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
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
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
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.”
MYSTERY LAKE TAUPO CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH
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.
(photo and details ex Sea Spray via Ken Ricketts)
MYSTERY 20’ SOUTHERN CLINKER WOODEN BOAT
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.
CAN WE PUT A NAME TO THIS WAIHEKE ISLAND CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT – NORTHSTAR
Just back on dry land after 9 days mooching around Waiheke Island, a mixed bag of weather but you quickly forget the bad days, and there were a few.
Full trip report in the next few days – but today I’m keen to put a name to the launch I spotted in Ostend , near the Waiheke Island Boating Club.
Looks familiar but the brain is fried , so can we learn more about her.
06-01-2025 INPUT ex MARK MACHAUGHLIN – ITS North Star
https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/12/19/north-star/
KAWHIA WHARF – 1910 – CLASSIC WOODEN MOTORBOATS FLASHBACK
Todays woody photo is of the wharf at Kawia and the large vessel berthed alongside is the harbour ferry – MAHINO.
Of more interest is the collection of small launches , they have a workboat look to them, anyone able to iD any of them.
Photo ex Auckland Libraries heritage collection via Ian McDonald.
MYSTERY 42’ CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH BUILT IN OTAGO
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.
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.
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