Category Archives: For Sale

FORTUNA – A Peek Down Below

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FORTUNA – A Peek Down Below

Many moons ago when I was launch captain at the CYA I had a lot of dealings with the then owner of – FORTUNA, the 35’ Henry Scheel designed motor sailer. As you will see from the photo gallery above FORTUNA is very well fitted out and in great condition for a 1949 built wooden craft. 

Her tme listing (thanks Ian McDonald) states over $580,000 spent on her, which is possible but I have no memory of the boat being in Peter Brookes yard……… 😉

Back into 2007/8 she had a back to bare timber refit, which included a re-power with a 135hp Lees Ford.

For a 35’ woody that has a 11’6” beam she is more than capable of extended cruising, with all the fruit e.g. water maker, auto pilot, 600L fuel and of course rigged to sail.

CLASSIC WOODEN WORK BOAT – ARAHINA

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 Arriving from Auckland on 31 October 1925
Going about her business on a calm Wellington Harbour
1954 at the start of her 18,000 pound refit, which included a new wheelhouse

Classic Wooden Work Boat – ARAHINA 

Back on August 24th WW draw attention to the Wellington ex Pilot Boat – ARAHINA and how she was desperately in need of a new custodian – At the time Paul Drake commented as below, then sent in the above photos from the past.

ARAHINA arrived in Wellington from Bailey and Lowe’s yard in Auckland on 31st October 1925. On trials she achieved 10 knots with her 100HP Fairbanks Morse engine. In 1954/55, ARAHINA had major work done on her structure and a new wheelhouse added. This was done by Wellington Harbour Board shipwrights, at a cost of 18,000 pounds. In 1979, she went to Jorgensen’s in Picton for another refit, and on her return (under tow) she had the 193HP Kelvin engine fitted. She was sold into private ownership at the end of 1987 and relocated to Picton.She is remembered by one Wellington pilot who knew her well as “a narrow gutted single screw vessel.

She was a seaworthy vessel but tended to broach severely in a following sea, as was often experienced off Pencarrow in a southerly”. On one such occasion when she picked up speed on the face of a large sea astern, her stern picked up and over she went, throwing her Launchmaster into the corner of the wheelhouse as he tried but failed to keep her on course. The pilot and engineer eyed each other as they made for the open wheelhouse door. But ARAHINA recovered herself and all was well enough.

MERLE – 1956 CLASSIC KAURI CLINKER

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MERLE – 1956 CLASSIC KAURI CLINKER
This very smart looking 14’ Sea Craft built kauri clinker runabout popped recently on tme. In the last 18 months we have seen several of these woodys hitting the market . This one is named MERLE and appears to be one of the best.

She was rescued and restored by retired Fairlie boatbuilder Dick Guard as a retirement project. His father, in turn, was also a boatbuilder in the region who helped create Jomo Craft, which built some of the country’s most beautiful old timber boats.

Her owner has correspondence between the restorer and Lionel Sands of Sea Craft – which went on to become Haines Hunter. Sands talks about working in the family’s 1,000 acre forest where for two years he milled the kauri timber used to build this boat. His father believed you must appreciate the living tree before you could build boats.

The original construction of these boats is detailed in the correspondence and the restoration detailed in hand-written notes.

The owner purchased the boat but a growing family has meant MERLE has not been used she she should be and the decision has been made to pass her onto an appropriate new owner. 

She’s fitted with a 30HP Mercury two-stroke and an auxiliary Mercury outboard.

CLASSIC MOTOR BOAT – ORMPAPERE

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CLASSIC MOTOR BOAT – ORMPAPERE

Todays woody recently popped up on tme (Ian McDonald ✔️), while the cabin house is calling out for a facelift more in keeping with her hull, as the architects say – she has got great bones.

A woody sympathetic craftsman could easily turn ORMPAPERE into a real looker.

Some background – 22’ in length built by Alf Sanders in the carvel planked method. Forward motion is via a Nissan SD22 4cyl. diesel engine.

Home port is Waikawa Bay, Picton – the perfect base and craft for cruising the Marlborough Sounds

MYSTERY SHIPBUILDERS 30’ WOODEN LAUNCH – ANTIBES

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MYSTERY SHIPBUILDERS 30’ WOODEN LAUNCH – ANTIBES

Todays woody is only a mystery because there is no name visible on the vessel or mentioned on tme (thanks Ian McDonald).

What we know is she was built from triple skin kauri (+glass) in 1979 by Shipbuilders and is powered by a 180hp Nissan turbo diesel engine, given her length and engine size she cruises nicely at 10 knots.

I have spotted her several time moored at Waiheke Island and she always looked well cared for.

The 1979 build and some of the design elements (flybridge, stern profile) keep her out of the true classic group but she gets away with it, which isn’t easy on a sub 30’ vessel.

Can we put a name to the launch.

REMEMBER BOAT YARD SALE AT TE ATAU BOATING CLUB TOMORROW

CLASSIC YACHT – MARERE I1 – Looking For A New Home

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CLASSIC YACHT – MARERE I1* – Looking For A New Home

Recently WW was contacted by the owner of the mullet boat – MARERE asking for help finding a new custodian for the yacht. 

MARERE was built by Fred Mann in 1919 at his yard on John St, Ponsonby. She was designed by Ralph Goodwin, who owned her until 1923, when she was passed on to Olie Goodwin who kept her until 1935. (*note – sail number is I ONE)

In the gallery of photos above we she her in 1922 in a Henry Winkelmann photo and in the more recent colour photos, given the outboard on her transom. I’d guess late early 2000’s.

In the last photo she is wrapped up for storage, waiting a someone with the passion and wherewith-all to return this 105 year old piece of NZ’s maritime history to her former glory.

WALL OF SHAME -I think I need to start a wall of shame – woodys whose owners need to better care for their craft or pass it on to someone that will.

First Photo On The Wall – LEXIA, the 1904 Chas Bailey Jnr. Built yacht.

CLASSIC 1950’S WOODEN SKI BOAT

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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. 

HISTORIC EX PILOT BOAT – ARAHINA – NEEDS SAVING

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HISTORIC EX PILOT BOAT – ARAHINA – NEEDS SAVING

Recently WW was contacted by ‘Wellington Waterfront’ regarding one of Wellington’s historic pilot boats – ARAHINA, that was available for purchase. Currently moored at Queens Wharf, the 66′ ARAHINA is a beautiful vessel constructed from Kauri wood and was originally delivered to Wellington in 1925.

In addition to its piloting duties, the Arahina played a heroic role in the rescue of dozens of passengers and three crew members from the sinking Wahine on April 10, 1968.

Wellington Waterfront are seeking a new owner who will cherish and preserve the ARAHINA for the next century. Ideally, they hope it remains in Wellington, as it represents a significant piece of the regions maritime heritage. The sale is via court order to pay mounting berth costs.

If you are interested in owning this remarkable vessel, please follow the link below for more details.

Tenders are welcome!

https://www.seaboats.net/19m-ex-pilot-launch-for-sale-by-tender-1586437
B/W photo courtesy of the Maritime Archaeological Association of NZ.

CLASSIC KAURI BUILT WOODEN LAUNCH – TOROA – A Peek Down Below 

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CLASSIC KAURI BUILT WOODEN LAUNCH – TOROA – A Peek Down Below 

The 26’ carvel planked launch – TOROA has made two previous appearance on WW, links below, but today thanks to Ian McDonald’s eagle eyes and tme we get to have a gander down below.

Her listing states she was built in c.1955 by Chas Bailey & Sons. After an early life in salty water she moved to Lake Taupo in 2014 where still still resides.

Forward motion is from a 1980’s Ford 4cyl. 80hp diesel engine, that gives her a 6 >7 knot cruising speed.

The photos above are combination of 2012 and present day – she needs some TLC but appears to be a good low entry level floating Taupo bach or bring her home to the Waitemata 🙂

WW Oct 2014 https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/10/07/toroa/

WW Oct 2021 https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/10/14/toroa-gets-a-birthday/

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – OKAREKA – A Peek Down Below

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – OKAREKA – A Peek Down Below

The classic wooden launch OKAREKA popped up recently on tme (thanks Ian McDonald for the heads up) The listing states she was built in 1952 by Colin Wild, is 36’ in length and powered by twin 75hp Ford 2704 diesels.Being sold as-is-where- is.
Can we learn more about her past.

Morning woodys – there was a typo in the spelling of the boats name it wasn’t Orareka its OKAREKA, previously named FERG AND FERGY. Sorry for the confusion – you can view and read more about her here https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/08/17/okareka-2/

30-01-2025 INPUT ex BARRIE ABEL – photo below of OKAREKA moored off Brooklands Boating Club on the Clevedon River.

THE REAL REASON FOR TODAYS STORY –   Sadly plans are a foot to close the winter haul out area at Little Shoal Bay, Northcote.  Yeap another one under the axe of Auckland Council. So woodys have your say, click the link below to sign the petition.  https://www.change.org/p/save-little-shoal-bay-boatyard