God or Wooden Boats
A chicken and egg question today – did the crowds turn out to view the great collection of wooden boats in the bay or to support the 150th anniversary of Rev Samuel Marsden conducting the first christen service in New Zealand, held at Marsden Cove, Kerikeri.
The date was December 1964. Photos come to us from the PG Parsonson collection via Mitchell Hutchings (nephew).
ps google tells us Marsden was Church of England, so he must have been ok 🙂
POT OF GOLD
Uncovered today a treasure trove of b/w photos of Waitemata classic woodys. Happy as a dog with two tails (I do learn Murray D) .They will take a while to ID, less than 1/3 are tagged.
Today’s photo is of Royal Falcon the 1934 Cox & Fimer built launch. These days owned by Collette & Steve Pople and just relaunch after an extensive refit – see below links for details.The back of the photo has the RF name, a 4sale price of £3150, and her specs – 38’ x 10’6” x 3′
Lots of history and photos here https://waitematawoodys.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=33345&action=edit&calypsoify=1
Almost ready for relaunch https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/05/31/royal-falcon-restoration-2021-update/
IONA – SOS
The 33’ launch Iona recently was recently damaged on her Tauranga mooring during a storm, according to the tme listing (thank you Ian McDonald) the winds pulled out the bollard from the deck, and due to the weight of the warp on the fairlead, the stem at the bow has pulled forward and has resulted in the planks being sprung.
The launch was discovered bow down on its mooring. The stem and planks were patch repaired to enable a salvage to tow vessel to the hardstand. The 60hp Ford still runs.
Iona is for sale via the insurance companies loss adjusters. She has been for sale in the past – photo below from the marine hub listing.Iona made a cameo appearance on WW back in 2018, a lot of chat re builder, age etc – link here https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/12/07/mystery-launch-at-omokoroa-boat-club/
The tme reserve is $1.00 so either a low-priced project boat or budget fittings.
07-8-2021 Harold Kidd Input: A few recently gleaned facts.
WHY YOU SHOULD HOLD OFF PAYING YOUR CLASSIC YACHT ASSOCIATION SUBSCRIPTION
I apologise to the non CYA member readers – but read on, this effects all classic wooden boat enthusiasts.
Last night was the NZ Classic Yacht Association AGM, I tabled in advance the following agenda item – “a request for a report on the status of the expanded CYA classic vessel ‘marina / dock’ that is planned for the Auckland Viaduct basin area”
What I hoped to hear was the CYA were developing a new permanent marina for upwards of 40 classic wooden boats that will be the permanent home of classic boating, showcasing to the Auckland public and tourists the CYA’s diverse classic wooden boat fleet.
I was disappointed with the reply and walked away seriously concerned that this new marina was only targeting “large, gaff rigged yachts, built pre WW II, NZ designed and built, and presented in display condition”. I asked how this ‘selection criteria’ met the CYA’s constitutional description of eligible CYA vessels e.g. ‘New Zealand or foreign designed yachts, launches, dinghies, boats, vessels of all sizes, description, ages, whether powered by wind, steam, combustion or otherwise’. The answer was there could be exceptions, when asked if launches would be allocated equal space alongside yachts, there was no lucid answer.
Well woodys it is just all too loose and I raise this topic because over the last 10+ years a lot of good people have worked very hard to make the CYA a more inclusive, welcoming place for all people with a passion and interest in the classic boating movement, regardless of whether you own a classic yacht, launch or even a dinghy. This development convenes our constitution and introduces segregation into our association, and most importantly denies the public the opportunity to experience the true breadth of the New Zealand classic boating movement. This new marina should be the front window for everything that the CYA has worked towards these last 25 years, not just a classic racing yacht marina.
So my question today is – are you comfortable with this policy of segregation? Personally, I think it has a bad smell to it and have a suggestion – how about holding back renewing your 2021/22 membership subscription until this policy is reviewed by the new / incoming 2021/22 committee – I will be
Now if I sound a little loose on details and hazier than normal, that is because ‘commercial’ sensitivities limit what can be said in a public arena.
GLENARAY
The 42’ launch Glenaray was built in 1942 by Shipbuilders in Poore St, Auckland. She was built to be a WW II mine clearer, but never saw service and was converted to pleasure use. Powered by a 180hp Ford diesel. She last appeared on WW back in 2018, link below – she was also looking for a new owner then – https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/05/01/glenaray/
Thanks to Ian McDonald for the recent trademe heads up, which is no longer viewable, so fingers crossed someone got a bargain floating man bach 🙂
UPDATE 10-07-2023 Just popped up again on tme, the cabin top storage boxes tell you it doesnt leave the dock often – live-a-board?
KOTARE – The Restoration
Enter the name – Kotare (Kingfisher the bird) into the WW search box and a lot of boats will come up, seems back in the day it was a very popular name for boats.
The 25’ woody above has a genuine claim to the name as she was built by Kingfisher Boats in 1951. Fast forward to 2015 and she underwent a full refit – work included new wiring, new galley, new fuel tanks motor, new head and her engine a Nissan AL20 – 60hp diesel was rebuilt and has only done 620 hours since. Also undertaken was fully glassing her kauri hull, that included 5 coats of resin on the inside, this may get a few frowns from some quarters but you can see from the photos it saved Kotare from a beehive restoration.
At 25’ LOA, the 60hp engine gives Kotare a top speed of 13 knots (cruising at 8). I can vouch for her being a very good sea boat because her owner does the miles in her – frequently over at Great Barrier Island. With a beam of just under 6’, putting her on a trailer is an option.
I spotted Kotare recently hauled out at the Slipway Milford getting some TLC and discovered that her owner was looking for a new owner – so woodys, if you are after a very cute, easily managed and maintained boat – Kotare could be yours for +/- $25k. I know I sound like a broken record, but……….. lake boat? For more details – email waitematawoodys@gmail.com
Bay of Islands Big Game Fishing Boats
Today’s great photos from the 1960’s, come to us from Hylton Edmonds and show Miss Helen (1930 Colin Wild) and Leilani at ‘work’ in the BOI.
Hylton commented that Leilani was owned at the time by George Wooler of Waihi Akrad Radio fame – later PYE Radio (NZ) and had the legendary skipper Jimmy Whitelaw at the wheel. Leilani was later sold to Bill Hall. Miss Helen was predominantly skippered at the time by Neville Fuller – Norman’s brother.
In the background of the Leilani photo, Hylton thinks the launch could be George Warne’s – Rosemary.
Leilani in 2016 https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/04/06/leilani/
Miss Helen in 2016 https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/02/22/miss-helen-2/
Yesterdays Quiz Winner was Trudi Gosden. The correct answers were – scow Jane Gifford, Wairau/Milford Creek, marina construction, c.1970’s
Canadian Classic Yacht Association Fleet 2021Cruise
Today’s wooden boat eye candy comes to us from the recent Canadian CYA Launch Fleet cruise to Desolation Sound.
I have a connection to the fleet as several years ago I hosted Mike O’Brien (MV Euphemia) and his family for a day, while their cruise ship was berthed in Auckland – it was a trip around the marinas to view some of our own classic wooden boats. From memory 10 skippers made the time to open their boats up for the tourists.
Enjoy the gallery of stunning wooden classics. As always click on photos to enlarge 😉
To see more of the cruise ,check out the drone video below from Pedell Sound, taken by Maurizio Hublitz
McCullum’s Bay Woodys At Anchor
Today’s photo comes to us via Mitchell Hutchings fb and originated from his late uncles slide collection (PG Parsonson collection). The date is unknown but the collection is from the 1950’s > 1970’s period. Looking at the boats I would be picking the late 1950’s.
Interested on others opinion and can we ID a few to the boats?
FLOSsIE
Today’s woody is named Flossie and the photo comes to us via Paul Drake. Paul commented he uncovered the photo recently and that Flossie was at Lake Taupo in the 1950’s. He recalls that she was noted especially for her narrow beam and that one day the young Drake brothers observed her ram the breastwork as she failed to go astern whilst berthing. In the photo the repaired stem is clear to see.
Paul last saw Flossie berthed at Westhaven Marina after she disappeared from Taupo. There is an ‘old’ hull there semi-hiding under several sheets to what looks like plywood 🙂
Can we uncover what happened to Flossie post Taupo and any other details on her.
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