Category Archives: Launches

Exclusive Lady

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EXCLUSIVE LADY
The photos above from Dean Wright show the game boat Exclusive Lady fishing the Duke Contest in 1984. While the photos are a little ‘grainy’ from the scanning of 33 year old film negatives, the Lady still looks majestic. Thank you Dean for sharing 🙂

Question of the day woodys – what more do we know about her?

 

The Ultimate Woodys Friend

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Ever thought -what’s the name of that boat or who designed her, or who owns her? well if its wood, a classic & the owner is a member of the CYA – then finding the answer is easy – grab a copy of the NZ Classic Yacht Association Register for the ridiculously low price of $15 & you will have access to the ultimate classic woody must have. Fathers Day is fast approaching…….. drop a hint to the partner / kids / grand children 🙂
To grab a copy (or 2 – one for home & one for the boat) contact the CYA on this email link admin@classicyacht.org.nz

 

A Woody On Tour + An SoS

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A Woody On Tour + An SoS
Woody Paul Drake has just returned from a trip to the UK & sent in the above 2 photos – the first showing a very smart inboard clinker on the beach at Beer, Lyme Bay (1/2 way between Brixham & Portland Bill).

The bottom photo is of the Navy MTB24 ‘resting’ at Bembridge, Isle of Wight. Paul commented that she no longer rises with the tide 😦

An Urgent SoS

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WW follower Scott Perry, has a small obsession with rather large woodys – he is currently rebuilding the HDML Kuparu, an ex naval patrol boat. He is nearly done with Kuparu & is now looking at saving HDML Black Watch, the 72 footer sitting out in front of Bayswater Marina for the last 10 plus years.
Scott is urgently looking for somewhere he could tidal slip her e.g. against poles, or a wharf, somewhere on the Waitemata. She has a bad temporary repair on her bottom that is failing & needs attention in the next couple of weeks. She has a swim prop, so can lean her on her side on the beach or deep creek. Any woodys know of anything about?
As an aside, she currently is ketch rigged & with Scott being a launch man, he would like to sell her 2 solid timber masts – so if someone would like to purchase them, you would make Scott a happy man. Scott can be contacted on 027 278 2542
Ps I’m sure Russell Ward will email be a photo of Black Watch, he had / has the ‘hots’ for her

Input from Russell Ward 

Jeez, Scott. Knocking yourself around a bit ain’tca? You can get pills or ect for that sort of problem I am sure.
Why not take on the Kahu? Lots of fun! I’ve attached a couple of pix of Ngaroma when she was a private ship owned by Capt James Lawler and kept at Cooks Lower Landing. The fair miles were built in NZ as part of the war effort and one should be saved.
Just a thought.
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UPDATE: Photo below ex Heather & Keith Nicholson of Kahu (taken last week)
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Input from Paul Drake – below are two pics of my more humble HDML effort. This is MAKO, 36 inches long (half inch to the foot). I started building her in 1964 aged 16. The following year I was at sea with the Union Company as a Cadet. As shown in the first photo, I took MAKO to sea with me and building continued. The second pic shows her under way and more or less finished on the Avalon duck pond (Wellington). She now resides on my piano here in Taupo – still only more or less finished.

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Updated photo of HDML Kuparu – berthed at Bayswater 07-07-2018

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Matareka II

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MATAREKA II

Recently I was contacted by Chris Laird on behalf of Mavis and Louis Fenelon who own the Logan launch Matareka II (46 years) The Fenelon’s rescued and rebuilt the cabin and interior some years ago.

Due to advancing years & the requirement for some structural repairs beyond their capabilities, they have reluctantly decided to find a good home for Matareka.

Matareka is an iconic classic vessel, I have looked over her personally while hauled out in 2014 & I can vouch for her build quality & presentation. She is an absolutely superb launch, built with safety in mind. A Logan, so say no more.

The Fenelon’s are passionate woody owners & do not want to see Matareka II lost.

Any buyer needs to demonstrate that they have the resources / ability to undertake the work and return Matareka II to the lovely vessel that the Fenelons created.

They are very negotiable on price and want the boat to go to a good home. Anyone interested can contact Chris in the first instance (email address below) & he will put them in touch with Mavis and Louis.  chrislaird@xtra.co.nz

NOTE: there is an estimate of $20K for the commercial repair of the hull issues, given the overall condition of the vessel & her provenance, this is not an excess figure. Someone with the skills could reduce this figure substantially

Further reading:

During 2014 we began a major refurbishment of Matareka, which cost $25,000.  She had a complete and thorough repainting – antifouling, and all surfaces above the water-line. Complete interior painting and varnishing. Re-sealing of windows etc. where required. New water piping (input and distribution pipes) for the two 55 gal stainless steel water tanks. Servicing of water taps. Replacement of old winch with fully automatic anchor winch. New  Supreme anchor. Replacement of anchor rope with 60 metres of 3/8ths anchor chain. New teak bowsprit and bow roller. Cleaning and re-painting of underside of engine gear box. Four x 6 volt new engine batteries (arranged in two banks).

After all this work, on her third run in January 2015, we had the incident at the Ngapipi Road Bridge and she was repaired under Insurance during 2015.  We also decided, at our expense, to completely repaint the hull again – both white and anti-fouling.

Her inventory also includes the following:

• A 371 Detroit diesel 90HP engine complete with a hydraulic 3:1 Allison forward/reverse gear box  (replacement cost $25,000-00, though Detroit agent has said our engine will go forever).

• Large (original) bronze rudder.

• 1 ¾ inch dia. bronze prop shaft driving a 26 inch X 32 inch bronze propeller

• Hydraulically operated steering from a (unique) five spoke ship’s steering wheel

• Auxiliary emergency steel hand tiller

• Heavy duty towing bollard (so far used only for towing dinghy)

• 12 volt high capacity bilge pump

• 2 x 75 gal black steel diesel tanks

• All main cabin glazing is ¼ inch toughened glass

• Canvas double-zipped cock-pit cover

• Head with s.s. basin and chemical toilet

• 6 bunk x Dunlop sponge rubber Dralon-covered squabs in very good condition.

 

 

I Want the Compass ;-)

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I Want the Compass

The rest of you can fight over the what’s left. We could all chip in & buy her 😉 I can see the shower on My Girl?,  Lucinda needs a home-home-theater set up, the sink would look good in Trinidad’s cockpit, the alloy floors for Waimiga’s cockpit?.

Now those outboards?, might be the only way I can get more speed out of Raindance 🙂

I suppose at a $18k buy-now, it could be a cheap floating man pad but…………………………. really how do people come up with a value for their pride & joy?. Some recent trademe examples are so far off the mark, its embarrassing & just paints the wrong picture for the wooden boating scene.

 

 

 

 

Slainte

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SLAINTE – 1947 Chris Craft Restoration

I mentioned last Monday that while chatting to Alan Craig about the new restoration project for his yard – Craig Marine at Lake Rotoiti he just casually mentioned t “Speaking of projects, should probably show you the Chris Craft we just finished” – & then sends me a selection of photos of a simply stunning classic woody.

Slainte is a a 1947 27′ super delux enclosed Chris Craft. It was imported into NZ by the owner as a project that was walked away from in the states. The outside was 90% done but the inside was a shell. No motor, shaft or strut etc. A 5.7L v8 Crusader was imported too and Alan lifted the cockpit sole to suit.
Pretty much every single piece has been pulled apart fixed/painted/varnished and put back again. Some ‘ before’ photos below.
The idea has been to keep it looking original but turn key functionality!

WoW, what an additional to the Lake Rotoiti classic wooden boat fleet, can not wait to see her in person at next years Classic & Wooden Boat Parade weekend.

Kaikoura in the B.O.I.

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Kaikoura in the B.O.I.
The above launch is pictured above anchored in the Bay of Islands, Dean Wright scanned the image from ‘old’ film but is unaware of the boats name.
Anyone able to ID her & provide some history on the vessel ?

Update: Vessel has been ID’ed as the 1952 built launch Kaikoura. Lots of chat in the WW Comments section & photos at the link below

Kaikoura

03-09-2017 – Updated photos below ex owner of 25 years – Peter Jones, via Ken Ricketts. Peter bought her off the Bridgeford family & this would make him only her 3rd owner.
She still has her 2 x 510 cu. in. 165 h.p .V8 Perkins diesels.

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Tautane (>Centaurus)

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TAUTANE (>Centaurus)

The above photo of Tautane was sent to me by her owner Clare Robinson, Clare is hoping that we can uncover more on her past.

What we know is that she is a Miller & Tunnage, completed in 1945 or 1946, operated as fishing vessel for a time and then was purchased by the Napier Harbour Board as their pilot boat and renamed Tautane. Sometime during her tenure there, a Detroit 6-71 manufactured in 1963 was fitted to replace a lower power Gardner.

She was purchased by Colin Davenport in about 1993 and was used to ferry guests out to Endeavour Inlet in Queen Charlotte Sound and for day fishing and diving charters. Colin added the canopy.

Clare bought her in June 2017 and is in the process of converting her to a live-a-board.

The photo shows Tautane as she is currently, sitting at Picton wharf next to the ferry terminal in May 2017. Clare has advised the boat is now named – Serenity.

Do we have any more information on? Russell W you must be able to help?

Input from Russell Ward – below are two photos of the ship one as originally launched – Centaurus and the other being used as she should be. More details in the ww Comments Section.

Update 15-05-2020 Line drawings below sent in by Murray Wikinson. Brian Engliss ex Miller & Tunnage foreman sent them to Brian years ago. Andrew Miller of St Leonards designed the hull for Miller & Tunnage. Murray owns a near sistership “Golden Light”.

Serenity (ex Tautane)

Tamahere – A Peek Down Below

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TAMAHERE – A Peek Down Below

Tamahere last appeared on WW back in 2014 (link below), now thanks to a trademe listing we get to see down below.
She is 40′ long & powered by a 85hp Isuzu diesel that pushes her along at 6>8 knots. Its claimed she was built in 1903.

Back in 2014 we were unable to uncover any details on her, there lots of thousands of more WW readers these days, so hopefully we can unearth more on her.
Thanks to Ian McDonald for the listing heads up.

See / read more here    https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/03/17/tamahere/

18-04-2018 ‘New’ Photos below ex trademe

 

Willie-O

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WILLIE-O

Another photo from Dean Wright, taken in the late 1980’s at Russell in the Bay of Islands. This time its of the classic wooden game launch – Willie-O.

Who can enlighten us more on this beauty?

03-07-2017 Update & photos below from Michael Best (owner)
Willie Oliver built the Willie O in Tauranga approx 1974. He used her as a charter boat for a couple of years out of Tutukaka. Robin Cutfield from Tutukaka then used her for charter work for many years in the Bay of Islands.
Michael has owned the Willie O for approx 11 years. The enclosed fly Bridge was on her when I bought her (can’t blame him for that – Alan H) Willie O is approx 41 feet long, 13ft beam and 4ft draft. Power is from a 3208 Cat 210 hp. Hull is ship plank kauri with mahogany cabins sides.

 

Lake Rotoiti Barn Find Restoration

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Lake Rotoiti Barn Find Restoration

Alan Craig the Lake Rotoiti boat builder (Craig Marine) dropped me a note the other day to say that he was restoring the about boat. She would have to win the WW barn find prize 🙂 Her story goes like this – has be in a shed on a farm in Rotoma for the last ten odd years. Built in 1928, 24′ in length, appears to be to a USA Hacker Craft design or most likely copied, she is in fact not to dissimilar to Malolo.
It has been owned by Peter Davies and was his Fathers boat from near new. Details Alan has been told about her history: Built in Picton by Vic & Clarrie Olson? (Scandinavian or Swiss?). Built for a Mr Stocker then brought by Mr Davies in 1930, it was sold a while later and brought back again by Mr Davies once the wool price lifted and in 1950 an old, but still new, 1938 Osco marine flathead V8 went in it and is still there now. Alan thinks it was sold once again then found by Peter and brought back to Rotoma.

There is a Hacker Craft step pad fitted to her (the only reference to Hacker Craft) but this could easily have been a later addition. The plans are to rebuild the engine and try get a bit more than the supposed 90hp out of it. Apparently they didn’t get much speed out of it but looks like pretty small prop set up.

This will be a great project to follow – Alan is keen confirm / learn more about her past so if any woodys can help, please comment.

Now Alan’s not a man to run things up the flag pole, chatting on-line he says ” speaking of projects, should probably show you the Chris Craft we just finished” – totally blew we away – amazing project. I’ll run a story on her soon.

Update ex Alan Craig – Alan found the below under the fore-deck – D Jennings?

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