Woody – Shamus Fairhall spotted the above photo in an OP Shop last week. The launch is named – Thelma and is a straight stem, counter stern of the early milk maid style hull. No idea of the builder but the photo was taken on the Frankton arm of Lake Wakataipu.
Lake Wakatipu is an inland lake in the South Island, in the southwest corner of the Otago region, near its boundary with Southland. Lake Wakatipu comes from the original Māori name Whakatipu wai-māori. With a length of 80 kilometres, it is New Zealand’s longest lake, and, at 291 km², its third largest.
The back says it is a printed from a 1910 photo from the Muir and Moodie collection – National Museum.
Any of the woodys able to shed some light on Themla? Got to love the wharf, looks very flimsy in relation to the standard of attire of the onlookers 🙂
Todays woody fits into the spirit of tradition mould – designed by Salthouse, and built be John Gladden and Fred Bailey, her owner of 32 years. Fred was the founder of Broadbill Lures.
Built from 3 skin diagonal heart kauri (below the water) and 2 skins above, then glassed over. Approx. 50’ in length with a 14’5” beam and drawing 3’5”.
The zoom zoom is via a matched pair of 220hp Detroit diesels delivering 13>19 knots.
Whilst I’m a vocal critic of flybridges added to classic woodys – Broadbill is a fit-for-purpose ‘workboat’ that the big game fishing crowd would call a ‘Custom Sportfisher’ and looks the part 🙂
She was for sale back in mid 2019, so probably has a new owner these days.
Woody David Campbell-Morrison sent in the above gallery of woodys berthed at Tinopai. For the out of towners – thats the northern end of the Kaipara Harbour, on the west coast of the north island (refer chart)
Very delightful looking spot, while the tides on 😉 , can anyone help us ID some of the craft?
The 34’ woody – Marlin Mist, was built by Shipbuilders c.1960, she has a beam of 9’6” and draws 3’. Being a Shipbuilders vessel she is built like a brick s house i.e. triple diagonal kauri (glassed over….)
Powered by a Nissan SD33 80hp Diesel engine (Moon Engines) that gives her a comfortable cruising speed of 7 knots.
Owned and restored by a boat builder the quality of the workmanship and level of presentation is faultless. Thanks to Ian McDonald for the tme heads up.
Can we expand on her past life?
Check out this very cool NZ maritime auction – closes Tuesday, some great items. Jason Prew and I are are bidding for the item below – just whats needed to bring some sense to the CYA committe re the Heritage Basin saga……..
During the week an old acquaintance, Nigel Philp, reached out to WW with a heads up that a woody was being extracted from under some trees opposite the Stillwater Boat Club, up the Weti River. At times she was partly submerged.
In her present configuration she’s a launch / motorboat but there is a mullet boat hiding under there, confirmed by Jason Prew. Nigel commented that she appeared to be approx. 26’ and possibly presently named Esme.
The SWBC yard manager, Gareth, hauled her on Wednesday and tucked her into a temporary home. Rumour has it she has changed hands is off for a birthday – we like that.
So woodys – can we shed any light on the boat past?
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.
Almost 2 years ago the Wooden Boat Bureau found a new owner for the 1960, 40’Jack Morgan designed and built launch Kokoru. At the time she was calling Picton home and her new owners bought her north to Auckland and almost immediately hauled her out and into a shed. Kokoru was a very well maintained boat and in great presentation – but plans were afoot.
Yesterday I got a peek at the project – still a few bits and pieces to be signed off so today you just get to see her exterior and the new twin Yanmar 75hp engine installation (below)
The design and workmanship is faultless and very soon you’ll get to see the complete boat.
WW has followed the restoration / refit of the 32’ launch Waione since 2016, links below to the 3 stories tracking her progress.
Current custodian is Daniel Taylor, the 3rd generation family member to enjoy Waione. Daniel and his father Steve, have been at the helm of the 20 year project.
While mooching around the Mahurangi regatta I spotted Waione at anchor – she looked very impressive and I’m sure Daniel’s late grandparents, Jack and Missy McCabe – would approve 🙂
Daniel shared the photos below from the launch day and her sliding into her temporary waterfront home for final fit out.
The launch Contessa is another launch that was owned by Peter David’s father and recently popped up on Peter’s fb. Designed and built by John Lidgard in the early 1960’s.
Can we shed some light on Carla and what became of her?
Built in Wellington in 1929 by B.J.L. Jukes in Balaena Bay. Jukes had built in 1926 two sister ships – Vagabond and Nereides. Ruapani was commissioned by the NZ Govt Tourist Dept for use on Lake Waikaremoana, to carry passengers from Hopuruahine to the Lake House Hotel.
When the hotel closed in 1965 she was sold to Peter Ash’s company – Waikaremoana Launch Services. Ash replaced the original 40hp Thornycroft petrol engine with a Perkins 84hp diesel and operated her on the lake for another 11 years.
In 1976 Ash sold Ruapani to her first private owner, Noel Tong, who sold her in 1984 to her present owner – Ken Menzies, that woodys is 38 years ago, very impressive.
Menzies initially kept her on the lake, but in 1990 trucked her to Evans Bay, Wellington (his new home). The move was a very lucky break for Ruapani as Menzies engaged well known Wellington boat designer – Bruce Askew to undertake a major rebuild / restoration of Ruapani. The work involved redesigning the above deck area to a style similar to Nereides, below deck the engine was shifted aft to accommodate two large cabins forward. The change to salt water necessitated upgrading a lot of her ‘hardware’ and the addition of freshwater tanks – life on the lake equaled a permanent supply of fresh water.
These days Ruapani is berthed in Picton Marina and is a wonderful boat for cruising the Marlborough Sounds. Ken Menzies commented that Ruapani was maintained very well by the original launch master Frank Smith and she remains in sound condition after 92 years.
The gallery of photos above date from when Ruapani was on Lake Waikaremoana in the early 1930s, thru to approx 2004. The top photo is a recent shot and perfectly shows what a magnificent woody Ruapani is. And a lucky woody to have had 38 years of continuous ownership at the hands of a devoted owner.
The photos were shared with us by Ken, and the details I have extracted for numerous WW comments and newspaper clipping.
A Helping Hand Needed
Alice Morrison is the owner of the classic woody launch – Taurima (WW link below) which is currently in Tauranga. Alice has been trying for months to move her to Whangaroa, or at least Whangarei but due to weather and availability she has not yet been able to. So woodys – anyone out there that could help Alice relocate Taurima? Alice is prepared to pay, but is short on intel on who could / would do this. You can comment in the WW comments section or contact Alice direct at alice.morrison3@gmail.com https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/02/13/24919/
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