Category Archives: Mystery Boat

Woody Lake Boat Project

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Woody Lake Boat Project

I’m pretty sure this woody was a trademe listing for a very long time, so when I received a note from Rachel Jamieson from the Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat group telling me Micheal Booth had bought an old wooden kauri 4 seater, carvel construction speedboat for restoration and attached the above photos –  I was so rapped that she had a new owner and her restoration would be completed.
 
I’ll let Micheal Booth tell the story 

“She  belonged to Andrew Lang the previous Harbour Master who now skippers in the Med. Andrew bought the boat in Rotoru and tracked the motor down in Rotoiti which he then restored. He had started restoration but because of his circumstances has elected to sell.

 I believe the boat was used by the Rangiheuia sisters on Lake Tarawera in the early days. It is of kauri construction and has an oregon ply transom. It is powered by an Austin 7 Thetis motor. Apparently the local historian knew of the boat but has unfortunately passed away. Andrew thinks this boat was designed by the  Logans and built by Lidgard. The boat is thought to be around 1934-36.
The boat builders I have taken it to aren’t convinced and wonder if the boat was of an American design but built locally. It measures 4850mm long, 1600mm wide and 1250 wide at the stern.”
 
Michael is wondering if anyone may some more information on the boat.
 

1951 Launch Race + Win a WW T’shirt

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1951 Launch Race

Todays photo comes to us via Lew Redwood’s fb and is tagged ‘1951 Open launch race regatta – Waiheke Island.
First woody to correctly name the 4 launches, wins a WW t-shirt. If no one gets all 4, then it steps down to 3, then 2 , then 1 – so even if you can only ID one, enter – you could win.
Enties via email only – to –    waitematawoodys@gmail.com
WW T modelled below by Simon, owner of the c.1965 Ben Hipkin designed and built 36’ launch – Sceptre. Photo sent to me last weekend by one of my floating spies 😉
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1920’s Woody Restoration Project

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1920’s Woody Restoration Project
This 28’ kauri woody resides in Napier and in the sellers words is “partly restored”. At the moment she is minus a motor, transmission and running gear but they are available to purchase, being a Cummins 95hp B4 and Newage RPM Coventry transmission.
I do not normal mention the price on trademe (thanks Ian McDonald) but this one is $2,000 – subject to an inspection, she has the bones of a cool lake boat.
In her present state it would be easily to inspect the condition of her, note: the exterior has been glassed.
Can anyone help ID the launch?
Make Sure You Check WW Tomorrow – stunning photos from the launching of Mike Mahoney’s new addition to the fleet. Tease photo below
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Unidentified Launch Aground in Wellington 

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Unidentified Launch Aground in Wellington 

The above photo appeared recently on Lew Redwood’s fb page. Its dated 26th January 1960 and the location is the Pukerua Rocks.
Can anyone ID the launch and how she came to be there and she was saved, and if so where she is today?
A Peek Into The Future
I wonder one day if this ‘Jet Capsule Royal Version 001 Motorboat’ below will one day be considerably classic.
Targeting the super-yacht tender market, they are 26’ long, can carry up to 9 passengers, and while the exterior is carbon fibre, the interior is teak trimmed.
Lots of propulsion options starting with twin Torpedo electric engines (good for 12 knots) and topping out at 62 knots via a Roll Royce jet drive.
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Mystery Launch – Kawau 1963

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Mystery Launch – Kawau 1963

The question today is can anyone ID the launch on the right in the above May 1963 Mansion House Bay, Kawau Island?
Thanks to Len Redwoods fb page for the photo.

Steam Boats At Warkworth
Woody boatbuilder Colin Brown sent in the photos below of the recent steam gathering at the Warkworth Basin.

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Ione

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Ione

Australian woody – Andrew Christie sent me details on this 34’ 1900 Logan launch he spotted for sale in NZ.

Don’t know her name, she may have appeared on WW before but doesn’t ring any bells with me, I think I would have remembered the large flat screen plasma TV’s on her cabin sides.
Zoom zoom is via a 60hp Ford diesel & single skin carvel planked.
 
Anyone able to put a name on her & confirm she is in fact a Logan?
In the comments section we have uncovered she is called Ione and Harold Kidd puts her as a 1909 Bailey & Lowe.

A Woody Tour Of Helensville / Upper Kaipara

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Florance M

La Vega
La Vega
La Vega
Morning Star
Unknown 1
Unknown 2
Nevada (4th out)
Nevada (center)
Nevada
Nevada
Nevada
Nevada
Unknown 3
Unknown 4
Unknown 5
Waimiko
Witch Way (3rd out)
Witch Way / Unknown 6/Scud
Witch Way
Wooden Mullet Boat ?

A Woody Tour Of Helensville / Upper Kaipara  

Following on from last Mondays stunning story on the boats resting in the Tamaki River (link below if you missed it), woody John Bullivant has been out & about again – this time his focus has been the Helensville & Kaipara Cruising Club. I have ID / tagged the photos where known, just scroll over to view the name). Again I’ll let John tell the story 🙂

“I did another boat hunting tour to Helensville on 6 Feb and found a few more wooden working boats and others parked on the mud at the fishing wharf and Kaipara Cruising Club . They are a friendly bunch at the club and allowed me to go onto the private jetties to take some photos, even unlocking a gate for me which was much appreciated. The couple I spoke to have a converted ex fishing boat (Waimiko I think ) with a 185HP Nissan and all the gear, which they say makes a perfect solid pleasure boat. 

The big Miller & Tunnage canoe stern La Vega ? also is Nissan powered but U/S at the moment and may be for sale ( hull looks in good nick and built like the proverbial BSH) and would make a great pleasure convert and sea boat. There are a number of interesting boats there including the nice looking bridge decker further up. Couldn’t get a good pic but looks like she’s having some work done? Also found Florence M (now with M painted over) on the hard there, back to the side she started on ? 

One thing that was of particular nostalgic interest (sort of ) was the little plastic ‘Scuppers tug’ (think that’s what the called them) tucked in the corner. If I’m not mistaken, this little boat resided at Half Moon Bay Marina way back in the early 80s when new, and I have an idea it was their little marina work boat, (I’m pretty sure it’s not from the other Half Moon Bay but would be a weird coincidence if it was). I even contemplated buying one when they came out (under $12,000 from memory) Stange place to find it.

The interesting little boat on the drums and the old planked Mullet boat? are on the Northern end of Helensville over the rail lines. All in all a great day out and finished of with great local fish and chips (found out the shop owner lived not far from me at Whangaparaoa before moving to Helensville,)  NZ is small,- once stayed overnight in the Hunterville motel, and the people who had recently bought it had lived not far from me in Bucklands beach, we Kiwis certainly move around along with our boats.”

A Woody Tour of the Tamaki River – 70 photos

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AURORA
Unknown 1
JOHN DORY
AHB
BALENA (EX SEATTLE)
HOSFUS
IMATRA
HAUL BY HARTLEY – CABIN BY PICASSO
IMATRA
JOHN DORY
AWATERE
AC DSEA
HAPPY HOUR
FREE BOAT
AUDACITY (EX HAWAII)
FOR SALE
LADY AVA (MISS AVA)
WHO THOUGHT POP SIDES WERE NEW
W1 HOME SLIPWAY
LAZY BONES
W1’S TROLLY
Unknown 2
Unknown 3
Unknown 4
MYSTERY YACHT
SLAVENKA
MITOKA III
LADY JANE
W1’S TROLLY
Unknown 5
LADY DAVINA
WIP 3
W1’S RAILWAY
FREE BOAT
OMOANA
W1’S RAILWAY
Unknown 6
TAIRERE
TEINA
Unknown 7
Unknown 8
ROMANY II
Unknown 9
LA ROSA
TARKA AND PURURI
PHYLLIS
Unknown 10
MAHETA
WIP 1
TUHUA (MSA100727) & ESTRELA
Unknown 11
NOR EAST (FRONT L)
RAIRA
Unknown 12
OMOAMA
WILDE LIFE
STYMERON
W1’S RAMP FROM GABADOR PL
W1’S RAMP
PHYLLIS
NOR EAST & UNKNOWN
LADY MARGARET
Unknown 13
Unknown 14
WIP 2
SIERRA
Unknown 15
TAIRERE
MSA100727 PORT WHAKATANE STERN
Unknown 16

A Woody Tour of the Tamaki River – 70 photos

Todays story so needed to be done, and woodys, John Bullivant is a legend for grabbing his camera and heading out on our behalf. I’ll let John tell his story 🙂

“Thought it was about time I got a few photos on the Tamaki River boats before they disappear, (and they are going fast by the look of some). There are only a fraction of the numbers of wooden boats that were moored there in the 1960s and 1970s and as I previously mentioned, living on the waterfront at Bucklands Beach for around 25yrs I had seen most of them go by (was like Queen St on Friday nights most summer weekends) I did 2 trips down from Orewa and took pics from Panmure Boat Club and up to and under the new Panmure Bridge, end of Gabadore Pl (off Carbine Rd), the old Panmure Marina, (going with many houses from Panmure to Pakuranga Town centre, to make way for new highway widening), along the Tamaki River walkway for about 4km (Rotary Walk,- starts at the old Panmure Marina and goes all the way to Gills Rd in Howick, for those who like walking), Half Moon Bay and Bucklands Beach.

I also went down to the 1960s site of the private ex RNZAF W1  haul-out ramp below the old Alright property (well covered in bush now and a near vertical climb down a 30ft bank), – lost a bit of blood but well worth it for me, as I last stood on that spot 50yrs ago when we sneaked on board W1 to have a look around while she was up there. Original ramp and haul-out dolly is still there (see pics) although time has taken its toll. I’m amazed, looking at the crude set-up today, how Mr Alright got a 64ft boat weighing many tons, sitting on rubber tyred dollies (which ran in grooved concrete) lined up and hauled out with a winch and by the looks of it, the large tree in line with the ramp, not to mention getting it back out again (I’m assuming he must have winched it back out somehow). Massive effort not only to build the ramp on mud, (all by hand, no concrete pumping trucks) but to be able to use it.

Hope these photos are of interest to people who may be able to identify some of the mystery boats (especially the light blue launch with the chrome ventilators and light, (looks ex RNZAF ?). The yacht hidden near the big boatshed is around 45ft looks very old and has been there for many years, as has poor old Imatra, a once grand yacht which is in a very sad state and in urgent need of care (must have been there 30 yrs odd now). I have included a few other launches and yachts to show the sad state of many good looking (and once expensive) boats on the river crying out for attention, but I guess many people have other priorities and sadly their dreams are just floating slowly into oblivion. It’s pretty hard to get rid of a rusty rotten hulk, so there they will stay till it’s “business time” (flight of the Conchords) for the 20 ton digger.

I may have some of the boats names wrong as I was using a telephoto lens for most of the pics and with enhancing colour, contrast etc was as near as I could get. I’m sure someone will correct any if wrong.”

NOTE: With the photos that John has named, I have tagged the photos with those names. Scroll over the photos to view the names 😉
I could have used the individual images on WW over an extended period, but they need to be together in one spot. Enjoy 🙂

1940’s Pacific Island Tender

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1940’s Pacific Island Tender

The above photo ex Lew Redwood’s fb is dated 1940’s and shows a tender a speed, interesting mix of attire (confirming the PI link) and the USA flag would suggest it is a tender to / off an American war ship.
There appears to be woman on-board so maybe it was post the war years? (Yes I know woman were in the service during the war, but not I think on ships?)
The bow fender is are impressive, a lot of work would have gone into that.
Anyone able to ID the location of the photo and the tender + mother ship?

Athena

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Athena

ATHENA

The above motor-sailer, Athena, was spotted by John Wicks at Te Kouma Village, Coromandel.
John commented that she was a sturdy looking old girl and wondered if the woodys could shed some light on per background?
Input from Cameron Pollard – ATHENA was built by Des Donovan (Andy’s brother).
Des bulit her at his devonport property and had her craned into the tide off devonport wharf.
Originally had an AEC but that was replaced by her next owners the Johnson family.
They fitted a new 6lx gardner which is still in her.
She is currently hauled out at kopu for a paint.
Her present new owners completed a 9 year rebuld/ transformation on her and is a absolute credit to them.
The stories on Athena over the years have more up and downs than a busy hotel elevator some good and others not.
It’s very good to know she finally made it back to the water.

Update 2 from Cameron P

She ran over a bit of nz. ( like many still do). There was a photo album on board with pictures of her on the rock that Des took while sitting in the dinghy.

Sadly when the tide dropped so did Athena.
She filled up and skidded off the rock.
Story has it she was lost for quite a few days as the tide took her for a underwater voyage.
When she was later found and salvaged the mud and foul inside her was quite unreal.
Des,s photos showed her tied alongside the harbourboard slipway getting repaired.
I think the Johnsons purchased her not long after.
A. Johnson snr owned Lady Margaret (col wild one) before Athena.
Photo below ex Cameron of her at Kopu, looking vert smart
Athena @ Kopu

Update 23-02-2020 –  The top photo of Athena is dated January 1962 and shows her about to be launched at Devonport. She was built by Des Donovan.

The 2nd and 3rd photos are dated 12 March 1967 and Athena is ‘wrecked’ north of Elephant Cove.
Athena Launching Day
Ken Ricketts Input – ATHENA replaced the 32 foot ADARA Des D had built himself c1948/50 which was an identical sister ship to building contractor Fred Steele’s FAYE, & they both built those 2 boats together, at the same time, alongside each other, on the North Shore.
Big story tomorrow – Achilles re-launched + the end of a era – boatyard closes + 90th birthday party – 60+ photos
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