KAWHIA WHARF – 1910 – CLASSIC WOODEN MOTORBOATS FLASHBACK
Todays woody photo is of the wharf at Kawia and the large vessel berthed alongside is the harbour ferry – MAHINO.
Of more interest is the collection of small launches , they have a workboat look to them, anyone able to iD any of them.
Photo ex Auckland Libraries heritage collection via Ian McDonald.
WOODY SUMMER CRUISING TRIP REPORT #1 – 233’ CLASSIC MOTOR YACHT
The first report from the woody armada out cruising over the summer holidays is from Angus Rogers on his 42’ 1967 Bailey & Son built launch – CENTAURUS.
Angus was overnighting in Man ‘o’ War Bay, Waiheke Island and was sharing the anchorage with the 233’ majestic CLASSIC super yacht – HAIDA, built in 1929 (originally steam powered). Rumour has it these days owned by another billionaire from Hong Kong.
Also sharing the bay was Peter Loughlin’s 42’ 1927 Colin Wild build launch – LADY MARGARET, see below.
CLASSIC LAUNCH – STERLING – Can We Help Out
Todays woody – STERLING was built by Ernie Lane in Picton and launched in 1925. Lots of details and photos in this April 2019 WW story – link here https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/04/03/sterling-2/
Last week WW was contacted by STERLING’s owner who advised they were in the process of getting her back up to speed for her 100th next year. They commented that with the help of a tame boat builder, they have removed the dodgy timber and replaced with good Northland Kauri, pulled the engine out and given it an overhaul, reconfigured the main cabin and will replace the very agricultural duck board and raise and reconfigure the aft cabin. Along with a full rewiring, she should be good to go for a wee while.
That’s all good news put they have a wee problem – in pulling out the old 6 cylinder Ford Lehman, it was discovered that the cast manifold is beyond repair and are reaching out to see if there are any woodys that might know know where they can get a replacement.
So question today is – can we help out, someone must have one in a shed somewhere.
CLASSIC LAUNCH – KARINA – FLASHBACK
Back in Dec 2023 thanks to a tme listing we got to have gander down below on the 1959 Brin Wilson built launch – KARINA. Link to that story here – https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/12/11/karina-a-peek-down-below/
Today thanks to Ken Ricketts and Sea Spray magazine (June 1959) we get to see her as launched.
THE WINNER OF THE XMAS DAY CALENDAR QUIZ WAS DARRYLL HART – correct answer being Sir Frank Mappln
CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – NAUTILUS
Todays woody story is based on a note received from Stuart Junge, an ex classic yachtie who previously owned the 26’ Bailey Jnr. built classic yacht – LEXIA.
These days Stuart is a volunteer at Auckland maritime museum and along with several others skippers the 1913 classic launch – NAUTILUS that operates out of the museum.
Stuart has some concerns about the (his words) ’tales told of the vessel’.
Now NAUTILUS has made many appearances and WW generated debate around her history. I have included below a past comment from marine historian Harold Kidd, who is the fountain of knowledge in your wooden boating community. My rule is unless there is rock solid proof of an opposing view – HDK is the single source of truth 🙂
I have published Stuarts questions below – can we shed some light on her past and let Stuart sleep easier at night.
CLASSIC OLIVER & GILPIN LAUNCH – JOANNE
WW follower John Dawson sent in todays photos of the Oliver & Gilpin built big game launch – JOANNE on what we assume is launching day.
Back in Sept 2017 Dean Wright sent in an ‘old’ photo of her in Whangaroa Harbour. This story created a lot of reader input and photos, which were added to the 2017 story – link here https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/09/20/joanne/
The 3rd & 4th photo above show that there have been a fair degree of ‘updates’.
ATTENTION CLASSIC LAUNCH OWNERS – IF YOU ARE ON OR AROUND THE WAITEMATA HARBOUR THIS ANNIVERSARY DAY (Jan 26th) AND LOOKING FOR AN EXCUSE TO USE THE BOAT – SEE BELOW
The inner harbour classic motorboat drag race is always a lot of fun and the handicappers are very fair so all entrants have a chance of winning on handicap. The honour of first across the line is tightly contested but you’ll have to be capable of 20+ knots to win that prize 😉
ENTRY DETAILS HERE https://regatta.org.nz/regatta-participants/how-to-enter-the-regatta/entry-form/
CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH MARLINE RELAUNCHED
Over winter the classic wooden launch – MARLINE has been hibernating in the CMC Design boat yard in Opua, Northland.
MARLINE’s custodian these days is Kennedy Warne , who worked on the refit alongside the CMC Design team .
The launch has a very special history – prior to Kennedy, it was owned by his father Ken and originally built by Ken’s father Leon Warne in 1949/50.
Upgrades to MARLINE included –
• A new walk through transom
• Hand built wooden skylights with etched glass created in the original glass design.
• Reconfiguration of cabinetry and storage in the galley and head.
• Upgrading all water and diesel tanks.
• New elements, anchor winch, solar, electrical boards, refrigeration and oven.
• New Kauri cockpit flooring.
• New duckboard.
Check out the Oct 2025 WW story here for a look at the work-in-progress https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/10/27/classic-wooden-bay-of-islands-launch-marline-gets-a-refresh/
Much of the timber used in the project was from Kennedy’s personal collection, including some kauri timber leftover from the original build. Lovely Rewarewa with beautiful grain, repurposing Kennedy’s aunts dresser top for the head vanity top. Kauri slab from Kennedy’s good friend for the kitchen bench and oven surround.
The yard incorporated and repurposed as much timber as possible, the new handrails, plate holders, new door to the head and new skylight and many small detail elements.
A special touch was a picture of Leon etched onto a Kauri board (see below) as a gift for Kennedy from the yard.
BEST NZ CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT OF THE YEAR – NGAIO
Hands down the winner of the best woody to make an appearance on WW in 2025 is Jan Barraclough’s , 1921 36’ Arch Logan built – NGAIO.
Yesterday she slipped back into the water at Milford Creek, Auckland after a 4+ month refit at the hands of master boat builder Paul Tingey .
Read / view the work-in-progress at these links.https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/11/15/classic-logan-launch-ngaio-heritage-refit-boat-yard-visit/ https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/10/08/heritage-refit-for-1921-logan-launch-ngaio/
Sadly her owner wasn’t there to see the event, but she will be reading WW today while sipping an Aperol Spritz on the other side of the world 🙂
09-01-2026 UPDATE – It’s the little details that make all the difference. NGAIO’s wheel was just a tad too big, the boys at the Slipway Milford, dived into the treasure chest of old / good boating bits and refurbished a ‘new’ wheel – perfect ✓
It was a very busy morning at the Milford slipway – a total of 4 launches were re launched after getting some pre-xmas cruising TLC
The magnificent 48’ 1965 Lane Motor Boat Co. built – AROHANUI
The L33 (Logan replica) – SEMELE
And even a Pelin sneaks onto WW today – well it is xmas 😉
CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – SUNBEAM FINDS A NEW HOME & THE WORK BEGINS
Back in June 2025 we draw WW readers attention to the 32’ classic wooden launch – SUNBEAM, built by Bailey & Lowe in 1901 and advised her then owner was seeking to find her next custodian. WW link to that story https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/06/15/classic-bailey-lowe-launch-needs-a-new-home/
Fast forward to earlier this week and WW was contacted by Garry Quayle who advised he had taken over custodianship on Sunbeam (3/10/2025). Garry sent in todays photos of the progress thus far. And even the tender is getting some TLC.
Garry commented that she is now moored in Portage and is much welcomed with interest by locals, Garry has also upgraded the solar system along with some overdue maintenance.
We understand she is a magnificent sea boat, Garry and crew got caught out in big swells on Big Bay when moving to Kenapuru Sound . There was white water across the bay but she handled it easy much better than her crew did 🙂
OMG – see below, sent in by one of the WW Hauraki Gulf spotters – how can his happen, who designs something like this and more importantly who buys it ………….
CLASSIC WOODEN RUN-ABOUTS
I rotate my laptop screen saver image most days but for the last week one photo has remained there – its the classic wooden run-about – LADY KAY, pictured above.
Recently WW was contacted by Jeff Norris who sent some photos of his grandfathers boat – LADY KAY. Jeff’s GF bought the boat about 1953 off a gent named Eric Such. During this time the family had a bach at Kawa Kawa Bay and it was moored there , the bach was sold around 1970 and the boat was sold about 1971 to a man in Mt Albert, Auckland.
LADY KAY, named after Jeff’s grandmother, started life as a speedboat (photos 2,3,4) which Jeff’s GF turned into a cabin cruiser (top photo), powered by a Willys engine. In my opinion the conversion to cabin cruiser was very well done, very hard to get the proportions right and still look good.
Back then it was kept at KawaKawa Bay. Jeff commented that he spent his holidays fishing with his GF.
Jeff also sent in the photo of the boat below that was owned by a good friend of his grandfathers, Jack Bradstreat, a farmer from Pukekohe he also had a batch there, The boat was powered by a Ford Consul engine.
Any woodys know what became of these craft.
