Category Archives: Military

150 YEARS OF NZ SHIPBUILDING – Reference Guilde

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150 YEARS OF NZ SHIPBUILDING – Reference Guide

Released in 2012 as a compact disc (CD), by Miles Hughes and covering the period 1795 > 1945, this booklet is of epic proportions – topping out at 837 pages.  For easy of reading in todays digital world the ‘book’ is below in PDF format.

The publication contains more than 1,200 NZ shipbuilders, shipwrights and boatbuilders and includes their biographies and the names, specs and first owners of over 5,600 craft.

150 Years of New Zealand Shipbuilding_260414_080355Download


HEADS UP: WW can not vouch for the accuracy of the content and when reviewing the list of contributors , several stood out as ‘being fond of interviewing their typewriter’ i.e. they make up what they either do not know or are unsure of. So woodys best treat it as a guide 😉

WW would be interested in feed back on this guide – maybe chose a designer/builder well known to you and review the content. 

As an example below is the listing on my boat RAINDANCE, some of the content is correct and some unknown or speculation that I have been told over the last 18 years of ownership, but it is very close her provenance.

So the question of the day – is this an amazing reference tool or to use that old school english saying ‘A Load Of Pants’ ?

UPDATE – Still available in print version at Boat Books in Westhaven, Auckland.

INSIDE THE CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH WIRIHANA – What Powers Her

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INSIDE THE CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH WIRIHANA – What Powers Her

In the New Zealand classic wooden boating  world there is one designer / builder whose name that no matter who you speak to, is in their top three craftsmen – and that gent is Colin Wild. A quick search of his name in the WW Search Panel will result in a visual show case of NZ’s most striking classic craft.

One of Wild’s finest builds is the 1933 launch – WIRIHANA, a woody that has featured numerous times on WW in the last 10 years. Where ever she goes, I get sent photos from people seduced by her looks.

Aside from her wow factor, WIRIHANA is rather unique in that she is still owned by the third generation of the original owners – the Gould family. The family have had the wisdom to engage retired master boatbuilding icon Chris McMullen to maintain, skipper and use WIRIHANA for 18+ years. Today thanks to Natasha Gould, Chris McMullen and Ken Ricketts we get to uncover a side of WIRIHANA’s past not covered on WW previously – the engine room.

Her original engine was a slow running 4 cyl Kelvin with no reduction gear and  a petrol start. This engine also had a ‘day diesel tank’ fitted to the engine room wall with a gravity feed to the engine with the main diesel tanks aft, from which diesel had to be pumped daily, into the day tank, manually.

Chris McMullen has commented that all the  original associated equipment and day tank, associated with the Kelvin, is still in her today, although not in use, and has the Kelvin name on it.  

As covered on WW previously WIRIHANA was commandeered by the NZ Navy during WWII and when returned to Jack Gould (Natasha Gould’s grandfather) at the end of the war, Jack insisted that the NZ Navy replace the engine, because of the rigours of naval service.  Another reason for the replacement shared by Chris McMullen is probably the fact that reverse gear on the Kelvin had to be inconveniently operated by crew in the engine room. 

End result was the NZ Navy fitted a 6/71 165HP GM Detroit 2 stroke diesel, that had a hydraulic gear box that could be operated by cable. WIRIHANA retained this engine for a great many years and was eventually replaced in the early 2000’s by Rusty Gould (Jack Gould’s son), with a 180hp artificially aspirated 6 cyl. Scania diesel, which she still has today.  

One unusual feature of WIRIHANA’s engine room is the absence of an engine box / sound installation – Chris McMullen told me once , you get used to the noise and its a perfect place for drying towels 🙂

(photo credit – Natasha Gould, Dean Wright, Alan H)

MYSTERY CLASSIC LAUNCH – CAN WE ID

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MYSTERY CLASSIC LAUNCH – CAN WE ID

Earlier in the week I was sent the photo above with a very short note – “Found an old photo. Not sure of the boats name but if anyone wants the picture they can have it.”

So woodys can we ID the craft and hopeful learn where she is today and then we can offer the photo to the current owner.

MAHURANGI REGATTA – CANCELLED

A LEFT FEILD QUESTION

WW was contacted by the owner of a vessel named WATERHORSE – message below.

“I was wondering if someone can give me information on a boat I bought.  It was built around 2006 for the movie ‘Waterhorse” for Weta Workshop designed by Bruce Askew.                                 It was the PT boat during the later part of the movie. It is a glass over ply construction 32 feet long.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.”

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – NAUTILUS 

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – NAUTILUS 

Todays woody story is based on a note received from Stuart Junge, an ex classic yachtie who previously owned the 26’ Bailey Jnr. built classic yacht – LEXIA.

These days Stuart is a volunteer at Auckland maritime museum and along with several others skippers the 1913 classic launch – NAUTILUS  that operates out of the museum. 

Stuart has some concerns about the (his words) ’tales told of the vessel’. 

Now NAUTILUS has made many appearances and WW generated debate around her history. I have included below a past comment from marine historian Harold Kidd, who is the fountain of knowledge in your wooden boating community. My rule is unless there is rock solid proof of an opposing view – HDK is the single source of truth 🙂 

I have published Stuarts questions below – can we shed some light on her past and let Stuart sleep easier at night. 

  • • What engine was she originally fitted with? 
  • • Was she steered from the cockpit prior to the high cabin being installed?
  • • Why was she lengthened, and by whom?
  • • What was the period of service on the Diamond Harbour run?
  • • When and why was the cabin deck-head raised?
  • • I am led to believe she never carried wounded soldiers, only hospital ship staff. True or false?

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 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

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CLASSIC LAUNCH – GUNNER – A Peek Down Below

Back in Dec 2023 we ran a story on the  1940 Erine Lane built 43’ launch GUNNER, where we saw her dockside. Link here https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/12/28/mv-gunner-update/

Today we get a peek down below. She is a solid old girl, 1-1/4” kauri carvel planked and powered by a 6 cyl. 100hp Ford Lees D series that give her a cruise speed of 7 knots. As Ian McDonald commented “crying out for a Gardner” 🙂

GUNNER was originally intended for work and fishing in the Marlborough Sounds. However, she was requisitioned by the Crown during wartime and transported to the Devonport Naval Base in Auckland for final fitting out. After the war, Gunner was sold and began commercial fishing out of Leigh Harbour. During this time, she also operated a mail run to Great Barrier Island in the Hauraki Gulf. Around 1957, Gunner changed hands again and continued her commercial fishing career from Port Ohope. In 1973, she underwent a 3-year conversion from a working vessel into a pleasure craft. This transformation included extending the wheelhouse and adding an aft cabin.

Each to their own but she appeals to me, a very comfortable boat that could easily do laps on NZ.

WOODY WHANGAREI HOUSEBOAT

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WOODY WHANGAREI HOUSEBOAT

The above painting of todays woody comes to us from Barb Hudson via the NZ cars, boats, motorcycles fb page and is captioned ‘Hone Houseboat Whangarei’.

The question for woodys is “did the boat actual exist or someones creative freehand”.  If it is or was an actual boat do we know anything about the vessel.

UPDATES

Greg Philpott sent in the b/w press clipping below , taken form the ’Northland Holiday – 20 March 1978. The HONE was built in WW1 as a freight carrier servicing war ships. She was retired c.1948.

Paul Shaw sent in the colour photo that he found posted by David/Janet Matthews on “Whangarei Way Back When” fb of the same houseboats near Kissing Point, Whangarei. And commented that you couldn’t miss them anytime you drove between the city centre & Onerahi.

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – AIRANA (ROSEMARY)

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – AIRANA (ROSEMARY)

Todays woody AIRANA was built in Balena Bay Wellinton by car franchise owner Noel Manthel in 1934. AIRANA is a lightly built craft of British design, Sterling her owner Bruce Campbell believes. There were apparently about 50 built in the UK.She was originally named’ Rosemary’.

AIRANA is essentially built for the Thames Estuary and connecting canals, and consequently is quite narrow;-under 2 meters with a shallow draft of 2ft 9inches, and is 30 feet in length. Alfred  Hitchcock apparently was taken fishing in Wellinton harbour years ago and AIRANA supposedly searched for submarines in the harbour during the war with a Bren gun on the foredeck.

Bruce purchased her almost 20 years ago, and gave her a complete birthday at Wellington Boatbuilders Gracefield, Lower Hutt 17 years ago. Home is a mooring in Ruakaka  Bay, Marlborough Sounds. Forward motion is via a reconditioned 85hp diesel Ford Lees Marine (ex Moon Engines), boat speed  is 7 knots.

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – GLENARAY

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – GLENARAY

The 39’ 1942 Shipbuilders built launch – GLENARAY has appeared twice on WW but more times on tme – 2018 / 2021 / 2023 / 2025. 

Links below to the WW stories:

WW May 2018 https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/05/01/glenaray/

WW Aug 2021 https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/08/01/glenaray-2/

Compared to the 2018 photos her recent appearance on tme shows an interior fit out that has ‘drifted away’ from the tradition configuration. From what we can see and at the asking price she may be a bargain + with her power set uo,  might also suit a buyer looking for a live-aboard.

Forward motion is via a 180hp 6cyl. Ford diesel. 

We know she was built for WWII inner harbour mine patrol use, but never saw service – do we know any of her past, post war and up to 2018. Photo below ex Ken Ricketts dated 1958, when owned by Vince Norton.