Category Archives: Launches

Cobra

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Cobra

 

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COBRA

The C. Bailey & Sons ex workboat (fishing?) Cobra was built in 1935 and measures 49’11” x 14’1” x 5’10”. 

If you’re wondering about the ‘almost’ 50’ in length – she was constructed 1” short to enable her to only have 2 crew rather than 3 to allow them to go offshore.
Zoom zoom is via a 180hp Gardner 6L3B.
Alan also added that she was converted to pleasure use in the 1970’s by Shorty Sefton and friends.
It states on her trademe listing that she has been prepared by her current owner for a voyage around New Zealand, and now sports a balancing sail.
Baden Pascoe believes the b/w photo below from 1952 is Cobra at Auckland’s Viaduct
Viaduct 1952

Jeunesse Awaits A Letter From the Queen

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Jeunesse Awaits A Letter From the Queen

John Wright’s woody – Jeunesse, built in 1919 (most likely) by Dick Lang has hit the ton, she turns 100 this year and John is in the process of giving her a wee tart up, which any old girl of this age deserves.

John is a master craftsman’s who has the eye and skills to turn a woody from a good looking woody launch into a stunning classic launch.

Jeunesse measures 39’, with a beam of 11’ and draws 3’. Tucked away down below is a 180hp Hino so when asked she can lift her skirt and dance 😊

You can view a gallery of b/w photos from her early days here https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/11/30/jeunesse-2/

https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/09/17/14170/

UPDATE 02-03-2020 Photos below of John Wright’s – Jeunesse in the 2020 Auckland Anniversary Day regatta. Sent in by Brett Evans.

Jeunesse 1

Jeunesse 2

 

Moby Dick

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MOBY DICK
 

I was recently contacted by Richard Neighbour who was hoping someone maybe able to help uncover some history on the 8m Jack Morgan launch he has acquired.

Richard is not sure of any history, but has been told it was most likely built / launched mid 1950’s.  She is one of two built by Jack Morgan in Picton. The wheel house was added some time after as was also the pointed bow (he was told the original bow was referred to as a ‘Husky’ bow).
It might be the angle of the camera but the wheelhouse looks VERY top heavy, could be interesting in inclement
Sadly, in his words Richard will be preserving, not restoring her i.e. “kauri is expensive, she is being re skinned in marine ply and glassed over”.
 
Any help would be much appreciated. 
 

Pania – A Peek Down Below

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PANIA – A Peek Down Below
According to her trademe listing the 30′ Pania was built in 1962 by Cauldry, however in a previous WW story (link below) it was established that she was actually built in 1959 bu L.C. Coulthard.
We do know that she is powered by a Moon Engines 80hp Ford diesel, with keel cooling.
From the photos you will see that she has been very well maintained and I understand only 4sale due to her owners advancing years.
She would make a great intro boat to someone looking at joining the classic wooden boating scene – just needs some minor TLC.

https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/11/14/pania/

Photo below, not long after she was launched.
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Ranoni Revisited

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Ranoni Revisited

The 1911 35’ classic launch Ranoni (Z38) has just popped up on trademe (thanks Ian McDonald) – you have to wonder about how serious some people are in selling their classic woody – other than telling us she is powered by a Ford Sabre 82hp engine you won’t learn anymore about the craft.

Ranoni has appeared on WW in the past and the story covered a lot more on her history, including photos. You can read it here.   https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/05/12/ranoni/
But in a nut shell she was built in 1911 by Charlie Gouk at Beaumont Street, and measured 35’
x 8’6” x 2’6”.
In 2014 she underwent repairs in Opua by local boatbuilder Graham Ridge, who had bought her after a mooring mishap with a another vessel.
As presented she looks a very smart woody. I’m keen to learn what the two additions as to her hull under the belting strip – that’s a newbie to me ?

Dargaville Woody Launch Race

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Dargaville Woody Launch Race
 
 Over Easter the Northern Wairoa Boating Club held their annual race day, with entries from Helensville, Pahi and Te Kopuru.
In the above above ex Dave Stanaway – we see Florence, Irene + various boats, including a ketch rigged scow type named Marlin.
Dave reports every had a great day out on the water and would like to thank Steve on his launch Rodney for the hospitality.
As always with these events the race was followed in the evening by a very friendly prize giving / get together.

Easter Classic Wooden Boat Cruise

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Waiari

 

Woody Bay
Woody Bay
Deep in thought
Summer in a glass

 

Off Center Harbor
Adonis
West Bay
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Mapuna

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Kowai
Kowai
Hinemoa
Hinemoa

Easter Classic Wooden Boat Cruise

If you stayed at home this Easter, you missed one of the best long weekends, in fact probably the best Easter weather I can remember.
We headed out early Friday morning with the plan to spend Friday night at Rakino Island and then slide up to Kawau Island early Saturday. We arrived at Rakino mid morning and dropped anchor in Woody Bay (great name), conditions were perfect, only complaint a few too many plastic boats had the same idea. Caught up with a few friends for late avo drinks and took in the sunset – it was up there with Fiji on the visual wow rating.
Saturday morning dawned and a we had a wee anchor / winch problem – reverted to the days of old & pulled it up by hand – but then had 18+m of chain on the deck. Didn’t fancy going to Kawau as I was unable to let anymore out (even manually) as the winch was jammed. So decided to hang around Rakino – tried a spot of drift fishing – as normal no joy.
Decided on West Bay for the night (with my 18m of chain) and we got invited to dinner (fresh snapper) on a friends plastic boat. He was surprised and deleted that we turned up with a roasting dish of crunchy roast potatoes – their rather large boat has no oven – just electric induction hobs and a microwave 😦
Another 10/10 sunset.
Next morning, despite my best efforts the winch remained jammed so a restful day in the bay reading and headed home later on Sunday.
Not a lot of woodys at / around Rakino – I suspect Kawau and Great Barrier islands were the destinations of choice.
The 1962 Owen Woolley sedan launch – Waiari was looking stunning in West Bay after its 2017 top chop that say a flybridge despatched to the dumpster. Anchored nearby was the 1961 Jack Brooke built launch – Mapuna, enjoying a family cruise.
On the unsuccessful fishing trip we passed another Owen Woolley launch – the 1965, Adonis. Whats with all the 1960’s boats…….. even had Andrew Millar off Rorqual (1959 Jack Morgan) & Geoff Diggle off Florence Rose (1960’s Billy Rogers) over for a drink, sorry guys no photos, both were on the other side of the bay, with a lot of white plastic between us. Check out Flo Ro here   https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/03/21/florence-rose-launch-day/
When Andrew can get around to writing me a draft story, there will be a WW feature on the extensive renovation of Rorqual.
Also snapped a photo of the very salty looking ex? work boat – Kowai off Home Bay.
And just so I’m not accused of being one-eyed, I spotted a very pretty yacht when we were leaving West Bay – Hinemoa. Can anyone tell us what she is?
25-04-2019 Input from Harold Kidd 

HINEMOA was designed by Eric Cox for C.T. Jonas of Auckland and built by Lidgard Bros in 1948.
Jonas sold her to Norm Galbraith in 1955. Jonas had owned a couple of great yachts, CAROLYN (Coulthard, 1937), MATATUA (Lidgards 1938) the launch HIRAWANU (Lidgards 1946) then HINEMOA.
Lidgards built the Cox-designed SNOWGOOSE for Ian Titchener in 1948.
I recall that Ian Titchener (once Mayor of Devonport) was Paul’s uncle.
Ps I sorted the winch problem out back at Bayswater on Monday – two links had locked together on an angle – involved a wee bot of open heart surgery, best done at the marina v’s at sea.

The Evolution of Silens

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Silens

The Evolution of Silens

The launch Silens is owned by good friends of mine – Rosanne and Brian Fulton, and is one of the most used woodys in the CYA fleet. 
When you see the photos below of her fit out you will see why they enjoy her so much. Down below makes most people very envious of her ‘liveability’ (if there is such a word).
 
The main focus of todays story is to showcase how this classic woody launch, built by Harvey & Lang in November 1912, has morphed over the years. The 4 photos above showcase how your woodys were altered over the years to suit the fashion of the day and to match the changing lifestyles of their owners – the bridge deck is my pick.
 
Silens was originally fitted with an Auckland built 14hp Silent Rotor engine (rotary valve) (thanks HDK for the intel), so I suspect thats where her name came from.Later she had a Stearns and then a 25hp Sterling.
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Mystery Launch 20-04-2019

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MYSTERY LAUNCH – 20-04-2019

Hobsonville Marina (West Park in drag) woody John Wicks sent in the above photos of a nice looking, salty little launch currently on the hard at the marina. John commented that there was no name visible  and nobody working on her while he was there.

John’s comment re nice looking was in reference to the hull; the superstructure can only be described as functional. As can be seen in the stern view, she has a large fairlead of some sort mounted on the middle of her taffrail. Towing? Scallop dredging?
Hopefully one of the woodys will know her and what she does.
Make sure you log in to WW on Monday – great story / photos on the evolution of the 1912 Harvey & Lang launch – Silens
Stunning day yesterday, the sunset at Rakino was Fiji standard 👌

Pearl

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PEARL

Today’s photo ex Lew Redwood’s fb, show that launch Pearl off Motiuhe Island dated c.1918.
What makes the photo ’special’ is the German POW – Count Von Luckner is aboard (in the stern).
I have to question the date of the photo as Von Luckner escape from Motuihe Island in December 1917 aboard Pearl, but was captured and returned to the island.
 Can anyone tell us any details on Pearl – builder, year etc and does anyone know what became of Pearl  – was she returned to Auckland post the escape, or did she remain  at the Mercury Islands?.
A lot of what you read about Von Luckner makes him out to be a bit of a folk hero – but at the end of the day he was a German commander that sank 14 Allied ships 😦
Harold Kidd input- PEARL was built by Collings & Bell in 1914 for McIndoe of Otahuhu. McIndoe sold her to Dr. Endletsberger. She came ashore and was badly damaged in the severe gale of early 1917. Colonel Turner of Motuihe bought her, repaired her and took her to Motuihe for his own use.
Von Luckner’s party pinched her, captured the scow MOA and towed PEARL behind to make for the Kermadecs. PEARL was lost in that tow. She was quite like the earlier HAZEL (later NGAROMA).
How Goods This Summer Been
It just seems to keep rolling on, hopefully I will be out and about on Raindance over Easter, so Tuesday’s story should be a goody from afloat 🙂
Just remember – its 5o’clock somewhere 😉
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Make sure you log in to WW on Monday – get story / photos on the evolution of the 1912 Harvey & Lang launch – Silens