Category Archives: Mystery Boat

Classic Wooden Boat Project

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Classic Wooden Boat Project

It’s been the week of project boats – for some reason they just keep popping up, thanks to Ian McDonald for the trade me heads up.

Today’s woody was built c.1930, carvel planked kauri and 26’ in length. She has a Nissan TD23 diesels engine, not sure of the condition. The listing says the hull is in good condition – but its a bit hard to tell, that grey undercoat is a bit like black stockings e.g. hides a magnitude of sins 😉

Currently hauled out in Kerikeri, Northland.

Keen to learn more about this woody – name?, designer / builder? – anyone able to help out?

 

Auckland Anniversary 1919 Regatta

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Auckland Anniversary Regatta 1919

Todays photo is a gallery of photos from the 1919 Auckland Anniversary Regatta (Jan 29th) . A great collection, including the Walsh Brothers (Mission Bay) flying boats – what interests me is the two launches, centre left and right. Both look like they have a good turn of speed.
Can anyone ID them for us?
Photos appeared in the Feb 6th 1919 issue of the ‘Weekly News’ and come to us via Keith Humphreys fb
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Harold Kidd Input – Nathan Herbert was right when he commented about the right hand launch, she’s the Lane DEFENDER, formerly SCRIPPS III, now with a dodger over the cockpit. The left hand launch is clearly Bailey & Lowe and I’m sure is WINSOME (I) although I can’t figure out her racing number. She’s too small for MANU.

Mystery Launch – Manukau Harbour

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MYSTERY LAUNCH – MANUKAU HARBOUR

The above photos come to us via Lew Redwood’s fb and the caption reads “1920’s Bill Foots launch, Manukau Harbour”
I’m sure one of the woodys will be able to tell us who Bill Foot was and hopefully some details on his launch.
Check out WW tomorrow, a rather nice entry level woody has just come on the market, a perfect boat to enjoy the world of classic woody ownership 🙂

 

Mystery Classic Launch -Waiheke Island

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MYSTERY LAUNCH – Waiheke Island

Today’s woody is a newbie to me, the caption reads “All hands on deck – As we enters the channel to our secret bay near our campsite on Waiheke Island”
Looking at the photo I would say the location is Garden Cove, refer photos below
Can anyone ID the vessel & confirm the location?

Mystery Whangaroa Launches

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WHANGAROA MYSTERY LAUNCHES

The above 1962 photo comes to us from Lew Redwood’s fb and shows several Woodys at anchor. The bridge decker in the centre looks familiar but I can not put a name to her, I’m sure Nathan Herbert will be able to ID her.
The smaller launch on the right  looks quick even at anchor – any ideas on her?
COOL REFERENCE TOOL
I was recently sent the link below by Australian woody – Andrew Christie. Its a register of Australian and New Zealand builders plates, a little light on kiwi content but its a start – worth a look.

Double End Clinker Launch

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Double End Clinker Launch
 
The above 21’ ex crayfishing clinker launch recently popped up on trademe (thanks Ian McDonald). Her age is little deceptive, she was in fact built in 1980 and is for sale by boat builder Robert Priest, who built the current cabin and installed the 18hp Yanmar diesel, thats pushes her along at a comfortable 6 knots. Robert has owned her for 35 years. 
Her listing states that she is very well built and currently berth at Mana Marina, Wellington. Comes with what’s described as a beach trailer. 
 
She looks a very salty craft and would be perfect to someone with a bach looking for safe, reliable transport and a spot of fishing. Anyone able to put a name to the vessel and who might have built her?
 
Looking For Info On Kiw Boat Builder – Rex Wright

Kaipara based woody – Greg Schultz is trying to track down info on a kiwi boatbuilder. He doesn’t have much to go by except the name Rex Wright and that he worked in Auckland post WW1, before moving to Cairns where he was reasonably well know around the yards.

Rex was born in 1888 and died in 1990. Can anyone help Greg with info on Rex’s past e.g. where he worked, the vessels he built etc?

Victory A8

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VICTORY A8

A great photo above of Victory (I hope my record of sail #’s is correct). This and the bottom photo were sent to me by Mike McGehan. The first woody that can correctly name the 3 yachts (L>R) in the bottom photos wins a waitematawoody t-shirt.
Entries via any way – comments box ofr email to waitematawoodys@gmail.com
HDK will be the judge of the correct names 🙂
Mondays WW story is a very special look at the NZ wooden boating scene from a visitors eye/camera – the owner of the camera is none other than the world’s leading classic wooden boat photographer  – Benjamin Mendlowitz. Ben’s talents are second to none and you will see a gallery of some of our finest woodys presented like never before. This access has been granted to WW by the team at Off Center Harbor. Lots more details tomorrow 😉

Mason B – Bay of Islands Woody Launching

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Mason B – Bay of Islands Woody Launching

 The caption on the photo / press clipping (ex Lew Redwood) reads “A new fishing launch takes the water from the builder’s shed. Mr W. Mason Bayly is the owner”

It was also tagged “Early preparations for the forthcoming dee-sea fishing season at Russell, North Auckland”
The date is August 1926.
Can we put a name to the boat, designer/builder, location?
Harold Kidd Input – She is MASON B, designed and built for W. Mason Bayly by Leon Warne and launched in August 1926 from Warne’s shed at Russell. She was30′ x 8’6″ and had a 30/40 hp Kermath. She replaced Bayly’s GISPA (ex-GLADYS).
Help Wanted
Any one have a base like the one circled below, tucked away anywhere? Or something similar. A woody friend has a spotlight but no matching base.  Any condition ok.
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Artono + Mystery Launch

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ARTONO + MYSTERY LAUNCH

The launch on the left is Artono, owned at the time by Arthur, Tommy & Nole Cole. The location is the Puhoi River.
What more do we about Artono and the mystery launch on her right?
Photo ex Lew Redwood’s fb

Mystery Location & Woody

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Woody Clinker motorboat

Mystery Location & Woody

The very pretty wooden clinker motorboat above comes to us via Lew Redwood’s fb page.
Baden Pascoe has commented that she is obviously professionally built and has a ‘lovely lay of planks’.
So folks – todays question can anyone tell us the location of the photo?, which hopefully will help ID the builder.
First to correctly tell us the location wins a WW t-shirt ,  entry via email or in the comments section. Only one issue , the shirt will have to be a biggie , or you can wait till the next print run, I’m sold out to anything below 2XL 🙂