Category Archives: For Sale

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – VIOLETTA – A Peek Down Below

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – VIOLETTA – A Peek Down Below

Back in December 2023 WW ran a story on the 36’ Swanson designed and built wooden launch – VIOLETTA. At the time we learnt a lot about her but did not get to see down below. Dec story here https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/12/18/violetta/

Now thanks to a recent tme appearance we get a peek down below + some recent photos.

In summary – Built in 1965, with a diagonal Kauri hull. initially for use in the Cook Strait, she has subsequently made 100’s of trips across to Durville Island, Steven’s Island and Pelorous Sounds.
Powered by a 150hp Ford turbo engine, she cruises comfortably at 10>11 knots and at fully chat will do 15 knots. As expected with a Swanson and her playground , VIOLETTA is very well appointed.

CLASSIC 1929 WOODEN LAUNCH VECA – 4sale

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CLASSIC 1929 WOODEN LAUNCH VECA – 4sale

Todays classic woody launch is VECA, built and launched in November 1929 in Evans Bay , Wellington . Her owner Peter Glue commented that she was built in Kilburnie by his wife’s grand father and his brother (Weine & Peter Harvey) and is named after their wives Vera and Caroline . Arthur Sang , a boat builder on the Hutt River , supervised and helped the brothers .

vECA was sold during WW2 when fuel was hard to get and was bought back into the family in the early 1960’s where she has remained until today .

She has been a much loved family member and has undergone many improvements ensuring that her classic lines have been retained .                                     She is 36′ x 10′ with a draft of 4′. Hull is 1.5” kauri which has ben refastened and recaulked a number of years ago . Top sides were plyed and glassed over so she as sound today as when she was launched 97 years ago .

Forward motion is via a 27 hp Volvo and she consumes less than 3 litres per hour at 6.5 -7 knots cruising speed . She has a foremast and mizzen mast (which is not mounted ) with a steadying sail in her ample stern storage compartment .

After nearly 100 years of ownership the call has been made to find her next custodian. VECA is very well appointed and presents in stunning condition, ready for the next 100 years of family fun .

Sitting at Waikawa on a 11m marina berth which can be transfered to new owner.

You will have ‘heard’ me talk about it being a buyers market – well here is an example – asking price $45k

An idea, buyer her, rent the marina berth for 3>4 months and have a summer holiday cruising around the top of the South Island. Then bring her north (motor > wellington > road haulage > Auckland / Northland)

Interested parties to contact owner at p.j.glue@xtra.co.nz

Photos below from her early days. (Note photos above are a mix of past and present)

PENCARROW – A WWII VETERAN CLASSIC LOOKING FOR A NEW CUSTODIAN

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PENCARROW – A WWII VETERAN CLASSIC LOOKING FOR A NEW CUSTODIAN

Back in April 2022 WW ran a story on the launch PENCARROW, a 1916 , 38’6” bridge-decker built by Chas Bailey & Son, Auckland – with a proud WWII service history. Known as NAPS superstar Z75, she served Wellington Harbour. At the time Dylan Sagger was trying to find the location of the vessel. Link to story here – lots of photos. https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/04/04/pencarrow-where-is-she/

Fast forward 4 years and Dylan has provided an update on the launch after talking with her owner, who also advised the vessel was now listed on trademe.

Her construction is a displacement hull with triple-planked kauri. And remarkably today she still retains her 120hp Ford Lees six-cylinder engine. Dylan commented that his father a previous owner, always described her as a “good sea boat”.

Dylan would love to see her returned to her former glory, perhaps even restored to her Z75 wartime configuration. Taking her on is beyond Dylan’s reach but ENCARROW deserves a caring new owner. She is a genuine piece of New Zealand boating history that should be preserved and celebrated.

Her trade me listing expires on 27 November 2026, she has a starting bid of $1 and no reserve, so there must be someone with the resources to rescue her. Current location is Port Underwood, Marlborough Sounds.

CLASSIC WOODEN CLINKER RUNABOUT

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CLASSIC WOODEN CLINKER RUNABOUT

In recent times more and more of these restored Seacraft classic clinker runabouts have been topping up on tme (thanks Ian McDonald).

This one is 16’ in length and  was built in 1955. The engine is a Ford 100E, petrol and is allocated 1955 so possibly the original engine.

Her hull has been Dynal on the outside and Endure on the interior so should be dry boat.

Trailer appears modern and at $8750 ono its an affordable entry into the classic wooden boating community.

THE NEXT BIG CLASSIC WOODYS EVENT – Clevedon River Overnight BBQ Cruise Nov 14>15

RSVP NOW – BOAT NAME AND APPX CREW #’s – Note dock space is limited

EMAIL waitematawoodys@gmail.com

CLASSIC CABIN JET BOAT – TARANUI

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CLASSIC CABIN JET BOAT – TARANUI

If you typed the words jet boat into the WW search box, pretty sure the answer would be ’Nothing Found’, until today.

I stumbled across this wee beauty 4 sale in Nelson – what a treasure.

Some details – TARANUI is 19’ in length and was built in 1967 by Mr Macpherson of Mapua. She spent the most of her life in a shed at Duncan Bay, Tennyson Inlet. Powered by a Crusader Marine 327 Chevy, connected to a Hamilton Jet unit which was purchased from Wilkins & Field in the mid to late 60’s. The gate steering has been modified to make her more agile.

She won ‘Best Jet Boat’ at the 2016 Classic Boat Show at Lake Rotoiti and from the photos looks like she could win again.

STUNNING SUNSET AT KBC LAST NIGHT

CLASSIC 1930’S BIG GAME FISHING LAUNCH – 4sale

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CLASSIC 1930’S BIG GAME FISHING LAUNCH – 4sale

Todays woody is named PILOT and has appeared on WW numerous times over the years, each time we have learned more about her provenance.

What we have learnt is that she was built in 1931 by L.C. Coulthard in Onehunga, Auckland for the  New Plymouth Harbour Board.

Back in the early to mid 1990s her current owner, Paul Nattrass, was working for Sea-Tow barging coal into New Plymouth and commented to the senior pilot that he would like to buy the boat. Paul was told he would never get the opportunity as someone from the port would get her.                   Fast forward a couple years and in a tender Paul  bid to in sure that he proved him wrong.

Paul and friend Graeme Wiig steamed her round the top of the North Island to Houhora where she still resides today.At the time of purchase she was powered by a 4 cylinder Ford diesel, later updated to a 6 cylinder .Paul converted PILOT to a recreational game boat and has been landing good sized fish ever since.

After approx. 30 years of ownership Paul has made the call to find a new custodian for PILOT. To quote Paul ‘ she is a wonderful sea boat and seems to be blessed with good luck in terms of landing fish’.Wonderful bones, time spent with a sander and paint brush will be rewarded with a very sharp looking classic woody.

Interested parties to initially contact Paul at paulnat@xtra.co.nz

A SPIRIT OF TRADITION CLASSIC LAUNCH – FAULTLESSLY PRESENTED 4SALE

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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

PROJECT CLASSIC SEA CRAFT CLINKER RUNABOUT

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PROJECT CLASSIC SEA CRAFT CLINKER RUNABOUT

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  

lyonsfamily@actrix.co.nz

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – MOANA ROA (MAUREEN R) A Peek Down Below

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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.

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – EMERALD – 4sale

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – EMERALD –  4sale

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)

Interested parties to contact Bruce at  bruce@tradingwireless.com for more intel on the vessel.

c.1970’s

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.