Category Archives: Launches

CLASSIC LAUNCH KOURA – Your Own Dockside Retreat 

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CLASSIC LAUNCH KOURA – Your Own Dockside Retreat 

Todays woody story has a twist to it – while the launch KOURA is a genuine classic wooden boat her days afloat are over. Not by neglect or mishap – read on to hear her story and hopefully one of you might be the next custodian.

Back in October 2023 WW did a story on KOURA – below https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/10/02/koura-a-sunset-cocktail-cruiser/

At the time she had been transformed into a land based ‘man-cave’. Her new ownershad bought Koura to enable Chris Devereaux  – a passionate boatie – to enjoy owning a vessel again despite being confined to a wheelchair. The family had many happy cocktail hours aboard her and their grand children had fun sleeping aboard and playing captains and pirates  in the holidays. Restoring and creating the KOURA  as she is today gave Chris a purpose and much joy.

Sadly Chris succumbed to his auto immune disease in late May and now partner Barbara Harris is selling their Whangarei property and KOURA needs a new home.

So woodys – if any of you are interested in buying her  and continuing her story Barbara would love to chat. Whilst KOURA would be very cool as a ‘man cave’ , there must be a grandad out there with some spare land that he could install KOURA on. Me thinks that overnight you would become #1 grand parent.

If you or someone you know has room in their life for KOURA – initially contact Barbara at  Bjaneharris1@gmail.com

CLASSIC  WOODEN BOAT – KOMUTU – A Peek Down Below

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CLASSIC  WOODEN BOAT – KOMUTU – A Peek Down Below

Back in October 2019 woody IanMcDonald sent in some photos of the wooden launch – KOMUTU on the hard in Whagarei.We learnt that she was built by Curnow & Wilton in Motueka in 1950>52 (launched Dec 1952) to a Cliff Nalder design. Spec were 42’ x 12’ x 3’6”.                      

Lots more intel in the WW link below.
WW Oct 2019 https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/10/23/komutu-whats-on-for-the-long-weekend/

Fast forward to early 2025 and thanks to a tme appearance we get to have a gander down below. Forward motion these days is via 230hp Detroit 671 engine. 

MYSTERY LAKE BOAT – CAN WE ID HER

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MYSTERY LAKE BOAT – CAN WE ID HER

Todays woody photo comes to use from John Dawson. John believes the location is most likely Lake Rotorua, this is based on the photo album it came from. So if not Lake Rotorua maybe Lake Rotoiti.

Would be nice to put a name to the launch and learn some of her history.

2025 FIORDLAND CLASSIC BOAT FESTIVAL REPORT

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2025 FIORDLAND CLASSIC BOAT FESTIVAL REPORT

One of the many publications WW receives is ‘DEADWOOD’, the newsletter of The Picton Clinker & Classic Boat Club. They are an amazing club and so proactive. Each month reading the newsletter makes me feel very positive about the NZ classic wooden boat community, we need more clubs like the PC&CB thru out NZ.

The latest issue of DEADWOOD featured what I believe was the inaugural Fiordland Classic Boat Festival, held on the weekend of May 23>25 2025. I have included a few photos above and enclosed a PDF copy (below) of the newsletter for those wanting to read more.

The event also celebrated the tourist boat FAITH’s 90th birthday, a truely stunning woody operated as a charter boat by Fiordland Heritage Cruises – photo below https://fiordlandhistoriccruises.co.nz
Which reminds me I must do a WW story on FAITH’s provenience. 

COPY OF DEADWOOD NEWSLETTER

Clinker newsletter no 224 July 2025Download

YESTERDAY MYSTERY LAUNCH UPDATE – the mystery remains but I can tell you its not ARIES. Could go into a lot of details but simplest answer is only 2 pots holes – ARIES had three and they were round, not oblong – refer below photo. A tip use the WW search box before casting your vote 😉

CAN WE ID THIS CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH + Win A Off Centre Harbor Cap

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CAN WE ID THIS CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH + Win A Off Centre Harbor Cap

Todays woody photo was sent in by Nathan Herbert and shows a classic wooden launch probably berthed at Westhaven Marina, Auckland.

Nathan commented that the date was c.1960’s and that the launch had a Woolleys look to her.

She is one of those boats that looks very familiar but we can’t put a name to her.

So woodys – the first person to correctly* ID the launch wins a OFF CENTRE HARBOUR cap. All entries via the WW comments section. *NOTE: WW must be able to verify the launch name. 

VIEW OFF CENTER HARBOR HERE – offcentreharbor.com

UPDATE ON THE CLASSIC LAUNCH – COLUMBIA

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UPDATE ON THE CLASSIC LAUNCH – COLUMBIA

On Wednesday we asked for more information on the classic wooden launch – COLUMBIA and the WW readers delivered, link here to that story https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/06/25/looking-for-information-on-classic-launch-columbia/ . 

Then on Thursday night Sandra Gibson sent in the gallery of photos above and advised that “Columbia has been restored by Stanford Boatbuilders, as she had been gutted. And she is now powered by a V8 Cat and she is 2 meters longer. Cruises at 14 knots. Modernized inside and very comfortable.”aunt 

Reviewing the book cover below, her exterior hasn’t changed much in the last 30 years.

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – NAUTILUS GETS SOME TLC

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – NAUTILUS GETS SOME TLC

Earlier in the week one of the WW spotters, Alan Sexton, dropped WW a note to say that the 44′ Oliver & Gilpin 1964 built classic wooden launch NAUTILUS was hauled out at Sandspit Marina for some TLC. Always good to see the big old girls being looked after. My lips are sealed but NAUTILUS is another classic woody owned by one of NZ’s yachting ‘royalty’.

The first grouping of photos is as of this week, the b/w photo is probably as launched, and the last lot are from approx. 4 years ago + a peek down below (again 4>5 yrs ago). Forward motion is via twin120hp Isuzu diesel engines.

We understand home these days is the Whangateau area.

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH MARINUS RE-LAUNCHED

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH MARINUS RE-LAUNCHED

Back in May we started following the haul out of the 1946 classic woody – MARINUS, at the Slipway Milford. Link here to that story https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/05/16/classic-wooden-launch-marinus-gets-a-birthday/

The brief was for a Jason Prew Paint Job and to overhaul her running gear (driveshaft, props etc), well as is almost always the case the shopping list grows and approx. 9 weeks later MARINUS was re-launched yesterday.

The most visible highlights being her new colour and the removal of the 2 lower portholes.

MARINUS has a rather nice interior which we featured back in April 2023- link below https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/04/17/marinus-a-peek-down-below/

Quick overview – Designed by A. Deeming, built by Barr Brown, 46’x12’4”x4’ , and powered by twin Cummins 85hp diesel engines.

(photo below showing the ‘old’ porthole placement)

LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON – CLASSIC LAUNCH – COLUMBIA

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LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON – CLASSIC LAUNCH – COLUMBIA

Recently WW was contacted by Richard Erdman who had just finished re-reading 2 books penned by Ralph S Von Kohorn that document Ralph’s circumnavigation of the South and North Islands of New Zealand in the early 1970’s aboard his motor vessel COLUMBA.
Richard commented that COLUMBA was designed in 1967, 45′ loa, and powered by a single Detroit GM 283, 8 cylinder engine, that gave her a top speed of 15 knots but she cruised at 9 knots. No mention was made of the vessels designer or builder.

The books were published : South Island cruise – Jan 1977 and North Island cruise – Jan 1979 

In 1977 Ralph was commodore of the Mana cruising club in Wellington. 

The artist painting of COLUMBA on the North Island book has been very generous in their rendering i.e. she looks better than in real life (South Island cover) 🙂

So woodys todays question is what became of COLUMBA and can we earn more of her back story.

INPUT EX ALAN SEXTON – A very detailed description of Columbia is provided in Appendix II in “Columbia Cruises North”. Quick summary, designed by Jim Cole (California), built by Lidgards, 2 skin kauri , powered by Detroit 8V53, launched 1967. Baron Ralph Steven von Kohorn died in early 2011 aged 91, his wife Jill died some months later aged 67.

INPUT EX JEFF GIDDEN – Used to be moored under the bridges at Paremata many years ago.

INPUT EX BOB SPEARMAN – Columbia is in Havelock, Pelorus Sounds

26-06-2025 INPUT EX SANDRA GIBSON – The Columbia has been restored by Stanford boatbuilders, as she had been gutted. She is now powered by a V8 cat and she is 2 meters longer. Cruises at 14 knots. Modernized inside and very comfortable

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH PANIA – Priced To Sell 

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH PANIA – Priced To Sell 

The rock bottom pricing continues – the classic wooden launch PANIA is on tme (thanks Ian McDonald) and at last glance the highest bid was $110 and the reserve had been met.

PANIA has appeared on WW several times – lots of details and photos at this March 2021 WW story link  https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/03/29/pania-a-peek-down-below-post-sale/

Quick overview – built by L Coulthard in 1959, 28>30’ in length, powered by a 80hp Ford D250 And guess what – she lives at Waiheke Island 🙂

(the top two photos are from 2021)