andrew Christie also sent me a link to a 3 minute birds-eye video of the fleet filmed by Saxton Thomas – what an impressive gig. I can see Jason Prew salivating over this 🙂
Todays woody appeared in WW back in 2016 (link below) since then she has been re-powered with twin 350 Chef V8’s that give her a top speed of 30 knots – as they say if you have to ask what the consumption is – its not the boat for you 🙂 The re-power was more a de-power, the previous engines saw her topping out at 45 knots.
Ka-iwi is a 26’ Mason Clipper, built in 1968 and possibly the first twin engined one. Originally owned by the Stevenson family and used up north at their family bach. Has also done some powerboat racing in her early days. Thanks to Ian McDonald for the tme heads up
29-06-2023 UPDATE ex Hamish Moore – Hamish spotted the article below in the May 1968 edition of Sea Spray magazine
SAD – Angus Roger’s 1967/8 Baileys & Sons built launch – Centaurus left The Landing at Okahu Bay hardstand on Aucklands waterfront on a transporter – why sad?, because she was the last boat left hauled out at the Orakei Hardstand, looks like Scott Milne and his Auckland Council cronies have done a clandestine stocktake i.e. the haul out facility has been closed down and the area no longer available to rate paying Auckland boaties.
(“A section (term) in the above post has been edited on request. The use of the term was not intended to offend any particular ethnic group or religious advocate. No malicious was intended.
WW thanks Mr. Adam Ross for drawing the NZ Human Rights Commission to the matter and going forward the WW site will tighten the filter on its comments”)
GOOD – Centaurus is off to a new temporary home for the final act of her refit – the installation of a John Deere 6.8L 175 hp diesel. The JD replaces her original engine, which was a monster – a Cumins V6 215hp – photo below. The Cumins had to partially dismantled to get her out.
Centaurus is a very big woody – 42’ long with a 13’ beam and built like a brick outhouse – 1.25” kauri carvel planked.
Lots of chat and head scratching going on during the unloading > cradle 🙂
Full details on all the refit work in a later WW story.
UPDATE 06-07-2023 NEW ENGINE INSTALLED (video ex Tim Strange)
SKY TV ADDICT – the owner of this (name withheld) launch must like his Sky Sports 🙂
UPDATE FOR THE RECORD – after input from numerious parties re the launch date of Centaurus we can advise the following – BUILT 1967/8 – LAUNCHED EARLY 1969
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