San Cristobal (Pagan)

San Critobal

SAN CRISTOBAL (Pagan)
photos from Peter Croft, Alan Good & trademe

Over the last few summers I have seen the San Cristobal anchored up around the gulf, she appears to be a live aboard at Matiatia on Waiheke Island & is regularly seen on the weekends in Man 0 War Bay. I understand that she is a 1943 60ft converted Scottish drift trawler & have heard that $100k was spent on reconditioning the 8 cyl. Gardner………
San Cristobal is currently for sale on trademe & the following details are ex there – she was built by the British Admiralty in Lowestoft in 1943. Built to take saboteurs and supplies to Norway. The German High Command had instructed the German submarines not to torpedo fishing boats. Bronze fastenings below the water line as not to set off the magnetic mines. After the War she sailed to NZ and was purchased by Sanfords. Name changed from Pagan to San Cristobal. Commercial fishing around NZ. Designed off the Scottish Drifter developed for the herring fleet in the North Sea. Built of larch on oak and measures – length 20m, width 5m with a 2m approx. draft.

She is a perfect example of the the magic powers of paint, from memory she was classic work boat green & looked like she had just escaped from the fishing fleet, then bang she is sporting a salmon / terra-cotta & cream colour scheme & looks a different vessel. It would have been a big call looking into the paint tin but it works a treat (in my eyes).

Any of the woodys able to supply more info on her past, must be a few woodys that have worked on or alongside her.

Update 19-12-2016 ex Ken Ricketts
She was sold by the insurance company 2 weeks ago to a Andre Botha, after she had come to grief in the Warkworth River sometime earlier this year.

He put her in the water last Friday afternoon & lifted her out again about 3 hours later, about 6 30pm, with massive quantities of water on the wrong side of the hull, which was all falling out of her, at high speed after lifting.

As shown in the photos below she is has a substantial recaulking exercise underway at the moment & the new owner hopes to have her back in the water in about a week, & will initially keep her at Gulf Harbour for a few days & will then move her to town to a mooring site in the central city area, as yet unconfirmed.

The owner told Ken he has bought her with a view to restoring her & ultimately he is considering living aboard in due course. The purchase of San Cristobal is his first ever venture in to the world of boating. He also mentioned she is built of oak & she still as the 8L3 Gardner diesel engine, which he says, has only done around 2500 hours.

 

Steamboat Gypsy

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STEAMBOAT GYPSY
photos & details ex trademe

Its not often that I do a blatant 4-sale listing on ww but Gypsy is just so adorable that she gets pride of place today on ww.

Gypsy is a 18’4″ beautifully built replica 18 foot steam launch from the 1880’s that has been recently completely restored & is now for sale.
The cold molded 3-skin kauri hull is in perfect condition. It was built by Dave Jackson, now of Warkworth, in 1987.
The machinery is an English Stuart Turner 2 cylinder compound engine built in the 1960s. The boiler was built by Dyer of Penrose in 1987. It burns coal or wood, but prefers coal.
A restored trailer is included that has a new WOF, new tyres, axel & wheel bearings.

A special feature is the copper ‘Windermere Kettle’. This steam kettle heats water in about 10 mins for a hot cup of tea while underway.

Call the owner on 09 4343649 for more information or to view.

The Gypsy Story from previous (1st) owner Russell Ward

Here is her story.

Gypsy was built in late 1987. In those days I had a 12’ clinker dinghy with a 4hp Stuart and longed to make a steamboat. I had bought a Stuart no 6 compound steam engine from the late Les Fitt -a prolific steam modeller. The late Graeme Wilkinson designed a coal burning boiler to suit and it was built in Penrose. Happy daze! All I needed was a suitable hull and that is hard because it has to be burdensome to carry all that weighty machinery. Also it needs to be able to swing a huge prop because a steam engine develops a lot of torque at low speed. Gypsy’s prop was 17 x 23. Most old boats didn’t meet the specs and anyway, I was going to have enough on my hands running the machinery without trying to maintain a rotten old leaky hull. A new hull was the only way.

I had several long talks with Dave Jackson in his gorgeous boatshed  at Sulphur Beach –inland of the then harbour bridge Toll Plaza. Harold will enlighten us about the history of that boatyard. Dave advocated a cold moulded hull so it would be strong and easier to keep clean. A set of lines was the problem. Way back then, there was a dearth of hull lines for steamboats. Nowadays every joe and his dog thinks he can draw one up.

At that time, Pete McCurdy produced a magazine Traditional Small Craft in the ‘80s and it was eagerly read by the small boat people of the day. We are still waiting for the long promised last issue for which I am sure I penned something. In one of the issues was a set of lines and offsets of a dinghy that was kept at Adams Island -one of the Auckland Islands- for any shipwrecked sailors to row to NZ in. Happily she was not needed and was brought to Hobson Wharf for the then fledgling maritime museum. I thought that any boat designed to live in those savage waters probably had what it takes. I discussed the lines with Dave and Gypsy was the result. She lacks the hollow garboards of the original for ease of construction and economy.

I completed the engineering at home and fitted the necessary auxiliary pumps to the engine using original Stuart castings. The choice of the name was a little complicated and a story in itself. There were several sailing Gypsys around but no SL Gypsy. It was a nice dusky sooty sort of name for a steamer.

The Trad Small Craft Society were holding a sail-in at Okahu Bay and i proposed to take Gypsy along to show the gang and also to dip her in the water to pencil in the waterline. All things gang oft aglay as they say and I couldn’t stop myself steaming her up because it was such a bitchy cold day. As I dipped her in the tide, she floated off and I steamed away merrily trying to get used to my new toy. We steamed her around for three hours and I thought she went damn fine. The first picture shows the event: I am the one with a broad smile but no anorak (whatever they are). I never changed a thing from the first launching and she just went well every time as long as the coal was good and the boiler tubes kept clean.

I sold her when we moved house in ’91.  She is a cutey. The box up fwd was put on by the subsequent owner and is a little clumsy to my eye.  I don’t think I’ll have her back: Marie would probably strangle me and the price is way too steep.

04-10-2018 Update ex Russell Ward

Photo below shows Russell’s little steamer Gypsy that David Jackson built in this shed at Sulphur Beach 1987. In the photo we see that the hull planking has just been finished.
What dates the photo is the ‘middle sized’ Ward daughter seen in the photo. Russell commented about the proper tools on show 🙂
finished hull001

Aqualeda

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AQUALEDA

Aqualeda was launched in 1948 & built using Canadian oregon timber. She measures 33′ & is powered by a 75hp 4 cylinder Ford diesel. Looking at her I’m not sure if she was originally a sedan & later converted to a bridge-decker or started life as a bridge-decker, I suspect a later conversion. Home is Nelson so hopefully one of the southern woodys can tell us more about Aqualeda.

08-12-2022 Input ex ‘Larry’ – below is a photo that Larry took on 07-12-22 of Aqualeda on the Kaiapoi river: For overseas readers, Kaiapoi is a riverside town, just 20km north of Christchurch in the South Island 

Lion

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LION
details ex trademe

MV Lion was commissioned in (1908) 1912 for use on Lake Wakaptipu, serving the family and owners of Walter Peak, Fernhill and Mt Nicholas Stations.
Constructed from kauri planking to a canoe stern design she was designed to handle the choppy and unpredictable conditions of Lake Wakatipu. Her spec are – Length: 38′,
Beam: 9′, Draft: 3′ & she is powered by a Yanmar 51hp.
Has previously operated as a charter vessel on Wakatipu.

Anyone able to supply details on the designer / builder etc?

Harold Kidd Input

LION was built by James M’Pherson in Dunedin in late 1912, NOT 1908, for Hugh McKenzie of Lake Wakatipu and fitted with a 21hp 3 cylinder Clifton engine.The 1908 is a constant myth, despite my efforts to persuade various owners to get it right. Hey, the guy who owns a boat is entitled to create or perpetuate his myths. It’s always the way.

Florence

P1230076

FLORENCE

The above launch is a recent arrival at Bayswater marina & while she has a CYA sticker on a cabin window the vessel is unknown to me. There are several classics named ‘Florence’ but this one is a bit of a mystery – her double end design suggests she may have started life a tad south of the Waitemata harbour. Anyone able to shed some light on her ?

ps also has a 4sale sign on her

Input from Owner -Dean Muollo (edited by AH)

Hi Alan, I see there has been a bit of interest in my boat today.
She is a Miller and Tunnage (hull obviously), top has been built and designed by myself, went back in the water on Dec 15 2015.
Below are a few photos of her, previous to my ownership.
Hopefully these might spark up peoples memories, keen to find out any more about her history.
I’m new to the CYA. She is very reluctantly for sale 🙂

My beautiful picture

My beautiful picture

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My beautiful picture

Input from David Balderston

Below is a photo the FLORENCE at her usual berth at the Port Chalmers pilot jetty, under the bow of the OTOROA. Taken late 1983.
Instamatic camera unfortunately. She was owned by Norm Menzies and attended all ship arrivals at Port Chalmers. About 1990, he sold her to a young chap who carried on for a time. Then it was decided that a lines boat was not needed so he was left in the lurch, the last I saw of her was moored over near Company Bay.

florence

11-03-2016 Here’s another  (below), it shows her tucked in at the pilot jetty, under the bow of OTOROA, I think February 1992, when the QE2 came, That was, I am pretty sure, the last time we used her as a linesboat. The QE2 had a special tie up system based on what was normal at Southampton which required two linesboats, we used our own TOILER and Florence chartered in. The rest in the picture, NEW ERA dredge, KAPU, OTOROA and KOPUTAI. The bloke in red is Pilot Malthus.

FLORENCE & Friends

Rautangi

Rautangi on patrol - original

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RAUTANGI
photos & details ex Don Barry

The top photo of Rautangi running at full chat shows Don’s uncle Tim on the cabin top, to quote Don “mad as a cut snake – pipe in his mouth holding fast against the wind… OHS would have a field day” Chances are she would have been petrol powered……. She is flying a PATROL burgee, anyone able to suggest the origin of the burgee?
I’ll sure HDK will enjoy this photo, matches his attitude to helming launches 🙂

The 2nd photo is again of uncle Tim, who was a regular on Rautangi.  With him is here  is Don’s uncle Doug.

Rautangi was built by Collings & Bell& launched on the 18th May  for Mr. L. Stericker. She measures 37′ x 9’6″ x 2’8″ & is currently midway thru a major refit happening at Katikati in the Bay of Plenty but due to changing personal circumstances is listed for sale on trademe.

More photos showing her past here https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/02/23/rautangi/

Below is a copy the boats official song.

Rautangi - front page [#2] 2

Rautangi - inner page [#2]

Harold Kidd Input

Love it!
Les Stericker was a well-known petrol-head with his racing hydroplanes all called HUM BUG. I think there were 5 of them, the last a “Blimp” type built by Collings & Bell in November 1929, 12ft 6in with a 32hp Elto 4 cylinder outboard, the top go-fast gear of the time. He was a precision engineer in Newmarket. No doubt the 6 cylinder side valve petrol Thornycroft RD6 engine (photo below) in RAUTANGI was well breathed upon.
As for the “Patrol” flag, Lees and RAUTANGI did a lot of NZPBA and RNZYS mark boat etc work.

The RD 6 Thornycroft engine when launched

Thornycroft RD6

Lisa Rose

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LISA ROSE
photos & details ex trademe

Lisa Rose was built by C.E Thompson (Boat Builder & Motor Engineer) in Dargaville to pull out big Kauri logs via rivers.
She measures 22′ & is powered by a 1980 40hp Isuzu diesel, reconditioned in 2010,  the engine is keel cooled, making her an ideal vessel for going up rivers e.g. she can make it up the Puhoi river to the Puhoi Pub.

Lisa Rose is an old boat, possibly c.1940.  Keen to learn more re her past & year of build.

Harold Kidd Input

Charles Eric Thompson was born in 1875 and died in December 1965. A lot of his boat building was at Aratapu but he died living at Beach Road, Dargaville. He was building until late in his life, but even in 1940 he was 65. Nice model of a hull.

Rautangi

Rautangi

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Rautangi 1

RAUTANGI
photos & detail ex Nathan Herbert & trademe

Rautangi was built by Collings & Bell c.1935/36 for Mr. L. Steriker. She measures 37′ x 9’6″ x 2’8″ & is currently midway thru a major refit happening at Katikati in the Bay of Plenty. There is a 120hp diesel sitting in her at present. Owner needs to move her on due to ill health, details can be found on trademe.

As launch she was a very smart launch, nice project for someone.

16-08-2018 Update from Nigel Boyd

“Hi all
We have just purchased the Rautangi a kauri bridge decker featured on this website. She has been moved to my property 425 Krippner Road, Puhoi.

She was completely gutted and partly repaired by the pervious owner. I am told that she has been out of the water for 7 years.

We seek as much advice as possible on how to get her back into a usable state again. We have no previous experience in restoring wooden boats and done much reading on the internet. However, many conflicting views on how to do this properly has left us undecided on the way forwards.

I would much appreciate any guidance and advice on this project.

We welcome any visits from those who would like to see her and share their wisdom.

Regards
Nigel and Kim Boyd
0222596472

Wild Duck – 4 Sale

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WILD DUCK
photos ex Dean Wright, details ex Tino Rawa Trust

ww has spies everywhere 🙂

Last week Dean Wright sent me the above photos of Wild Duck anchored in Hahangarua (Norwegian) Bay, Moturua Island in the Bay of Islands. I suspect she was catching up on some R&R after the BOI Race Week.
The Wild Duck is the ‘mother ship’ to the Tino Rawa Trust fleet of classic yachts. She was built by JB Jukes in 1937 as a fishing boat (Reg # WN290) by “Joe” Jukes at his yard in Balaena Bay. Built of kauri using the carvel method she is 42′ x 12′ x 4’6″ and powered by a GM Detroit 371 85hp.

Wild Duck was named after an early immigrant ship to Wellington run by the Shaw Savill company.

Joe Jukes (1889-1956) started in business in 1919 after serving his time with Ted Bailey at Aotea Quay and returning from the First World War. He rapidly established a reputation for sound craftsmanship and built some outstanding  yachts, including Raukawa (1936) and several successful 14ft One Designs. His launches included Nereides (1925) and Vagabond (1926).
In her earlier years Wild Duck was owned by the South Seas Fishing Co and used as a tender to the Lyttelton-based ex-Hull trawler South Sea off the Chatham Islands.

By the late 1930s she was back in Wellington as a general purpose vessel. For example she was the vessel which refueled the Empire-class Short  flying boat Centaurus in Wellington in January 1938.

For several years Wild Duck was renamed Parera, the Maori name for the grey duck, but has now reverted to her original name.

Wild Duck has several restorations since being owned by TRT, to bring her into line with all the recommendations from her survey and maintain her in good order.  The stem post and rotten keelson has been replaced along with new floors and the replacement of broken ribs. The two coreten metal tanks have been replaced with lighter weight plastic tanks.  A new engine room bulkhead has been installed and the entire vessels interior and exterior has been stripped, repaired, fared and painted. A new shaft-log, s/s shaft and bronze mounts have been fabricated and installed. A new wet exhaust has been installed. She may look slightly ‘commercial’ in these photos but the interior is very cool.

For details & viewing: contact Wooden Boat Bureau c/o waitematawoodys@gmail.com

UPDATE: Wild Duck Hauled Out @ Milford (August 2017)

 

July 2020 – Video

Mystery Boat 4sale – Help needed

IMG_4551 - Unknown - Peach hull, grey deck, white cabin

Help Needed – Mystery Boat 4sale
photo ex Alice Morrison

Alice spotted the boat in the above photo moored in Okura Bay, Totara North, Whangaroa Harbour, Northland. She fell in love with the boat and dream of what it could be. It has 4sale + a price painted on the hull, but no owner contact details 😦
A gent on a neighbouring mooring gave Alice as much information as he knew. That it was owned by Gary from Taipa and that it has a kauri hull made in the sixties.

It has some form of registeration number on the bow – either 4B-623 or HB-623?

Now the big question –  do any of the woodys  know who this Gary from Taipa is? & any more information on the history of the boat.

Alice has been looking for a small classic wooden launch, to restore and potential make her home.