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
Todays classic woody is named SEABIRD, a very popular name on WW. This one made a brief appearance on WW back in December 2020. At the time we learnt from Harold Kidd that she was built at Motukaraka, Hokianga by Kelsey Bros to their own design for their own use in April 1912 with a 6hp Automatic engine. The last photo above was from the 2020 story.
SEABIRD has recently popped up on tme (thanks Ian McDonald) where we are told she is 27’ in length, double skin kauri hull, powered by a 80hp Hino diesel. SEABIRD has spent most of its life on the Hokianga and was built for the sheltered but demanding waters of this harbour.
Her owner commented that she was “looking a tad shabby right now but the bones are there to get this back into great vintage condition”. She served originally as the Kelsey family launch, as well as a Butter Boat and School Boat.
WW hopes a new passionate owner is found for SEABIRD – her location, condition and style/configuration will be challenging but these earlier settler launches need preserving.
NGATIRA – RARE CLASSIC WOODEN YACHT FRESH FROM RESTORATION & READY FOR HER NEXT CHAPTER
Heads up – when it comes to the 1904 Chas Bailey Jnr. designed and built yacht – NGATIRA, I’m a tad biased. I have known her owner , Steve Horsley for 25+ years, in fact he is responsible for igniting my passion for classic wooden boats. We worked together in the same advertising agency and I used see Steve each year crafting the Mahurangi Cruising Club Year Book and view / read the wonderful tales on wooden craft that participated in the Mahurangi Regatta.
At the same time Steve was undertaking a FULL rebuild / restoration on NGATIRA. I witnessed the highs and lows of a hands on, one man, self funded project. The fact he came thru it (twice) is a testament to his fortitude and a very sympathetic wife 🙂
Steve has owned NGATIRA since 1998 and converted her back to original gaff configuration over a 5 year restoration 2005-2010.
Then he undertook a second 5 year restoration in the 2020-2025 period.
As she sits today NGATIRA is in immaculate condition, better than as launched 122 years ago.
Steve is one of those people you hate, he can turn his hands to just about anything – what you see in the above photos is Steve’s work. Including bespoke traditional rigging, spars, blocks.
She sports a very traditional sail wardrobe – main, topsail, jib and staysail.
Forward propulsion when not sailing is via a Yanmar 3YM30AE diesel engine.
If you have read this far you will be starting to think that NGATIRA is for sale – well woodys she is – now is the chance to own an immaculate classic yacht that is ready to sail away today – either classic cruising and racing with the Auckland’s classic yachting group.
Classics with the WoW factor that NGATIRA exhibits are very rare and its a buyers market.
Interested parties to initially connect Steve Horsley at srhorsley@gmail.com
Short answer because the owners are just lazy – take todays 1927 built double-ender 33’ classic wooden boat currently on tme, one photo and the copy below –
“Boat and mooring in Oamaru. Fordson major engine parsons3/1 gearbox. Needs some ribs replaced ( freshwater damage) also comes with 8 meters of brand new 60mm thick heatproof waterproof sound deadening for a new engine cover ( cost me $2000 ) Good wee sea boat. Time for someone else to give it some love. $1 reserve”
OK – there is no reserve and a starting bid of $1, but seriously you’d be better off giving it away.
I hope she finds a new owner, the bones are there of a smart woody.
REMINDER – TOMORROWS BOAT BOOT SALE – 10am – details below – BRING CASH 🙂 PLENTY OF ROOM
Back in October 2024 the 1895 Jack Logan built yacht – MAHAKI came onto the WW radar via a request from Chris Leech from the Devonport Yacht Club re the yachts current owners. DYC had received a gift of the ‘NZ Yachtsman Cup’ that MAHAKI won in 1910. (below b/w photos from her past)
Some history that we have learned – MAHAKI was owned by Harry Upton, and his friends Geoff Clark and Dick Wilson (later his brother in law) during the 1930s. Owned by Russell Going an Auckland architect in the early/mid 1980’s.
Bought by Eric Wing (McMullan & Wing) in the mid 1980’s. Partially restored by Wing and then on his passing in 1994 was purchased by Peter Blundell who finished the project in Clevedon.
Todays photos are in three parts – firstly photos from the 1980’s restoration, then as seen at her relaunching after Peter completed the restoration project And lastly as MAHAKI is today, back in Peter’s shed part way thru a refresh.
Aside from showcasing this wonderful 130 year old artefact, the purpose of todays WW story is to help Peter Blundell secure MAHAKI’s next chapter. A very common thread in my conversations with owners is that who the next custodian is and their commitment to the vessel is more important than the sale price. I do not want to scare people off but if you think you or someone you know are fitting of adding their name to the list of people that have rubbed up against MAHAKI, be prepared for a robust ‘interview’
