Category Archives: Launches

Genevere

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GENEVERE

Today’s story show cases the Lake Rotoiti launch Genevere. She was built in 1908, builder unknown, measures 30’. Her zoom zoom is via a 45hp Perkins diesel that pushes her along at 6>8 knotts.

According to her trademe listing (thanks Ian McDonald), she has had a reasonable amount of TCL & engineering work done on her, so presents well.

At an asking price of $15k, she would appear a good buy. Anyone able to tell us more about Genevere?

 

1911 Devonport Waterfront Storm

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1911 PLEASURE BOATS DRAGGING THEIR MOORINGS

1911 Devonport Waterfront Storm 

Another old Devonport waterfront photo (news clipping) ex Keith Humphreys.
Anyone able to ID the launch closest to the shore, hopefully her mooring & gear were sufficient to keep her off the beach ?
Harold Kidd Input – This is the westerly gale of 18th December 1911. I think the launch in the foreground is W R Twigg’s new Bailey & Lowe launch SYBIL while the steamer at right is the Seagar brothers’ REHUTAI.
AND REMEMEBER TODAY IS WORKSHOP TUESDAY AT THE NZ TRADITIONAL BOATBUILDING SCHOOL – OPEN FROM 10AM > 2PM – click link below for address / map

Charlie

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CHARLIE

From what WW can learn from her trademe listing (thanks Ian McDonald), all we know is that Charlie was built in 1927 by the Monk Bros (?), is approx. 27’ in length & her zoom zoom is via a 60hp Ford diesel.

Charlie has had some TCL in recent times & would make a nice entry point into classic wooden boating. Current home is Omokoroa, Tauranga.

 

Anyone know more about her?

 

 

Mystery Launch – win A WW T-shirt

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Mystery Launch

Mystery Launch – Win a WW t-shirt

The above photo is probably from the early 1920’s – got to love that some of the gents are wearing suits while pondering their predicament.
The 1st woody to correctly ID the launch wins a WW t-shirt – answers via the WW comments section.
The ‘owner’ of the photo & their buddies are excluded, as are Mr Kidd & Mr Ricketts 🙂

Mystery Launch & Location

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Mystery Launch & Location

Todays photo is another from the fb page of Lew Redwood, & show a very fine looking launch nudged into the shoreline. The caption stated that the gent standing on the left is Richard Edgar Williams* & possible date is 1930.
The name on the bow could be Joan. There is an impressive number of people on-board, I counted 18, including children.
As to the location – I’m not sure, it looks very Whangaroa Harbour, but the ladder on the bow is a very lake set up. I’m sure someone will be able to shed some light on the name & location.
* from a quick google search – Williams was a Southern man, born in Dunedin in 1891. He had a keen interest I photography & mountaineering. So maybe the photo is located in Milford Sound?

My Girl Update – Splash Day Must Be Soon

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My Girl Update

Jason Prew has been burning the midnight oil in his boat shed (shelter) – end result My Girl is getting very close to splashing. See a snap shot below, to view / read more check out his blog

http://www.my-girl.co.nz/mygirl/Welcome.html

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Jason – see below – based on the Ken Ricketts theory of boat naming – you should sue 🙂

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Update 14-10-2018 The bling is starting to be added. Nice paint job, but you get that when you glass 😉

Update 25-10-2018 Comparison photo below, an amazing job done by Jason, and given he is not short, a big sacrifice in head-room 🙂

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02-11-2018 Update – My Girl looking very close to a splash, anti-fouling on, the blue looking a lot smarter than the black 🙂

 

Anzac (Freedom Restoration Update

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ANZAC (Freedom)
Todays story is on the restoration of Anzac, the 1911 Bailey & Lowe launch.
Owner Greg Skinner sent in the above photos & I ‘lifted’ a few historical ones (below) from his weblog, which you should check out for more details on the project & the history of the vessel.
Its been a while since we had an update & Greg advised that the following work has been done over the last 2 years:
• Hauled out
• Full strip out of fittings and fixtures
• Wheelhouse removed
• Rear canopy removed
• Duck board removed
• Motor remove – about to be refurbished
• All plumbing, electrical and electronics removed
• Hull – all paint and caulking removed
• Boat shed constructed
Currently Greg is removing ribs (approx. 80 to be replaced) 30% the way through removal (replacement rib material arrived, about to order copper nails)
You have to tip your hat to woodys like Greg & Jason Prew (My Girl) for undertaking woody project of this magnitude. The address for Greg’s weblog is below + the link to the previous WW story on her, there is a great woody tale there so check it out.
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Jimmy & Barney Daniel inspect Freedom at Tinopai

Input from Robin Elliott – They owners have possibly been in to see these but the Auckland War Memorial museum have some early photographs of her in the Winkelmann Collection … as follows.

Oban 24/4/1915 Negative number 8895
ANZAC 11/12/1915 Neg number 8924
ANZAC 12/2/1916 Neg number 8948

ANZAC 1/4/1916 Neg Number 8983

Input from Harold Kidd – She was built by Bailey & Lowe for A B Donald in 1911 as MAPUHI.Alex Burt bought her in 1913 and changed her name to WORCESTER (briefly) then to OBAN, then to ANZAC on 26th November 1915. So there’s a variety of names to call her including her post-ANZAC names of BETTY and FREEDOM.

New Home for Waitematawoodys

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New Home for Waitematawoodys

Yeah right, first I need to find a spare $1million (diary note- buy Lotto ticket)
On ww before we have had a peak inside some of the boat sheds on Ngapipi Road, Orakei, tall very nice but all very practical, but OMG this one has to be the ultimate boys shed.
And oops I forgot to say – there is a classic Hacker Craft included in the price, see below.
(thanks to Peter Loughlin for the trademe listing heads up)
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A Spirit of Tradition Woody

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A Spirit of Tradition Woody

The above launch was built in 1983 but looks 50 years older, so she makes the cut on WW. Her trademe listing (thanks Ian McDonald) describes her as a 37’ Jorgenson Quicksley launch, with a beam of 10’7” & draft of 4’3’.

Hull construction is 1 3/8” kauri plank and the zoom zoom comes from a 100hp GM Detroit diesel.

Home port is Nelson so she comes with all the fruit, including the mandatory diesel heater 😉 Anyone able to put a name to the launch?

Input from John Wicks – Cna’t for the life of me remember her name, but Jorgensens built her for one Cdr. “Sankey” Critchley who lived just outside Blenheim and had a bach at a bay known as Longbeach in the Grove Arm of Queen Charlotte Sound.
Cdr Critchley had previously owned the Albert Strange yawl “Sheila II” which he bought from Adrian Hayter after the latter had sailed her out from the UK.

Anyone Looking For A  Winter Project?

I have been contacted by Mike Renner who inherited a pond yacht (photos below) from his father, who died over 50 years ago.  It’s 1.2 metres long & Mike suspect it belonged to his grandfather.  It’s been hanging in the garage for years and it needs a new home.

 Mike’s grandfather and father were very keen boaties.  His grandfather owned several yachts, including ‘Rogue’, and at one stage owned 32 parts in ‘Waitangi’.  He migrated to launches in later years, including Zane Grey’s ‘Otehei’.
Mike commented that the hull looks is good order & there is a mast included.
So Woodys – it would be a shame for it not to have another life somewhere? Mike can be contacted at  mike@merel.co.nz
 
Ps – looking at the photos I was relieved to see a good stack of firewood in the background 😉
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20-07-2018 Update – I understand the model has found a new home with Greg Lees at his boatyard – I look forward to seeing it finished 🙂

 

 

Wellington Whale Spotting on A Woody

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Wellington Whale Spotting on A Woody
I’m sure most of you will have seen the TV coverage of the Southern Right whale – nick named Matariki thats decided to adopt the Wellington Harbour as its new home.
The Uivel family, owners of the stunning 1928, Joe Slattery built, now Wellington based woody – Mataroa, ventured out last week for a peek, never expecting the close encounter they got, seems the whale likes woodys.
Also included above are some nice shots of Mataroa in Clyde Quay boat harbour.
Photos ex the camera of Sue Dorrington & thanks to Rob Uivel for the on-board video and Bryan Saul for the Drone footage (link below)
You can view more photos of the re launch of Mataroa at the link below. Or just WW search the name, there is a lot of photos / info on her. Named Kenya, when launched.
Big tides yesterday – I suspect this old woody in the Milford Creek has had a few tides thru her 😉 See WW comments section for info on the yacht (named Ra Kesha) ex Geoff Brebner (heyday photo added below)
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