Category Archives: Mystery Boat

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – MALUA – NEEDS A NEW OWNER

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – MALUA – NEEDS A NEW OWNER

During the week WW was contacted by Jeff Giddens concerning the classic wooden launch – MALUA. Jeff tells her story below – 

“We have sort of acquired the above named vessel “Malua”. At this stage make and builder unknown.Story goes……there was a brand new 65 Volvo marine diesel engine fitted in the boat some 25 years ago, it did very few hours, then was put into a slipway cradle and has been on the slipway ever since (approx. 17 years).

Someone may know some history on this vessel. We would love to see this old girl be restored, hull is 98% sound, but unfortunately the decks and cabin sides need work. Be nice to know there is someone out there that wants her. Not free but her price will reflect the buyers commitment to restoring her.”  

What we know – approx. 26’-28′ in length and very beamy for her length. Constructed from single skin, most likely kauri planking. 25+ years ago, she was on a swing mooring in Ivy Bay, Paremata, Pāuatahanui Inlet, then she went to Tauranga, then came back to Ivy Bay, Paremata, and has been on the slipway cradle ever since.

From the photos we see that her cradle sits above the water at high tide so this should have helped reduce the ‘drying out’ effect over the years.

If you have room and the passion for a classic wooden launch like MALUA in your life – initially contact Jeff at j.giddens@xtra.co.nz

And it saddens me to add that if we can’t find a new owner, she will face an appointment with a back-hoe…… 😢

WHERE IS THE CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT – ENDOLA  – AK313 – NOWADAYS

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WHERE IS THE CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT – ENDOLA  – AK313 – NOWADAYS

After 48 hours solid boat porn its time to return to one of the best WW tools i.e. finding lost craft, so read on.

Todays photo originated ex the ‘Thames Historic Pictures’ fb and comes to us via Maurice Sharp post. It was commented that the photo appears to be from the early 1970’s and the location most likely the Shortland area (southern end of Thames township).

The vessel appears to be resting on the mudflats or a tidal berth, a common sight at low tide on the Thames foreshore, even today.
The AK313 number on her bow is a commercial fishing registration number –  the ‘AK’ prefix indicates it was registered in Auckland, which was standard for vessels operating in the Hauraki Gulf and Thames area during the 1970’s period.

A comment on the post indicated that the photo had been enhance (AI most likely) and I suspect the 2nd photo (afloat) is the enhanced image.

Next wee nugget is a Kaye Jamieson commented that her partner – Ron Pepper, acquired the vessel in 1972 via a tender process in the NZ Herald. Kaye advised it was called ENDOLA, so maybe thats where name came from on the enhanced version??? Kaye’s story has Ron hauling the boat out of the mud and transporting it to Hamilton where over the next 5 years he restored the boat. It was later relocated to Tauranga where she was used for leisure use for approx. 13 years. Next ownership period saw her sold to a commercial fisherman at Waiheke Island, and thats where the trail goes cold.

So woodys can we learn what became of the launch ENDOLA AK313.

WHERE IS THE CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH TALISMAN

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WHERE IS THE CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH TALISMAN

Todays woody is the 38’ launch TALISMAN, designed and built by Max Carter and launched in 1961. Her original owner was R. Jordan. TALISMAN had a 11’6” beam so there was shortage of room down below.

TALISMAN graced the cover of the Oct 1962 issue of Sea Spray magazine.

When launched TALISMAN was powered by twin Fordson diesels that were marine converted by the Ford dealer – John Andrew & Sons. The engines gave her a comfortable cruising speed of 10 knots. For the ‘petrol heads’ there are lots of details in the article above.

Question of the day – what became of TALISMAN, name change?. 

(Sea Spray article comes to us via Ken Ricketts)

CLASSIC YACHT ANITRA – WHERE IS SHE

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CLASSIC YACHT ANITRA – WHERE IS SHE

Over the weekend WW was contacted by Paul Knight who was trying to find out more details about his fathers sloop – ANITRA, that he owned in the 1950’s. Other than her name he only knew her ‘class’ and sail number – E 60.Paul supplied the two photos above – a very sporty looking yacht.
With my grey matter being very limited when it comes to yachts from this period, I introduced Paul to Robin Elliott. With Robin’s permission I have reproduced his note to Paul. It gives us a good insight into the difficulties in joining the dots.
So woodys if after reading this and viewing the photo of ANITRA, you have a light bulb moment, please let us know.

ROBIN ELLIOTT

“We know very little about Anitra. (she looks like a really nice little yacht)

She turns up around 1943 and is entered in the E-Class of the 1944 Auckland anniversary Regatta by E.R. Harold. By the 1944 Regatta she is entered by A.J. Horton who also enters her in the 1946 Victory Regatta.

V.R. Knight is the registered owner from 1948 through to around 1952 or 53 when she disappears from record, possibly renamed.

Her entries in the Regatta programmes are the only record in print that I have seen (apart from the photos you sent to Waitemata Woodys)

It’s possible she was older than 1943 and we know her as something else but so many domestic events went unreported during WW2. Newsprint and space for pleasure pursuits was scarce so yacht races, new yachts, yacht sales and ownership changes went largely reported by word of mouth.”

AND MORE

“You need to find someone who actually laid hands on her. Our own researches are almost entirely reliant on a boat appearing in print media to fix it at a point in time. Word of mouth is frequently unreliable but in the absence of anything else …….. it can be a start.

The best person to talk to is/was probably your father.

Why did he buy it?, what did he know about it when he bought it? why did he sell it?, who did he sell it to? Get a name and begin ploughing through the phone book looking for connections and subsequent owners.

There is no print record of her after your father’s ownership so either she was taken offshore (possible) or was renamed (very possible) and we know her as something else. 

Her registration number E-60 was never re-issued so it’s possible she was just cruised and never made into print anywhere. There  are many ‘ghost’ boats out there that never raced, never registered and don’t do anything more dangerous than cruising.

In 1969 all sail numbers changed to a nationwide sequence. Anitra’s NZYF number would have been 460 but it was never allocated and stayed vacant, eventually being issued to a Canterbury double-ender, Taikoa in 1976. 

Needles and haystacks.”

MYSTERY NORTHLAND WOODEN KAURI LAUNCH

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MYSTERY NORTHLAND WOODEN KAURI LAUNCH

Todays woody popped up on tme late last year (thanks Ian McDonald), at the time the starting bid was $300, sadly it didn’t sell.

What we learnt was she was 18’ in length, built from kauri carvel planking, and there was a Lees Marine Ford engine in her. Her fittings must have been worth the asking price, but the location – Maungaturoto, Northland, would have put people off + no trailer in the sale.

Anyone know more about the launch and what became of her.

A 1900’s WOODEN SETTLERS LAUNCH AT PAEROA

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A 1900’s WOODEN SETTLERS LAUNCH AT PAEROA

Todays very cool photo comes to us from Lew Redwood via the ’Thames Historic Pictures’ fb page.

The location Is the Junction Wharf, Paeroa and its dated 1907.

I hope I’m correct when a say the small motorboat in the foreground is what was back then referred to as a ’Settlers Launch’. Todays equivalent would be a Toyota HiLux Ute.

Harold Kidd once told me an approx. figure for the number of these Settler Launches built in the 1900>1930 period, the exact number has slipped thru the cracks in my grey matter but it was I think (starting to sound like Ken Ricketts…..) +/- 5,000.

CLASSIC WOODY CRUISING AT WHANGAROA

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LUANA
STELLA MARIS
ATHENA
TUI
NGARUROA
MILLIWAYS
CEREGO
UNKNOW
METEOR
WAIRMARIE
HOPE (tbc)

CLASSIC WOODY CRUISING AT WHANGAROA

Recently Bay of Islands woody Dean Wright had headed up the coast to Whangaroa Harbour and being a professional photographer by trade his camera was never far from hand. So today we get to enjoy more of the B.O.I.’s woody fleet at play. 

The ex workboat looking craft has done a few laps, anyone know her name / history.

And of course the magnificent 1920 built LUANA………the best looking boat to come out of the MT Lane shed 🙂

MYSTERY WOODEN YACHT ALONGSIDE KERIKERI STONE STORE

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MYSTERY WOODEN YACHT ALONGSIDE KERIKERI STONE STORE

Last year Ross Dawson shared the above photo (ex postcard), at the time Ross commented that he suspected the photo was dated c.1900.

The location is the upper reaches of the Kerikeri Inlet and we see a yacht alongside the wharf at the Stone Store. The store is still standing today as is the timber building to the right – Kemp House.

The yacht has what appears to be a registration number on her bow so maybe a commercial fishing craft. Can we ID the yacht.

The clinker dinghy in the foreground is very salty looking.

Following on from the location above, I believe a group of Kerikeri / BOI classic wooden launch owners traveled up the Inlet yesterday for a gathering at the Plough & Feather Pub, near the Stone Store. Hopefully we will have a report + photos next week.

Check out WW on Monday for a photo gallery / parade report from the 2026 Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade – my pick for best boat below – LADY BETH

CLASSIC WOODEN CRAFT OUT WEST

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CLASSIC WOODEN CRAFT OUT WEST

Recently Glen Martin was riding through Helensville on his bike and stopped at the cruising club for a beer and pulled the camera out.                         Given that some are daytime and some night it must have been a few beers – hopefully not riding the bike post.

Interesting mix of craft and condition. Nice to see one of my favourite woodys – ARAHI, has relocated over to the west coast. More on her here https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/12/19/history-of-arahi/

HELP NEEDED -CAN WE ID / LEARN MORE

Recently on WW Grant MacKinnon posted the comment below (edited), Grant has just supplied photos of the items – so big ask but maybe someone can help confirm or end Grant’s speculation.

“We are doing a long walk around the South Island by beach and coastline and come across all sorts of things washed up. Recently we found an old ships spar or something, washed up on the beach between Fortrose and Tiwai Point, Southland. It has old style wooden pegs and lashed-lugs(?).

We need some help with its identification, if anyone knows who and how to find out please? It is very old. I went back and got it as my family were Meiklejohns and the first boat they built on arrival at Omaha was the “Pioneer” which wrecked at Fortrose in 1883. It would be exciting if it was off that. Thank you, any pointers would be very much appreciated.”

REMEMBER – LAKE ROTOITI CLASSIC AND WOODEN BOAT PARADE THIS SATURDAY –  Details here  https://www.woodenboatparade.co.nz/wooden-boat-parade/

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.”