Category Archives: Launches

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – NOR WEST – A Peek Down Below

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – NOR WEST – A Peek Down Below

Back into 2016 the 33’ Lanes Motor Boat Co. built in 1951 launch – NOR WEST appeared on WW, at the time her new owner, Peter Crane, was looking for information on her past. Well WW delivered . Link here https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/02/20/nor-west-2/

Fast forward to earlier this yea and NOR WEST was back on the market, hopefully now sold.

As seen in the photos above over the last 9 years there has been plenty of TLC handed out and she is a very fine look classic wooden boat.

Quick over view – built from kauri, 9’ bean and draws 3’. Powered by a 100hp 6 cyl. Ford diesel that sees her cruise at 7.5 knots

RSVP TODAY FOR WOODYS CLASSIC RIVERHEAD TAVERN LUNCH CRUISE

email boat name & approx crew #’s to waitematawoodys@gmail.com

CLASSIC BAILEY & LOWE LAUNCH NEEDS A NEW HOME

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CLASSIC BAILEY & LOWE LAUNCH NEEDS A NEW HOME

Todays story is two things a look at the 1909 wooden launch SUNBEAM  and call from her owner Susan Insley asking for someone to step up and take over the custodianship of SUNBEAM.

Firstly some background – THE 32′ SUNBEAM was built in 1909 by Bailey & Lowe and constructed from kauri carvel planking.  Susan’s great grandfather, Harry Insley, was the police officer on Waiheke Island between 1908 and 1928, and used his launch SUNBEAM for work purposes making her the first Police craft in Auckland.. In the b/w press clipping dated 14th Nov 1992 we see SUNBEM lining up with the craft that later replaced her as Auckland Maritime Police vessels.

These days SUNBEAM is moored in the Marlborough Sounds and in good working order, but sadly in recent times just not getting the use she deserves / needs. So Susan has made the tough call to find a new owner and has commented to WW that if someone with the right amount of salt in their veins was to step up, the vessel could be a gift. If that person is you or you know someone – initially contact Susan at sueins@xtra.co.nz

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH MA CHERIE (ADI KUILA) LIVES ON

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH MA CHERIE (ADI KUILA) LIVES ON

The 53’ Lane built (1965) classic wooden launch – ADI KUILA first appeared on WW back in 2014. We didn’t learn a lot about her then but were told she spent time in Fiji in the 1980’s > 1990’s.

Then she popped up again in October 2016 named MA CHERIE and looking very smart – link here to that story https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/10/21/ma-cherie/

Then again in Jan 2023 we got a flash back to how she looked in her youth – link here  https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/10/21/ma-cherie/

Fast forward to early May 2025 and I’m contacted by the saviour of so many classic woodys – John Wright, to say they had stepped in and had patched her hull up and were relocating her to the Te Atatu Boating Club to do what John does so well e.g. save and refurbish the vessel. 

We look for to following this project.
Photo below from 2016, I understand she has gone backwards since then.

RSVP TODAY FOR WOODYS RIVERHEAD LAUNCH CRUISE waitematawoodys@gmail.com

CLASSIC SAM FORD LAUNCH – OSCAR – A Peek Down Below

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CLASSIC SAM FORD LAUNCH – OSCAR – A Peek Down Below

Todays post revisits the 34′ classic launch OSCAR, built by Sam Ford in 1970 and still powered by her original 165hp Perkins diesel engine, which delivers a top speed of 12 knots.

While OSCAR has been featured on waitematawoodys before—most notably in April 2024 (link below) —this update shares some new photos from below deck, thanks to a tme listing tip-off from Ian McDonald. https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/04/10/oscar-born-again/

CLASSIC LAUNCH RUAMANO – A JOURNEY GONE WRONG

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NZ Herald Front Page 02-01-2001
NZ Herald Inner Page 02-01-2001

CLASSIC LAUNCH RUAMANO – A JOURNEY GONE WRONG

Over the years there have been several mentions on WW of the loss of the 43’ Collings & Bell built launch – RUAMANO launched in 1925 at Freemans Bay, Auckland. 

Let us not pussy foot around – loss is the wrong word. At the time maritime authorities used stronger words e.g. ‘crew abandoned it’ / ‘questioned the need to abandon’ / ‘vessel was not in a life-threatening situation’ / ‘crew appeared to have simply had enough’ / ‘lack of experience may have been a factor’ / they bit off more than they could chew’. 

On New Years Day 2001 the NZ classic boating community lost one of its finest craft, and reading the reports it appears it did not need to have happened. 

Recently WW was contacted by Denis O’Callahan, past co-owner of the wonderful Colin Wild built woody – TASMAN. Denis commented that he had been working on preparing a summary of the logbooks from the TASMAN. Nine volumes from 26 December 1971 to 12 December 2020.

In the back of Volume 6, 24 October 1998 to 27 July 2002 Denis found taped in the clippings from the NZ Herald, dated 2 January 2001, the front page and an internal page telling the story of the loss of the RUAMANO.

In the TASMAN log, dated Tuesday 02-01-2001 while the launch was cruising the Mahurangi area a note was added to the log book that read “Newspaper from Warkworth reported loss of RUAMANO on fool hardy attempt to repeat 1925 circumnavigation of NZ (see clipping at end of log)” . The photos above are scans of the original NZ Herald press clippings ex the TASMAN log, given to Alan H at WW.

I encourage WW follower / readers to take the time to read the NZ Herald news stories and make your own decision on the sad event. As always you can enlarge the photos by clicking on them.

Masthead from the NZ Herald below (page too large for the scanner).

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE LAUNCH – VOLANTE

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WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE LAUNCH –  VOLANTE

Recently WW was contacted by Darren Spragg advising he had acquired the 40’ launch – VOLANTE, and was asking for help to learn the boats back story.

Darren commented that when purchased all he was told was that she was 40’ in length and probably designed and built by the John Lidgard yard c.1963.

Construction is triple diagonal kauri, that at a later date has been f/glassed.

Currently powered by twin 120hp Ford Lehman diesels.

I won’t comment on the top 2 metres other than to say – ’nothing a tungsten tipped chainsaw couldn’t fix’ 😉

Her stern has Tauranga as the home port so maybe a Bay of Plenty woody can enlighten us as to where she has been for the last 60 odd years.
Would love to see a as-launched photo.

RSVP FOR CLASSIC WOODYS RIVERHEAD LUNCH CRUISE – FRIDAY 20 – MATARIKI HOLIDAY waitematawoodys@gmail.com

LOOKING FOR INFO ON THE CLASSIC LAUNCH – WAKANUI 

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LOOKING FOR INFO ON THE CLASSIC LAUNCH – WAKANUI 

WW was recently contacted by Craig and Mary Mountjoy regarding the launch – WAKANUI.

Craig commented that she was launched in approx. 1969, having been built for Ed Schischka, who farmed at the mouth of the Puhoi River, on land that is now the upstream part of the Auckland Regional Reserve at Wenderholm. 

WAIANUI was kept on a swing mooring just outside of the family farmhouse, which is now known as the ‘Schischka Homestead’. The Schischka family mostly used her for day fishing expeditions, in between milkings.

Mary believes she was built in Greenhithe, which would possibly indicate Salthouse, but Lidgard has been remembered as another possibility.

The above photo, at Westhaven, Auckland may have been taken on launch day. In the photo she appears to be around 30’ in length.

I questioned Graig re the photo as it appears too perfect i.e.had it been re-touched, Craig assured me he had scanned the photo from the original 1969 print. 

Craig and Mary last saw her on a mooring in Opahi Bay, Mahurangi around the early 1990’s, and are very keen to find more information on her design, builder, any history and where WAKANUI is now. 

So woodys can we help out.

IMPORTANT EVENT UPDATE – Note: new date for Woody Boat Boot Sale – now August 02

CLASSIC SHIPBUILDERS WOODEN LAUNCH – MAJEIKA 

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CLASSIC SHIPBUILDERS WOODEN LAUNCH – MAJEIKA 

During the week I was visiting the OBC marine centre on Auckland’s Tamaki Drive scoping out an upcoming woody event and spotted the launch – MAJEIKA on a mooring in Whakatakata Bay. A quick WW search popped up that she appeared on WW back in May 2022, link below  https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/05/07/majeika/

As sometimes happens way to often at the same time Ian McDonald pointed out that she was also on tme.

So a quick summary of what we know – MAJEIKA is a 28’ Shipbuilders design, most likely a ‘kit’ boat, built c.1960, builder unknown. Triple skin kauri which will make for a very robust woody.

Forward motion is via a 100hp Nissan diesel engine. In the 2022 WW story the engine was said to be a LD28 rated at 88hp, and a top speed of 12 knots. Also the length was 26’ then – so it seems she has been eating a few pies.

With an asking price of $10k, we see another example of it being a buyers market at the moment.

PERCY VOS BUILT WOODEN LAUNCH – CLARE

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PERCY VOS BUILT WOODEN LAUNCH – CLARE

The launch CLARE fist appeared on WW back in May 2013, at the time we learnt nothing more about her, then in 2020 she popped up again and this time Baden Pascoe confirmed that she was built at the P Vos Ltd yard and still existed today (2020).

Sadly we still didn’t learn what had become of her so today we try again.

BOATS OF THE BAY – REVIEW 

Early in the week I was the recipient of a hot off the press copy of  Greg Philpott’s book – BOATS OF THE BAY. 

The cover tag line reads – ‘100 Years of The Ferries & Tourist Boats of the Bay of Islands’ and woodys that perfectly sums up the book. Roll in the odd game fishing boat and you have an encyclopaedia of craft that have plied the waters of the far north.

I loved the flyer that that said – ‘Literally A Nautical Encyclopaedia – Good For Settling Arguments (Or Starting them)’.

At 378 pages long it should come with a safety warning – it weighs approx. 1.5kg and reading when tired could result in injuries if dropped on your face 🙂

I have already used it twice to reference intel on a few woodys, so my copy will be a keeper – no loans 🙂

Greg has self published the book and retained the services of the hot shot classic boating art director – STEVE HORSLEY to produce the book so the visual presentation is right up there with the best.

The print run is limited and given its size, good value for the $75 price tag. (+P&P)

Secure a copy by contacting Greg direct at  gregphilpott@xtra.co.nz

CLASSIC CLINKER LAUNCH – WEST BAY @ RIWAKA INLET

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CLASSIC CLINKER LAUNCH – WEST BAY @ RIWAKA INLET

The ‘marina’ (I use the term loosely) at the Riwaka Wharf, located between Motueka & Kaiteriteri, Nelson is probably best called mud berths. Don’t get me wrong thats not a negative description – the area is very well maintained and visually engaging.

Back in March 2018 friend John Burland snaps some photos of the area, WW did a story and the lead photo was the wooden clinker launch – WEST BAY berthed next to ROYAL SAXON. 

Fast forward to yesterday which was a miserable wet day in Auckland and I was searching the WW files for a lost boating photo and I found a file tagged ‘Mud Berths – Riwaka Inlet’, it contained a collection of photos I had taken of the Riwaka Inlet on a trip down south.

Included were todays photos of WEST BAY ‘dried out’, she is a rather smart wee woody that must have a cool back story – so woodys can we learn more.

Results from Mondays poll on the hull colour of the launch – BONITA – blue the winner by a wide margin 🙂