Category Archives: Launches

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCHES – AWARIKI & CENTAURUS GETTING SOME TLC

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AWARIKI

16-05-2025 YARD UPDATE – work continues on AWARIKI, interior looking very sharp + the new varnished coamings are a game changer – love it.

LAUNCH DAY AWARIKI PHOTOS -below

CENTAURUS

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCHES – AWARIKI & CENTAURUS GETTING SOME TLC

Dropped into the Slipway Milford yard yesterday and very happy to see two woodys hauled out on the railway slips for some serious TLC.

We reported in mid Feb (link below) that the 32’ 1967 Owen Woolley built and designed launch – AWARIKI was in the process of losing her flybridge (✔️), well woodys the work continues, the team are currently refurbishing the interior. 
https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/02/19/classic-wooden-launch-awariki-gets-a-top-chop/

Alongside AWARIKI is the 42’ 1969 Bailey & Sons built launch – CENTAURUS, out for a JPPJ (Jason Prew paint job) that has turned into a back to bare wood effort. The starboard side has one coat on and already looks the bees knees. Owner Angus Rogers is onsite attacking the brightwork, so this old lady will be very regal when she relaunches.

Well done to both owners for investing in the upkeep of two of our finest classic wooden craft.

Bumped into a fried who is an antiques dealer and he showed me a recent find – the wording on the front of the gold medal / badge reads – Memorial Hewson Cup 1925, back – 14’ One Design Championship of Waitemata For Youths Under 21 – ‘Queen March’ – W. Rogers’. I bet W. Rogers had no idea the value of their medal in 2025.

INPUT ex ROBIN ELLIOTT – Queen March, sailed by Billy Rogers on that day, was owned by Eliot Davis, brother of Sir Ernest Davis, and named after Eliot Davis’ champion racehorse. The race was won on a resail because it was later revealed that the skipper of Joan, winner of the first race, was 2 days over the 21 years limit. Three medals were presented to each of the crew Billy Rogers, Doug Rogers and D. MacKay

GREAT BARRIER ISLAND WOODEN BOATS

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GREAT BARRIER ISLAND WOODEN BOATS

The above photos were sent in by Glen Martin from a recent trip. The boat of main interest was STAR DRIFT that we have been keeping an eye on for several years – still no activity of note but the small fly-bridge has gone west at some stage – we like that.

Anyone able to put a name to the boat in the last photo.

MYSTERY QUEENSTOWN WOODEN LAUNCH

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MYSTERY QUEENSTOWN WOODEN LAUNCH

Scrapping thru the WW archives I came across an email dated March 2020 from Peter Grant that appears to have slipped between the deck cracks.

We understand that the photos above were taken by Whites Aviation and later hand colourised. They were once (might still be) hanging on an office wall in Queenstown.
Peter commented that the location appeared to be Wakatipu and the vessels looks to be a double-ended ex-work boat. Anyone able to put a name to the vessel.

HDML KUPARAU – BROKEN INTO AT DARGAVILLE So keep your eyes and eyes open if anyone in the Dargaville area is trying to offload a GPS / Depth Sounder & Chart Plotter – call the police please. 

CLASSIC WOODEN PERCY VOS WORKBOAT – WAIMANA (AK77)

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CLASSIC WOODEN PERCY VOS WORKBOAT – WAIMANA (AK77)

Back in August 2023 the 51’ ex Seine trawler – WAIMANA popped up on tme and we did a story, then in Feb she was back on line again. This time with more photos including some from her past.

A quick overview – built at the Percy Los yard in Auckland in 1943 for Sanford Fisheries. Spec’s – 51’ x 14’ x 6’3” powered by a Gardner 6L3B 150hp, giving her a top speed of 10 knots at 900rpm.

Very well set up for a live-aboard.

CLASSIC 1919 WOODEN LAUNCH – ATATU 

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CLASSIC 1919 WOODEN LAUNCH – ATATU 

On Tuesday we ran a mystery launch story around an old b/w photo of the 1919 Bailey & Lowe built launch ATATU, given her rebirths over the years its not surprising tha no one was able to ID her, other than Nathan Herbert who supplied the photo to WW.

Fast forward to yesterday and we were contacted by owners of ATATU, Frank & Cynthia Stoks – Frank tells the story below – 

“ I never saw her as pictured in Tuesdays WW story as she was seriously changed several times since we took over, over 30 years ago and rebuilt her from the gunnels up. 

Had I been able to see the etching of her name in the skylights or the tufted name embossed carpets or the Atatu- labelled Royal Doulton crockery and teaspoons in the drawers- the poor resolution of the image didn’t allow this, I would have added these things to the porthole arrangement, canoe stern, cockpit canopy and twin masts to the list of things that made me strongly suspect it was her. 

She is in fins shape and daily use in Picton. Often photographed by tourists. She it looks different from her earlier presentation because of the conversion to a Cook Strait fishing boat in 1947, and subsequent fishing boat changes over the years – plus we didn’t have the extensive history and photos upon embarking on our recovery of Atatu that we now have. Current engine is a CAT D330B. Installed in 1967 to replace a Leyland. Still going sweetly.  “

Photo below from Tuesdays mystery launch story

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – KATOA – Flash Back

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Photo ex WW files – 1950’s

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – KATOA – Flash Back

Recently WW was sent the above photos by John Bottomley, who commented that his grandparents and recently passed father once owned the 1911 built KATOA in the Taupo area. 

The family spent many holidays on her trout fishing and enjoying exploring bays and beaches of the lake.

John enquired about learning more about her, from construction type , designer, previous owners and where she is now and who is looking after her. Well some days the WW back library just rocks. I was able to suggest that John do a search in the WW search box and view the numerous past stories on KATOA that have appeared over the years. Do the same if you want to read about her past life.

Numerous woodys had sent in photos of KATOA docked at Nelson marina looking very unloved (top photo below), then in Nov 2022 we received the photos below of her post a serious dose of TLC.

26-03-25 INPUT EX OWNER – ANNIE BRYCE – Photos below from Havelock marina of KATOA and her ongoing makeover. She was built in Auckland by Collings & Bell, worked on the harbour. We have a copy of an article from the local Picton newspaper of her adventures in the Sounds. Plus a fifty year old log book some one dropped off for us at the Nelson marina before we moved her to Havelock marina. 

Annie has promised to send in more intel on KOTOA, so updates soon.

27-03-2025 UPDATE below ex owner – Annie. Photo of KATOA on the move Nelson marina 2023 and video of her arriving at Havelock marina August 2023. + copy of newspaper article circa 1960-1970s.Annie also commented – ” we are still doing work on her after buying her in 2021 but she is not far away from being fit for purpose just a bit more paint inside some wood repairs and a new fish finder then it’s up the Sounds. She is a sound old boat we where lucky we found her timing wise any longer with no love she would of been in trouble, we have a lovely vintage skylight to be put in mid saloon. Will send more pictures when that is done, I am rather pleased with her new color scheme of the cream and duck egg. Blue I wanted something softer than the colours we threw on in Nelson when we first bought her to get her watertight,

YESTERDAYS MYSTERY LAUNCH QUIZ – NO WINNER –  Lots of attempts to ID her with RAIONA and JOAN being the most popular but the vessel is the Bailey & Lowe 1919 launch -ATATU – link below her to her July 2013 WW story.  https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/07/12/atatu/  And another in May 2013 https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/05/15/atatv-anyone-know-more-about-this-lovely-canoe-stern-launch/

MYSTERY WOODEN LAUNCH 25-03-25

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MYSTERY WOODEN LAUNCH 25-03-25

Long overdue  a mystery launch competition – the above photo comes to us from the Auckland Libraries heritage collection via Nathan Herbert.

Can we ID the vessel – first correct answer, received via email after 8am today, WINS a WW Burgee. 

Answer to waitematawoodys@gmail.com

LANAI – A Peek Down Below

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OPUA July 2025

LANAI – A Peek Down Below

Todays woody – LANAI was built in 1949 by Lanes. Carvel kauri construction. 

She has made several appearances on WW, links below. Its nice to see that her current owner has given her a hair cut and the fly bridge has gone.

There is lots of chat and intel in the past posts but a quick overview below.

32’ x 10’6” x 2’9”,  powered by twin Thornycroft 54hp engines, that sees her cruise at a comfortable 7.5 knots, max 10 knots. WW July 2014  https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/07/04/lanai/

WW Jan 2022  https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/01/05/lanai-2/

2016 Photo below

(thanks to Ian McDonald for the heads up)

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – MANDALAY

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – MANDALAY

Todays woody the 23’ MANDALAY just ticks so many boxes – Its built of full length kauri carvel planks in 1932 – Kauri backbone – copper fastened on steam bent ribs – it has a modern engine >Yammer 3GMD 23 hp – 4 berths – standing headroom in the wheelhouse – easily driven by an auxiliary outboard.
AND – the real bonus – it comes with a purpose built legal road trailer that allows her to be easily taken ashore for routine upkeep and changing cruising location.

With todays spiralling marina costs these smaller, transportable woodys will be the future, or at least what keeps a lot of people in the classic wooden boating game.

Thanks to Ian McDonald for the tme heads up. She has appeared on WW before where we learnt from Harold Kidd that she was built by Ralph Shepherd in Auckland. – link below https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/11/13/mandalay-2/

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – SILVERY MAIN + A Peek Down Below

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – SILVERY MAIN + A Peek Down Below

Todays woody recently popped up on social media, it looks familiar but I can’t put a name to her.

All we learnt was that she is approx. 34’5” in length and powered by a 150hp Ford D-series engine, that gets her along at 8 knots.

A lot of creative license with the wide-angle lens interior photos, makes her look huge 😉

Keen to learn more about the vessel.

21-03-2025 Update – the boats named SILVERY MAIN – details in the link below to Oct 2015 WW story https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/10/28/silvery-main/