Category Archives: Launches

CLASSIC LAUNCH – KAREN ANN

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CLASSIC LAUNCH – KAREN ANN

Todays launch is KAREN ANN, built c.1960 by Bishara Boats for T. M. Smith, probably to a Hartley (Harmony) design.

Her length is 31’8” and when launched she was powered by a  60hp Ford 4 cyl. diesel engine. 

The photo (excuse the poor quality) is from Sea Spray magazine and comes to WW via Ken Rickets.

Despite being a Hartley design*, she looks very smart under power. The bow rail wouldn’t win any design awards 🙂 but I’m sure is very practical.

Anyone know what became of the craft – is she still afloat.

  • I’m not anti all Hartley craft – the 33′ one below built in 1951, named LOVELY LADY > STAR DRIFT is a real looker.

CLASSIC SOUTHERN WOODEN LAUNCH – KAREN JOY

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CLASSIC SOUTHERN WOODEN LAUNCH – KAREN JOY

Todays 26’ wooden launch – KAREN JOY has recently popped up on tme. We know very little about her other than that KAREN JOY is powered by an older keel cooled Lister engine.

Home port is Dunedin so probably able to handle some sporty conditions.

Any of the southern WW woodys able to tell us more about KAREN JOY.

MYSTERY CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – 1933

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MYSTERY CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH  – 1933

Last month I was a mission to locate some bronze/brass cowl vents for the classic ex workboat PRIMADOONA, owner James Hutchinson is the son-in-law of one of my oldest boating friends (Dennis Ross) – we go back 40+ years. So James gets auto access to the WW Aladdin’s cave of cool boat bits. I knew I had some of varying sizes but just where in the lock up was the challenge. Fast forward and on the 2nd deep dive jackpot (photo below)

During our chats James mentioned he had been scanning some of his late mother-in-laws old photos and came across some very cool ones of the MIL’s brother’s boat. James believes his name may have been Remy Burridge, but the name of the craft isn’t recorded.
Most of todays photos are dated 1933. James commented that the family would just pull the boat up in front of their house in Garnett Road to clean it.

Interesting ‘tram top’ that may then been original or added soon after launching as a flush decker.

I have teased Nathan Herbert on this story several times in the last 2 weeks – but I suspect he will ID the launch before I’ve consumed my first caffeine shot of the day 🙂

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCHES AT WHANGAMATA

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCHES AT WHANGAMATA

Following on from yesterdays story on the classic wooden launch – LADY ARGYLE , Angus ROGERS also sent in todays gallery of photos from the Whangamata marina and moored nearby.

Keen to ID these craft.

(photo ex Toby Hyman)

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – LADY ARGYLE

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – LADY ARGYLE

Todays classic wooden launch is the 52’ 1965 bridge-decker LADY ARGYLE , built by John Lidgard for Mac Stewart. When launched she was named SANTA ROSA, and later ARGYLE.

She was built based on drawings done for the original owner by “Hoki” Williams, a retired staff member of Shipbuilders Ltd., with modifications by John Lidgard.

She first appeared on WW back in May 2015, lots of ownership details and photos in this link https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/05/29/lady-argyle/

Todays photos come to us from Angus Rogers and show LADY ARGLE in her new Whangamata Marina berth.  Angus commented that she was very smart.

CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT – KORARI II – A Peek Down Below

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CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT – KORARI II – A Peek Down Below

Back in 2017 the 1964 built, 36’ Mason Clipper – KORARI II made an appearance on WW but we never got a gander below. Now thanks to Ian McDonal’s eagle eyes on tme we get to see her impressive interior.

KORARI II is powered by twin 135hp Perkins HT6364M diesel engines.

CAN WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – SOLACE

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CAN WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – SOLACE

Recently while on-route to my favourite woody cruise destination – Rakino Island, I passed (yes Jason Prew do occasionally pass other boats) the classic wooden launch SOLACE, as pictured above.

SOLACE was heading further afield than us so never got to get a closer look.

So woodys can anyone tell us about the launch.

(photo ex Toby Hyman)

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – CHARLYN 

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – CHARLYN 

Todays woody photo of the launch CHARLYN comes to us from the Kopu Marine Precinct fb page in Thames via Ian McDonald.

Peter Deeming commented that CHARLYN was built at Ashbys Boat Yard in Opua, Bay of Islands and Peter worked on her from start yo finish. 

In the photo she looks a quite a big girl, made even bigger looking by the addition of that conservatory………
Can anyone tell us more about the launch.

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – ARIKI

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – ARIKI

Todays classic wooden boating photo comes to us from John Dawson and shows the launch – ARIKI. At the time of the photo (1946) the launch was located in Napier. At the time of the photo the launch was owned by B. R. Menzies.

And that woodys is all we know.

Interested in learning more about the craft.

AND ONE FOR THE WTF FILE

A recent arrival on tme. I’m sure she will find a home, someone, somewhere must need a floating porte-loo. (thanks Ian McDonald for the photo)

CLASSIC LAUNCH – MARISTELLA OUT FOR SOME TLC AND A SHAVE

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CLASSIC LAUNCH – MARISTELLA OUT FOR SOME TLC AND A SHAVE

The 1936, 40’ , Sam Ford built classic wooden launch MARISTELLA hauled out at Milford this week for some TLC and shave. Some great historical photos and a peak down below in the WW links below –
https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/07/30/a-snapshot-of-the-classic-wooden-launch-maristella/
https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/09/03/classic-wooden-launch-maristella-a-peek-down-below/

Westhaven was once one of the better marinas in terms of growth but looking at MARISTELLA seems Westhaven is as bad as all the others these days.

In addition there will be some differed maintenance to her rubber stock area, but thats par for the course on these old woodys.

Have to love a railway haul out and the gentle ‘roller’ method of position a vessel in the yard.