We last saw the Coulthard built launch – Dawn on WW back in June 2019, link below. In summary she was built in 1936 and is approx. 28’ in length, with a very shallow draft of just over 2’, probably to suit the shallow harbours on Aucklands West Coast, where she was built.
A Ford 80hp Lees 4.2L diesel provides the forward motion. Thanks to a tme listing (c/o Ian MacDonald) we get to have a look down below.
KATHLEEN II
Todays 32’ woody – Kathleen II was built be Salthouse c.1970 and is powered by twin 90hp Nissan BD30 diesels that give her a 11>14knots.
She has popped up on tme as a project boat requiring some TLC, there are no interior photos so suspect that is where the TLC is required 🙂
At the right price and with a good eye for detail Kathleen II could be a nice family woody cruiser.
PURUATANGA
Todays woody – Puruatanga is a bit of a mystery, most likely built c.1960, but probably earlier (god I’m starting to sound like K Ricketts) her design / builder is unknown.
She measures 30’ in length and is powered by a 120hp Ford Lees diesel that gets her along at a comfortable cruising speed of 7>8 knots.
For the last 25 years the Waikawa, Picton based woody has been used as bach access transport, 1.5 hours each way so very reliable.
And that woodys is all we know about her. Thanks to Ian McDonald for the tme heads up.
CLASSIC WOODY RUN-ABOUT
Todays woody is a John Spencer Rocket and was built in the 1950’s and has only ever had fresh water use (Lake Taupo), and shed stored.
She is 14’ in length and powered by a Johnson 25hp outboard (1985) and if you believe tme it has only done 30 hours.
Anyone looking for an entry level woody fir the lakes or at the bach?
WOODYS CLASSICS CLEVEDON BBQ CRUISE – I will be sending out details on NEXT weekends (21-22/05) overnight cruise via email tomorrow to the skippers that have RSVP’ed – keep an eye on you email inbox 😉
CENTAURI
The 36’ Centauri was designed and built by Owen Woolley in 1964. Hull built from kauri with mahogany and kauri interior.
Forward motion is via a Perkins 6 cyl. diesel engine. Home port is Mt Maunganui.
That is all her tme listing tells us, so can we expand on where she has been for the last 50 odd year?
Have to shout out to all the new WW followers, over the last month individual daily viewing numbers have grown to the current level where they have more than doubled. Biggest day in a long time was the story on the ex fishing vessel – Joan, so its not all about varnish and polished bronze 🙂 These new followers are also impacting the cumulative viewing numbers as they are ’surfing’ the WW back library.
MAJEIKA
The 26’ triple skin kauri launch – Majeika is thought to have been built c.1965 by Shipbuilders. A Nissan 88hp LD28 diesel gives Majeika a topped of 12 knots, but cruise speed is 7>8 knots.
After 17 years of ownership her ownership its time for a new custodian and thanks to tme we get to have a peek down below 🙂
PESCADOR – A Peek Down Below
The 33’ John Lidgard designed and 1968 built woody – Pescador, has appeared twice before on WW, links below to the stories – lots of details / history on her in the first link.
A Ford 120hp 6cyl. diesel gets her along at a comfortable 9 knots.
https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/12/13/pescador-in-the-late-1980s/
https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/12/01/pescador-a-southern-woody/
Now thanks to tme we get to have a peak down below.
Classic Boat – Barn Find
The launch – Oscar according to her tme listing was built in 1970 by Sam Ford, which I suspect is wrong – Sam would have been a very old man at that stage – maybe it was built then to an old SF design.
All that aside Oscar could be the project boat buy of the year – last I looked the reserve had been meet at $11, yes eleven.
She is approx. 34.5’ in length, double skin diagonal kauri and powered by a 165hp Perkins.
The tme listing (thanks Ian McDonald) states – Oscar has been neglected for the past several years, languishing unused on a mooring, she’s in need of loads of TLC to bring her back to her prime. She recently developed a leak, we haven’t identified where it’s coming in.
Currently on the hard at Pier 21, Westhaven. Sold As-Is, Where-Is, the new owner to take delivery within three days of auction ending.
22-12-2023 INPUT EX STEPHEN FORD – Sam, my grandfather did infact start the build on Oscar origonally SHIMCA , from memory hull, decks and combings, but due to his death my father Trevor Ford , Sam’s son quit his job and completed the build of Shimca at Sam’s yard and resedence 12,Arthur’s st Ellerslie for the owners Hugh & Inness? Abbot hence the name Shimca , Samual,Hugh, Iness M??? Abbot. I don’t know the year she was built but I remember I was at high school 4th form I think when Sam passed and I was born in 1952. Unfortunately my father passed away 10 years ago and a lot of history went with him whilst I know a few things about the build if anyone wanted to know, I do know she Oscar is at masden cove having some mechanicals sorted
I
POPEYE
The woody day boat Popeye last made an appearance on WW back in August 2018, at the time we uncovered a lot of history on her – see WW link to read and view https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/08/28/popeye/
A few months ago her owner, Adrian Howitt contacted WW advising that she was most likely for sale and that he was testing the water on tme.
Popeye was built in c.1941 and started life on the Hokianga Harbour as a fishing boat. She has twice been given a birthday – back in c.1998 by Greg Lees Boatbuilders in Sandspit and in 2015 by Colin Brown Boatbuilder.
The photos above are more recent from when Adrian gave her a ‘general spruce up’ (his words) A newish (2012) Yanmar 1GM provides the forward motion.
Nautical Car Boot Sale – This Sunday – 3rd – Sandspit Yacht Club
Seeing you have an extra hour to play with on Sunday (end of day-light-saving) why not point the car north and do a road trip to the famous SYC car boot sale – lots to see and buy + there is a live band and great coffee & food.
Sale starts at 8.30am > 10.30
Lots of other activities to do in the area, so get off the couch and head north.
WOODYS CRUISE TO CLEVEDON POSTPONED – NEW DATE TBA
RAMOE – A Project
Recently WW was contacted by the owner of the launch Ramoe, who was looking to find a new owner to complete the restoration of the boat. At the time they commented that ‘they have all the gear needed, she just needs to be put back together’. The boat has had the deck stripped back and cabin sides to glass over, also the windows need to be fitted. Ramos has been fitted with new Volvo Penta 75hp engine.
In the ‘old’ photo above she looks very smart. Anyone interested or wanting to know more – contact owner at steve.b.mouldey@gmail.com
Also interested in learning more about the boat – designer / builder etc etc
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