A SPIRIT OF TRADITION CLASSIC LAUNCH – FAULTLESSLY PRESENTED 4SALE
If you used the WW search panel you would not find many Pelin Empress motor launches on WW, but there would be more than you would find Vindexs 🙂
Todays 35′ launch, ELYSIUM fits very comfortably into the Spirit of Tradition category.
Built in 1980, 10.6m in length and powered by a 225hp Ford Lehman SP225 turbo diesel engine.
Her owner, a good friend, has ELYSIUM for sale along with her Gulf Harbour marina (note – marina not for sale separately)
The sale is brought about due to health reasons, always sad for an owner but more often, a buyer gets a better boat i.e. most boats sell at the end of an ownership period and their condition reflects deferred maintenance.
There is a tongue-in-cheek saying amongst trades people that goes like this – “the builder has the worst maintained house in the street” – well ULYSIUM’s owner is a marine engineer and he destroys the saying. In terms systems, fittings and maintenance you would struggle to find a better boat. I do not have the room on the page to narrate her extensive fit out. To see and read more go to her trademe listing https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/boats-marine/motorboats/listing/6173940295
WW has been contacted by Jack Lyons regarding his 12’6” classic Sea Craft clinker built kauri runabout .
Jack’s father purchased the boat c.1950 and ownership was passed on to Jack but as is often the case these craft get ‘parked’ away with the good intention of being restored.
Well life and the ownership of a 47’ Warwick yacht got in the way and now Jack has made the call to find a new custodian that can take on the project.The Sea Craft is located in Wellinton and from Jack’s comments, the right owner is more important than the right prize. WW readers will be familiar with my view that these trailerable classics are the future of classic wooden boating, so woodys someone needs to put their hand up.Jack can be contacted at
CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – MOANA ROA (MAUREEN R) A Peek Down Below
Back in August 2018 we Rana story on the 1957 Owen Woolley built 29’ launch MOAANA ROA (previously named MAUREEN R, then over time we received regular input and historical photos from WW readers as to her story, the last being in 2025, Link to that story here https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/08/27/maureen-r/
Fast forward to last week and thanks to Ian McDonald spotting a tme listing we now get to have a peel down below.
Appears to be a very smart, well presented classic wooden launch. Forward motion is from a Lees Marine Ford 60hp diesel engine.
The 32’ classic launch EMERALD first appeared on WW back in Sept 2019 (link below) that story generated a lot of comments and historical photos (below – dated c.1970’s). We also were sent updated photos from her then trademe listing. WW Sept 2019 https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/09/16/emerald/
What we know about EMERALD – built c.1950’s, designer unknown but possibly her hull from the Collings & Bell stable.
Kauri hull now glassed and powered by a 3.6L, 4 cylinder Ford Trader marinized (Lees Marine) diesel engine, that gives her a cruising speed of 9 knots. Her home waters are Picton, Marlborough Sounds, South Island.
Earlier in the week WW was contacted by Bruce Herbert, who purchased EMERALD in 2022. Bruce advised that between 2022 and 2023 he commissioned a restoration at Sounds Marine Series, Picton that saw her exterior and interior refurbished and included upgrades to her systems.
Sadly circumstances have changed and Bruce is looking for the next custodian of EMERALD. Bruce is aware the market is weak and in my eyes is asking a fair price ($19k)
05-10-2026 INPUT ex owner BRUCE HERBERT (edited) – below are a few photos showing some of the journey Emerald has come on. The black and white image shows a similar lineage, I’m guessing, or is of a similar age as the image above from c,1970’s. The location is Henderson, courtesy of Bob Wylie, where she was undergoing the rework of hull restoration when they sheathed it in glass, along with the additional cabin work.
On my numerous trips to the OBC marina in Auckland I have walked past the classic wooden launch – SEA LEOPARD. Thanks to a note from Lindsay McMorran we learn that she has just appeared on tme. What we learnt – 36’ in length, kauri planked and powered by a 120hp Ford Leman diesel engine.
Previously owned by the Onehunga Working Men’s Club (as it was then known.) which may the origin of the OTT side rails.To quote the owner re her condition ‘definitely not new’, but the bones are there and appears well spec’ed and only asking 7k
Can we learn more about her – design, builder, launch date etc.
During 2019 I closely followed the fate of the classic wooden launch LADY MARGARET, back then home was the top of the South Island and she was for sale. By birth LADY MARAGRET is a Waitemata woody, but its rare that we get one back from the south – transport costs being the #1 hurdle.
Sadly her time in Auckland was brief as she relocated further north, where she currently remains.
Some background – built in Mt Albert, Auckland in 1955 by L. Deacon. As launched she was named Lady Mary, sadly her builder / owner passed away in 1956 and Lady Mary was sold to Mr John Senior, who changed her name to Happy Wanderer. At some stage she was renamed again to Lady Margaret.
While classified as a ‘home-build’ her builder was a professional builder / cabinet maker and the standard of workmanship and finish is second to none. There is a dockside tale that LM was based on a Colin Wild design, scaled down to 38’. The tale mentions that a friend of a friend lent some plans…….. no proof of this but in my naive eyes she is too perfect to not have had direction from one of the grandmasters.
Her hull is two skin kauri – inner is 3/8” diagonal and the outer is 7/8” horizontal.
LADY MARGARET is been re-powered several times and currently forward motion is from a Ford D series 120hp diesel engine.
Thru out LADY MARGARET’s life she has been blessed with good owners who have maintained her very well, in the 2007/8 period approx. $300k was lavished on her. This care has been continued by her current owner, a marine engineer.
Recently I received a call asking for assistance in finding a new custodian for LADY MARGARET, in an earlier life I would have bought her 🙂 So woodys if you or someone you know are in the market for one of the best looking classic launches afloat, contact me at waitematawoodys@gmail.com fast. Serious buyers only please. Its a buyers market, has been for 2+ years. Now is the
time to take that leap of faith, throw caution to the winds, take the plunge, and get yourself, your family, and your friends on the water this summer.
(footnote – along the way she lost the varnished coamings (1st photo below), I have taken the liberty to render an image, below, of what could be, est cost $10k.) FYI – I will be taking more photos this week.
It is only a mystery because the owner doesn’t think a vessels name is part of its history…….
The woody featured above is approx. 33’ in length, with a carvel hull and powered by a Ford 75hp diesel engine. And that woodys is all we know so keen to learn more about her other than home is Nelson.
I suspect her owner has some basic engineering skills – the stern davits suggest a DIY addition, practical I’m sure but maybe better suited to a workboat.
Todays classic wooden motor-sailer ASTROLINDA has a magnificent provenance – designed by Athol Burns and built professionally by Morgan Boatbuilders of Picton in 1966 (named MANUTAI when launched) Built of carvel construction, 34’6”, with kauri hull and decks, mahogany cabin sides and ply deck-head. Put simply an elegant classic with pedigree and class, she fully retains her original aura, character and pedigree. But at the same time, a careful integration of modern systems and technology ensures the very latest in comfort – auto pilot, cabin heater, furling headsail, hot shower, + extensive systems upgrade, sleeps 4>5.
ASTROLINDA has benefited from a succession of caring owners that have all maintained her in consistently exceptional condition.
Her current owners have enjoyed her for approx. 10 years, during this period they have undertaken the following projects – (overview only) –
• Powered by a Ford 80hp 4 cylinder diesel engine – fully reconditioned • New fuel lift pump, new starter motor, new alternator, reconditioned raw water pump • New Maxwell RC10 anchor winch installed with remote control • New 12 volt batteries installed • Mast removed and all rigging stripped off > mast paint stripped/sanded and repainted with 8 coats of paint, halyard winch fitted > mast fitted with new wiring and new riding and steaming lights plus new deck floodlights. Rigging checked, reassembled and mast reinstated • New Simrad radar + chart plotter/sounder + / VHF (AIS capable) installed • New 1 KW transducer installed • New 12/230 volt fridge fitted • New 80 m x 10mm galvanised anchor chain fitted • New gas detector and electric solenoid safety on/off valve installed
ASTROLINDA is a practical classic motorsailer that is fun to use and with the use of low maintenance materials is easy to maintain. An inspection will showcase the quality of materials, construction and craftsman ship evident throughout and attest to the fact she has been well loved and cared for by her owners, past and present.
Now offered for sale to the next generation of cruising sailors and their families. ASTROLINDA should be a must-see for anyone in the market for a well-maintained, classic sailing yacht on which to have their own adventures, whether that be as a floating bach in the Picton or relocated to the northern cruising grounds.Interest parties wanting to learn more about ASTROLINDA to initially contact waitematawoodys@gmail.com
WW has run numerous stories on the very appealing classic clinker runabouts built by the Seacraft company in Auckland. Well maintained examples tend to be snapped up by the ‘lake crowd’, todays woody is already at Lake Taupo, would be nice to liberate her and let some salt water into her kauri hull.
What we learned from tme – built in 1956, 14’ in length, 2012 30hp Mercury o/board + what appears to be a good road trailer. Asking price 15k
Park her in the drive and wave goodbye to the marina robber barons and annual haul out costs
