Category Archives: Launches

Jo Marli

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JO MARIL

The launch – Jo Marli made an appearance on WW back in Feb 2019, thanks to some photos taken by Nathan Herbert, of Jo Marli moored at/in Mahurangi, during the 2019 regatta. Link here to that story.https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/02/05/jo-marli-robert-brooke-mnzm/ She was looking a little un-loved at the time. Harold Kidd told us at that time, that the launch first appears in his records back in 1962 owned by R.R. Miller of 346 Dominion Road and he continues as owner for many years after that. She’s been on the Mahurangi for 10 years or so (in 2019).

Fast forward to mid week and I was at OBC and spotted Jo Marli on a marina berth looking very smart, maybe a change of owner? Snapped a photo thru the glass of her interior – equally smart. Well done to her current custodians. Do we know anymore about her?

17-05-2025 UPDATE – For a peek down below click hers https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/09/18/jo-marli-a-peek-down-below/

17-05-2025 UPDATE – Spotted hauled out at the Milford Cruising Club yard, mid May. Photo ex Jason Prew.

Earlier in the week I was watching Centaurus slide back into the water at Te Atatu Boating Club after her extensive refit and owner Angus Rogers mentioned he was on the hunt for a small winch for the dinghy davit. I dropped into The Slipway Milford* shed the next day and jackpot – hiding in a pile of sawdust were a few ‘old’ boat bits – thanks to the guys generosity I left with the winch below in my bag. A quick clean with WD40 and some steel wool and it was perfect. Mr Rogers was very happy. Beer can below for size comparison 🙂

*Now if any of you are wondering why I dropped into The Slipway Milford……….. I was driving down the northern motorway at 11.55am and the nostrils picked up a whiff of BBQ bacon, a quick exit at Northcote off ramp and bingo – Mr Prew was preparing his lunch – in the interests of healthy eating, I had to help out and lighten the load 🙂

What happened to Abalone (ex Manuwai ex Nissan)

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Russell, Bay of Islands – 1990s
Devonport, Auckland – 1990’s

What happened to Abalone (ex Manuwai ex Nissan)

Abalone was originally built for the New Zealand Army in 1943 and named Nissan. After WW2, the Tourist and Publicity Department obtained the boat in 1949 and she was placed into service initially on Lake Tarawera and later on Lake Rotomahana and eventually renamed Manuwai.

In  the late 1950’s the boat was sold to Ces Jack in Tauranga who undertook a four year rebuild. On relaunching the boat was renamed Abalone and became a deep-sea fishing launch, owned and operated by Ces Jack and later owned by Ian Clunie. She was relocated to Auckland, where during a violent Auckland storm in1983 she smashed on rocks in Hobson Bay. Repair work after the storm was undertaken by Nealy Craft – anyone know who that is or was? She was eventually repaired and placed back to work as a charter boat by Jim Insley.

Abalone was purchased by journalist Warren Berryman and his wife Helen Vause in 1987 and they used the boat for family excursions out around the Hauraki Gulf; as well as occasional fishing and dive charters. Every summer from 1987 until 2004, Abalone went north to the Bay of Islands and then often on to Whangaroa.

Abalone was sold after Berryman’s death in 2004.

Abalone is a fairly distinctive boat so hopefully someone recognises her and can help advise who purchased her in 2004 and where she is today.

Story and photos above ex Greg Philpott. 

INPUT ex Mark McLaughlin – About 10 years ago Abalone was on a private pole mooring on the Tamaki River, near the Panmure Bridge. She sank on her mooring. I don’t know if she was restored or scrapped after that but she was under water for quite a while IIRC. Photo below of the location of where she sank – nearest launch to the building.

14-09-2023 UPDATE ex Ray Morey –  photos below of Abalone from her re launch 1962. The view of her as original from NZTourist Corp guise is unusual. Note the black top (soot band) on the pipe exhaust.

Sick Of Getting Socks For Fathers Day

This year grab the reins and tell the family what you really want. Today is the un-offical launch of the new waitematawoodys burgee – a long time in the making but I picked the first batch up yesterday. I’ll do a longer story on them later but the quick over view is – 100% canvas, printed 2 sides with the Waitemata Woodys logo using old-school screen printing methods = long lasting. Size is 40cm x 30cm. Sorry about the bad mast photo, no wind yesterday -:) See flyer below – Burgees are $40, caps $38. P&P is $7 – Buy both and WW will pay the P&P. Email orders to waitematawoodys@gmail.com with your address and we will send them off and let you know payment details etc.

MANULELE

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MANULELE

While mooching around Half Moon Bay at the weekend I spotted the launch – Manulele, a newbie to me.

Can anyone tell us more about the vessel.

CLEVEDON WOODYS WEEKEND – DOCKSIDE SPOTS FILLING UP – RSVP TO AVOID MISSING OUT – September 30th > October 1st.

RSVP with boat name and approx. crew #’s to waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Yvonne – A Peek Down Below

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Yvonne – A Peek Down Below

The launch Yvonne was recently for sale , asking /start price was c.$37k, quite a jump from the $17k she was listed for back in 2017 – but as you will read below Yvonne had a rather large birthday.

Before we get into that some background – her builder is up for discussion – could be Lane Motor Boat Co. or Collings & Bell, then again as Harold Kidd commented in a previous WW story  – she could just as well have been built by any number of Auckland builders from, say, 1912 to 1924 and may even have started life as a flush-decker under a different name. Approximately 33’ in length, built from kauri single plank carvel construction in c.1924. Powered by a 85hp Nissan diesel engine.

During her current owners stewardship Yvonne has had all new electrics, LED lighting throughout, new gas system, new stove, new solar panels, and some interior TLC.  The Greg Lees boat yard at Sandspit did a lot of structural work that included a custom fabricated stainless steel keel “shoe” and restored kauri window framing.In my book the coolest item is a genuine Model T wheel – I have admired that piece of kit since I first saw Yvonne back in 2014.I understand she didn’t sell – can anyone confirm?
More photos and details in the June 2014 WW story –  https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/06/23/yvonne-2/

SPACE LIMITED – RSVP NOW – BOAT NAME & CREW #

email waitematawoodys@gmail.com

WAIMANA – Very Affordable Waterfront Living

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WAIMANA – Very Affordable Waterfront Living

Waimana had the best possible start in life – built at the Percy Vos yard in 1943 as a 51’ seine trawler for Sanford Fisheries (AK77). At one stage post launching she was set to be requisitioned by the US Army for war use in Noumea, New Caledonia,  but this cancelled. 

Built from single skin 1.5” kauri planks over double hardwood frames, she weighed approx. 35 tonnes.

Powered by a Gardner 6L3B diesel (not sure if original) .

Fast forward to the 1980’s and Waimana was converted to pleasure use and these days has a very homely fit-out. But still very well spec’ed for cruising.

Originally for sale for c.$110k, its a deceased estate sale and the new tme listing (thanks Ian McDonald) is $60k – that woodys is very low entry into a 6 >10 bed apartment.

SEA FEVER – A Peek Down Below

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SEA FEVER – A Peek Down Below

The 34’ sedan top classic launch – Sea Fever has the best of pedigrees having been designed and built by John Salthouse. When launched she was named Onetaunga.

Stepping aboard the design and build quality of the Salthouse yard is everywhere, and thanks to the last two owners Sea Fever has been a lucky boat.

Built in 1958 from kauri (carvel planked) her beam is 10’ and she draws 3’6”. Forward motion is via a 115hp Ford )Lees conversion) diesel engine, that gives her a top speed of 9 knots.

BONITA  – Only In The South + Boat Boot Sale

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BONITA  – Only In The South

Cameron Pollard sent in the top photo of – Bonita, seen here in the Marlborough Sounds c.1985. Bonita was built in 1923 by ER Lane in Picton, her specs are 36’ in length with a beam of 8’6”.

The second photo is from the 1960> period and the last from 2022 when she had just had a major birthday prior to selling.

There is a wonderful history of the vessel in the WW links below.

The History of Bonita
Bonita

UPDATE 30-08-2023 – Input ex Cameron Pollard. Photos of Bonita as launched and later pics from the 1960’s.

BOAT BOOT SALE – THE SLIPWAY MILFORD – SEPT 16 – 11am

Mystery Launch 23-08-23

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MYSTERY LAUNCH 23-08-23

Today we have another woody from Sue Rivington’s family album. Photo most likely taken by her grandfather – George Hyaulason.

Looks to be around 32’ in length and her hull design looks familiar – fingers crossed Nathan Herbert can ID the launch.

The ‘eye-brow’ on the forward edge of the cabin top is a perfect example of the difference they can make to the appearance of a launch – and even the davits are a good look – very salty both get my tick  🙂

INPUT ex Nathan Herbert – I’d like to say it’s Boucher’s boat, the Baby Lu, with altered windows (pre or post racing era I’m not sure). Furthermore, I’ll add that I think she may be the present/recent ‘Waratah’. https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/03/16/waratah-needs-a-new-home/

Waitemata Woodys Gear Update

Start saving your pennies – we have just ordered another run of the WW canvas caps – these ones are now the #1 selling WW crew gear.

And after years of hearing “where are the WW flags” we have pushed the green light on production – 100% canvas, printed both sides with the Waitemata Woodys logo (below) using old-school screen printing method (long lasting) and pennant shaped.

Ordering details soon – in time for Fathers Day 🙂

Mystery Launch At Gt. Barrier Island – 1963 – WESTWIND

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MYSTERY LAUNCH AT GT. BARRIER ISLAND – WESTWIND

Todays photo was spent in by Dave Stanaway and shows the Radio Hauraki ‘pirate ship’ – Tiri alongside the wharf at Fitzroy, Great Barrier Island. 

The photo is dated 1963 and todays question is can we ID the launch alongside Tiri. Dave commented that he recalls she was island based but the name eludes him.

UPDATE – As mentioned in the comments section, as pictured above Tiri wasn’t yet the Radio Hauraki ship. Dave advised his father ran the Tiri for Tiri Co-operative Shipping Co at the time of the photo. Ran from Auckland to Whangarei and Great Barrier.

Grant Schults ID’ed the launch alongside as Westwind, that serviced the local guesthouse on the island.

23-08-2023 INPUT ex Greg Philpott  – photos below of Westwind in the Whangarei Town Basic Marina.

Ronaki – Collings & Bell

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RONAKI – Collings & Bell

In my communications with Sue Rivington re Sundays story on the launch – Leone, we uncovered that her grandfather also owned the launch – Ronaki. There are several vessels with that name on WW, but this one last appeared on WW back in August 2015, the two photos below ex the team at Whangateau Traditional Boat Yard are from then when Ronaki was jn storage in Ruakaka, Northland.  At the time we learnt that she was built as a fast harbour launch by Collings & Bell for the Auckland Harbour Board in January 1913, a 38 footer powered by a big 55-75 hp H.C. Doman marine engine with a max of 14 knots.

The last photo above is of her, ex Ron Watton, during her sea trial. After many years of service with AHB she was sold to G Hyauiason  (Sue Rivington’s grandfather) who had her bridgedeckerised.

The RNZN took her over in 1942 for control service (at the boom, HDK thinks) but sold her in 1944 to J.A. Collins. Harold’s uncle – Lou Wilson, MD of Morris Black & Matheson bought her soon after that. The AHB bought her back subsequently and fitted a Leyland.

The photos above come to us ex Sue’s family album/s, Sue commented that the background in several of the photos is at Sandspit. They used to own the farm there above the Motor Camp and out down the point to Brick Bay and around to Kanuka Road. Sue’s father sold the farm to developers in 2015 – now a subdivision. There maybe more than one launch in todays photo gallery – I would appreciate your views on the below and anything else that you see-
1. Are the launches #746 and #1661 the same launch

2. Is #748 the ‘bridgedeckerised’ launch Harold refers to above

3. Is the dark hulled launch another launch or part of the evolution of Ronaki

Back in 2017 WW got two comments added to the 2015 story. A Graham Watt advised that he owned Ronaki from 1969 > 1971, when he purchased her she was moored off Little Bucklands Beach. Graham immediatly undertook repairs to the boat at Westhaven as she was very ‘run-down’. Back then a Perkins P6 powered hr. The second comment was from a gent named Grant advising that Ronaki was on the hard at Mangapai, Whangarei, Northland and work was underway to refit her. We haven’t heard anything since then so very keen to learn the status of Ronaki.

INPUT ex Nathan Herbert – Three boats shown: First one possibly Miss Aussie then progress photos of the single-sheer Ronaki being rebuilt into raised foredeck bridge-decker. Third and dark painted boat is the Iorana in original guise.