Category Archives: Launches

BEST NZ CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT OF THE YEAR -NGAIO

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4 months out and she was very thirsty

BEST NZ CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT OF THE YEAR – NGAIO

Hands down the winner of the best woody to make an appearance on WW in 2025 is Jan Barraclough’s , 1921 36’ Arch Logan built – NGAIO.

Yesterday she slipped back into the water at Milford Creek, Auckland after a 4+ month refit at the hands of master boat builder Paul Tingey .

Read / view the work-in-progress at these links.https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/11/15/classic-logan-launch-ngaio-heritage-refit-boat-yard-visit/ https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/10/08/heritage-refit-for-1921-logan-launch-ngaio/

Sadly her owner wasn’t there to see the event, but she will be reading WW today while sipping an Aperol  Spritz on the other side of the world 🙂

09-01-2026 UPDATE – It’s the little details that make all the difference. NGAIO’s wheel was just a tad too big, the boys at the Slipway Milford, dived into the treasure chest of old / good boating bits and refurbished a ‘new’ wheel – perfect ✓

It was a very busy morning at the Milford slipway – a total of 4 launches were re launched after getting some pre-xmas cruising TLC

The magnificent 48’ 1965 Lane Motor Boat Co. built  – AROHANUI

The L33 (Logan replica) – SEMELE 

And even a Pelin sneaks onto WW today – well it is xmas 😉

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – SUNBEAM FINDS A NEW HOME & THE WORK BEGINS

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – SUNBEAM FINDS A NEW HOME & THE WORK BEGINS

Back in June 2025 we draw WW readers attention to the 32’ classic wooden launch – SUNBEAM, built by Bailey & Lowe in 1901 and advised her then owner was seeking to find her next custodian. WW link to that story https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/06/15/classic-bailey-lowe-launch-needs-a-new-home/

Fast forward to earlier this week and WW was contacted by Garry Quayle who advised he had taken over custodianship on Sunbeam (3/10/2025). Garry sent in todays photos of the progress thus far. And even the tender is getting some TLC.

Garry commented that she is now moored in Portage and is much welcomed with interest by locals, Garry has also upgraded the solar system along with some overdue maintenance.

We understand she is a magnificent sea boat, Garry and crew got caught out in big swells on Big Bay when moving to Kenapuru Sound . There was white water across the bay but she handled it easy much better than her crew did 🙂

OMG – see below, sent in by one of the WW Hauraki Gulf spotters – how can his happen, who designs something like this and more importantly who buys it ………….

CLASSIC WOODEN RUN-ABOUTS

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CLASSIC WOODEN RUN-ABOUTS

I rotate my laptop screen saver image most days but for the last week one photo has remained there – its the classic wooden run-about – LADY KAY, pictured above.

Recently WW was contacted by Jeff Norris who sent some photos of his grandfathers boat – LADY KAY. Jeff’s GF bought the boat about 1953 off a gent named Eric Such. During this time the family had a bach at Kawa Kawa Bay and it was moored there , the bach was sold around 1970 and the boat was sold about 1971 to a man in Mt Albert, Auckland.

LADY KAY, named after Jeff’s grandmother, started life as a speedboat (photos 2,3,4) which Jeff’s GF turned into a cabin cruiser (top photo), powered by a Willys engine. In my opinion the conversion to cabin cruiser was very well done, very hard to get the proportions right and still look good.

Back then it was kept at KawaKawa Bay. Jeff commented that he spent his holidays fishing with his GF. 

Jeff also sent in the photo of the boat below that was owned by a good friend of his grandfathers, Jack Bradstreat, a farmer from Pukekohe he also had a batch there, The boat was powered by a Ford Consul engine.

Any woodys know what became of these craft.

MYSTERY 42’ CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH BUILT IN OTAGO

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MYSTERY 42’ CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH BUILT IN OTAGO

Todays classic wooden launch comes to us from the July 1960 issue of Sea Spray magazine via Ken Ricketts. The write up appeared is a popular magazine section titled ‘Gadabout’.

As learnt from the accompanying copy – the 42’ twin engined launch was built by a Mr. C. Maxwell and his sons – Ron and Barry. The article mentioned a Nov 1961launching date.

The launch had a 12’ beam and that sadly is all we know about her. It looks like someone has ‘borrowed’ the design of the cabin windows from the Lidgard yard, the 3 aft were a signature Lidgard look.

So woodys todays questions are

1. There is mention of there going to be a post launching story – did that happen

2. Do we know her name , designer and what became of the vessel

3. Who was ‘reporter’ that went by the handle – ‘Gadabout’

INPUT ex NATHAN HERBERT – Waiana/ Exclusive Lady, purported to have been a Lane but obviously incorrect. The windows do have the Lane Ma Cherie look to them, mind you.

A NEW CLASSIC BOAT IS LAUNCHED – MALOLO 

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https://videopress.com/v/HNJxOisX?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true
THIRD TIME LUCKY 🙂
PROUD DESIGNER – NICK PEAL

A NEW CLASSIC BOAT IS LAUNCHED – MALOLO 

Today woodys you are seeing the future of classic motor boating, MALOLO is best described as a salon style launch, in America they call them Picnic boats.

Having had the privilege of being at the launch last week and getting up close to MALOLO I can report the future looks outstanding. 

Some facts –

• MALOLO was designed by Nick Peal and built at Wayne Olsen’s Horizon Boats yard.

• She is appprox 35’ (10.6m) in length and has a beam of 10.5’ (3.2m).

• Forward motion is from a Yanmar 315hp diesel naturally aspirated engine.

Her owner went to great length to keep her as low tech as possible but there is no shortage of systems to enhance the on-the-water experience.

Her name MALOLO means ‘Rest & Relax’ in Samoan.

Below is a snap shot gallery from the Horizon Boats yard.

Once MALOLO has had all her sea trials and gets thru the xmas / ny period we will revisit for more details.

Now a shout for Wayne Olsen and Horizon Boats – if you like what you see today, Wayne is ready to build one for you.  

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH TE RAUPARAHA FACELIFT GOES ALL WRONG

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH TE RAUPARAHA FACELIFT GOES ALL WRONG

Yesterday WW was contacted by a reader in Hamilton who shared a link for a sales listing for the classic wooden 55’ launch – TE RAUPARAHA was built by Chas. Bailey and Sons Ltd in 1938 for a Harry Mills and back in May 2013 we heard from Pamela Hillyer, Harry Mills’ granddaughter, Pam shared a lot of detail and photos. We also had a great update, below, ex Harold Kidd.

“A true “Express Cruiser”, TE RAUPARAHA was the product of the late flowering of Chas. Bailey Jr’s genius, exemplified too by his design of the 94ft ketch NEW GOLDEN HIND for his old customer H.R. Jenkins (SHENANDOAH, 1929),which was built by Deeming Bros of Opua in 1939 and several outstanding sweet-lined contemporary fishing boats like KATOA, JOAN and MARGARET.TE RAUPARAHA was fitted with twin 110hp Buda diesels which were becoming very popular at the time, supplied by Seabrook Fowlds and fitted by Allely Bros. They were replaced with Graymarines after her extensive wartime patrol work in WW1, often well off the Northland coast. A motor launch to make the pulses race if ever there was one”

Back then Andrew Pollard advised she was for sale in Noumea, New Caledonian – then radio silence – until yesterday when she has popped up for sale in Queensland, Australia. OMG – why do people do this to a classic wooden boat – surely its cheaper to just buy a plastic one than turn such a fine craft into what we see today… words fail me.

CLASSIC COLLINGS & BELL WOODEN LAUNCH – MAITAI HAULED OUT ON WAIHEKE ISLAND

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CLASSIC COLLINGS & BELL WOODEN LAUNCH – MAITAI HAULED OUT ON WAIHEKE ISLAND

Earlier this week I was chatting online with the owner of MAITAI— the 30’ classic wooden launch built by Collings & Bell back in 1928.

MAITAI has featured on WW several times over the years — master link to past stories here: https://waitematawoodys.com/?s=Maitai&submit=Search

She’s recently been hauled out on Waiheke Island, her new home, for some tidy-up work after a few stern fasteners decided to call it quits. The owner was full of praise for a talented young boatbuilder based on Waiheke who took on the transom rebuild — great to hear skilled hands are still out there keeping these classics alive.

With the heavy lifting underway, the owners rolled up their sleeves and treated her underside to a well-deserved birthday.

As the black-and-white photo below (ex Nathan Herbert) shows, MAITAI has made it close to 100 years without suffering at the hands of the dreaded wood-butchers. Long may that continue.

PAIKEA – ONE OF OUR FASTEST CLASSIC WOODEN MOTORBOATS 

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PAIKEA – ONE OF OUR FASTEST CLASSIC WOODEN MOTORBOATS 

Last week during a visit to Gulf Harbour I spotted PAIKEA tucked away on one of the inner berths, looking very smart. This master link will take you to several stories that document her past + lots of photos https://waitematawoodys.com/?s=Paikea&submit=Search

In one of the stories we learnt from Harold Kidd that PAIKEA was built by Collings & Bell for A.H. Court and launched on 26th January 1921. She was fitted with a 120-150hp Model M Van Blerck 6 cylinder petrol engine (not a straight-eight Packard as is often said). PAIKEA had Chas. Collings’ “concave-convex” type of hard chine design which he made famous with his various FLEETWINGS and whale-chasers. Indeed she was a refinement of the FLEETWING whose image appears in the Collings & Bell section of WW.

PAIKEA was good for 20 knots and can still do it with her present big Iveco/Fiat, Harold commented that she goes like hell and stable with it.

I n recent years PAIKEA has been one of launches that line up for the Auckland anniversary day motorboat inner harbour drag race, in fact earlier this year (2025) she was 1st across the line on corrected (handicap) time. Will be interesting to see if she turns up in 2026 to defend her title.

Photo below from the 2025 race where we see PAIKEA unsuccessfully trying to catch the winner – MY GIRIL.

THE REFURBISHMENT OF CLASSIC COLIN WILD LAUNCH – TASMAN BEGINS

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Ready for re-launch
Back home at OBC

THE REFURBISHMENT OF CLASSIC COLIN WILD LAUNCH – TASMAN BEGINS

The classic 38′ wooden launch TASMAN, built/launched in 1929 by New Zealand foremost wooden boat builder – Colin Wild, has made numerous cameo appearance on WW as her past owners were attendees at most of the major classic boating events in and around the Waitemata Harbour. A few years ago ownership of TASMAN changed hands and her new owners are perfect custodians of this soon to be centenarian.They have committed to undertaking a rolling restoration that will see TASMAN celebrate her 100th birthday in 2029, looking better than the day she slid down the Wild slipway.
In owner, Stephen’s words – ” This is the first of a stepped plan of restoration for her centennial at Easter 2029. This first stage was completed by Marineskills at Half Moon Bay. The primary task was the removal of the original 1929 foredeck canvas to ply, glass and strengthen the foredeck.  

This required removal of all the furniture, toe rails, winch and sundry gear.  The 1960-period guard rails were replaced with a reduced rail around the work area forward.  

Old winch and gear chromed, salt water wash-down pump fitted and new spare-man provided. Toe rail teak restored and rebuilt. Sundry other works around ‘Tasman’ included restoration of period navigation lights in wheelhouse roof mounted boxes to reflect the originals.”

We look forward to future updates on the refurbishment and will keep the WW readers updated.

(Photo below dated Feb 2021 of TASMAN in Whakaatakalaka Bay aka OBC, Auckland by Nathan Herbert)

Feb 2021

1941- CLASSIC GAME BOAT BURNS TO THE WATERLINE

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1941- CLASSIC GAME BOAT BURNS TO THE WATERLINE

If I had run the headline ‘ Classic Launch VALHALLA Catches Fire’ Peter Busfield would have had a heart attach, so I toned it down 🙂

Todays photo was sent in by John Dawson and is ex the NZ Herald heritage collection.The image was tagged ‘March 1941 Otehei Bay, Bay of Islands. The 35’ fishing launch belonging to Mr L Blomfield VALHALLA destroyed by fire (burnt to the waterline)

The owner suffered burns and shock.
Do we know any more about this VALHALLA – builder, year built and was she rebuilt or scraped.

CANVAS CAPS – BLACK (white embroidered logo) – one size fits all – $42

COTTON T – SHIRTS  – DARK CHOCOLATE (white screen printed logo) – short sleeve only – – SIZES  > SML / MED / LRG / XL / 2XL – $39

Numbers are very limited so order now – just tell me what you want and I’ll confirm we can supply and send payment (+ postage) details. waitematawoodys@waitematawoodys