The launch Meteor / Comet II was built by Collings and Bell and is reputed to by at the time the fastest commerical launch in New Zealand, with a top speed of 36 knots, carrying 12 passengers. She plied her trade as a tourism launch on Lake Wakatipu, Oueenston, but also has been based out of the Bay of Islands, Rotorua, Picton and the Marlborough Sounds.
Just popped up on tme as a work-in-progress and sadly a long way off her original configuration.
33’ in length, these days she is powered by a Ford 180hp diesel engine – would be interested to hear what powered her in the zoom zoom days.
Classic Launch Kokoru Damaged In Pine Harbour Marina fire yesterday – refer the NZ Herald for details, its still a little to raw to go into details – more later. But I’m sure you’ll all be thinking of the owners.
The yacht Kotare popped up on WW back in 2018 (link below) having recently changed hands, now her owner Don Fraser would like to place the yacht with someone who will maintain and use Kotare – I’ll let Don tell the story
Don Fraser here. Back in Jan 2018 you posted a mention of my little 20′ cutter-rigged 1940’s keeler ‘Kotare’, having spotted me antifouling her in Rocky Bay, Waiheke where both the boat and I reside.
That was my 3rd (or 4th?) season of ownership, after she was gifted to me by the previous owners – who were virtual strangers but had spotted me in the bay and thought I looked a suitable candidate… reasonably handy but not rich enough to buy anything substantial for myself, I was at that time ‘custodian’ of a friend’s dilapidated trailer sailer, also moored in the bay and since passed on to my friend’s nephew.
Since then I have only sailed Kotare a handful of times – as work and family commitments continue to expand. On my youngest leaving home last year I thought Kotare’s time had finally come for a full repaint, cutting out some rot from the ply cockpit (added by the same guy who’d converted her to a keeler) and in the topper cabin trim, and some decent sail time. But alas covid came, then my mum needed a live in carer in the city, then my wife announced we will spend the next few summers walking the length of the country.
So Kotare needs a new owner / kaitiaki. One with the skills, time and energy to attend to her ongoing maintenance – and maybe even beef up her underpowered rig a bit. She is simple and fun (if slow) to sail – the running back stays and basic cockpit all very ‘yar’ as Gregory Peck once put it. The owners before me at given her a thorough resto with red lead interior paint, fijian kauri ply floor added, and every bit of rig removed and either replaced or given a good tickle.
No money need change hands – the new owner has to just have the skills and enthusiasm to keep the old kingfisher going for another few years before they too might pass her on. Outboard not included but old 6 foot inflatable tender is. Interested parties can contact Don atfraserhoults@gmail.com
Regular WW readers will know that there are no size limitations when it comes to what features on the site and some of the prettiest woodys live on a trailer. Today’s story is on Taranui – a c.1960’s 19’ jet boat, built by a Mr. McPhearson of Mapu, Nelson around 1967>68. Her owners manual says first service was at Perry’s Automotive in Mapua.
The zoom zoom comes from a 220hp Crusader Marine petrol engine (factory marinized 327 Chev) via a 1965 Hamilton Colorado 2 stage jet unit. The tme listing states that Taranui has spent most of her time in Tennyson Inlet, western arm of Pelorus Sound in the Marlborough Sounds but for a 20 year period she was in storage.
Her hull and cabin exterior has been sanded back and repainted/varnished and the interior and upholstery remains untouched and in excellent condition.
Hopefully she will be bought by someone that will continue love and maintain her – BUT she could easily be a piece of art in a large man-cave. Last time I said that about a boat, that is exactly what happened 😉
I will post more details closer to the event, but if your are considering attending please send a quick RSVP email to the address below – just need your name, vessel name and approx. (if you know it, the number of people aboard*). waitematawoodys@gmail.com Remember – participation in the Woody Classics Weekend events is open to everyone, but only one condition – you have a passion for wooden boats.
The launch – Beaver II was built by Jorgensen in Picton c.1960 to a Quickly design. She is 36’ in length and powered by a Detroit 4/71 100hp diesel engine that sees her comfortably cruising at 10 knots.
Like most Jorgensen boats she is a very well (heavy) built boat and has good walk around decks. Home port is Havelock and she is / was on tme.
Earlier in the year Ian MacDonald sent me the link to this Hartley, kauri carvel construction 30’ launch. Named Oiseau de Mer, which we can assume wasn’t the name on her stern when she was launched. The launch made a brief appearance on WW back in Dec 2019, at the time she was for sale on tme and I believe sold for a very low figure. https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/12/21/oiseau-de-mer/
The ‘new’ tme listing states that work had commence eg replacement fuel tanks and pump + steering but the engine, Ford 100hp, doesn’t run and from the photos there is some serious housekeeping needed before I’d be heading off the marina in her.
Home is Akaroa down south. The one positive I will say is that well done to the owner for their honesty (photos) re the condition of the vessel.
Would love to know if she sold again and if someone has accepted the challenge to bring her back to the condition she deserves.
Today’s woody story is a call out to our community to ask if anyone can help secure the future of Kotahi, a 26’ Bailey and Tyer built kauri carvel planked launch that for the last 9 years has been living the life of a celebrity at the Auckland Zoo as part of a permanent display. This semi- retirement village lifestyle is probably very fitting for a 110 year old.
After being launched in Nov 1912 at the Bailey and Tyer, Halls Beach yard in Northcote, Auckland, Kotahi had a very nomadic life which saw her spending time in Auckland > Tauranga > Lake Rotoiti > Tauranga > Lake Taupo, then back to Auckland where in 2013 she was craned into her ‘berth’ at the Auckland Zoo.
Like most things in life, priorities change and things get updated so the call has been made to find a new home for Kotahi. Anything that once moved her along has long been removed so as she sits Kotahi is just a hull but appears to be reasonably solid.
SO woodys – looking for suggestions – restore her?, repurpose her? eg as another display, or a playground?, or maybe incorporated into a retail environment – Auckland Zoo is open to all suggestions. But lets not let Kotahi die at the hands of a back-hoe.
Sarah MacWilliam at Auckland Zoo has asked that interested parties contact her direct at the email address below to register any interest. BUT do not hesitate, a deadline has been set of March 18th 2022 for you to make contact. Sarah.MacWilliam@aucklandzoo.co.nz
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. “
