OUTBOARD BOATING CLUB – Way Back
The above photo surfaced on the OBC’s fb page a little while back and didn’t really spark much chat, other than that Paritai Drive was looking very bare – only one house 🙂 , the model of the bus on Tamaki Drive must help with the date – so woodys can we date the photo and possibly ID any of the vessels?
New Flag For My Boat – A little big (7’x4’), but the real McCoy – cotton cloth, everything sewn on, bronze fittings.
Haulout
TOROA – Gets A Birthday
Back in 2014 Toroa made an apperanace on WW (link below) and generated a lot interest in the comments section. What we learned was that she was built by Chas Bailey & Sons c.1950’s, is 28’ in length (including the hanging off bits at both ends) with a 9’ beam of and a draft of 2’6”. Constructed of kauri, in 1966 she was bought by Coastguard and used until 1968 as a patrol boat and training vessel. The price was 4000 pounds paid for with the assistance of the ASB Bank and the Golden Kiwi lottery. What became of her after 1968 is a tad cloudy but owners may have been, John Cheswass / Water Keen / Michael McMahon. https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/10/07/toroa/
In approx. May 2014 Brian & Judy Simpson purchased the launch and transported her to Lake Taupo, where she remained for the last 6 1/2 years, before being hauled out for some TLC that included a repaint and anti-foul. Brian advised that Toroa was recently slipped back into the lake after the refurbishment which was done by Judy and Brian, under the watchful eye of Larry Palmer, boat painter extraordinaire at Taupo Marina. Larry also trailer-ed Toroa out of and back into the lake.
Toroa is powered by a 4 cylinder, 4L Ford diesel engine, fitted in the 1980’s. She uses around 4 litres an hour at 1700 revs achieving a comfortable cruising speed of 6-7 knots. In the top set of photos above she is looking very grand. In the 2nd set we see her being hauling out.
KOPUTAI – Workboat Wednesday
I was recently contacted by Campbell MacLean after he ‘discovered’ the WW stories (links below) on the boat – Koputai. She was built in 1939 by Miller & Tunnage in Port Chalmers for use as a pilot vessel. Her specs are 56’ x 14’6” and she draws 6’5”.
Campbell sent in the above photos he has of Koputai, his grandfather, John Maclean was chief pilot and Harbour Master in Dunedin, and had a bit to do with commissioning of the Koputai in the late 1930’s.
The top photo is a painting by C R Carey in 1940. This was on the wall at the MacLean crib (Pilot House #1) at the Spit, Aramoana, and probably gifted to John before he died in 1940.
The 2nd photo is of Koputai in the harbour near Taiaroa Head, opposite the spit.
Do link on the above below links – so much material and photos from the past and her conversation to pleasure craft.
https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/03/08/53293/
https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/09/06/koputai
LABOUR WEEKEND – MATAKANA RIVER RAID – POSTPONED
The folks at the Kawau Boating Club have advised that due to the uncertainty of the ability to gather due to CV-19 restrictions, the decision has been been made to postpone the event – fingers crossed for a new date this year 🙂
CLANSMAN
The photos above of Clansman we sent in by Ed Higgins of her launch day at Half Moon Bay marina. Ed commented that Clansman was designed and built by Morrie Walker at Bucklands Beach. Modeled on the wheelhouse and cabin design of – Highlander. Morrie a qualified boat builder, who served his time with Percy Vos.
Constructed of laminated marine ply on kauri frames. Powered by a rebuilt 6LXB Gardiner engine, with 2 to 1 reduction gearbox.
Poor health forced the sale to a buyer in Tauranga.
Tragically Clansman some time later, caught fire and sank off Little Barrier Island, and was a total loss. A sad end for what was a beautifully designed and built vessel.Interesting to note the fuel prices on the Mobil sign. Can anyone tell us the launch date?
You Don’t Normally See Boat ‘Stuff’ 4sale On WW – But I Do Most Things James Mobberley Asks Me 🙂 Two Engines 4sale.
ENGINE ONE – Mazda S2 – 60hp + GearboxThe engine below is new but 30 years old, has been running. James commented that these Mazda diesels were fairly common in the 1980s > 1990s.The seller is asking ‘around’ $2k – a cheap set-up . Email james@moonengines.co.nz if interested.
ENGINE TWO – Volvo MD 1B – 8>10hpThe engine was rebuilt several years ago by a ships engineer. Ideal for a 16’>20’ open clinkerAsking $1500 cash. Call Peter Le Gross 0274925254
EQUINOX (Lyngrae) – A Peek Down Below
The 32’ launch – Equinox, is based on a Shipbuilders / Roy Steadman design and built in Dominion St. Takapuna by H. Sapwell and launched at Allen Williams boat yard, Milford in 1964. When launched she was named Lyngrae.
Built using triple skin kauri, as launched she was powered by a Morris Commodore petrol engine, later re-powered by a 60hp Fordson. In 1970 she was re-powered again at Mt Maunganui with a 100hp Trader Ford engine. These days Equinox sports a very impressive Steyr MO 256hp engine, which must push her along at an impressive speed.
In recent times the boat has had a lot of time and funds spent on her, as seen in the photos ex tme (thanks Ian McDonald) In the photos above she has a re-modelled cabin top, below in the b/w photo we see her as original.
Read and see more here https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/04/26/equinox/
03-10-2024 UPDATE – MORE PHOTO’S
BIG BOATING FAMILIES 🙂
Very impressive to see what must be one of Auckland’s biggest families, they obviously all live in the same house and all own a boat each – as they say ‘families that boat together, stay together’ 🙂 🙂 🙂
IMALONE
Todays woody was designed in 1950 by Jack Guard, who built the hull and John McCauley did the decks and wheelhouse in Putatea Bay, at the top of the South Island. As per all of Jack’s boats she was built of kauri / hardwood with birch ribs.
Her specs are 34’ in length with a 10’ beam. When built she was powered with a JP2 Lister engine, that was replaced approx. 25 years ago with a Detroit GM 371.
Subject to a survey – she appears to have great bones and would be a cool candidate for a conversion to pleasure use. Nelson is the home port.
Thanks to Ian McDonald for the tme heads up.
Mystery Bridgedecker – LADY ELLISON
No name on this old girl but her tme listing (thanks Ian McDonald) tells us she was built by Sam Ford in 1950, measures 36’ x 9’10” x 2’9”.
Built of kauri and powered by a Ford D360 diesel engine, that gets her along at 10 knots max. Other than calling Nelson home, that is about all we know about her. Can anyone put a name to her and tell us about her past?
UPDATE: SHE HAS BEEN ID’ed AS LADY ELLISON https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/03/06/lady-ellison-3/
HELP WANTED – ANYONE KNOW THE YACHT – KITENUI
The story goes that she was designed by Colin Wild and built by John Salthouse. Can anyone tells us more details about this yacht.
Update – photos below ex John Newsham
Kalua (Miss Betty) Update
Just before lockdown we did a classic woody raid up the Waipa River to the Clevedon Cruising Club for an overnight BBQ. Magic weekend and perfect timing i.e.days before lockdown 🙂
On-route up the river I spotted the 1952, Lidgard built launch – Kalua on her mooring. Kalua or Miss Betty as she was named earlier in her life has been on WW before, the WW link below has lots of details and a great photo gallery of the boats evolution. She appears to be a very big woody for her 42’ length, and you will not hear me say this too often – her additions, including the flying bridge are ok – and ok is as the best you’ll ever get from me on the subject of 2nd story additions to classic woodys 🙂 https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/05/15/miss-betty-kalua/
Boating This Weekend
As per everything the Arden Government (it stopped being the Labour Government last year) there are just so many mixed messages out there.We were told boatings all good (refer RNZYS notice), then 48hrs later Dads Army (Coastguard) are telling us a different message – refer below. I seriously question the restriction around not anchoring in any Waiheke Island bay?
SO WOODYS WHATS THE STORY – ANYONE KNOW?
Mystery Launch – Any Donovan Collection
Today’s woody is a total unknown, no dates, names, specs etc on the rear of the photo- so hopefully we can ID the boat and uncover some of her past.
After a long 7 weeks – I went boating yesterday, RD forgave me for neglecting her 🙂 A heads up, some serious wood floating around the harbour.
IORANA > STELLA – SOS
Back in January 2015 Harold Kidd sent in a wee bit of a mystery quiz, a photo of a bridge deck launch (b/w photo below) and told us she was built in 1922 and measured 38’. Plus, that when launched she had a 6 cylinder Alpha engine.
There was lots of speculation but we uncovered that she was designed and built by Leon Warne and named – Iorana (Tahitian for “Gidday”). HDK told us that Leon Warne got a lot of work out of Whangarei because he took the launch – Rosemary north every Christmas and raced her at Onerahi and Russell. Warne built Iorana for Selwyn Blake of Whangarei who had just sold Wild Thyme. Iorana was originally painted glossy black but was repainted white in her second season. Blake came to live in St. Mary’s Bay in 1924 and brought Iorana with him. He sold her to C.D. Sellars who sold her to W. Joll of Ponsonby and then she went to Whangamata and, around 1950, to George Manktelow of Paeroa, where he kept her moored in the willows on the Ohinemuri River near the Puki Bridge alongside the launch – Gleniffer. The b/w photo below was taken there.
Whist we learnt a lot about Iorana, we were not able to discover if she was still around – then SNAP early this week – WW comes good again – I get an email from Cole Gordon – see below
“Hi there I was wandering if anyone had any information or history on my late fathers launch “Stella” , 36ft Lanes bridge decker 80 horse Ford, paragon gearbox. Possibly once named “Wendy Frances” we have had it since the late 1990’s purchased from Peter Sharp of Opua. I am unable to find any photos of her former glory days, but I have endless memories of long summer days spent on her as a child in the Bay of Islands. She was pulled out of the water around 2012 because the fastenings on her bow lost their grip. We never got the time or resources to fix her and now she’s far to gone for me to have a chance at fixing her. She has to be broken up as my family are moving off the land. I will save the bronze brass and kauri. I am interested in knowing more about her past.”
Very quickly I did two things – #1 asked Cole to grab the handbrake on the demolition #2 sent photos of to Nathan Herbert, Nathan’s reply below:
“F_ _k, I think you’ve uncovered the Leon Warne ‘Iorana’. Search WW”
So I did and it appears that Nathan is right, so woodys we have a gold nugget here that needs saving. The boat is currently sitting on a farm in the B.O.I.’s and I imagine could be acquired for a modest sum.Even if you aren’t ready for a project – can we not find a suitable home for her until the right person comes along. You would struggle to find a more original classic of her era.
Also keen to learn more about her past, there are a few big gap in time that need filling 🙂
Jan 2015 WW Story
https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/01/15/mystery-launch-21012015/
12-10-2021 Update – Cameron Pollard sent in the photo below of Iorana hauled on Waitangi slipway. The photo was posted on fb by Guy Ross Thorburn who said she was owned by his grandfather under the Stella name. Update unknown, possibly late 1970’s? This photo would have to be a good incentive for someone considering taking on the restoration. She is certainly a looker.
25-01-2022 Update ex Neil Hammond (potential next owner) who has advised that Stella was unfortunately blown off her props in that storm that hit northland a week ago. Hylton Edmonds kindly had a look at her for Neil to check on the damage. His assessment was that she is now too far gone to be able to realistically save. I very sad end to an old girl on her 100th birthday.
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