Category Archives: Launches

Valerie

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VALERIE – A Work In Progress
Valerie was built in 1931, in Milford. 31’ kauri planked with an oregon cabin top. As you will observe from the photos she really is a project boat crying out for someone to take her on and completer the restoration / rebuild. She comes with a 1990 Ford 60hp diesel.
Currently hauled out on Aucklands North Shore – any Woodys looking for  project?
Her trademe listing is light on details- does anyone know more about Valarie?
UPDATE 22-10-2019 ex Nathan Herbert – Valerie was built by W.Kendall and H.G. Lodge at Milford, c.1938. Photo below
Valarie 1938
15-04-2021 ex Brian Fulton ex NZ Herald
Woody Classics Weekend – Stillwater Picnic- This Sunday – Weather Looks Spot On – See you There 

Governor

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GOVERNOR
I got a subtle dig in the ribs yesterday that (a) I hadn’t featured anything very quick of late and (b) there had been a noticeable lack of varnish – So todays woody is a very ‘fresh’ restoration / rebuild i.e just launched (2019).
Governor started life back in the 1960’s, with the hull being built by Brin Wilson, her trademe listing comments that she was originally built following the lines of Chris Craft boats.
The project saw her totally rebuilt (in fact lengthened by 6’ – now 21’3″), glassed and a reconditioned 2016 4.3L 214hp Mercuriser TKS engine installed. One of the lake boys needs to buy her……….
Thanks to Rod Prosser for the elbow in the ribs 🙂

34’ Swanson Launch

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34’ SWANSON LAUNCH

We do not know a lot about the above 1964 launch, except she was built by Bob Swanson, is 34.5’ in length, with a 10’9” beam and draws 3’7”.
The trademe (thanks Ian McDonald) listing will tell you all about its cabin heater and solar panel but there is no mention of her having an engine 🙂
Some people really make selling their boat hard and its a brokers listing……………
I’m guessing from the phone number that the boat is located somewhere in Blenheim.
Anyone able to tell us more about this woody?
Input from Mark McLaughlin – It’s “Maritza”. The orignal configuration was the same as Silver Dollar but a new cabin was built in the 1990’s when she was in Havelock. Currently at Waikawa Marina. Power is a 6cyl Ford diesel I believe.
23-10-2025 UPDATE ex NATHAN HERBERT – The 37ft Maritza ex- Cyrena was burned to the keel on the beach at Parengarenga after being stolen (purchased with a forged cheque) from Jack Lidgard in 1959.
I Have Emailed Out The Details For This Sundays Woody Picnic Cruise to Stillwater, if you have not RVSP’ed – its not too late, but do it now.

Tamati – Lake Taupo Launch

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Tamati –  Lake Taupo Launch
All we know is the date, 1937, and the location – Lake Taupo.
Hopefully the Drake brothers will be able to help us out 🙂
Input from Nigel Drake – This is the Bailey and Lowe built Tamati now converted to a paddle boat.

Woodys Classics Weekend Stillwater Picnic Cruise – this Sunday

The key times are below – I will be emailing more details to those that have RSVP’ed later today.

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Teigenes

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TEIGENES
The 32’ Athol Burns  designed Teigenes was built in 1956, not sure if he also built her.
Built from 1’ carvel kauri planks with glassed ply cabin and decks.
Powered by a 1985 Mercedes 55hp diesel ’Sole conversion, that gets her along at a comfortable 7 knot cruising speed.
Teigenes spent most of her life between Wellington and the Marlborough Sounds , her owners ‘found’ her in Havelock Marina and brought her to Auckland where of the last 18 months they have done a magnificent refit. She is now on the market as they are returning to France. A bonus in todays tight marina ownership market, she comes with a Westhaven marina berth, if required.
Thanks to Ian McDonald for the trademe heads up
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RSVP TODAY   sueedmonds@xtra.co.nz

 

La Paloma

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Mystery Launch 13-10-2019

La Paloma

I have Raindance hauled out at the moment for her annual health check and bottom tickle, so todays story is short and sweet. Too busy working. Thanks to Nathan Herbert for the photo link 🙂
The first person that can correctly ID the above launch wins a WW T-shirt – normal story – entries via email to waitematawoodys@gmail.com
The winner of the comp to ID the launch is Colin Boyld. Who must share the same sleeping hours as me – 5.05am entry. Colin, email me your postal address & t-shirt size. Well done 🙂
Whats happening with Connie V 
Woody Chris Laird sent me the photo below of Connie V ‘festering away” on the hard at Panmure. Anyone know who owns her and if there is a plan?
I seem to recall that the late Tom the Torch bought her or did he on sell her, or have I got the wrong CV??
Connie V Oct2019
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RSVP to  sueedmonds@xtra.co.nz

Highlander

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HIGHLANDER

I have been having ongoing chat with Bay of Islands woody and photographer Dean Wright, he is about to undertake a build / installation of a new wheelhouse for his almost 100 year old (99) 33’ Bob Brown built ex gaff rigged cutter – Arethusa, these days presented in work-boat / launch style.  The wheelhouse will be made from Iroko and the big question is yellow or red Uroxsys (Allwood) primer.
Dean sent me a sample of the timber and I have done a 1/2 and 1/2 varnishing job – the result? Not much between it, slight golden tinge to the yellow section. I think the natural colour of the Iroko is just so strong that the primer tint makes little difference.
I have attached at the bottom of the story a photo comparison of the existing wheel house and the plan for the new one – very smart.
Anyone back to todays story – Dean email me mid-week and said “check out what’s parked in our bay tonight” and sent the above photos of the 49’ Highlander. Designed by Roger Carey but not built by Careys. Wheelhouse designed by Don and Peter McManaway.
Dean mentioned Highlander was featured (page 127) in the 1988 book ‘By Boats We Live”, written by Joan Clark. The book records the history of the boats built by Roger Carey. I have reproduced the page below, have a read – its very good
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Arethusa – New Wheelhouse

INA + Woody Classics Weekend – Stillwater Picnic Cruise Update

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INA + Lots of vintage motorcycles joining in on the Woody Classics Weekend

Must be the week for Miller & Tunnage  woodys, Baden Pascoe will be wetting himself.
Ina is a 32’ kauri fishing boat, still in service targeting Blue Cod.
All I know is the forward motion comes from a Ford diesel.
Ina was for sale early this year for not a lot of money – as the architects say ‘ good bones’, could be a good mule for a pleasure boat conversation.
FREE to a good home – anyone looking for a winch – drop me an email and I’ll point you in the direction of the donor :-).  waitematawoodys@gmail.com
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HAVE YOU RSVP’ed TO THE WOODY CLASSICS WEEKEND – STILLWATER PICNIC CRUISE ?
# RECORD NUMBERS OF CLASSIC WOODYS HAVE ALREADY CONFIRMED THEIR ATTENDANCE
# WE WILL HAVE A FANTASTIC COLLECTION OF VINTAGE MOTORCYCLES JOINING US ON THE WATERFRONT LAWN.
RSVP TODAY   sueedmonds@xtra.co.nz
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Orere

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ORERE

Todays vessel, Orere is pictured here on 16th October 1923. Harold Kidd has commented that she was built by the Auckland Harbour Board in 1921.
For a work-boat she is rather pretty.
Can anyone tell us the designer and what became of her.
Harold Kidd Input – She was designed by Bill Clare, like TE HAURAKI. She was still on AHB strength until 1940 at least.
‘Des Townson – A Sailing Legacy’ book winner
Yesterdays quiz / draw for a copy of the 334 page just released book was won by John Hunter, Taupo . John correctly told us that there were 116,000 words in the book. The answer was discoverable on the Des Townson website. FYI it was the most entries WW has ever received for an on-line competition. Many thanks to everyone for entering, fingers crossed I’ll do another one prior to Xmas.
Well done John and for the everyone else, copies are available to buy at the link    https://destownson.co.nz . It is a limited print run so I would suggest you grab a copy, before it sells out. Perfect Xmas present for yourself 🙂
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RSVP– you and your boats name + approx. numbers to sueedwards@xtra.co.nz

Aria + WIN a copy of the Des Townson book

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ARIA

Todays vessel is the 47.5’ ex-work boat Aria, built in 1938 by Miller & Tunnage to tow barges of native timber, retired from duty in 1963, then used as a fishing trawler and pleasure use until 1981.She then received a total refit including all new topsides for extended blue-water Pacific cruising, the refit included a rebuilt 1963 Gardner 6LXB, (now 150hp).

Reviewing her trademe listing (thanks Ian McDonald), Aria is very well fitted out for cruising or live aboard. Won’t win a beauty competition but a very salty looking woody.

WIN A COPY OF THE JUST RELEASED BOOK –  ‘DES TOWNSON – A SAILING LEGACY’
A ground breaking book that chronicles the life and design work of one of New Zealand’s most successful boating legends. Over 400 photographs.
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HOW TO ENTER 
Answer, correctly, the question below and you will go into the draw for a copy of the brilliant 334 page book. Entry is via email only -send your answer to the link below waitematawoodys@gmail.com
Q: How many words are used in the book?
Hint – you will find the answer here  https://destownson.co.nz
Entry closes at 8pm on 09-10-2019. Winner advised on WW.
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RSVP– you and your boats name + approx. numbers to sueedwards@xtra.co.nz