Category Archives: Launches

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – NGARUNUI – A PEEK DOWN BELOW + NOW FOR SALE

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – NGARUNUI – A PEEK DOWN BELOW + NOW FOR SALE

Today’s featured classic wooden launch is the impressive 48’ NGARUNUI, designed and built by Jim Young and launched in 1959. With a generous 12’ beam and 6’6” headroom, she’s a big, comfortable girl – in fact, she sleeps nine.

Constructed in kauri, 1 1/4” carvel-planked, NGARUNUI carries all the hallmarks of a serious long-distance cruiser.

Power comes from a 200hp Doosan L136T, and she’s backed up by a Yanmar 20hp auxiliary driving its own shaft and prop. Combine that with what I’d call a new ‘sail-assist’ rig, and you’ve got one of the best “get me home” configurations you’ll find on a classic wooden launch.

Yes, she is for sale, and her spec sheet is both extensive and impressive. Most WW readers don’t need every last detail here, but rest assured – it’s all there: autohelm, radar, bow thruster, 1200L fuel, 800L water, and a long list of quality gear. Full details reserved for genuinely interested parties.

So, two options today:

  1. Buy NGARUNUI now and be cruising the gulf this Christmas / New Year.
  2. Walk away, knowing she’ll sit quietly in the back of your mind – with the very real risk that someone else snaps her up first.

The owner’s price expectation is market-realistic, and NGARUNUI represents exceptional value for a vessel of this calibre.

CLASSIC SOUTHERN WORKBOAT – RAWHITI

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CLASSIC SOUTHERN WORKBOAT – RAWHITI

Todays woody workboat comes to us from ’Timespanner’ via Ian McDonald. All WW knows is the boat is / was based at Stewart Island and her skipper was Fluff Leask.

Can me learn more about this very salty looking classic.

WW MERCHANDISE – IF YOU ARE THINKING OF ORDERING – DO IT NOW B4 STOCK RUNS OUT

CLASSIC COLIN WILD LAUNCH – LINDA – THE FULL CIRCLE

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CLASSIC COLIN WILD LAUNCH – LINDA – THE FULL CIRCLE

Back in 1959 the 1927 Colin Wild built 47’ launch LINDA relocated from her home waters , the Waitemata Harbour, to Whangarei, Northland. Her new owner was Reg Fisher.

In the April 1961 edition of Sea Spray magazine there was an article (as above) on the boats history and recent modifications and updates.

In later years she returned to Auckland and in the last 2 years has relocated North again to Kerikeri, – the full circle.

The Sea Spray article comes to us via Ken Ricketts.

Lots of WW stories and photos of LINDA at this master link https://waitematawoodys.com/?s=LINDA&submit=Search

WW MERCHANDISE – IF YOU ARE THINKING OF ORDERING – DO IT NOW B4 STOCK RUNS OUT

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH MONTEREY RE-LAUNCHED

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MONTEREY ex MY GIRL post launching

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH MONTEREY RE-LAUNCHED

A couple of weeks ago we reported on the work underway on the classic Lidgard built wooden launch MONTEREY at the Slipway Milford yard – link below https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/11/14/classic-lidgard-launch-monterey-gets-a-birthday/

On Friday MONTEREY slipped back into the water looking the best she has in the last 20 years, a tribute to her new owner and the skills of the craftspeople at the Slipway Milford yard.

Still a few projects to be finished off back on her marina, but today we celebrate the ‘homecoming’ of one of the fleets best looking classic wooden launches.

Lots of dockside chat regarding the grey anti-fouling and how it will look with the normal bits hanging off in a few months – time will tell 😉

We will follow up with an interior story in a few weeks.

(Photos ex owner, Jason Prew and Alan H)

WW MERCHANDISE – IF YOU ARE THINKING OF ORDERING – DO IT NOW B4 STOCK RUNS OUT

CLASSIC WOODEN CLINKER – GYPSY – Why Are the Good Ones Never Nearby

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CLASSIC WOODEN CLINKER – GYPSY – Why Are the Good Ones Never Nearby

Doing a tme deep dive over the weekend and up popped the 22’ clinker launch – GYPSY. Sure its a project given the recent sinking but at current bidding (4 bids) its $10 and its reached its reverse price.

This 1970 woody comes from the very impressive stable of Lionel Jefcoat, a master craftsman. Read about the man here  https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/03/12/lionel-jefcoat-boatbuilder-wood-craftsman/
The story is the boat sank on its mooring (not totally submerged) due to a skin fitting failure caused by bad weather .It is sound condition with only a small amount of rot around cabin.the motor was running normally before it sank and was washed down and flushed out within a day of haul out. The photos of GYPSY out of the water were taken after the sinking.

Motor is a 10hp Kelvin P2 diesel. Home is Lyttelton, Canterbury.
Someone one in the Picton Clinker and Classic Boat Club needs to buy her, a perfect additional to the fleet.If she was in Auckland, it would be sitting in my drive by now.Auction close 7pm Friday night.

WW MERCHANDISE – IF YOU ARE THINKING OF ORDERING – DO IT NOW B4 STOCK RUNS OUT

CLASSIC LAUNCH HITS THE ROCKS AT BROWNS ISLAND – SOS  – CAN WE SAVE SILVER SEA FROM THE CRUSHER

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2016 PHOTO BELOW

CLASSIC LAUNCH HITS THE ROCKS AT BROWNS ISLAND – SOS  – CAN WE SAVE SILVER SEA FROM THE CRUSHER

Back in 2016 we ran a story on the 36′ classic wooden launch – SILVER SEA, at the time the story generated a lot of chat and photos. Link below https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/01/19/silver-sea/

Yesterday afternoon WW was contacted by fellow classic boat owner Mark McLaughlin – details below –
“ I was down at RAYC this afternoon for my son’s Optimist sailing and found Silver Sea being towed in by the Harbourmaster. He told me she went onto rocks today at Brown’s Island and the keel got punched into the hull. She went down to the gunwales at the cockpit but they managed to keep her afloat long enough to get her into Okahu Bay. She was quickly pulled ashore to the old hardstand area (brutally!) and will stay there for 48hrs before disposal by the Harbourmaster unless someone wants to take her on. Sadly the owner is not insured and apparently this was to be his final trip in the boat before selling her. The Harbourmaster said it is unlikely the owner will have the resources or energy to fix her.”

Check out the video below – the haul-out was VERY agricultural……………….
So woodys anyone out they prepared to step up and take on saving SILVER SEA Anyone interested should contact the Harbourmasters Office.

WW MERCHANDISE – IF YOU ARE THINKING OF ORDERING – DO IT NOW B4 STOCK RUNS OUT

SONGBIRD – A SPIRIT OF TRADITION WOODY

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SONGBIRD – A SPIRIT OF TRADITION WOODY

It is pretty rare these days to see the launch of a new wooden boat so Bill Townson’s SONGBIRD gets to make an appearance on WW via the ’spirit of tradition’ umbrella.

Todays photos and comments (below) come to us from Hugh Gladwell.

“Bill Townsons new launch Songbird went overboard at the Warkworth Cement Works on Wednesday. A backyard designed and built wooden launch is a rarity these days. She is 3 skin kauri and Alaskan yellow cedar glassed inside and out with no stringers or ribs. Powered by a Yanmar 110. The standard of finish is impeccable. Bill is now 82 and has been building her with his wife Mona for the last 6 years. Mona explained that she didn’t actually work on the boat but supervised Bill throughout.”

WW MERCHANDISE – IF YOU ARE THINKING OF ORDERING – DO IT NOW – DOWN TO SINGLE DIGIT NUMBERS ON MOST T-SHIRT SIZES AND LESS THAN 12 CAPS IN STOCK 

1930’S CLASSICS HAULED OUT AT JUDGES BAY 

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1930’S CLASSICS HAULED OUT AT JUDGES BAY 

Todays photo pooped up on the time spanner fb and originated from the the Auckland heritage collection.

The caption reads – “Yachts on the shoreline at Judges Bay. Some of the known boats include: Royal Saxton, Royal Falcon, Lady Thelma and Kenya. The rigs have been removed so they could have got under Tamaki Drive to reach Judges Bay”. 1930’s NZ Herald image.

BOAT FIRE ON THE HAURAKI GULF – CAN WE ID THE VESSEL

News reports confirm a launch caught fire near Browns Island yesterday. Both crew on board we rescued.

Can anyone ID the vessel. It appears to be wooden.

MYSTERY COROMANDEL CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH

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MYSTERY COROMANDEL CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH

My spotter Ian McDonald sent in todays photo ex the Auckland heritage collection via fb.

The photo was tagged ‘A motorboat at an unidentified location on the Coromandel Peninsula’. Stapley Farmer, 1960’s.

And that woodys is all we know. Her appearance / finish has that workboat look. Keen to learn more about the vessel and whether she is still around.

JUST RELEASED – MAHURANGI CRUISING CLUB YEARBOOK 2026 – Another impressive edition from the hands of Steve Horsley – at $20 its the best buy this summer. Don’t wait hoping someone will buy you a copy for xmas – treat yourself – out next week – preorder your copy here srhorsley@gmail.com

NOW AVAIILABLE FROM BOAT BOOKS WESTHAVEN – IN STORE & ON LINE

CLASSIC WOODEN GAME BOAT MOANA SHOWING OFF

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CLASSIC WOODEN GAME BOAT MOANA SHOWING OFF

Recently woody John Dawson sent me the above b/w photo of a game boat in an unusual pose – I have never seen the days catch displayed as above. Skipper can’t have had much respect for the paint job.

A few minutes on the WW Search box gave me a match – the craft is the 1958 Lane Motor Boat Co. built 42’ launch – MOANA, as seen in the 2nd photo.

She first appeared on WW back in January 2014, link below, and there have been numerous updated to that story. Powered by a Gardner 6LX. https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/01/21/moana-2/

The boat looks very stable, given the weight hanging off the side – maybe there was more on the port side?.