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.”
Todays craft appeared in the September 1955 edition of Sea Spray magazine. All we know is home was Lake Taupo and she was 25’ x 8’ x 2’3”, with a round bilge, professionally built from kauri, slept 4. And was powered by a ’near new’ Scripps V8 engine.
Must have been a zoom zoomed back then. I’m sure Paul Drake will help out with more intel.
Last week WW was contacted by a Christchurch based gent named Mat Pascoe regarding a 20’ clinker craft he had just acquired.
Mat was hoping that the WW readers could help either confirm what he has been told about the craft and / or learn more.
Mat advised he purchased the old girl for $1, with the intention of getting her floating again. The lady Mat brought it off had no confirmed history, her dad was storing it possibly for someone and he passed away leaving the property it was at to her in his will and she wanted it gone asap.
At the time of purchase it was based in Kaiapoi. The river there was a working port up till the 1970’s so Mat thinks maybe it worked out of there. The seller also seemed to think it came from Sumner, it could have been tied up in Moncks Bay but she said she was just guessing at something her dad told her years ago.
As far as can be observed the hull is all native timber and it is all copper rove and rivets. The cabin may have been made later as it is possibly pine and plywood. Mat questioned if she may have been a fishing boat at some time. It’s fitted out with a single cylinder diesel. Possibly Dolphin brand but Mat can’t find any info on them making diesels. (Mat is by trade a diesel mechanic) Mat has had a good dig around and scraped a bit of paint off in the places where you would expect a name would be and has not found anything.
Mat is 100% she was originally open topped with maybe a small deck at the bow and stern. He can see a change in the wood work in these areas where the cabin has been fitted. Probably explains why it is so narrow in the beam. Mat commented that a lot of the center line is made up of short lengths of timber scraped together as we. It’s like it was just built from what was around.
So Southern woodys – anyone know more about the boat or recognise her.
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.
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.
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
Well woodys todays photo is a tad left field , sent in by one of my spies that is mooching around the Coromandel / Te Kouma area on his plastic fantastic launch – but he’s forgiven buying the launch as in a previous life he owned one of smartest classic launches afloat on the Waitemata. A mix of styles and material on display, a hint of ‘dory’ in the hull shape. Not seen on the Waitemata harbour so maybe a Coro / Thames craft. Hopefully one of the mud dwellers can enlighten us.
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
CAN WE HELP IDENTIFY THIS RUMPTY CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH
WW was contacted recently by Guilford Bonehill regard todays wooden launch. The vessel is owned by a friend of Guilford’s and has been resting in their yard for 10+ years.
The owner believes it previously came from the Cleveland area, and the Wairoa River. Although there is no name on the launch, they think it was named PRINCESS ALOHA and built a century ago.
The understatement in Guilford’s note was ‘the condition of the launch is not good’.
Any help in identifying the launch and her past would be most appreciated.
26-11-2025 INPUT EX GUILFORD BONEHILL -Laurie Webster (deceased) had the boat in Pukekohe and for the last 8 years up high n dry near a wool shed in Te Kohanga
CHAD THOMPSON TRIBUTE SPRING RALLY
Yesterday was the start of the CYA – CTT Spring Rally (year 3) Photos below of the start line – entrants were down 50% on last year………… Reminds me of the Albert Einstein quote: Insanity Is Doing the Same Thing Over and Over Again and Expecting Different Results.
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