Category Archives: Mystery Boat

Kaiteriteri Beach – Kotare

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1959

Can We ID This Launch KOTARE
Todays photo is dated 1959 and is of Kaiteriteri Beach, Motueka, Nelson – from the camera of J B Rowntree and comes to us via Maurice Sharp. Other than the addition of the commercial charter boats servicing the Abel Tasman National Park, the scene hasn’t changed much.

I have added below a close up image of the launch in the bay, are we able to put a name to her?

Input From Robbie Williams – the launch is Kotare owned by NEWTON NALDER and was the first of the boats offering trips into able Tasman national park she was twin screw powered by two 10 hp petter diesel she later burned and sank in Kaiteri under different ownership

Input From Brian Kitson – Kotare was built by Curnow and Wilton of Nelson and launched in November 1951 and burnt and sank at Kaiteriteri December 1966. 38ft long X 13ft beam X 2ft 6in draught. More than likely she was built of white pine. The ladder on the bow lowers to the beach for boarding and unloading passengers. Photo taken in Kaiteriteri

UPDATE ex John Burland – who sent in a link to a Dept of Conservation (Nelson/Marlborough) booklet on the Abel Tasman Area – screen grab below that confirms the ownership of Kotare by Newton Nalder and a photo of her in Bark Bay.

03-05-2021 Update: John Gander supplied the photo below of Kotare disembarking passengers at Kaiteriteri beach in 1959

Could This Be Rona

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COULD THIS BE RONA
The launch Rona made a cameo appearance on WW in May 2020, link below, but we were unable to expand more on the boat. Yesterday Nathan Herbert sent in the colour photo above and posed the question – are they the same boat. Hopefully the new photo will jog someones memory and we can answer the question and maybe learn more about Rona.

At the time of the b/w photo the location is Whangarei Harbour and the boat was probably owned by the Jagger family. https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/05/23/rona/


I’m speechless…………. below – seriously? Message for Mark Edmonds (MV Monterey), don’t even think about it 🙂

Mystery Run-About

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MYSTERY RUN-ABOUT
The above photo is dated 1965 and that rig (car & boat) would have been very special back then. The location is outside Pomeroy’s Garage in Hamilton, that later became Dominion Motors and then MZ Motor Corporation. Photo and details ex Lew Redwood.


Quite a distinctive car and boat – anyone able to tell us the design of the boat ?

Rakino Island This Weekend? See below – All happening in Woody Bay (open Friday & Saturday as well)

Lake Rotoiti Mystery Boat – 1914

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Lake Rotoiti Mystery Boat – 1914
The above photo is ex Auckland Libraries Heritage Collection and comes to us via Maurice Sharp. The photo is tagged ‘Boarding a boat on Lake Rotoiti, 1914’ – possibly the photographer is Frank Herbert Stevens.

It a big ask, but can we ID the launch?If someone can give us the name, I’ll drop a copy of the 20121 Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Calendar to the first correct entry. Enter in the WW comments section.I have included an enlarge version of the photo below.

Input ex Paul Drake  – KINGFISHER? Later at Taupo? Photo below. Paul commented that there is a porthole missing, but look at the steering wheel and chains etc. And rubbing strake. Could be the same boat but could just be a close relation.

Naiad 361 – Sailing Sunday

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NAIAD 361 – Sailing Sunday

Today’s woody – Naiad,  resides in the Bay of Plenty and I know little about her , other than she was built by Lou Tercel, of Ranger fame. The question of the day would have to be – is she distended for a beehive restoration or will she be saved and sail again? Photos come to us from Jason Prew.

Input from Robin Elliott –

Naiad was built 1914 ‘1915 by Tercel Bros to a modified C.D. Mower/T. Fleming Day (Rudder Magazine) Sea Bird design and launched possibly late 1915. She was entered in the 1916 Regatta but recorded a DNS and appears to have done no racing until 1916/17 season.
From 1916 onwards she was a regular entrant with the Ponsonby and Victoria Cruising clubs.
She had many owners and had a lot of mods done to her over the years. She was converted to a yawl in 1949.
Last registered with YNZ in 1999.
There is a lot more info in the book Ranger by Sandra Gorter and Aroha Tercel.


Anyone Able To Help ID The Design /Build Of This Run-About 


I was sent the photos below by Matthew Farrant who is hoping that someone can ID the design/builder of his 20’ double diagonal stripped kauri run-about. Matthew believes it was built in the 1960’s and originally had a shaft drive but has been converted to stern drive. Engine is a 3 litre  Ford Essex. 

Name The Launch

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Name The Launch

Todays woody shouldn’t be too hard to name, from Lew Redwood’s fb we know that it was owned by Edward Bullmore and in the photo which is dated 1993, she is afloat on Lake Tarawera. And then there’s those rather distinctive ‘decorations’.

So woodys – boat name, builder, year ? The Drake brothers will be able to enlighten us I’m sure.

Ngahere L34

Have been contacted by Jonathan Edmeades whose grandfather – Graham Cole, owned Ngahere back in 1947/48. On a WW story, there is mention that she is now owned by Chris Harris, Jonathan would love to contact Chris and if possible, view the yacht. Could anyone that knows Chris email me his contact details  – Jason Prew? (thanks JP – passed on) waitematawoodys@gmail.com

And remember woodys – on Saturday May 1st we have the 100th birthday of the Lipton Cup. Details below

Moa Ra and Menai Update

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MOA RA

The above photos of the launch Moe Ra just popped up on Lew Redwood’s fb (via Te Papa > Christopher Bede).They are dated 1969, not sure if thats the build year of photo year, could be both.
The boat draw a total blank with me, so suspect its had a name change along the way. Can we learn more about her?

Harold Kidd Input – MOE RA was built by Alan Orams in Whangarei in 1966.according to APYMBA records when first owner Eric Lane registered her.


MENAI – Has a new owner 🙂 after many years of being almost a permanent structure at the Classic Yacht Association’s viaduct marina – yachty Bruce Tantrum has in his words “moved over to the dark side” and bought the classic launch – Menai. (Disclosure: not a Wooden Boat  Bureau sale) We look forward to seeing her out and about again on the Waitemata.

Speaking of the CYA marina (Heritage Landing) if you are a CYA member and have a well presented (NZ designed & built) classic launch and are looking for a marina, Put your name on the CYA waiting list (I’m told its a very short list e.g. no one on it) Added bonus I understand it costs less than $100 a month 😉

Riwaka Waterfront Walkabout

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Riwaka Waterfront Walkabout


Following on from Sundays story on Matahorua the sailing cutter tied up at the Riwaka river / estuary , today we follow the camera of Tim and Pauline Evill as they explore the craft that call Riwaka their home ‘port’.

A fine collection of woodys, all appearing to be well loved – if you had the Riwaka agency for marine varnish , you wouldn’t remain in business for long 🙂

Enjoy the stroll

Mystery Launches at Orakei

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MYSTERY LAUNCHES AT ORAKEI – Prize To Be Won
Todays photo comes to us from the Auckland Libraries Kura – Heritage Collection via Nathan Herbert. We have 3 very smart looking woodys hauled up at Orakei for I suspect their winter maintenance.All quite distinctive looking so hopefully we can ID therm L > R.


During the week we had a prize on offer of a copy of Brian Peet’s book ‘Des Townson – A Sailing Legacy’, it was won by Albert Birnie . Albert advised that he was given a copy last Christmas so kindly asked that his prize be given to another woody – so Woodys, here we go – all entries that correctly ID the 3 launches (L>R), go into the draw for the book. Entries via email only to waitematawoodys@gmail.com. Entry closes 6pm 21-03-21

Who Can ID The Yacht On The Rocks

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Who Can ID The Yacht On The Rocks & Win A OCH Sailing Cap
The above two photos come to us from the camera of woody Paul Drake and I have Paul’s word that they are ‘never before seen’ photos of the yacht aground off Rangitoto Island in the early 1960’s. Paul was a teenager at the time, staying with a school friend and his parents in their Rangitoto bach. They spent their time messing about in the family’s seagull powered clinker dinghy and came across the ‘wreck’ by chance. They rendered what assistance we could. Paul commented that the crew seemed quite relaxed about their predicament and no doubt she came off with the next tide.
So woodys first correct answer, with the yachts name – emailed to waitematawoodys@gmail.com wins an Off Center Harbor sailing cap. Entries close at 8pm 05-03-2021


Varnish Porn

If you need a dose of varnish porn to rid the CV-19 blues, check out the 1924 Fife classic schooner – Adventuress featured in the video below. Thanks to Mark Erskine for pointing WW in the direction of the video ex Yachting World.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpAW5-60qBA