Category Archives: Launches

Wondabyne > Pakatoa

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WONDABYNE > PAKATOA

In Oct 2021 on the BOI historic photos fb page a photo of Wondabyne popped up, posted by Myra Larcombe who commented that the launch was her fathers, and in the top photo above was berthed at Opua during the war years thence the #27 on her.

Then in early Jan 2022, Phil Bull posted the colour photo above of Wondabyne, now named Pakatoa, sitting in a Warkworth paddock. Phil commented that she had been there for a longtime and it looked like, sadly this was her final resting place. Under the name Pakatoa, the vessel was used to ferry passengers between Auckland and Pakatoa Island in the Hauraki Gulf.

In the past on WW there has been robust discussion around whether Wondabyne was actually the launch – Lolita. After reviewing these recent photos and others on file – Nathan Herbert is confident that Wondabyne and Lolita were in fact sister ships. The only visible difference being the Wondabyne had a short tram top, and Lolita a long tram top. Sadly Lolita ‘resting’ on the beach at Russell / Okiato. Refer below photos  

Anne-Marie

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ANNE MARIE

Back in April 2021 Dean Wright sent me the above photo of Anne-Marie, somehow it slipped into the ‘bottom draw’ of the WW hard drive, so today she gets her day in the sun. The photograph was taken at Tutukaka Marina.

Can anyone tell us more about this ex work boat and when she was converted to pleasure use?

21-03-2022 Input from Phil Vining –  In the comments section Simon
Manning commented that he thought Anna Marie was the old “Lady Fisher” that was one
of the original Outward Bound work boats before being upgraded to a pleasure
launch. That is my memory as well. There was a question as to who built her.
I visited the Vinings Office and they had a old listing in their files, refer below.

VERY QUIET ON THE HERITAGE BASIN NEWS FRONT…………

……………. First Tuesday of the Month today = another Classic Yacht Association committee meeting, no doubt the Heritage Basin marina bigots will table another mock report on the efforts to negotiate with the Auckland Council controlled Panuku Developments to ensure all CYA vessel owners get access to the new >40 berth marina, at approx. $100 a month berth rental, for a minimum term of 3 years.

Woody Classic Waterfront Picnic Weekend

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My Girl
Kokoru
Lillian
Mahanui
The Wharf
Waikiore
Poco Lento (Lady Janet)
My Girl & Royal Falcon
Waikaro
Kokoru
Monterey
Trinidad

Woody Classic Waterfront Picnic 

Given I have had a very light summer boating wise, we decided to head out on Friday afternoon to Rakino for the night and partake in Auckland’s best wood fired pizzas at Woody Bay.

Again everything lined up – food, good wine and another spectacular sunset. Had a late evening visit from Jason Prew on My Girl, the wife “what’s that noise”. Then we were ‘entertained’ by a plonker and his partner on a Formula 4000, singing karaoke 1/2 the night ……….. they seriously thought they were good, they weren’t 😦

Saturday we headed over to the Weti River at mid day for the Woodys Picnic at the Stillwater Motor Camp. So lucky to get access, with the wharf it just makes the ideal venue for a catch up. Covid made a few gun shy but we had 11 woodys attending and a further 3 owners arrived via car – all in all a great afternoon. Lots of new (restored) woodys and new to the movement owners. The woody launch scene is getting more and more popular.

Post the picnic I pointed Raindance to a new (to me) anchorage and we enjoyed another wow sunset.

NEXT WOODY EVENT IS SATURDAY 26 MARCH – UPPER HARBOUR LUNCH CRUISE TO THE RIVERHEAD TAVERN – More details closer

The answer to yesterdays – name the yacht quiz was ‘Frances – A11’, the 1905, Arch Logan classic from the Class Yacht Charitable Trust stable. Photo below. And no one picked the right answer. So the WW t-shirt, gets to be put up again.

Mystery Lake Rotorua Launch – 1946

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MYSTERY LAKE ROTORUA LAUNCH – 1946

The photo above popped up recently on Maurice Sharp’s fb. The only details we have is its dated 1946, was taken by N. Bennett for the NZ Herald.

It is a very cool photo and given the year, just after WWII so the boat could have been abandoned while her owner was doing their bit overseas for all of us. I’d like to think some of these rascals went on to own their own boat.

It was commented that the small yacht was an Idle Along.

Anyone able to put a name to the launch – big ask I know 🙂

Mystery Lake Launch – 24/02/22

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Mystery Lake Launch 24-02-22

Today’s woody launch photo comes to us ex Lew Redwood’s fb – I apologise in advance if it has appeared b4 on WW – so many stories, so many boats…..

It would appear that it was either a postcard or the sender wrote a note on the back. I have enlarged the note – hopefully someone can make-out the name of the lake, it is beyond my eye sight 🙂

And maybe even the boat name?

ECHO + Woody Beauty Parlour 

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ECHO + Woody Beauty Parlour 

Recently I was sent a link to David Smith’s FB where he showcased the 2 photos above of the 1935, 32’, Les Coulthard built launch – Echo, moored in Parekura Bay in the Bay of Islands.

Echo has graced WW before – check out this link for a look below  https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/10/27/echo-a-peek-down-below/

I WILL BE EMAILING OUT DETAILS ON THIS SATURDAYS WATERFRONT WOODY PICNIC TO EVERYONE THAT HAS RSVP’ed – Weather is looking great 🙂

Today a snapped the photo below of the yard at The Slipway in Milford – a nice selection of woodys getting some TLC.

Left > right – my own Raindance (my lips are sealed as to why I’m hauled out again), then the recently changed hands – Rehia, the 1939 Colin Wild built 36’ launch, in for some long-overdue differed maintenance.  Link to Rehia here https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/12/18/rehia-finds-a-new-home/

Then – Awarua, the 1947, 36’ Roy Lidgard built launch – also owned by the owner of Echo. One more and he will officially be a collector 🙂 Awarua is nearing the end of an extensive refit and whilst you can’t see it in the photo, is sporting a dazzling Jason Prew paint job. View more of Awarua at this link https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/04/03/awarua-a-peek-down-below/

Florence May

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19-03-2025 New Photos Below

FLORENCE MAY 

Back in Jan 2016 Rodney Webb, the owner of Florence May had the boat for sale and commented – “I guess you could say i reluctantly have her for sale and would probably refuse any offer” 🙂 Well he must have because in 2022 he still owns the boat (in fact has for approx. 40 years). But she is for sale again and thanks to Ian McDonald and a tme listing we get to have a better look at her and peek down below.

We know from the previous WW story that she was built near Auckland for Harry Muir and was named after his wife. She spent several years in Ngunguru then went to a retired sea captain in the Bay of Islands. She was then purchased by Tom Thompson who bought her back to Tutukaka. Rodney approached him and purchased her 40 years ago.The builder was Phil Lange.

She measures 28’ in length and is powered by a 80hp Ford D Series diesel engine.

Link to previous WW story https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/01/21/florence-rose-2/

Turongo Gets Revamped

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TURONGO – Gets Revamp

Late 2019 Turongo the 1966 Salthouse built bridgedecker was for sale in Auckland, at nearly 56’ and with 640hp she is a very daunting classic woody.

A new owner was found in 2020 and Turongo sadly moved south to Picton, where after a ‘refresh’ that included alot of system upgrades, she changed hands again (another southern owner). Today we get to see her post the refresh and just prior to changing hands. A truely magnificent classic vessel that will bolster the classic woody fleet down south. Hopefully one day she will emigrated north again 🙂

A quick snapshot – 56′, 16’4” beam, 3’11” draft, 25400 kg displacement, twin Caterpillar 3208 diesels, 10>19 knot speed range, 10 berths.