Category Archives: Launches

PHYLLIS M > WAINUNU > PHYLLIS M

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PHYLLIS M > WAINUNU > PHYLLIS M

Back in 2016 the launch Phyllis M popped up on WW and was harshly listed as a finalist in the Husqvana Chainsaws Boat of the Year Awards. She popped up again in 2020 looking very smart after receiving a ‘top chop’. From these stories we learnt from Harold Kidd that she was built by Fred Mann in 1919 and named Phyllis M, when sold in 1953 her new owner, Clive Power, who renamed her Wainunu, and then later changed back by another owner to PM. Search either name in the WW search box for more details and photos.

Fast forward to yesterday and WW was contacted by Vic McDonald, Vic and partner purchased Wainunu in 1995 from Mark Power, Mark is the nephew of Clive Power. The McDonald’s owned her until August 2005. Mark Power and family restored and refurbished the craft after she had been stolen and scuttled in Big Muddy Bay, Waiheke Island.

In the photo above Phyllis M / Wainunu is seen during the McDonld’s ownership period. Vic commented on the original butterfly wing hatches, brass portholes and 2 masts with roller furling sails. The Lister engine had a dry exhaust from the top of the forward mast.

The craft has had a very interesting and colourful history, a lot of which was covered in a Jan 1995 Boating NZ article – refer below (click on photo to enlarge)
Also below a very early photo.

QUEST – Heads Home 

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QUEST – Heads Home 

WW got alerted last week that the Roger Carey built double-ender – Quest was heading back to Picton after my time in the winterless north.  Sad for the northland fleet, but good news for the southern woodys.

Now Quest has been well documented on WW (use the WW search box) but we have never really got to have a good look aboard. Today thanks to the camera of Dean Wright we see Quest in all her glory.

The short story is – built 1959 as Roger Carey’s private boat, later converted to a work boat, then converted back to pleasure. She sat on the hardstand in Picton for a number of years and then came north, where she was given a major refit. Specs – 33’ x 9’9” x 4’6” and powered by a Gardner 5LW. A lot of boat for 33’ and in my eyes her new owners bought very well.

Nows The Time To Order WW Kit For Xmas – click link for details https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/11/11/58095/

Can We Put A Name ToThis Classic Launch – ALARA

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Can We Put A Name ToThis Classic Launch – ALARA

Todays woody recently popped up on tme (thanks Ian McDonald) and other than that she is 28’ long and powered by a 150hp Diesel engine, the other info supplied was a tad light e.g. ‘classic lovely wooden boat with electric winch, toilet, stove.

Home is Birkenhead, Auckland.

Possibly named Alara

PETER JOHN + 2024 Classic Woody Event Dates

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PETER JOHN + 2024 Classic Woody Event Dates

Todays woody is the game fishing launch – Peter John and the photo is tagged – Paihi, Bay of Islands and comes to us from fb via K Reckitts.

And that is all we know – so fingers crossed one of the B.O.I readers will be able to throw some light on the boat and confirm the location.

LOTS OF CLASSIC BOATING ACTION IN THE NEW YEAR – CIRCLE THESE DATES ON THE CALENDAR – More Details Closer To The Events

• Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade (Nth Is.)  – 4 February 2024

• New Zealand Antique & Classic Boat Show (Sth Is.)    – 2 >3 March 2024

• Auckland Wooden Boat Show                                      – 1> 3 March 2024

As always the winner in terms of promotional poster is the NZ Antique & Classic Boat Show – always an amazing design 

Ozone

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OZONE

The launch Ozone was built by Percy McIntosh in Whangarei for Harold Vipond Silverdale for the Wade River <> Auckland trade (thank you Harold Kidd – WW story link below)).

Then in the early 1920’s Ozone was taken to the Bay Of Islands for the big game fishing trade which as just starting. Then we have a big info hole until she popped up in the late 1980’s in the Mahurangi Harbour, where she is today, as a fishing / pleasure boat.

What we know about her from her recent tme showing (thanks Ian McDonald) – built c.1914, 32’ in length, 8’6” beam and powered by a Ford 90hp engine.

Keen to learn more about the missing years. Would be nice to see her return to a configeration closer to her early days – photo below

WW 2016 story link – https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/07/29/ozone/

UPDATE 25-11-23 photo below sent in by Linus Fleming.

Looking For A Project – Venture > Regardette

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Looking For A Project – Venture > Regardette

The woody market currently seems to be very crowded with project boats that need finishing / saving, most have a price tag best describe by the somewhat famous line from the 1997 Australian movie The Castle  – “Tell Him He’s Dreaming’. Well todays woody isn’t a dream, its good value at $500 ono.

Now there’s no motor but the tme story (thanks Ian McDonald) says there is one available for $3k but given its a Volvo 130hp to match the stern drive unit in the boat, you would probably be best to ditch both and start again 🙂

The launch is approx. 30’ and currently in the Taupo area and the trailer isn’t included in the price.

It stated that previously it was an icon of Lake Taupo so fingers crossed the Drake brothers can jump in with some more details.:-)

INPUT ex PAUL DRAKE – This is REGARDETTE, formerly VENTURE, understood to be ex-Airforce. She has been at Taupo since the early 50’s I would say, or even earlier – possibly arriving soon after the finish of WW2. She had a Chrysler Crown which now lives in brother Michael’s shed. The Crown gearbox is now firmly bolted to the back of ROMANCE’s Chrysler Ace, where it is doing excellent service. Little else is known.

TE ANAU Marina Photo Bomb

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TE ANAU MARINA. –  Photo Bomb

Todays gallery of woody craft comes to us from Jason Prew’s iPhone as he continues his 4×4 adventure. The venue is the Te Anau marina, on the shores of Lake TeAnau at the almost bottom of the South Island. Te Anau is the gateway to the Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound.

Spotted a couple of the L33 f/glass replicas , there always seems to be one where ever you look – nice craft, years ahead of the market.

At first glance you would have to assume the local chandlery doesn’t sell a lot of varnish 🙂

Can’t be too pleasant for the Chad Thompson organised NZ Classic Yacht Association classics taking part in the 3 day Spring Rally around the outer Gulf this weekend – thanks to Simon Cooper for sending in the photo below of the entire fleet just after the start off North Head on Friday morning.

SPRAT – Spirit Of Tradition + Orakei Hardstand Good News

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SPRAT – Spirit Of Tradition + Orakei Hardstand Good News

During one of my recent visits to The Slipway Milford I was intrigued to see a recent addition to the work schedule – the sprit of tradition 28′ launch – Sprat, designed by David Badham and built in 2008 bt Peter McLea in Kerikeri, Northland. Sprit’shull is double diagonal kaikatia with a thick coat of ‘paint’ (aka f/glass). The cabin structure is foam core composite with glass.

Sprat is in for a re-power and and tart up (my words for a varnish job) – I understand that in her next life she will be a fast commuter / day boat for a Hauraki Gulf island residence.

It would be nice to see more craft like Sprat being built, modern with a slant to the past. The Salthouse yard were there with their Nick Peal designed 33′ weekenders – link below

Is This The Future Of Woody Boating?

VERY GOOD NEWS – refer below – ex summary > the hardstand was thrown a lifeline. Here’s what was passed at the Orakei Local Board meeting

a)         approve The Landing concept plan refresh as presented in Attachment A subject to two amendments to the plan that would reduce the planned passive green space area as described in d)i. and d)ii. below and outlined in Attachment E:

i)          subject to commercial viability, retain approximately 50 per cent of the 2022 managed hardstand area (about 2,750 square metres, including the washdown pad and associated existing filtration system) to establish a smaller, flexible-use site for a short-stay haul-out facility (based on the presentation in Attachment E from the Young 88 Owners’ Association) to be used from May to December each year and the site being cleared and available for activations and major events from January to April, contingent on the approved operator providing the necessary infrastructure and a commensurate commercial return to the Ōrākei Local Board and operating to the highest industry standards in respect of water and air quality management

ii)         if feasible, retain and utilise the existing filtration infrastructure and associated washdown pad to enable a cost-recovery wash-down facility for small recreational boat/water-craft users as they exit the boat ramp and sea-access ramp areas

iii)        further to d)i request staff to undertake an expression of interest and other enabling processes to facilitate the establishment of a smaller flexible-use site for a short-stay haul-out facility as soon as possible with a view to commercial arrangements being in place from 1 July 2024, and to keep the local board informed of progress

b)         request staff to report back before 30 June 2024 outlining an updated amended final plan incorporating d)ii., and, if commercially feasible, with a return to the Ōrākei Local Board incorporating  d)i. to enable the local board’s decision making on the final plan configuration

NAUTILUS – On The Move

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NAUTILUS – On The Move

 Todays woody is a wee bit of a mystery, while the Nautilus name has graced numerous classic launch sterns, this one appears to have disappeared off the radar.

In the photo above we see the 34’ Nautilus being transported on a lorry from Auckland to Onehunga for loading onto the coastal vessel Ronaki. The destination was Raglan, where her new owner lived. The photo is dated 24 July 1933.

So woodys can we learn more – designer / builder and what became of this Nautilus.

(Photo ex NZ Herald 25/07/1933 and comes to WW via K Ricketts, ex fb)

When Comes To Docking – There Is Always Someone Worse Than You

Photo below ex Bayswater Marina, Auckland………… remember woodys, it always pays to give way to plastic boat owners.

Fantasia

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FANTASIA 

Earlier in the week I was out east and called into Leader Boats on the Panmure River. Dave Patterson and his team are currently breathing newline into a launch named – Fantasia, previously she was ‘berthed’ near-by.

Fantasia started life as a Crestacraft design and was built by Harry Biddle in a shed in Saleyard Rd, Otahuhu c.1968.

She has had several face lifts over the years and at time been a little un-loved. Now is getting what I’d describe as a sport fisher look, check out the new sheer line – close your eyes and think Oliver & Gilpin. The boat was re-engined in 1978, with what I’m not sure – much to K Ricketts disgust, I’m never that interested in the engines.

Her owner commented to me that he only came in for a new duckboard and paint job 🙂 I said to Dave that he could always get a job at McDonalds i.e. he’s the champion of companion selling – “do you want fries with that” 🙂

Still very much a work in process but you can see from the photos what she will look like.

HAROLD KIDD INPUT – According to the contemporary APYMBA records FANTASIA was built in 1963 By B. Everett of 51 Kiwi Esplanade Mangere. No mention of a designer. Make of that what you will. Did Everett simply pay for her to be built? That’s not the normal way APYMBA recorded information. Did he finish off a hull perhaps?