Category Archives: Launches

CAN WE ID THIS MYSTERY CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – OMOKOROA

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CAN WE ID THIS MYSTERY CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – OMOKOROA

Todays story comes to us from John Dawson who sent in the photo above the bridge-decker classic launch hauled out.

The vessels name and photo location are unknown so keen to learn more.

To my eye there is an ‘interesting’ mix of styles at play – her hull and coach do not quite match in terms of design form. 

UPDATE – as advised by Nathan Herbert and Leigh Hume the launch is named OMOKOROA. Had lots of name changes – PHENELLA > WANGANELLA > KOTUKU > OMOKOROA. And has made numerous appearances on WW links below.Leigh Hume also commented – ‘The Omokoroa chapter of her life circa 1978-80 you could get from your correspondent Ian MacDonald as he and Roger Edwards rebuilt her on the Omokoroa slipway. The bridgedecker configuration shown was built by (Bill?) Ross and the photo shows her in 1954 shortly before re-launching off the end of Matahui point’. WW August 2018 https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/08/07/amokoroa/

WW July 2021 https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/07/10/omokaroa-omokoroa-saved/

WW April 2024 https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/04/25/omokoroa-april-2024-update/

WW June 2024 https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/06/20/om0koroa-phenella-wanganella-kotuku-omokoroa/

(photo ex Toby Hyman)

1970’s STORM WRECKED HAVOC TO THAMES BOATING FLEET

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1970’s STORM WRECKED HAVOC TO THAMES BOATING FLEET

Recently Glenn Martin sent the above photos that originated from the Thames Historic Pictures fb page.   Glenn commented that they were captioned – ‘Storm Damaged boats in the 1970s Shortland Wharf Thames NZ’ , but in Glenn’s eyes he believes the date was probably earlier. Blowing up the photos the pickup truck in the top photo does tend to date it earlier. Also in the 2nd photo the shoes on the observers on the wharf have a 1970’s style – so maybe the photos are not from the same period. Thoughts?

Did some sniffing around online and learnt that records from coastal engineering and council archives confirm storms in February and May 1970 affecting the Coromandel coast (including areas near Thames). These brought large easterly swells and storm surges, that damaged wharves and boats and caused erosion and flooding.

If you have spent time there you will know that Thames sits on low-lying reclaimed land beside the Firth of Thames, so is always susceptible to flooding. 

(photo ex Toby Hyman)

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – AVALON – UPDATE #4

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – AVALON – UPDATE #4

Following from last weeks update (#3) on the restoration of the 1954 Sam Ford built classic wooden launch – AVALON, owner Tobias Forsyth sent in more photos of the work-in-progress.

Tobias commented that the next time home (works at sea) he will be building the cabin top, this has been down the To Do List as keeping it off makes working inside a easier, especially when it’s really hot. 

The rebate is in for the glass and all the templates are made, ready to send to the glazier for new glass. 
 Tobias said the To Do List is getting smaller every time he is home and it feels very good to be finishing jobs and making things look nice again. 

She’s came a very long way since sitting on his Grandma’s lawn and he couldn’t be happier with how good everything is falling into place. 

The plan is in the water ready to go by next summer. 🙂

THE WOODY WEEKEND THAT GOT AWAY

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THE WOODY WEEKEND THAT GOT AWAY (sorry this is Mondays story, bloody set the wrong date 🙃

Ever have one of those weekends when you thought long and hard about slipping the lines and decided against it and then missed one of the best boating weekends of the season. And it was a long holiday weekend……….. Well that was me.

First up Angus Rogers sent in two great photos of MAITA I –  the 30’, 1928 Collings & Bell built launch anchored in Sandy Bay, Waiheke.

Then a Waiheke resident sent in the three photos of Oneroa, the most crowed I have seen it in a long time.

Then Rob Griffin was mooching around the Waiheke Marina and spotted a new arrival – KERERU  – the 35’, 1911 Chas Bailey Jnr built double ender launch.             We learnt last Wednesday that she had recently relocated to Auckland from Picton. Looks like Waiheke Island will be her new home. Link below to Wednesday story  https://waitematawoodys.com/2026/04/22/classic-wooden-launch-kereru-arrives-in-auckland/

(photo ex Toby Hyman)

RESTORATION OF THE CLASSIC WOODEN EX WORKBOAT – CLYDE GS 28

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RESTORATION OF THE CLASSIC WOODEN EX WORKBOAT – CLYDE GS 28

WW has been contacted by Mark McLaughlin regarding the 25’ Roger Carey built (1949) ex workboat – CLYDE GS28. Mark’s notes below – 

“I have been following the Facebook page of Doug Johnson who is a traditional boatbuilder in Picton documenting his restoration of the lovely little Roger Carey 25ft fishing boat “Clyde”. Originally built in 1949, Doug has rescued Clyde and spent the last three and a half years on a thorough restoration which is nearing completion with launching planned for Labour Weekend. Clyde features in the book “By Boats We Live” by Roger’s daughter, Joan Clark, which recorded all of her father’s designs & builds and designs built by others. The watercolour image is by Joan from her book and shows Clyde’s original working boat configuration” 

Mark also sent in the selection of photos above from Doug’s Facebook page, and commented that there are many more photos and videos of the restoration there, link below  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084924609149  Mark tracked down a copy of the story on CLYDE in the “By Boats We Live” book from his mother down in Marlborough. Photos below.

CLASSIC GAME LAUNCH ALMA G AT URUPUKAPUKA ISLAND

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CLASSIC GAME LAUNCH ALMA G AT URUPUKAPUKA ISLAND

The 1922 Collings & Bell built classic wooden game boat – ALAM G has made numerous appearances on WW , today thanks to a Ross Griffin post on the B.O.I. Historic Photos fb we get to share some stunning camera work from the photographer Tudor Collins. The images are ’stored’ at the Kawakawa Museum.

Most of the photos are in and around Urupukapuka Island and the islands game fishing lodge.

Can anyone ID the people in the close up photos.

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – REHUTAI 428

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – REHUTAI 428

Last week WW was contacted by Mitchell Hutchings regarding the classic 43’ Sam Ford built (1926) wooden launch – REHUTAI, his note is reproduced below. Mitchell also supplied the photos we see above of REHUTAI under construction and on a cruise.  Sam Ford built REHUTAI for C C Ross of Wellington and when launched she was powered by a 50/75 hp Stearns engine.

“The photos were taken by my Uncle, Peter Parsonson, a Milford resident and past Commodore of the Devonport Yacht Club. His wife, Eva, is shown in some of the onboard photos. Also Bob and Bertie Davidson are named, probably the owners? They look like a happy crew. “

In Sept 2023 REHUTAI was in Wellington (painted yellow) and we learnt from Nathan Herbert that she had has several name changes over the years eg ARAWA, NOMAD, IRIHAPETI. Converted to her current configuration by Allan Williams in Milford, Auckland. Link below https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/09/05/mystery-wellington-launch-2/

Nathan Herbert pointed WW in the direction of the Air Force Museum of New Zealand (Photograph Collection) where there are two stunning WWII photos on file (last two above) of REHUTAI W428, during her time with the Air Force Marine Section, based at RNZAF Station Hobsonville. At the time she was ‘on-loan’ from Stan Parker.

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – AVALON RESTORATION UPDATE # 3

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – AVALON RESTORATION UPDATE # 3

Todays photo gallery of AVALON the 24’ 1954 Sam Ford built woody was sent in by John Dawson and is a follow up to our last update in November 2025 – WW link here https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/11/17/classic-wooden-launch-avalon-restoration-update-2/

Owner Tobias Forsyth has been making good progress and I love his approach to semi finishing areas while the overall project continues – I’m sure it helps with the motivation.

AVALON is a member of a very small classic wooden boating club – one family owner since new.

Lots of background on AVALON in this 2021 WW story https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/11/29/resurrection-of-avalon/

Photo below from pre launch day.

(photo ex Toby Hyman)

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH KERERU ARRIVES IN AUCKLAND

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April 2026 @ HMB Marina

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH KERERU ARRIVES IN AUCKLAND

Back in October 2025, Ian McDonald tipped us off that KERERU — a 35’ woody built in 1911 by Chas Bailey Jnr. — was on the market down in Picton.

At the time, we uncovered a rich slice of her history (link below), but by December there was still no sign of a sale. She was then powered by a Ford 80hp diesel and, by all accounts, was a tidy example of a Bailey built launch. https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/10/20/1911-classic-wooden-launch-kereru-a-peek-down-below/

Fast forward to this week, and Ian — never far from the action — spotted KERERU hauled out at Half Moon Bay Marina. A bit of quiet dockside sleuthing revealed she had made the journey north by road from Wellington.

A close look at the latest photo suggests she’s in need of a little TLC — nothing unusual for a 115 year old classic wooden launch.

The big question now is: what’s brought KERERU to the Waitemata. That’s a long trip for a simple spruce-up, so with a bit of luck we may be seeing another salty looking canoe-stern woody joining the local fleet. Can we learn more.

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH YASAWA NEEDS A NEW HOME

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH YASAWA NEEDS A NEW HOME

Last week WW was contacted by Julie Eccles advising that she was selling her late husband (Ken) classic wooden bridge-decker 33’ launch – YASAWA.  YASAWA has appeared on WW several times over the years, starting back in January 2014, link below. At the time we learnt from Harold Kidd that she was built by Charlie Filmer.  WW Jan 2014  https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/01/10/yasawa/

More recently John Burland photographed her moored at Motueke Marina – last photo above. In this photo she looks very smart. Below is an excerpt from the Nov 2025 edition of the Motueka Yacht and Cruising Club newsletter.

YASAWA – Yasawa was built in 1952 when bridge-deckers were a very popular style of launch.

The term ‘bridge-decker’ refers to boats with a higher level deck to the fore of the boat that sits over the engine bay. The first bridge-deckers were built in the1920s in the USA and reflect a transition from stern steered sailing vessels to motorised launches.

Yasawa is carvel kauri construction and is 32.8 feet (10 metres) long. Its first owner and builder was Charlie Filmer who lived in Penrose, Auckland. The boat’s history is well recorded in a popular classic wooden boat site called ‘Waitemata Woodys’. For many years it was well known for its varnished topsides, since painted over. Originally the boat was called ‘Doraleen’ and changed to its current name in 1957. The boat’s first engine was a petrol V8 marinised Ford Mercury. It is currently powered by a D-Series 6 cylinder Ford diesel, which was reconditioned with Phil Fry’s help about 5 years ago.

Interested parties to initially make contact with Julie Eccles via email julieeccleskina@gmail.com 

(photo ex Toby Hyman)