Mystery Classics On The Waitemata
Steve Horsley recently sent me the above photo – it came from a collection of old albums that Steve has been loaned. The album photos cover – Auckland, Sydney & England.
The only one that Steve can shed any light on is the V-Class on the left (is the sail # 16 or possibly 36?). Her name is AVOO or AVDO?
Anyone able to ID the motorboats on the right?
Vixen > Water Beetle – Akaroa
Another photo ex Lew Redwood’s fb page, this time we have a yacht anchored at Akaroa, the photo is dated 1911. It’s a great photo
Any of the woodys able to ID this gaffer?
07-05-2018 Input from Harold Kidd –
She’s the little half-rater WATER BEETLE designed by Prof Scott and built for Wardrop of Wellington by Robert Logan Sr in 1895 as VIXEN. MASCOTTE (53ft) and YVONNE (42ft) were big gaffers. Scott later bought her, renamed her WATER BEETLE and raced her at Lyttelton. He sold her in 1901.
VIXEN/WATER BEETLE had a lugsail like most of the Wellington half-raters which raced with the Arawa Sailing Club and was 24ft loa. She was owned at the time of this photograph by J.L. Vangioni of Akaroa. Prof Scott had owned YVONNE for many years at this time.
21-07-2018 Update ex Ian Campball
Good Things Take Time
Greg Fenwick sent me the photo below that he took last November on a trip to Oban, Stewart Island. Pretty well sums up wooden boat building 🙂
And a wee bonus today – check out this Facebook movie of dinghy sailing back in 1955, at Plymouth, Devon, UK. Link via Wooden Boat fb – enjoy
Mystery Launch – 03-05-2018
The above photo is from Lew Redwood’s fb page & dated 31 March 1947 & is caption “Mr Tappenden on a launch”
Can we ID the boat & supply anymore details?
Input from Ken Ricketts
Ken tells us the launch was called the Hoturoa & origiallhy had a large petrol engine ( either a Sterling or Kermath c200hp). She had an older style coamings style, which were replaced in the late 1930s or early1940s, with that you see in the image. She was built by Colin Wild for Alf Court & launched in December 1934 (photo below), & by 1946/47 was owned by a Doctor Horton, of Mission Bay, & had a little 4 cyl Graymarine petrol engine, but she had retained the original huge exhaust pipe out the port corner of the tuck.
He did winter maintenance at Okahu Bay hardstand, as did my family on Juliana, we got to know him, & his daughter, quite well. He had her for several years selling her around the earlyish 1950s.
I lost track of her until her 1990s, when she appeared at Mangonui, adjacent to the road by the Mangonui Fish Shop. She was there for several years again, & still looking as she did in 1946. I inspected her c1998, when she was at Kaingaroa (Northland) (a few Kms., from Mangonui, on the way to Awanui,) — for maintenance & had a look inside. By then she had a 6 cyl Nissan diesel painted light iridescent blue. She was still in fairly tidy & good condition.
Not too long after she went back in the water, one night when she was on her moorings she burnt to the waterline & sank, there were lots of local rumours, about the reason for the fire & her demise.
A beautiful little Colin Wild classic, which on this occasion, in my view, was made even better by her second set of coamings. she is a really sad loss to our classic fleet.
Mystery Launch 27—4-2018
I was recently contacted by Brad (surname unknown), the new owner of the above woody, who is looking for more info the launch.
What we know is that he bought her off Manda Bishop who bought the boat off her cousin in Kaiwaka. Manda owned her approx. 2 years. Under Manda’s ownership she was located at Wainui.
She is 30’ long, with a 9’ beam. Zoom zoom is via a Ford Lee marine, Model 2712 E, 4-cylinder motor.
The photos below of the decals, found on the boat, may help with ID’ing her.
Brad has re-located the launch to Pahi, where he will be restoring her.
Are we able to shed some more light on this woody?
A Very Long-Shot Request from Argentina
I have been contacted by Paolo Panighini from Buenos Aires, looking for help ID’ing the design of the wooden launch he used to own, pictured above.
She was powered with twin 6 cylinder Scripps.
All he knows is that she was built in Uruguay in 1940 and came to Argentina afterwards.
Does anyone recognize the design boat & the builder, we really do not know who built it.
Closer to Home – Looking for details on a 36′, c.1946 bridge-decker, named Solveig when launched. Does anyone know the boat, her past & any have photos ?
A Treasure Trove of Old Auckland Sailing Photos
I was contacted by Keith Humphreys who told me that in the 1950’s he discovered a box of glass plates under the Anglican parish hall (Devonport).
A friend’s father, an amateur photographer printed them off for him at the time, but Keith had no idea what or where they’re of?
He presumes that they’re taken in Auckland.
Can we help ID them? HDK, a wee job after chapel & before your bike ride today 😉
ID’ing the cricket match photo below will be tougher challenge 🙂 A WW t-shirt if some can, & prove it.
Harold Kidd Input – Top pic RAINBOW? 2nd pic IDA? 3rd THELMA? The Anglican Parish Hall is next door to Le Huquet’s former residence and last yard and I think WAIONE was built in the near vicinity. Mad guess at the cricket match with a little church on a hill is Waiheke. Awaroa? Owhanake before the 1918 flu epidemic which just about wiped out all the Maori population there?
Mystery Launches – 20-04-2018
The above photo has been creating some chat on Lew Redwood’s facebook page, re the name of the launch in the foreground – the name on the bow starts with ‘NAR………’, there have been some suggestions – Nareen & Narelle.
She has an unusual (I’m being polite) sheerline, so that might poke a few memories.
The location is the Whangarei Town Basin.
Nathan Herbert is interested in the identity of the launch on the far bank.
So woodys – are we able to ID either or both of these woodys?
Looking For A Set Of Portholes?
This poor old girl is listed on trademe, & the vendor is very honest & upfront – suitable for parts only. So if you are looking for some pot-holes – check her out.
Sadly, the removal & disposal costs will possibly rule that out – but you never know, there might be something else worth saving. Located in South Auckland & a deceased estate.
Its listed on tme as ‘30ft Kauri Strip Plank Launch’. Thanx to Ian McDonald for the listing heads-up
Anyone able to shed some light on her name – would be nice to record that she is deceased.
Mystery Yacht – Sailing Sunday
Barbara Cooke sent me the above photo of this very cute yacht moored in Barrys Bay, Akaroa Harbour.
Snapped from on-board Trinidad as she mooches her way back North.
Any of the southern woodys able to ID the yacht & supply details?
MANUTARA
Pictured below is the 1946 Salthouse designed & built yacht Manutara, she built with the intention of racing the Sydney to Hobart race, but this never eventuated. These days she is owned by Ray Shoebridge & earns her keep doing charter work out of Akaroa – details & photo also ex Barbara C.
GLEAM
I popped down to the Salthouse (ex) yard yesterday to catch up with some of the steam boat crowd & while there spotted Neil Chalmers old yacht Gleam at the wharf – looking very smart – Neil will be very chuffed to see her being loved & back in the hands of the family of the designer / builder – JB Brooke.
Input from Barbara Cooke – Manutara was designed by Jack Muir in 1946. And built by Salthouse Boat Builders in 1962. John Salthouse remembers her being the second full build after setting up the yard at Greenhithe in 1960.
Gleam is now owned by Chris (Curly) Salthouse.
Mystery Launch – Dargaville
I was contacted by Dennis Rule the other day, who was just back from a two-day cruise on the Kaipara Harbour, overnighting at Dargaville. Dennis took the above photos on the slip at Dargaville while waiting to board the Kewpie Too for the return journey to Helensville. All spruced up ready for the water, but no name.
Any woodys from the dark-side able to tell more about this vessel?
Input from Jeff Norris
The name is Waima and is owned by Rodney W ilson who is the commodore of the Northern Wairoa Boating Club I helped put her back in water yesterday all ready for todays regatta all I now about her is she powered by GMC and is quite fast also she has been lengthen at one time
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