Aria + WIN a copy of the Des Townson book

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ARIA

Todays vessel is the 47.5’ ex-work boat Aria, built in 1938 by Miller & Tunnage to tow barges of native timber, retired from duty in 1963, then used as a fishing trawler and pleasure use until 1981.She then received a total refit including all new topsides for extended blue-water Pacific cruising, the refit included a rebuilt 1963 Gardner 6LXB, (now 150hp).

Reviewing her trademe listing (thanks Ian McDonald), Aria is very well fitted out for cruising or live aboard. Won’t win a beauty competition but a very salty looking woody.

WIN A COPY OF THE JUST RELEASED BOOK –  ‘DES TOWNSON – A SAILING LEGACY’
A ground breaking book that chronicles the life and design work of one of New Zealand’s most successful boating legends. Over 400 photographs.
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HOW TO ENTER 
Answer, correctly, the question below and you will go into the draw for a copy of the brilliant 334 page book. Entry is via email only -send your answer to the link below waitematawoodys@gmail.com
Q: How many words are used in the book?
Hint – you will find the answer here  https://destownson.co.nz
Entry closes at 8pm on 09-10-2019. Winner advised on WW.
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RSVP– you and your boats name + approx. numbers to sueedwards@xtra.co.nz

 

Mystery Marlborough Sounds Launch

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Mystery Marlborough Sounds Launch
All we know about the above launch is that she is 27’, made of kauri and has a Ford 60hp does; engine that pushes her along at 5>6 knots.
From her cabin top layout she looks like she has been used as a bach ’taxi’, most likely private use.
Can any of the Southern Woodys put a name to her and any info on her past?

 

McLeod – 36’ Bridgedecker 

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McLeod – 36’ Bridgedecker 

Todays wood is only a mystery due to a paranoid broker i.e. not want to show the boats name 😦  (Has been ID’ed as McLeod)
What we do know is she is single skin kauri carvel planked, built c.1965 and powered by a Ford 127hp D Series Ford diesel.
Her specs are 36’ x 11’1” x 2’11”. At a guess she is currently berthed in Auckland.
Thanks Ian McDonald for the heads up.
 
Can anyone tell us more about the vessel – builder, her name and anything on her past.
 
22-08-2025 INPUT ex ANNE JEFFERY –  My late husband and I owned McCloud for approx a year. Sold 2000 or 2001. She was built by Strongman Boat Builders in Coromandel (Strongman Road Coromandel) Her name was originally Loxsoma when we bought her but we changed it to McCloud. Great Boat. Photos below.
She was kauri plank and we purchased her from a friend. Maurie Palmer, boatbuilder.  
 

Happy Hours V13

 

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Photo below taken when Happy Hours was collected ready to transport to Alan Craig’s shed.

 

HAPPY HOURS V13
 
I have been contacted by Alan Craig from Craig Marine looking for he next owner of the18’ mullet boat – Happy Hours V13. 
Built by Billy Rogers in 1949 to an earlier Logan design, she was a copy of Secret  (V3) but is a much fuller boat so must have been modified during building. She was first owned by Billy Rogers’ brother in-law and then by Lieutenant Commander J. Lennox-King.
 
Happy Hours is currently sitting in one of Alan’s sheds waiting to be finished. But Alan commented that he has not been near it in a couple of years, he is a very in demand wooden boat builder and the current work schedule is very motor-boat focussed.
The yacht was acquired from the NZ Traditional Boatbuilding School before being passed on to Alan. 
I understand that Alan’s exceptions in terms of a price are not great, he is more interested in Happy Hours going to a good home.
Alan has the mast and rudder plus fittings etc for it too.
 
So woodys – anyone looking for a classic wooden boat project?
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23-09-2019 Input from Robin Elliott

Owners:
N.C. Wensor 1949?/52+?; F. Simkins 1955?/56+?; Peter & Frederick Boyle 1958+?; R.D. Wood 1959?/60+?; Lt.Cdr J. Lennox-King 1961?/68+? ; Dean Herbison 2007/16+?; Alan Craig ?/2019+?

Happy Hours was built for Noel Wensor (billy’s Bro’ in law) in 1949. Lennox-King did not own her until the early 1960’s. Dean Herbison bought her in 2007 when she was hauled out at Okahu Bay.

Maree Anne

 

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MAREE ANNE 
Anne Maree was built in 1950, kauri planked, 26’ in length and powered by a 3 cylinder Lister18hp Lister diesel engine.
Home port is Dargaville, Northland.
Thanks to Ian McDonald for the heads up on this woody.
That folks is all me know – anyone able to expand on her provenience ?

Patina

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PATINA
Patina’s trademe listing states she was built in 1906 from double plank kauri, measures 39’ in length and is powered but 54hp Yanmar diesel engine. Cruise speed is 8>9 knots.
Home port is Chaffers Marina, Wellington.
The photos do not show it but she has a torpedo shaped stern.
Can anyone expand on what we know about this woody?
A lot of windows to clean 🙂
Harold Kidd Input –  PATINA was built by Ernie Lane at Picton in 1913, not 1906, as LA REINE (“The Queen”) for C.W. Philpotts of the Sounds Motor Launch Company as a passenger vessel. She was originally fitted with a 20hp Bolinder semi-diesel reversing engine. Later she went fishing out of New Plymouth with a Fairbanks-Morse and spent time recently in Tauranga too.

Emerald

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EMERALD – 1970’s
 
Recently I was contacted by Peter Grant in regard to the launch Emerald which he owned in the late 1970’s. Emerald was owned by a Kawau Island resident and Peter swapped an MGB roadster for her. I’ll let Peter tell us the story.
 
“Emerald was twin engined with small Yanmars of either 8 or 12 HP, I can’t remember exactly, but do recall they were both hand start and noisy with in built diesel tanks on top, much enjoyment was had with her and even ventured right up to the Matakana wharf, quite a feat those days as it was almost all choked up though the old concrete wharf was fine.
Some time after that I has the misfortune to tie her up at Milford Creek and was unable to retrieve her as I was away on board and could not get back on time due to the tide.
When I did get her back to Auckland I had her out on the hard outside the old Westend rowing club where we proceeded to give her new decks and cabin top, but this work was discontinued half way through, as I went back to working away and she was stored on my parents section in Henderson courtesy of Bob Wylie.
After two or three years my parents, now sick and tired of the launch in their backyard back yard wanted to sell the section and up came a deal with Mr Davern, who provided them with a solution, he bought the section for one of his houses, and in turn would transport the boat away, (my father later told me he was sick and tired of people wanting to buy her) that was the last time I heard of her until an advertisement popped up on Trade Me recently.
She is much altered and now powered by a single cylinder engine and is reputed to now be built in the fifties or so.
Can anyone shed some light on her provenance, I have sent in some very old scans of negatives of the time and how she looked at the time in the old Westhaven Marina and alongside the old cleaning piles, now long gone af course, mores the pity.”
 
I have to say I’m impressed with Peters taste in cars – the Mercedes pillar-less coupe would have been a great investment if he had kept her for 44 years 🙂
Keen to learn more about Emerald’s days before and after Peters ownership.
 
EMERALD – 2019
Below are a selection of photos from the current trademe listing for Emerald, as Peter stated above, its certainly a ‘different’ look / style.
The listing states she is 32’, with a kauri hull (now glassed). Power is via a marinised Ford Trader Diesel engine that gets her along at 7>8 knots.
 
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2025

Lady Jane

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LADY JANE

Lady Jane is described in her listing as a 12’5” Squirt model and while is was built in 1975, she ticks all the classic boxes.

Tucked away under a cover is a 25hp Johnson that is more than enough to make her 12’ hull fly along.

Being easily trailerable Lady Jane would make a great family fun boat for the beach or lake. Christmas is only 14 weeks away 🙂
A neibour of mine has a teak ladder 2.5m long 580mm wide (photos below) that is surplus to their needs. They are keen to sell it to someone who needs it as part of a restoration or whatever. It was in their house when they bought it so could be ex Navy, maybe it was an old engine room ladder. Anyone interested call David 021 793 439

Golandrina

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GOLANDRINA

The 35’9” Golandrina was built in 1964 by Alan Orams as his own pleasure boat. She has a 8’ 7” beam and draws 3’3”.
Power is via 2006 Iveco 90hp diesel that’s gives her displacement hull an easy cruising speed of 7 knots.
Her trademe (thanks Ian McDonald) listing says in the 2016/17 period she had a 4000 man hour refurbishment.
Home is the Bay of Islands Marina in Opua, Northland.
I know she has spent most of her life in the North, but do we know any more about her?

Taieri Lass

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TAIERI LASS
Taieri Lass’s name came from her first role as a 1947 Miller & Tunnage 40’ work boat – built to carry freight up the Tier River.
She is powered by a Ford 4 cylinder diesel engine.
Currently moored in Purau Bay, Lyttelton Harbour, her owner for the last 15 years. During her owners period, the wheelhouse was extended to accomodate a kitchenette, fridge and bench setting.
Her trade listing is a little light on details but from the photos she appears to have good bones and crying out for  someone to complete the conversation to leisure use.
Remember to check in Monday for a photo essay from todays Woody Classics Weekend cruise to the Riverhead Hotel.
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