Several WW readers gave me the heads up on the tme listing for the 36’ launch – Patina. She started life as a passenger ferry in the Marlborough Sounds, but these days is a live-a -board in Wellington.
We are told she was built in 1913. Looking at the stunning shaped stern – this date is possible.
A very sage woody told me once, when you buy a classic wooden launch, value wise, all you are buying is a floating shed for the engine and that is where the true value lives, in the case of Patina, that is so true. Back in 2007 she was re-powered with a 40hp Yanmar diesel that has only done 150 hours.
Anyone able to confirm / add to what we know about Patina?
Back in Jan 2016 Rodney Webb, the owner of Florence May had the boat for sale and commented – “I guess you could say i reluctantly have her for sale and would probably refuse any offer” 🙂 Well he must have because in 2022 he still owns the boat (in fact has for approx. 40 years). But she is for sale again and thanks to Ian McDonald and a tme listing we get to have a better look at her and peek down below.
We know from the previous WW story that she was built near Auckland for Harry Muir and was named after his wife. She spent several years in Ngunguru then went to a retired sea captain in the Bay of Islands. She was then purchased by Tom Thompson who bought her back to Tutukaka. Rodney approached him and purchased her 40 years ago.The builder was Phil Lange.
She measures 28’ in length and is powered by a 80hp Ford D Series diesel engine.
Manaia was built by Shipbuilders and is approx. 36’ in length. Powered by a 117hp John Deere diesel engine.
Home is Picton, if you hadn’t already picked that from her design / features and finish.
And that woodys is all her tme (thanks Ian McDonald) listing tells us.
Quite a salty looking craft – keen to learn more about her.
05-12-2022 UPDATE ex owner – Gary Jamieson.
“We bought Manaia through 36 degrees broker’s on 9th March. The broker was whining about it not being worth his trouble for the tiny commission he would get. I pointed out that he sold her twice in 4 days. Somebody wanted the Picton marina berth not Manaia. She has had a make over as per the photos you have, tongue and groove macrocarpa straight over existing timber, obviously was quite rough. Engine is aprox 30 years old, was bought for a new build that never happened and it sat in a shed in Albany, has 1267 hours on it now. Took her to Akaroa for a joy ride, a lovely sea boat, came home on the back of a dying southerly gale, she surfs quite politely. This next bit is comedic in a way. The trip to Akaroa revealed some fueling problems, long story short new filters and fuel pump (old/new) motor issues and a persistent air leak grr. There are invoices and log book entries for filters and oil change etc from a local Picton mechanic, I don’t think the work was ever done. The water trap filter was so blocked the engine was sucking air past the bowl gasket, fuel lines form there back to tanks sludged up too. The funny bit, while dealing to that filter I checked all the fasteners in that area and found all the bonding wires loose so duely tightened them cleaned the shaft and brush of grease and made good all the electrical connections. The bonding and anode system went straight to work and set about destroying a very sound boat. It was only by chance that I found your site and the link to the horror stories about bonding etc. Was on board today disconnecting all that stuff and yes there is evidence of caustic soda on the one keel bolt I ‘repaired’ after only 4 weeks. I found the evidence 2 days ago while greasing the stern gland. It seems that all the bonding wires were only ever finger tight and never really connected thereby saving her from a miserable death. Probably only done at the refit. This is the only time I can honestly say thank goodness for shoddy workmanship. Anyway all I know is she was Lady May, was relaunching in 2012 as Manaia and we think she is a great wee boat. I have been in contact with the previous owner in Manawatu and can make contact again if you want to know more. “
In this story Harold Kidd commented that translation in Maori of Moeroa is ‘Long Sleep’ and that in the past during a paint scraping exercise the name – Wikaro was uncovered.
She recently popped up on tme (thanks Ian McDonald), so we now know a little about her – 32’, built c.1912>15 and powered by a Nissan TD23 70hp diesel engine.
The listing states that the boat has suffered some damage to the bow (timber and capstan) and that the photos are from earlier when her paint had been ‘refreshed’, so needs some TCL.
Home is on the Manukau Harbour, so a wee lift and road trip would be required if the Waitemata was an intended home.
A very salty looking woody that deserves a new life / owner.
Calliope was built in 1951 and is a rare breed – the Chris Craft company introduced the 19’ RR (Racing Runabout) model in 1948. They were powered by a big block M series engine, as is Calliope with her Hercules 336 cubic inch (5.5L) straight 6, 158hp MGL engine. They were and still are today highly desirable craft, the production ‘hotrods’ of the day. And in their day they were the fastest Chris Craft built. Calliope these days exceeds 70 kph.
Calliope, a two owner boat, was restored in 2006 having spent most of her life on Lake Weston, Connecticut, USA. In 2008 she was judged 2nd in her class at the prestigious Lake Tahoe Wooden Boat Festival.Calliope sits on a brand new alloy tandem trailer. Imported into NZ by a serious collector who is running out of space so has made the call to pass Calliope onto a new owner.Interested parties, initially to contact waitematawoodys@gmail.com
What Would You Do If You Owned Calliope
You would attend events like this weekends classic and wooden boat parade at Lake Rotoiti (Nth Island) and I’m sure be judged best woody there. So woodys if you are anywhere near Lake Rotoiti this Saturday at 11am, park the car and take in the annual parade – over 75 classic boats will be mooching around the lake. Best viewing spot is the reserve (good parking and grass bank) just down from the Okere Falls Store, State Highway 33. Movie below from the 2021 Parade
The 1930 woody – Mapu would be one of the most traveled classics around, as a result of her length – 23’ and 7’ beam she is able to be trailer-ed. That has resulted in her cruising from the top of the North Island to the bottom of the South Island and inland e.g. both north and southern Lake Rotoiti. Her recent tme appearance stated she was designed by Eric Cox and built by Colin Wild. Powered by a 22hp two cylinder diesel engine.
Current owner has had Mapu for 22 years, are we able to learn more from her past life?
Input from Denis O’Callahan – Mapu was owned by my father Robert (Bob) O’Callahan from the late 1930s to mid 1970s..I have a copy of the original plans by Eric Cox dated 29 September 1927, showing a large open cockpit. The original engine was a 2 cylinder Kelvin sleeve valve. She was built for HA Adams ESQ and I understand she was used to service a property at Kawau so there was no accommodation. My father built a cabin over the cockpit, added outside ballast and a mast and sloop rig to make her into a cruising motor-sailer. These were removed in later restorations. The photo below shows Mapu with her war time number, 490, at the Needles Eye, Birkenhead, where Jim Young later had his boat shed. I believe that might have been me in the cockpit.
ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND BOATING – UPDATE
1. The Mahurangi Regatta is still on – But
• No activity on or off the water at Sullivans Bay • The launch parade to and around Sullivans is cancelled. Interested launches can join a ‘follow the leader’ (Jason Prew – My Girl) launch tiki-tour around the harbour. Starting off Scotts Landing at approx. 10am • There may be a launch log rally or similar during the day – details on the day ex Jason Prew. • No prize giving or band at Scotts Landing on Sat night – but nothing to stop people going ashore to casually catch up with friends, just need to keep any ‘group’ under 100 people. • So pack the chilly bin and see you ashore from 4.30pm >>>
2. Kawau Boating Club – Sunday
• The club will be operating under RED conditions , so only seated dinners, no standing at the bar or outside AND Vax Pass required – so good luck with getting a table – some of us will casually meet up on the lawn near Lidgard House. Again bring your chilly bin – 5pm >>>>>
Mystery Lidgard Launch A question – why are so many mystery launches, Lidgards? Todays woody is double diagonal kauri with f/glass on outside, and is 26′ in length with a beam of 8’ and draws 2’. The engine is a Ford 60hp diesel. Thanks to Ian McDonald for the tme heads up. WW would like help to uncover more on her past.
The 34’ ex workboat Arahi last appeared on WW back in May 2020, link below. Now thanks to tme we get to have a better look at her. Arahi started life in 1940 as a survey boat for the Auckland Harbour Board,finishes up c.mid 1970’s. We know she spent time at Great Barrier Island. After a refit in Auckland she was transported to the Wanganui River in 2019, where she still resides but is looking for a new owner.
A very sweet wee ship and topped off with a 4 cylinder Gardner (4LW) diesel engine, that sips approx. 4L an hour. There must be a buyer out there for such a salty classic vessel.
Todays woody is a wee bit of a mystery, and I’m confidant that when she was launched she wasn’t named – Gaza 🙂 Ian McDonald gave me the heads up on her tme listing, where it states that the 30’ launch is a McGeedy (I assume McGeady) build with a 10’ beam and draws 4’. The forward motion is via a 75hp Ford diesel. Gaza calls Sandspit home, previously on WW it was identified that in another life the launch was called most likely Astra
Anyone able to confirm the design and the original name?
UPDATE 04-07-2023 – we learnt in the comments section she was built by McGeady and previously named – Astra. The photos below (ex Ant Smit) show her residing in the Whangarei Town Basin, where she now lives after being sold.
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