The 34’ John Gladden designed launch – Halcyon, with a 1980 build date fits into the spirit of tradition category. Built from double diagonal kauri (glassed) and powered by a Cummins 6BTA 250hp turbo that give her a top speed of 16 knots.
A quick review of her tme listing (thanks Ian McDonald) reveals a well fitted out family cruiser.
SOUTHERN SEAS – A PEEK DOWN BELOW
Southern Seas., previously named South Seas, last appeared on WW back in 2014 (link below) At the time she was for sale at an asking price of $85k, currently she is for sale with bids starting at $25k and a ‘buy now’ figure of $65k, which includes marina (I suspect, rental only).
Back in 2014 we were not able to successfully ID the designer / builder and from her tme listing, thanks Ian McDonald, still can not. Possible build date is c.1963. We know that she is 34’ in length and built of 3 skins of kauri on opposite diagonals and powered by a Lees converted 6 cyl. Ford D series diesel.
As always keen to be able to confirm her provenance.
2014 WW story. https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/04/04/6728/
NORTHERN STAR
The 40’ ex workboat Northern Star was built c.late 196o’s by Roger Carey in Picton, then c.2009 she was converted to a trawler cruiser / live aboard.
Forward motion is via a rebuilt 6LX Gardner that is keel cooled. Like all good southerns woodys there is a diesel heater to keep toastie below.
From her tme listing (thanks Ian McDonald) we see that she is very well fitted out for extended cruising.
INPUT ex Russell Ward – photo below taken 20+ years back, in Picton marina. Russell commented that they all looked so much better in working colours than in the stark white that present owners use.
#1 Summer Woody Read
I was contacted by Chris McMullen during the week with a suggestion that I make contact with noted kiwi yachtie and boat builder – Gilbert (Gil) Littler. Now when Mr McMuMullen ’suggests’ something I normally respond pretty quickly, second only to suggestions from Robert Brooke 🙂 24hrs later I’m having coffee with Gil and his wife Susan – why am I telling you this? Because Gil has just penned an amazing book titled – SHIPWRIGHT BOAT BUILDER YACHTSMAN 1962-1992. The 100+ page book is split into 3 sections:
Part One – A brief history of the Bailey Family
Part Two – My Apprenticeship Years
Part Three – My Yacht Racing Years
I have squirreled away a copy for summer boat reading but I did do a quick dive into some of the pages and its a wonderfully refreshing read, more like sitting in a comfortable spot afloat and listening to Gil entertain you with his life story. Lots of photos and illustrations also to view. In CMcM’s words – This book is a gold mine of history and information. Written by a guy on the floor in the boatshop and a foredeck hand on a very famous Kiwi Yacht. By winning the One Ton Cup put New Zealand on the yachting map.
The $40 – + P&P – 100+ page book is self published so obtaining a copy is not as easy as walking down to your nearest book store but it is worth the effort. So to order a copy:
Email Gil at gil@littlerfamilyresearch.com or go to www.littlerfamilyresearch.com (the website is being set up, so if you are in a hurry – use email)
Gil & Susan are currently traveling so do not expect an instant reply 🙂
My 2nd Pick Is The Mahurangi Cruising Club Year Book
Now the title may sound a little boring but the contents certainly are not. Always a fantastic publication pulled together by design guru Steve Horsley. This year the theme is restorations and of interest to all woody boaties is an article on electrolysis. Plus a 16 page photo gallery of the 2022 regatta – all that for $20. As we speak its at the printers – so to secure / order a copy either email BOAT BOOKS crew@boatbooks.co.nz or call 09 358 5691 (Boot Books 22 Westhaven Drive)
Copies will be available at the normal random outlets but BB is the safest bet.
CORINTHIA – A Peek Down Below
The launch Corinthia was built / launched in 1967 at the Shipbuilders yard in Auckland. She has made several cameo appearances on WW, link below to a 2013 story that showed her alongside the jetty at Arran Bay, Waiheke Island. It appears that the exterior has not changed much but now today thanks to a heads up from Ian McDonald re a tme listing we get to have a peek down below.
Corinthia is 45’ in length , has a beam of 14’ and draws approx. 5’. Forward motion is via a 180hp Detroit 671 that gives her a top speed of 12 knots. FEB 2015 WW LINK https://waitematawoodys.com/corinthia-new-arran-bay-wharf/
PARTICIPATE 🔻1982 – 42’ Lidgard – 19 knots- Sleeps >9 DETAILS BELOW https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/07/13/participate-a-peek-down-below/
MAHANUI 🔻1977 – 42’ Atkinson – 16 knots – Sleeps > 6+ DETAILS BELOW https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/10/28/mahanui-gets-a-refit-and-is-ofs/
RANUI 🔻1948 – 48’ Lidgard – 8.5+ knots – Sleeps 5+ DETAILS BELOW https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/07/08/ranui-a-peek-down-below/
KATHERINE 🔻2013 – 39’ Robertson – 8.5 knots – Sleeps 4 DETAILS BELOW https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/06/13/katherine-a-peek-down-below/
ALLERGY 🔻1985 – 58’ Culler/Ganley – 10 knots – Sleeps 5+ DETAILS BELOW https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/10/21/allergy-aucklands-most-livable-woody/
Sorry for the overtly commercial message today, but have you seen the price of diesel lately , if I don’t sell a boat, I’ll be staying on the marina this summer ;- and we have marina berths for them (rent or buy)
For more details or to arrange a viewing – initially email – waitematawoodys@gmail.com
LINK BELOW TO VIEW MORE WOODYS 4SALE https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/10/17/buying-or-selling-a-classic-boat/
PUFFIN
Todays woody has just popped up on tme, thanks Ian McDonald, and no design / builder is mentioned – what we do know is that Puffin is 28’ in length, built in 1960 from kauri and powered by a Ford (Lees) 72hp diesel that gives her a 5>6 knot cruising speed.
Would be nice if we could ID the builder, the hull shape is quite ‘unique’.
Classic Wooden Launch UHURU – Free (almost) To The Right Person
Now despite what CYA luminary Chad Thomson tells his toadies when they meet once a month in the telephone box in Myers Park – I’m actually a nice person and todays WW story is proof 🙂 Several weeks ago I as contacted by John (Jacky) McElwee who owns the launch Uhuru, John has reached a stage in life where owning a classic wooden boat is just too much of a challenge and he has asked me to help find the next custodian for his bridge decker – Uhuru.
The back story goes like this – built c.1900’s, using kauri planks and measuring 32’ x 9’ beam and a draft of 3’. She was built to do the cream run on Lake Rotorua, which she did for approx. 40 years, her next owners, 30 years, were the Nicol family and John has had her for 20 years – some impressive times there, must indicate she is a sea friendly boat. Nathan Herbert might be able to chip in and explain her special hull shape for shallow water running. Current powered by a 1992 Nanni 43hp diesel. Obviously needs some TLC and possibly a few dollars spent here and there, but its afloat and the motor runs.
Now woodys here is the deal – if your are a genuine straight up person and have a real passion for classic wooden boats – John will probably give you the boat, but I’d like to think that a ‘gift will ease the process of letting go of a 20 year relationship 🙂
Seriously interested parties in the first instance to contact John via email – jackymcelwee0@gmail.com
REMEMBER – WOODY BOOT SALE – TODAY – 10AM – 5 OMANA RD MILFORD – CASH ONLY
TUATEA – Miller & Tunnage
If we believe her tme listing todays woody ws built in 1936 by Miller and Tunnage.
36’ in length she has a 60hp BMC diesel that gets her along at a top speed of 11.5 knots.
Home is Whangarei in the north and that woodys is all me know about her – can we put a name to her and expand on her past.
Heads up on Saturdays Woody Boat Boot Sale at The Slipway Milford yard – we have some serious collectors of marine ‘stuff’ dusting off their lockers so should be some treasure up for sale – remember CASH ONLY.
INPUT ex Paul Drake – The boat is TUATEA. Photos below of her on the Paremata Harbour in the 1980’s. I was told that she was Miller and Tunnage, about 1925. She was a Lyttelton boat, and went to Picton after I photographed her. Subsequently, while on her Ivy Bay (Paremata) mooring, she was struck by lightning and required extensive rebuilding. Whoever rebuilt her did a magnificent job. She re appeared at Seaview Marina, Wellington. Interesting that she is now in Whangarei. She appeals to me because she is a straight stemmer (nearly), has a full length sweeping belting, is low wooded, has port holes, and has a mast! What more could you want. Note that she is clearly not a double ender.
25-11-2022 INPUT ex Harold Kidd – TUATEA was designed and built by Jas. McPhersoin of Dunedin for Jack Hudson of Cadbury, Fry, Hudson chocolate manufacturers in late 1930.Hudson moved to Christchurch and took TUATEA with him, basing TUATEA at Lyttelton. There were various statements that she was built by Miller & Tunnage and even by J. Miller Ltd of Lyttelton, but not so. Original engine a 30hp Thornycroft. In NAPS as Z124 1942-4 skipper Magnus Smith.
LOURENA – A Peek Down Below
The 35’ launch Lourena was built c.1963 by Watson Brothers in Wellington to an Athol Burns design, using 1 1/8” kauri carvel planks. With a 11’6” beam she has a healthy interior for a 35’ boat, the draft is 3’6”. Forward motion is via a 70hp D series 4 cylinder Ford that gives her a 7 knot cruising speed.
Lourena is a well traveled woody having spent time in Wellington > Marlborough Sounds (15 yrs) > Opua (20 yrs),
Thanks to Ian McDonald’s heads up re the tme listing, today we get to have a peek down below.
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