Category Archives: Launches

LENORA – Woody Runabout

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Mystery  LENORA – Woody Runabout

John Wicks sent in the above photo of this very cute woody. John spotted her at the West Harbour marina launching ramp, mid December. John’s first thought was an early Mason Clipper, but the shape isn’t right for that. 
The blokes with her thought she could be an import, possibly from the US, and that she’d spent some “lake time” (Taupo?). She’s certainly been looked after.
John couldn’t tell how she’s planked, but it’s over stringers on web frames. The Volvo Penta engine and stern drive are apparently original gear. 
Anyone able to enlighten us on this woody?
Input from Angus Rogers – It is Lenora now back on Waitemata Harbour owned by John Stephens. It was a home build by Mr John Tonkin who was a dental surgeon. He built it on his basement in Auckland and then used it at his holiday home in Taupo for many years.

Kaheno

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Kaheno

KAHENO

The above photo of the 1966 Roger Carey designed ex work boat – Kaheno. 45’9″ in length, she is built by Sinclair and Melbourne using plank kauri on steam bent frames (ribs) & powered by a 135hp Gardner 6LS engine. She has been converted to a live-aboard
This photo was sent in by Baden Pascoe. Taken just after just after relaunching in the upper Tamaki river last week.
You can read / view more on Kaheno at the WW link below
Update – photos below ex Peter Grant, early 2000
After 2 days of cooking, entertaining, drinking and the hardest job – being nice to everyone – we have survived the Christmas / Boxing Day festivities and can now go boating.
Anyone get any cool boating related presents ? – I’ll share a few with you in the next few days 🙂

Kingfish Lodge – Whangaroa – Old Movie

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KINGFISH LODGE –  WHANGAROA – OLD MOVIE
 
I was sent todays movie by Sam Jaffe, whose grandparents Kevin (late) and Wendy Gilligan ran the Kingfish Lodge for several years in the 1970’s and owned the launch – Tuatahi. The movie is actually a 12 minute promotional movie for Marlin depth sounders, made in c.1975/76. Sam and his Nana (Wendy) had it converted from an old 16mm film earlier this year. As you’ll see, it’s set in Whangaroa and Sam is fairly certain their old launch Tuatahi is visible at 2:46 and at several other times – Sam also spotted – Margaret Anne and Lady Doreen.

At 3:26 Sam’s grandfather Kevin (known to most as Kev) is the guy who steps out of the plane and later is seen reeling in the ‘marlin’. The whole playing of the marlin was made up – Kev was just playing a bucket for the cameras according to Sam’s Nana because they didn’t catch anything the day they went out. Nana is visible at about 10:14 with Sam’s Mum pulling in a small fish on their speedboat. 
 
Its a great movie for a chilled out Boxing Day – enjoy 🙂

MERRY CHRISTMAS

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MERRY CHRISTMAS

Hello to all the waitematawoodys readers – merry christmas and best wishes for the holidays. Where ever you are in the world I hope you are taking the opportunity to reconnect with friends and family.
To me Christmas is not a date, it is a state mind – that hopefully lasts 2 > 3 weeks. People generally are nicer to each other, more considerate and forgiving. I’m a giver, always have been, I love the whole process of choosing gifts for people and almost always get it right, except when I bought the wife a lifejacket (there were other items) one year.
I’m a fan of trying to live my everyday life in an amusing, enjoyable way – that way you do not need to look forward to holidays to escape everyday life – life is a holiday, easily said but it works for me. The Pooh Bear cartoon below from A.A. Milne portrays it perfectly.
Enjoy the break, safe travels 🙂
Ps I’ll try to keep the WW stories flowing but forgive me if I miss a day, life might just get in the way 😉
Pooh Bear copy
My photo of 2019 below (so far, years not over yet) – says everything about woody life – a happy bloke and his boat
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CONNIE V – Saved

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CONNIE V – Saved

It makes me happy to be able to announce that Connie V the 1949, Lane Motor Boat Co. built launch has been purchased and is now in very woody ownership. She will be restored to better than as-launched, more details in the New Year, but we will follow this restoration in detail.

In todays photos / videos (ex Jason Prew) we see her being relaunched at Panmure after a lengthy period on the hard. Lots more of photos and history at the WW link below

https://waitematawoodys.com/?s=Connie+V&submit=Search

Photos below ex Gavin Cook and Harold Kidd of Connie V looking a lot smarter.

Well That Was A Short Splash – Now out again in her new home (photos ex Nathan Herbert)

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Classic Launch Race Announcement 

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If you are a woody launch owner and like to open the pipes up i.e. race against other woodys – Auckland’s Anniversary Day Regatta wants you and your launch.

In 2019 we saw the re-birth of classic launch racing to the regatta after an absence of some 100 years. 2020 is the 180th anniversary of the regatta. So woodys, if you are going to be back in Auckland on January 27th, after the world famous Mahurangi Regatta, click the link below to learn more about the regatta and the handicap launch race. Plus read how you could walk away with prize money including a $1,000 cash prize if you enter by 31 December, plus spot prizes including a Hawaiian holiday.

https://www.regatta.org.nz/enter

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Oiseau de Mer

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Oiseau de Mer
Todays woody is a 30’ Hartley, built by Hughie Wells and launched in 1963. Built from kauri – carvel, with a 9’8” beam and draft of 2’6”.
Her 100hp 6 cyl. Ford diesel engine is unfortunately seized hence her current status on trademe of $103 & reserve met.
Currently located in Akaroa. Could be the makings of a very low entry woodys project.
Party In A Boat Shed
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Walked into The Slipway Milfords Christmas party last night and you would have thought you were attending the waitematawoodys AGM, the SWM crew were all decked out in WW t’s. Great old school gathering, caught up with lots of woody boaters.
Stunning smoker/BBQ from Anatole Perry, assisted by Andrew Miller – the spare ribs were to die for 🙂
And yes, I’m standing on a nail box 🙂
K CLASS BOOK WINNER
Incredible number (an all time record) of entries to yesterdays quiz. Slightly worrying that so many of you knew that Flora McKenzie ran a brothel in Ring Terrace, Herne Bay. A few even owned up to having met her 😉
So folks – the winner of a copy of Jenni Mence’s book – K CLASS was Jason Prew
The runner-up prize of a WW T-shirt was Brett Evans

A Spirit of Tradition Woody + Win Prizes

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A Spirit of Tradition Woody

Today’s launch was designed American designer – Ted Brewer and appears to be based on the traditional Maine lobster boat. She was built in New Zealand in c.1989 from strip plank cedar epoxied and glassed. She measures 30’ overall with a beam of 9’1″ and draws 2’4”. A fully reconditioned Nissan SD22 provides the forward motion.

Her tme listing (thanks Ian McDonald) is very impressive and she appears to be good value for the asking price. Home port is Kerikeri.

WIN YOURSELF A COPY OF THE HOT OF THE PRESS BOOK – K CLASS

This could be the final WW competition before Santa slides down the chimney. As always – entry is via email only to waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Entries close midnight Friday 20-12-2019 . All correct entries will go into the draw for a copy of the book – K Class by Jenni Mence. Plus a bobby prize – a waitematawoodys t-shirt, drawn from all email entries received – correct or not.

Q waitematawoodys editorial assistant – Flora McKenzie shares her name with a pioneer  Auckland business women from the waterfronts past. What line of business was Flora in? Remember – enter via email only.

 

 

The benefits of a self draining cockpit

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The benefits of a self draining cockpit

The above photo is dated 1956 and the venue is Seatoun Wharf in Wellinton. Not sure how the launch got onto this situation but hopefully she survived. Anyone with a non-self draining cockpit can relate to this. One of your worst nightmares.
I’m still getting late orders for WW gear for xmas, trying hard to fill the orders and post so they get out for xmas. Even doing a few deliveries to WW loyalists 😉
Mahurangi Cruising Club Year Book – the best ever, its packed with photos of both launches and yachts – seems my constant nagging has finally paid off 🙂
Grab a copy at Boat Books, either at their Westhaven store or on-line.
And if you are stumped for the perfect Santa present for yourself (after all who else knows what you want) they have copies of:
K- Class – The Hauraki Gulf’s Iconic Racer – Cruiser. By Jenni Mence
Des Townson – A Sailing Legacy. By Brian Peet

Whangaroa Big Game Fishing Launch

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Whangaroa Big Game Fishing Launch

I have been sent a great collection of photos from the Whangaroa area, I need to digest them and pull the best together for a WW story – in the meantime I thought I would share one of the boats with you.
For once I know its identity – but can anyone give us a name and some history?
Des Townson – A Sailing Legacy Book Winner
The winner of yesterdays quiz to name the boat designer whose name has appeared the most on WW is Warren Jack. The correct answer was Colin Wild, lots of entries for Logan and Lane but the answer needed to be the designers name – not the ‘brand’ of boat. Warren was the only one with Colin Wild. There has always been a lot of discussion around the man and his yard, not just his boats on WW.
The consolation prize – a WW hat, was won by Simon Adams. Prizes in the post 🙂
Check out Fridays WW story for another great woody prize to be won.

Labour Weekend 1945 at Westhaven – Mystery Launch + Prizes To Be Won

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Labour Weekend 1945 – Westhaven – Mystery Launch + Prizes To Be Won
Check out the bottom right photo – anyone able to name the launch? I can’t but it should be easier for the WW train-spotters.

BOOK PRIZE DRAW – WIN A COPY OF ‘DES TOWNSON – A SAILING LEGACY’

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Correctly name the boat designer who’s name has appeared on the waitematawoodys site the most often and you go in the draw to win a copy of the Brian Peet book – DES TOWNSON – A SAILING LEGACY. If you don’t want to risk not winning a copy – order here today   https://destownson.co.nz
+ a bobby prize – a waitematawoodys t-shirt drawn from all email entries received – correct or not.
ENTRY VIA EMAIL TO waitematawoodys@gmail.com If you enter via the WW comments section, you will be disqualified (take note Ken Ricketts). Entries close 8pm 17-12-2019.
Todays woody model is Graeme Finch (MV Te Arahi) in front of the Cologne Cathedral. Us woodys get around 😉