Category Archives: Launches

Waihou > Ngapuhi

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WAIHOU > NGAPUHI 

The 1953 Lane built woody – Ngapuhi started life as a towing launch for Lane & Sons (Timber Millers) at their premises in Totara North, Whangaoa Harbour. Originally named Waihou. Purchased by Northland Port Corporation in 1963 her name was changed to Ngapuhi & she served as the pilot boat for the Whangarei Harbour  Board for 35 years. 

She last appeared on WW in December 2020 when she was offered for sale – lots of history, details and photos at this link https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/12/18/ngapuhi-waihou/

Brief over view – 45’5″ in length, 12’ beam and draws 3’6”. Kauri carvel planked. Powered by twin Gardner 6LXBM52- 127hp that has her governed at 11 knots max speed.

Given her ex commercial work and being in survey Ngapuhi is very well spec’ed.

Other than the occasional cruise to Auckland and the outer islands, home has been the Far North.

Fast forward to mid 2022, sees Ngapuhi residing in Auckland and getting a birthday – like a lot of ex work boats there was a degree of deferred maintenance that her new owners are addressing. The new paint job is rather swish. Looking forward to her joining in on some of the woody events coming up this summer.

Photos below per-purchase at Opua

UPDATE 18-08-2022 – Ex Ray Morey – Ngapuhi ex Waihoa was designed and built by Brian Lane himself at the old Lane property in Totara North. Original engines were a handed pair of GM 4-71 @ 115 hp. N.H.B replaced these with Detroit 4-71N series engines after several years of service.

Fantasy – Whangarei Town Basin

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FANTASY- Whangarei Town Basin

Did a dash to Opua yesterday – up and back – long drive. Stopped in at Whangarei on the way back to check out the Town Basin wharf area – Always good for a few woodys.

The above launch was on a pile mooring and looks familiar but the brain came back with a – ’no match’ – I’m sure someone will ID her, very well cared for.

UPDATE 15-08-2022 – Its Fantasy

UPDATE 28-08-2022 – photos below ex Shaughan Anderson

Estrela

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ESTRELA

The 43’ 1920’s built launch – Estrela has made a few appearances on tme over the areas and has sadly slipped into the ‘Live-Aboard’ category these days. Its being promoted as the cheapest home you can buy in Auckland.

She was built by Joe Fell, is a double-ender built from triple skin kauri and powered by a Hino H07C 158hp diesel.

Her Panmure River berth is available for rent – so woodys – a waterfront home or rescue her and set her free on the Waitemata again 🙂

(Thanks Ian McDonald for the listing heads up)

She appeared on WW back in 2018 and there was some discussion re her provenance – possibly not a  1920 Joe Fell boat, read this link for more info. Remember to also read the comments section 😉 https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/10/03/estrela/

Kerikeri Inlet Mooching

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KERIKERI INLET MOOCHING

Bay of Islands woody, Dean Wright snapped the above gallery of photos on his iPhone in early August whilst mooching around the Kerikeri Inlet. 

From the top down, left > right we have – Alma G > Shalom > Te Honu > Dareen > Tranquila > Pearl Diver > Westerly > and the very salty looking yacht – Cameo

Input ex Belinda Moss – Cameo is Eric Cox design built by Lionel Jeffcoate for himself. He sailed her with his family in the Pacific, and to the Chathams and Auckland Islands. Sister ship to Encore (sloop rig) which he built after selling Cameo. These are two of the 57 boats Lionel built on his own.

Job opportunities in the marine industry are few and far between even in the current times, particularly in the better companies. Regular WW readers will know I’m a big fan of the crew at Moon Engines, so when James Mobberley mentioned that he was on the hunt for mechanic to join the team, I volunteered to help the search – So woodys if you or someone you know is considering a change of scenery – give James a call, you will have to leave a message, we all do – too busy on-the-job, to take calls- thence this ad 🙂

More details below.

We are still trying to find an enthusiastic, experienced mechanic to join our great team at Moon’s.

We are prepared to pay good money + additional benefits for a good, experienced mechanic who wishes to work in the Marine industry or one who is willing to be trained in marine gearbox and/or marine engine work.

If you are the “Mechanic we are looking for” or know of someone who would be interested in this position, please see our advert below:-

PETROL/DIESEL/GEARBOX MECHANIC NEEDED…

If you are the mechanic we are looking for, you will be enthusiastic, love boats and enjoy being part of a great team that works really well together.

You will be keen to advance your career having already completed your apprenticeship with experience as either a petrol or diesel mechanic. You will need a full licence and of course great work ethics – meaning you’ll be punctual, honest and reliable.

If you are tired of the same old, working in the rain and mud or under a car, we would love to welcome you into the marine industry by joining the friendly team at Moon engines.

To apply, check out our website to see more on who we are and what we do, then call James on 09 828 3524 or email james@moonengines.co.nz and tell us why you would be one of our amazing mechanics!

Dundonald > Tranquila

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DUNDONALD > TRANQUILA 

Early last week we ran a story on a launch named – Tranquila (link to that story below) at the time hawk-eye Nathan Herbert commented that it appeared to be the Don Brooke designed – Dundonald post a name change.

Fast forward one week and woody John Dawson confirmed that Nathan was correct and sent in the gallery of photos above. John commented that the launch was for sale back in April 2021. 

Tranquila is 37’ in length, built from DD kauri (f/glassed) and powered by a Ford 120hp Otsan 6.2L 6 cyl. diesel that gives her a cruising speed of 9.5 knots- top speed is approx. 13 knots. https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/08/02/tranquila/

Carousel

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CAROUSEL
Back in June 2020 we ran a brief story on the Lake Te Anau based launch – Carousel. At the time Peter Kicker advised that she was in charter and running cruises on the lake with “Cruise Te Anau’ (photo below on the lake) We learnt that she is a Oliver and Gilpin design, approx. 44’ in length. Being O&G she was built in Tauranga for a gent named Sid Gamman and was based in Tauranga before heading south.

Todays photos come to us from David Glen and show Carousel hauled out for some TLC, given her location and role, I can almost over-look the ‘block-of-flats’ 🙂

Colleen – Launch Day

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JAN

Boat builder Alan Craig (Craig Marine) sent in todays’ gallery of photos of the Brin Wilson designed launch – Colleen owned by Bill Stevenson. We see her being launched at Lake Tarawera where she still resides today. Appears that there were a few challenges with the lake level.

Colleen is a near sister ship to the other Stevenson family launch – Jan, refer photos below. Jan is maintained in an as new condition, some credit for this goes to Alan who has repainted and varnished the whole boat at different stages.

Also keen to ID the launch that is helping drag her off.

INPUT ex Hamish Moore “I have spoken with Mother on this, Jocelyn Stevenson. Seems you have amended some of the points already. – Typo, Spelling of the family name. ‘Stevenson’

Some info what what Jocelyn can recall;

Colleen was on Lake Rotoiti for a few years prior to been relocated to lake Tarawera, possibly up to 5yrs.

The launching of Colleen shown here could be at Lake Rotoiti and the little Tug boat could well be Sir Williams first boat on Lake Rotoiti, un-confirmed and details of the vessel unknown.

A notable mentioned needs to go to Norm Keane who was a local boat builder that Sir William employed to maintain all the boats, including Jocelyn in Auckland, and his property at Lake Rotoiti and I’d say Colleen while still in the family ownership. If I recall correctly one of your articles in the past may have mentioned Norm Keane.

Last I heard, Colleen has had some work done over the years and some of which was completed by Danny Pearce boatbuilding out of Rotorua. I’ve lost contact with Danny. However we had attempted to head down and cast an eye over Colleen but life just got to busy.

Jan remains in family ownership, by Sir Williams Grand daughter.

It would be fantastic to see some photos and and article on Colleen if you managed to shake down someone who has the knowledge and contact.”

Sandspit Yacht Club Yard Visit

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Sandspit Yacht Club Yard Visit

Following on from yesterdays semi Sandspit story, I was there again during the week and did a quick loop of the SYC yard – nice collection of both traditional classics and spirit of tradition old hauled for some TLC.

If any of you are around any boat yards – get the phone out and take > send in some photo 🙂

Tamahere SOS

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TAMAHERE SOS

Back in May 2018 when I was loitering around the waterfront at Sandspit I was taken by the 40′ canoe stern 1904 launch – Tamahere. She must have changed hands around the same time and at some stage relocated to Kerikeri, Northland.

Sadly she has suffered a mishap due to deferred maintenance and has taken of a lot of water, but didn’t sink. There is a long list of required work to get her sea worthy again but her current tme price / bid is sub $600. Auction closes this Sunday at 9.52am. (thanks Ian McDonald for the listing heads up)

As the owner states ‘definitely a project not for the faint-hearted’ – but a bargain entry into the wooden boating movement.

The phots below are from 2018 at Sandspit.

Also more here from a May 2017 WW story  https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/08/02/tamahere-a-peak-down-below/

Dont normally link to tme but time is not Tamahere’s friend https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/boats-marine/motorboats/listing/3695932222?tm=email&et=47&mt=16373835-5D46-4FFE-A44C-B8ECA6A92162&bof=EC22CNjd

Grenadier + Keeping in touch

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GRENADIER 

The 34’ Shipbuilders launch Grenadier popped up recently on tme. Built in 1976 with triple diagonal kauri planking below the water and double diagonal above  (+ f/glass) 

Forward motion is via a Volvo 200hp that has her cruising at 7>8 knots.

Now post the ‘modified to include a top helm’ (sellers words) Grenadier would have been a real looker, in fact one of the better Shipbuilders designs, some can be a tad boxy.

Still it only wood and nothing a sharp chainsaw couldn’t right.

COMMUNICATIONS – Staying In The Loop

Waitematawoodys have a lot of contact details for classic woody owners, but I’m sure there are gaps – We regularly send details on upcoming gatherings, but due to factors like people changing their email address or service provider, over time gaps occur. In the interests of ensuring you are kept up to date and do not miss out on upcoming classic gatherings – drop WW an email with your name/email/mob #

waitematawoodys@gmail.com

OBVIOUSLY IF YOU ARE RECEIVING WW EMAILS NO NEED TO REPLY 

UPCOMING CLASSIC WOODY GATHERINGS CALENDAR

Click link for more details  https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/07/21/woody-classic-gatherings/