CYGNET – CLASSIC 1931 WOODEN LAUNCH
The 32’ classic wooden launch – CYGNET recently popped up on tme (thanks Ian McDonald). A Sam Ford design built in 1931, but not sure is also built be Sam Ford. As per most Marlborough Sounds craft she is very well spec’ed and was re-powered in 2006 with a new 53hp Yammer 4JH5E engine that gives her an 8 knot cruising speed.
Can we learn more about CYGNET (if thats her correct name) and where she has been most of her life.
TANDARRA – A Peek Down Below
The Lidgard built 42’ launch – TANDARRA has made several appearance on WW , links below, lots of chat so be sure to read the comments sections.
Today thanks to Ian McDonald and Alan Sexton we get to have an updated look at her.
Quick overview – 42’ x 12’5”, built from triple skin kauri (+f/glassed), currently powered by twin 300hp 6 cyl Ford Sabre engines.
With a build date of 1976 and those varnished coaming she sneaks into the spirit of tradition category. Her original owners were the Opperman brothers.
Sure to get a rise from the Lidgard fan club but its been commented that there is some Salthouse influence in her profile, she looks very similar to a Corsair 😉
WW Aug 2017 https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/08/30/tandarra/ WW Jan 2023 https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/01/19/tandarra-2/
ARTEMIS – A Peek Down Below
Todays woody is ARTEMIS, built by Orams in 1971 though some elements of her do look older than 1971 and some look newer than 1971.
Her specs ar 40’ x 11’3” x 2’11”, forward motion is via Perkins 120hp diesel engine.
Home has been Picton, Marlborough but the craft hs recently sold and will be heading north to the Bay of Islands, don’t they all these days 🙂
Keen to learn more about ARTEMIS’S past life and how and when she ended out a southern gal.
CLASSIC EX WORKBOAT – WAIRANGI – Then and Now
The 1933 Miller & Tunnsge built ex workboat – WAIRANGI has made several appearances on WW, links below.
Now franks to a social media story by Rakiura Herzhoff we get to see her in her early configuration. We also learnt that when launched she had twin masts and was powered by a Thornycroft engine.This was replaced c.1948/9 with a Gardner 6L3, which she may still have.
WW October 2014 https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/10/01/1934-millar-tunnage/
WW March 2016 https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/03/05/wairangi-3/
WW April 2017 https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/04/18/wairangi-4/
MYSTERY CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – 193O’s Photos – LADY VI
Earlier in the week thanks to Rosemary Wakeman we had the great story on the launch – ESME.
Rosemary also sent in several other photos from her uncles (Ernie Sisson) 1930’s photo album.
Two of them show a bridge-decker alongside a docked Clipper flying boat, location most likely Auckland.
Can we ID the launch. My guess is TASMAN, but I’m sure Nathan Herbert will have the answer 🙂
INPUT EX KEN RICKETTS – the launch is LADY VI – more here https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/04/14/mystery-launch-1404/
08–3-2025VINPUT EX OLAF WIIF – The photos of the flying boat are so cool. It is NC18602 (number 18) and named California Clipper, the very last 314 flying boat to be retired from service at Pan Am. One of only 12 made, it had clocked up over a million miles in service. It dates the photo as being taken between March 1939 when Pan Am took delivery of its first 314 and 1946 when California clipper retired.
CLASSIC WOODEN EX WORKBOAT – OCEAN STAR
Recently Graeme Shephard posted the above photo of OCEAN STAR on fb. Graeme owned the boat in 2001 >2006. She was built in 1942 as a fishing vessel in New Zealand. 16.8 metres LOA.
In the late 1940’s the Government bought her for duties around Auckland and fitted the bigger deck house.
Her engine when Graeme owned her was a 4/71 GM.
Graeme commented that he placed 2 tonnes of lead ingots in the bilges which made her a lot stiffer and easier crossing Cook Strait etc.
Graeme circumnavigated the North Island of NZ in 2006 and then sold her.
Back in May 2023 OCEAN STAR appeared on WW (link below) sporting a completely new house and residing in Tauranga, photo below. https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/05/10/ocean-star-a-floating-apartment/
She was 4sale at the time – did she sell?
PICTON AND CLASSIC BOAT CLUB
One of the highlights each month is getting a copy of ‘DEADWOOD’ the newsletter the Picton Clinker & Classic Boat Club, in my email inbox. Its edited / pulled together by Roysie, sorry I do not know the surname. Each issue is a reminder to me that classic wooden boating isn’t all about launch and yachts kept on marinas. There is as much or probably more fun messing around in small clinker craft.
In the latest issue Roysie reports on the clubs recent ‘Ngakuta Run’ on Saturday 15th. February . I’ll let Roysie tell the story –
“The day dawned fine & clear with light winds and nine boats arrived at the Ngakuta ramp including Ruru recently repaired by Dick. Unfortunately she stopped again on the trip and had to accept a tow from Riff Raff, Roy’s new boat, but came right and finished the run under her own steam.
It was a good turnout with 17 members on the water in 9 boats. The fleet motored from Ngakuta across the Sound to Umugnata Bay and along the northern shore to Bottle Bay, Houhou Point then back across to Iwirua Point and westward in and out of the bays back to Ngakuta.
The boats were retrieved and the barbecue set up in the shade of an oak tree. The weather was glorious and the setting perfect, we needed that shade from the sun which we’ve not really seen enough of this summer. Several club members arrived for the sausage sizzle and a very pleasant social occasion was enjoyed by all. “
CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – ESME
A recent email from Rosemary Wakeman is what WW is all about – connecting the dots. I have reproduced the email below (slight edit)
“Doing a major tidy-up of old family photos – that I presume my kids will throw out upon my demise.
I have photos (and letters ) of ESME, a launch my late Uncle Ernie Sisson owned ( part owned ? ) in the 1930’s. She was moored in Tauranga ( on a swing mooring I guess) I presume he sold her before he went to war in late December 1940. I think he managed the grocery store Self Help in Tauranga. He was killed in 1943, navigator on a Lancaster Bomber shot down over Germany 08-11-1943.
Two thoughts .. was Esme still afloat? – and would any museum or collector like the photos and letters mentioning her? “
The name ESME has appeared numerous times on WW but todays launch at 22’ is too small for the others . Also keen to learn that engine was in her, based on the back of the post card – the claim of 12-13 knots is impressive.
So woodys can we help Rosemary out.
INPUT EX HAROLD KIDD
Esme was owned by A. Hunter in 1930 but she’s a lot older than that. My pick is about 1904/5 with that rakish bow and “torpedo stern”. Ernie Sisson owned her in October 1939 when he modified her cabin top. He did a very good job as you can see. I have a photo of her on Charlie Millett’s slip at the same time as the bottom photo above. Some of the old Tauranga hands should have more information on her?
CLASSIC LAUNCH THETIS – A ROLLING RESTORATION – UPDATE
Last June we reported that the classic launch – THETIS had been relocated toAuckland after several seasons in the Bay of Islands – link below to that story. https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/06/23/classic-launch-thetis-back-home/
Fast forward to last week and I bumped into her new owner Norman Ramsy in my local coffee shop. Turns out after initially spending time at Westhaven marina, home is now across the harbour at Bayswater marina.. THETIS was built in 1955 by Lanes on the Tamaki River, Auckland. Built from single skin/fore and aft kauri planking, her beam is 13’ and she draws 4’. Her twin Greymarine 6 cyl. (1960) 120hp diesel engines were probably best described as a ticking time bomb, in fact I heard one of them ‘let go’ during the pre-purchase sea trial.
Turns out lots of activity has been happening on the boat and Norman sent in the above photos and commented that THETIS is an ongoing project with lots of work in progress.(can’t they all)
A brief summary of work completed to date includes –
• Engine rebuild by Kris – Marine and Industrial Diesels.
• New manifolds by Aliart – Christchurch.
• New Anchor from Grant Macduff – Ropes Chains and Anchors.
• New Mattresses custom.
• Transport and yard space/hard stand at Boat Boat Haulage
• Walk through Transom and Cabin Roof access for engine removal/refit by Terry – Boat Building and Ship Repair Auckland
I have always said that THETIS is a seriously smart looking craft and is a boat that looks fast even when at anchor, so its great to she her getting the TLC she deserves.
Input ex Russell Ward
“Brilliant that she’s keeping her original machinery: Raise a tot to the owner- long may he continue on this course.
A fine ship always, but she has Gray Diesels -four strokers, Ken. Not any kin to 6/71 “Dripstroit”, “Rocky Mountain Humming bird” “screaming demons” whatever you want to nickname them, although the first were built by Gray. The War stuffed all that and General Motors did the production by the million.
The 6/71s were designed by a very wise man -Boss Kettering- and with the war looming were to be made by General Motors. And they did by the millions. Some wise man told me they were designed by a smart man for less smart men to maintain. I’m not sure where Grays came into the process for the 6/71 -don’t think they were involved for long. My books on the subject are not with me.
Any thoughts, Cameron? You got two of ’em!”
Mystery Thames Wooden Launch
Earlier in the week WW was contacted by Patrick Fyers who sent in the above photo. Patrick commented that the boat was built by Wharepoa farmer / boatbuilder – Arthur John Innis. He built 3 kauri planked boats.sometime between 1917>1920.
In the photo we see her being drawn along Pollen St, Thames on skids by Clydesdale horse. The destination is the Curtis Wharf at Grahamstown.
The original photo was supplied by Dudley Troughton, Innis’s grandson..
Patrick obtained the photo from a friend whose great uncle built the launch (I assume thats A J Innis)
Note- the photo is vaguely familiar, may have appeared on WW before but I’m unable to find it)
YESTERDAYS QUIZ – No winner. The launches name is – ROYANA, she was designed and built by Woollcott in 1949. Powered by a Yanmar 3JH. Home is Stillwater, Auckland. People were all over the place re design / build – Shipbuilders, Hartley, Parris, Jackson, Frank Pelin and more 🙂
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