Category Archives: Launches

Antique & Wooden Boat Festival – Contact Less Home Delivery of 70 photos

Posted on by
1

20181010_162637

Antique & Wooden Boat Festival – Contact Less Home Delivery of 70 photos 🙂
 
Today woodys you get to go to a antique & wooden boat festival without leaving your couch.
In 2019 Alan Sexton visited the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St Michaels, Maryland and has shared his photo collection from the trip.
Enjoy.
 
You can see / read more on the museum here.  http://cbmm.org

 
Interesting input below from a woody in regard to the BOI woody that was intercepted by the boys in blue rowing the 100 yards to check on his boat.
 
“Security is listed as an essential service. There seems to be no restrictions on who can undertake the service, and the ‘premises’ being provided with security services do not have to be part of an essential activity.

Question is – can a boat be considered to be a premise?

Checking the mooring strop, flapping halyards, bilge pumps etc is part of normal boat security, particularly when grumpy weather is forecast or has just been.”

Woodys In Opito Bay, Bay of Islands

Posted on by
3

20200325-_DHW9791

20200325-_DHW9793

20200127-_DHW9240

20200127-_DHW9252

Woodys In Opito Bay, Bay of Islands
On the 25th March, BOI woody Dean Wright pointed the camera out the window and snapped the top two woodys – Playmate and Katoa (a new arrival in the bay) in Opito Bay.
And for eye candy Dean sent in a couple of shots of Cal Crook’s – Donna Marie, steaming toward the Purerua Peninsula. She is one of my favorite ex work-boats, built by Jorgensens at Waikawa Picton.
We had no winners to yesterdays mystery launch quiz – so I have decided to give the prize to the BOI woody who decided yesterday to do a quick row out to their woody and check on the old girl – and was intercepted by the Police/Customs and pointed back towards the shore after a wee ‘chat’ – my lips are sealed 😉 
WBB0003_Banner-980x160

Woody Quiz – Win A WW T-Shirt

Posted on by
6

photos_32961_extralarge

mystery

WOODY QUIZ – WIN A WW T-SHIRT

Happy boat-less Easter woodys – seems so odd to not be a float. I hear the boys in blue were sniffing about the marinas today – hope you were all behaving.
Today’s quiz is in three parts – review the photos above and tell me:
1. The name of the boat
2. Her ‘claim-to-fame’ re ownership / use
3. The photo location
As always – entry is by email only, to the address below. Entries close 5pm 10-04-2020. In the event there is more than one correct answer, there will be a draw.
Thanks to Nathan Herbert of the photos.
The boat is Sunbeam, she was the first Auckland Police launch and the location is the start of Onewa Road, Northcote. – No winners
Another photo below.
Sunbeam

Hukarere – P Vos

Posted on by
4

03

Hukarere 1009

 

Hukarere 2010

HUKARERE – P VOS
The above photo of the 1936 Percy Vos built 40’ launch – Hukarere was sent to me by Baden Pascoe. Baden recently uncovered a letter he received back in December 2018 from a Mrs McCormack, the daughter of Stephen Menzies, the original owner of Hukarere. Mrs McCormack wrote the letter following reading Baden’s book ‘Launching Dreams – Percy Vos – The Boats & His Boys’ . The letter provides a time line of what happened to the boat during and after her fathers ownership.
 
Sadly she mentions in the letter that all her notes and photos of Hukarere where given to the Auckland Maritime Museum – the biggest black hole in the land. It would be safe to assume they will never see that light of day again – most likely in a land fill somewhere……….. 😦
 
Interested to her from anyone that can confirm, and contribute more to the story – in particular photos.
Input from Dave Stanaway -photo below of Hukarere when involved in the Auckland harbour bridge construction
Hukarere

A Gift From WoodenBoat Magazine

Posted on by
1

Screen Shot 2020-04-08 at 6.01.10 AM

YOUR OWN COPY OF WOODENBOAT MAGAZINE

In response to the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic, and to help ease your time while practicing social distancing, the publishers of WoodenBoat have very generously decided to make the digital edition of WoodenBoat No. 274 (May/June 2020) free for all to read and enjoy. Please share this digital edition with all friends and family you think might enjoy, or need, a fun distraction. With the forecast for long overdue rain for most of NZ later today – this is perfect timing for a lazy afternoon on the couch 🙂 Enjoy

Link Below

https://woodenboat.advanced-pub.com/Vizion5/viewer.aspx?shareKey=rOFucb

 

Screen Shot 2020-04-08 at 6.10.25 AM

Mananui

Posted on by
8

Screen Shot 2020-04-01 at 9.18.43 PM

Screen Shot 2020-04-01 at 9.18.54 PM

Screen Shot 2020-04-01 at 9.19.06 PM

MANANUI

The above boat popped recently on Lew Redwood’s fb, the caption had a possible date of 1956>61 and an unconfirmed location of Northland. The photo was credited to a Frank Lomas, if that helps.
I know it’s a big ask – but can anyone ID the boat / location ?
Input from Dean Wright – Dean sent in the photo below of Mana Nui, taken in the Bay of Islands on 27 Jan, 2017. This backed up by Brian Worthington’s advice that the mystery boat is Mana Nui. Kerry Alexander has also suggested she was owned by Capt. Fred Young and the location is Rawene. 
20170127-_DHW2102-2

OOPS – its not the boat that Dean sent in. Photo below ex Paul Drake and shows Mananui at Tauranga (Sulphur Point Marina).

She is already featured on woodys – see WW Link. A rather smart woody https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/0
Mananui
Manunui
Update 15-04-2020 Photos below ex Aubrey Bracey via Frank Lomas and show ManaNui at Hokianga c.1956-61
IMG_5302
WBB0003_Banner-980x160

The Restoration Of Melodeon

Posted on by
9

034

melodeon 001

melodeon 015

melodeon 1.4.20 005

The Restoration Of Melodeon

Now woodys if you know Dick Fisher you  will know that Dick likes BIG things – big classic boats, big projects, big (zoom zoom) cars. Chatting with Dick recently he informed me he had a project on the go, his words “something to keep me out of trouble” so of course I said ’send me some details – givens Dicks other two boats – Akarana, the 60’ 1960 AJ Collings designed and built by WG Lowe, ex Auckland Harbour Board pilot boat and Hamal, the 1975 purpose built exploration ship – I suspected the project would be a doozy. Photos of Akarana & Hamal below.
Dick and Colleen have a stunning track record of converting ex work boats into the most amazing classic cruisers so WW looks forward to following this project, we will be giving Dick a friendly nudge for updates.
.
I’ll let Dick tell us what he is up to, remember click in photos to enlarge 😉

 
“The story so far goes a bit like this……
We purchased Melodeon from Greg Hayes in April 2018. Greg had owned & fished with her for the past 25 years. 
One of the photos above shows her at her semi-permanent berth at the Whangarei Town Basin prior to our buying her.
After the successful negotiation of price with Greg, who had expressed the wish for Melodeon to only be purchased by someone prepared to restore her.
We lifted her out at Dockland 5 in Whangarei, her estimated weight at this point was in excess of 50 ton. We removed as much equipment as were able which included 9 ton of lead balast. This would explain why when blasting the paint from the hull we uncovered seven (7) waterlines this made her draft aft at 7 ft. 
 
With the assistance of Boat Haulage Ltd we moved her to our workshop at Kamo & then commenced dismantling decks, bulwarks, wheelhouse & removed the engine & fuel tanks etc. She was then high pressure water blasted & garnet blasted all of the paint off inside & out.  She was then moved inside the same shed where Akarana had been for 5 years during her restoration.
 
The hull was copper fastened of 3 skin construction.. unfortunately the 2 inch Kauri decks were iron fastened & unable to be saved.
 
To date we have treated with preservatives the inside of the hull & currently has a holding undercoat.
 
The last few month I have been focused  on restoring the T8 Kelvin engine which was in reasonable condition. Main items needing replacing were a set of 8 exhaust valves , a complete gasket set plus other small items. I was able to purchase these from  Kelvin Diesels in Glasgow, a subsidiary of British Polar Engines. We have found this company & their staff most helpful in procuring parts. The engine is now complete & running very nicely. 
 
Up to date the work has been carried out mostly by myself & my son Richard when he had time. The engineering side of the restoration we can manage ourselves.  We now realise we need a skilled boat builder to assist us with the woodworking aspect.
It is our intention not to alter the overall design, with the exception being the wheelhouse which needs to be a little bigger.  
 
We are fortunate in that Greg Hayes has passed on to me the Marine Dept files dating back to October 1934.
Some salient points for you:
Plans, specs & building was carried out for Melodeon by Chas Bailey & Son in Auckland.
Original engine was a German Deutz/110BHP / 2 cycle diesel/ @ 450RPM this was replaced by the current T8 Kelvin.
Propeller:  4 blades /59 inch dia x 48 inch pitch – 3.3 to 1 reduction
Dimensions: Overall 57ft Beam 15ft6in draft 7ft
The existing T8 Kelvin was installed new in 1960 & the estimate from info we have, is that she has run well in excess of 100,000 hours.
Melodeon fished using different methods all around NZ, during the 1939/45 war the US Navy commandeered her for service in the Pacific.
  
This is an ongoing project for me in my dotage & its keeping me out of trouble.. in fact it’s a pretty big job….as the TV Ad goes…”
 
A Heads Up
Two cool things you may have overlooked in the last week
1. Do check out the link that Hylton Edmonds posted in the WW comments section. Its to a National Film Unit movie that features the then police launch Lady Shirley going about its duties on the Waitemata Harbour – fast forward to the 5:10 mark to catch the start, its a great watch and lots of our woodys make appearances – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mlqfwtybXE
2. Put your hand in your pocket and spend NZ$5 to subscribe for two months to the very informative and entertaining Vblog – OFF CENTER HARBOR. The guys at OCH have offered up this deal to WW readers so you can get your classic boating fix during the lockdown – details here  OCH $5 Deal
Akarana (L) – Hamal (R)

MV Friendship + The Solution To Boating Withdrawal

Posted on by
10

IMG_7312

IMG_7309

MV Friendship

 
Friendship was built on 1936 by Ernie Lane in Picton, South Island, for Tracy Gough, founder of Gough Gough and Hamer.
She is 50’ in length from kauri. Has been re-powered with a 471 Detroit. As built had an unknown 40 hp engine. 
We are told that once she had masts and sails and plainly, obviously before all the ‘fruit’ was added on the top of the wheel house.
Current home port is Napier. Thanks to woody Andrew Christie for the heads up and researching the item and photos.
 
AMAZING OFFER TO HELP KEEP YOU SANE 
 
I have purposely have given the CV-19 situation a wide berth on WW, every news channel is saturated with it and I figured you needed somewhere to get a break from the doom and gloom each day.
But as we head into week 2 of a minimum of 4 weeks isolation I have something that will help you thru these boat-less days. 
Every time I’m asked a question that starts with “How do I……..” Or “Who should I talk to about…..” I point them in the direction of the world’s premier classic boat video website. It’s called ‘Off Center Harbor’ and is the coolest source of intel on how to build, paint, or restore a boat, they also take you aboard some of the best boats in the world (including in NZ) and hang out with the owners. There are over 1,000 videos and articles full of inspiration and know-how.
 
WW Top Banner
 

Chatting with the guys at OCH Off Center Harbor they have come up with a special deal for Waitemata Woodys readers during this period of isolation and uncertainty.

They’ve created an 8-WEEK MEMBERSHIP with full access to the entire website at Off Center Harbor for just NZD$5.

So woodys if you haven’t already joined now’s definitely the time to jump aboard. You can CLICK HERE to get this membership now and enjoy full membership privileges for 8 weeks.

If you don’t enjoy it, you’re not serious about classic wooden boats, some videos I have watched 20+ times 🙂
WW Bottom Banner

Ngaire – South Island

Posted on by
6

Ngaio Nelson

Ngaire
The above photo was sent in by Lake Rotoiti (Rotorua) boat builder Alan Craig. Alan spotted the photo of Ngaire on a recent trip to the Maritime Museum in Mapua, Nelson. At the time Ngaire was owned by Jack Marusich and he is waiting for a load of sheep to be rowed out to the boat. I have to saw the sheep look remarkably relaxed given the trip. The photo caption commented that they were most likely used to it and were probably being relocated to fresher pasture.  Given the load it must have been a great dinghy.
Anyone able to tell us more about this launch?
And speaking of great dinghies – check out Martin Howson’s new clinker below, built late 2019 by Dave Jackson. She measures 8’ x 4’6” and It is built out of ply and ribbed and riveted, there is no glue. Her ribs are  North American white oak, the breast hook and the quarter knees are oak, the thwarts are kauri and knees for the thwarts are oak as well
The oars at 7 ft and Martin commented that you can really put your back into rowing or just tack it easy.  The floor boards are scribed and are easily removed
for cleaning and again they are made from kauri.
DSCN1926

Manunui

Posted on by
1

Screen Shot 2020-03-28 at 12.05.11 PM

Screen Shot 2020-03-28 at 12.05.28 PM

Screen Shot 2020-03-28 at 12.05.48 PM

MANUNUI

Todays’ story on Manunui comes to us from the ‘desk’ of Paul Drake – as always, well written so I’ll pass over to Paul.

 “Arriving at Taupo for our annual holiday one January in the late 1950’s, my brothers and I were intrigued to see a very unusual looking new commercial boat on the scene.   Before we knew her name, we kids called her ‘The Ugly Boat’.  She turned out to have a proper name – MANUNUI – after the saw milling town just out of Taumarunui.   It was there that she was built by the manager of said sawmill, Basil Maude.

Basil’s hobby was building boats, but he rarely got more than about three-quarters of the way through before losing interest.  MANUNUI was the exception.  He wished to see how big a boat he could build out of plywood.  He had the plywood made at his mill from selected timber.   Her bottom had two sheets of ply each twenty feet long , six feet wide, and one and a quarter inches thick. She measured 36 feet by 12 feet.

She had to be chunky and strong because Basil had two Allison Kittyhawk 12-cylinder aeroplane engines which he wanted to fit.   He designed and built the double gearbox himself.  It measured eight feet by three feet by two feet deep.   At the last minute the plan changed and the two gallons per minute Allisons were wisely ditched in favour of Ford V8s. But the gear box remained – larger than the two engines.   This most fascinating gearbox was mounted forward of the engines with the propeller shafts running back under the engines.   Chains were involved, and each propeller was operated independently of the other in the normal way.  MANUNUI was the first diesel powered launch on the lake (so it is said) and also the first commercial plywood boat to operate on the lake.

In the good old days when fishermen would club together and charter a launch for five day expeditions to Taupo’s Western Bay, MANUNUI was a very successful and busy charter launch under her very capable skipper Ron Houghton.

The original canvas arrangement over the aft end was eventually replaced with the rather functional effort shown in the second photo. In about 1970 a whole new cabin appeared.   Shortly afterwards MANUNUI was sold to New Plymouth.   I wonder if she survives?   Somehow I doubt it.

Much of this information is contained in ’Boats of Taupo’ by Charles Cox.