Category Archives: Launches

A Visit to Colin Brown’s Omaha Boat Shed 

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Susan Paul

Anita > Maharitia

 

Andromeda

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Waiere

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A Visit to Colin Brown’s Omaha Boat Shed 

A coupe of weeks ago I gave mate a hand to take his clinker dinghy to Colin Brown’s yard at Omaha. Steve inherited the dinghy from his father-in-law & she was in need of a little TLC. I intro’ed Steve to Colin & as they say the rest is history 🙂 Forgot to say – Colin originally built the clinker.

While at the yard we had a look around the numerous projects under way. The c.1950, Chris Robertson built yacht Susan Jane is nearing completion & you can view the project at the link https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/10/30/susan-jane-sailing-sunday/

In numerious sheds/shelters were:

Anita > Maharitia – the biggest Lidgard built at Kawau Island. A lot of work happening to her & a very OTT re power, check out those Gardiners.

The vessel in the shed is Andromeda, a Townsend yacht that has been stripped for conversion by Dave Walker to a launch.

Of most interst to me was Josh Hawke’s 26′ carvel launch, Waiere. Built in c.1913 Josh restored her over a 6 year period that saw the replacement of her ribs, keel, stem, hood ends, interior, decks, cabin top & re-caulking. 

All Josh knows about her past is at one stage she was on the Kaipara as an open flounder boat. 

A 21hp DaeDong pushes her along very nicely. Any one know more about her past? You can see more photos here https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/01/02/mystery-launch-3/

18-08-2018 UPDATE The clinker in the 1st few photos (Steve Finnigans – Mayflea) is back from Colin Browns yard looking be swish 😉

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Mystery Launch at Lake Rotomahana

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Mystery Launch at Lake Rotomahana

The above launch is obviously a tourist / charter boat but the styling is very ‘out there’. Photo comes from Lew Redwood’s facebook page. Nathan Herbert has commented that she has a nice looking hull, the question is from whom & when did the top 1/2 arrive?

The caption states: Steaming Cliffs, Waimangu, Rotomahana.

Lake Rotomanhana, Rotorua, is the North Island’s deepest lake & increased it size x20, as a result of the 1886 Mt Tarawera eruption.

Any woodys able to shed some lift on her background > & what became of her?

 

Aorere

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AORERE

Aorere was built in 1965 & is 18’ 6” in length, & her 18” draft allows her to mooch into a lot of spots most boats can’t.  A 8hp Yanmar diesel engine pushes her along at 5 & by the look of the rig on her stern she is a good scallop boat. Currently located in Riwaka, near Motueke at the top of the South Island.

She is for sale on trademe (thanks Ian McDonald).

Anyone know who built her?

Wanderer

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WANDERER

Wanderer has appeared on WW (link below) before when she was berth at Milford Marina & crying out for some TLC, refer photo below.

I happy to be able to say that she has received the TLC & is for sale. Currently she calls Half Moon Bay home. The photos today are ex trademe (thanks Ian McDonald)

Wanderer past is a wee bit of a mystery & this is debated in the WW link. We do know that she is approx. 28’ & is powered by a Perkins diesel, her hull is kauri .

https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/08/16/wanderer-ii/

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Gaza (Astra)

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GAZA (Astra)

Mooching around the wharf at Sandspit a few weeks ago, I spied Gaza tied up alongside the Kawau Island ferry berth.

Any Sandpit  woodys able to enlighten us on her?, she appeared to be a well looked after classic. Next week I’ll do a story on the woodys berthed at the new (ish) Sandpit Marina.

Ken Ricketts believe’s Gaza was previously named Astra & most likely a McGeady design.

 

Carolyn

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CAROLYN

Paul Newell sent me the above photo of a small 20ft launch, named Carolyn,  he owned for about 20 years. Paul purchased her in the late 70s from Don Garner of Onehunga who had purchased the launch Little Tasman and was in the early stages of restoring her when he became ill and passed away. 

Carolyn was powered by a Ford Consul petrol engine which Paul removed and fitted a BMC Captain diesel. There was a log book on board which said she was built by Lanes of Panmure for a Mr Wells, a City Councillor of Panmure. 

Paul sold Carolyn in the late 1990’s when he purchased the McGeady built launch Arohanui. Paul saw Carolyn a few years later in very run down condition.

Other than sharing the photo with us, Paul’s primary reason for contacting WW is to enquire if she is still around today? 

Any woodys able to help out with intel?

Kawau Island Boats & Baches

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Kawau Island Boats & Baches

Recently I had had enough of weekends in Auckland so with the wife out of town, I took the opportunity to escape & experience the 2nd to last stage that some of us go thru e.g. yacht > launch> motorhome > death.

An old neighbour & friend Chris Miller, owns a large motorhome, so we headed north to Sandspit – & booked into the camping ground for the weekend.

On Saturday we took the ferry to Kawau Island for what is known as the ‘Royal Mail Run’ – the boat mooches around the island dropping off / picking up passengers & freight for all the private jetties. While not a woody, the ferry trip is a must do, you get to visit most of the bays & can even enjoy a wine or two.

The photos above are a random gallery of the woodys I spotted on the trip & some of the waterfront holiday homes.

 

Tainui in the Sounds

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Tainui in the Sounds

Nathan Herbert sent in the above photo of this Dick Lange design/built woody that he spotted on his recent trip to the Marlborough Sounds.

She is quite big for a Lange, so hopefully we can ID her & dig out some info on her?

 

08-03-21 Input from Nikki Clark – The mystery is TAINUI owned by my dad (Peter Wiblin) and has been part of our family for 42 years. She lives at Momorangi Bay Marlborough Sounds. We understand she may be a Dick Lange built 1968 for Marine Land Napier as a dolphin catcher. Dad had her lengthened in 1986. Dad was told she was one of three built the same. Any more information would be fantastic 

Mistral

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MISTRAL

Mistral’s trademe listing does not tell us much other than she was built in 1947, measures approx. 23’, is powered by a LD 28 diesel engine (is that a Lombardini?).

She was refitted 5 years ago at an approx. cost of $30k. Home is Dunedin & there is a trailer, so would make a cool lake boat.

Any southern woodys able to tell us some more about Mistral?

 

Matahui

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Matahui

MATAHUI

Following on from yesterdays gallery of work boats from Port Chalmers, today we have a photo taken by Dean Wright of a very salty looking Matahui, berthed at Port Chalmers.

A lap of Stewart Island would not be a problem for this old girl, keen to know more about her.

See & read more about her here

Matahui