MYSTERY ENGINE
In the latest Lake Rotoiti Wooden Boat Association newsletter, one of the members, Andy Hammond, was looking for help to ID the engine in his 14’ clinker run-about.
Andy commented that the engine was a proper marine unit with F & R gearbox, and almost certainly “Made in England” as it says so on the fuel filter housing. Also has A/F spanner sizes.
Any woodys able to help Andy out on the engine? & what do we think about the design of the boat?
Mystery Launch 08-12-2017
Today’s mystery launch started life as a Coulthard sedan launch, the photos above show her in the mud at Whangarei a couple years ago. The photos came from Nathan Herbert, who commented that while working on Lucinda a while back he met a man who mentioned his family had a long ownership of this boat.
So woodys – can we name her & dig up some history on her past life?
09-12-2017 – More photos ex Jason Prew (name plate photographed from a distance)
Lake Rotoiti Launch – Rescued & Lost?
The above photo was sent to me by Greg Noble & would have been taken around 1973/4. Greg found this launch half submerged, just south of the Okiri Falls side of Rotoiti, Rotorua, miles from any houses.
Greg got her floating and towed her to a pull out on the Maori Land between the two lakes. Initially Greg lots of ideas of restoring her but as often happens, never got round to it. While she was there somebody told Greg that she had broken a speed record on Auckland Harbor, this impressed Greg at the time but he can’t recall any of the details now, nor her name.
Sadly, she was left there and Greg has no idea what became of her. The thinking was that at least she was safe & people could see her and admire her and hopefully she would be saved from eventually going under.
So woodys – the big question Greg would like answered is – did she survive & if so what became of her.
Would be cool to also put a name to her & confirm the racing pedigree.
What prompted Greg to send me the above was the Mystery Launch story on 08-11-2017 (link below), what say those with an eye for lines – similar / same ?
Mystery Launch 03-12-2017
Another Nathan Herbert photo, this launch is presented in a very different configuration from when she held various speed records. The first woody to correctly ID her wins a Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade 2018 Calendar. NOTE: entries ONLY via the WW Comments section.
No ‘Sailing Sunday’ today – but Mondays story will more than make up for that – don’t forget to check it out.
If you don’t win the calendar, copies are available for $15, a steal – click this link for details on ordering.
Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Association 2018 Calendars
Almost A Mystery Launch
The above photo was sent to me by Nathan Herbert & is tagged ‘Team of horse hauling Karine / Karere’. It comes from ‘Heritage Images’.
So woodys – today we have a few questions, not easy, but we must be able to uncover a bit more about this cute motorboat.
As you read this I will be motoring to Patio Bay for the CYA weekend, I cannot wait – a trip to the bottom end of Waiheke Island is long overdue. I have charged up the cameras so Monday’s story on WW will be a rather large photo essay of the weekend. Most Auckland boaties either have not discovered, or forgotten (thank god) how great the bottom end is, the photo below (no digital enhancement) is one of my favourites 🙂
West Auckland Barn Find
Morning woodys – I was contacted yesterday by serial classic woody collector / rescuer – Keith Munro, Keith advised that a woody in need of rescuing had been pointed in his direction – but Keith’s toy box is overflowing 🙂 thence contacting me.
The woody needs 2 things – a home & a woody with vision, from the photos she appears to have the makings of a nice looking classic launch.
Nothing is known about her – no name, builder, dates etc. – her specs are – 32’ long & 5’9” across the ransom. Hopefully a woody reader will be able to shed some light on her.
The boat could be acquired for not a lot of money, currently located in Kumeu, West Auckland; there is even an offer of free delivery .
From the photos it appears there has been work done on the boat & she comes with all the doors, mast, floorboards, hatches & other sundry, including the cradle.
Open to offers – contact Jeff or Bob on 027 834 5285
Mystery Project Launch
The above boat has just popped up on trademe, all the listing tells us is that she is 28’ long & made of wood. There is a dismantled Perkins diesel that comes with the boat.
The starting bid is set at $2800 & there is no reserve, so could be a great no-cost project for someone, the location is Levin so maybe of interest to a Lake Rotoiti woody 🙂
Anyone recognize the boat?
(Thanks to Ian McDonald for the listing heads up)
Devonport Yacht Club Very Classic Friendly
Woody Chris Leech sent in the photos below from last weekend at the DYC – (from L>R) Moana, Seafarer, Lady Mary, Castaway – all waiting to splash after some TLC over winter.
Judges Bay Haul Out + Name the Boats & Win
The above photo shows the shoreline at Judges Bay, Auckland. c1930’s.
The photographer is unknown, but the photo is ex the New Zealand Herald via the Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries.
Nathan Herbert has commented that the photo was taken between December 1934 and 1938, as a boat in the photo was launched in December, and modified from that style in 1938.
The woody that can correctly name the most boats, starting from the bottom of the photo, wins a 2018 Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat calendar. Lets try doing the entry thing via the WW Comments section, the email entry seems to confuse a few of you 🙂
Promo closes 6.00pm 22-11-2017.
If you don’t win the calendar, copies are available for $15, a steal – click this link for details on ordering.
Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Association 2018 Calendars
ORARI
Today’s photo of Orari (in the middle) was sent in by Nathan Herbert, taken at Thames earlier this year.
What do we know about her?
Harold Kidd Input – This first of the three Fisher ORARIs was designed and built by R.P. Fisher and J. Robinson at Whangarei over two years and launched in March 1937. No bridgedeck then.
UPDATE: Photos below ex Paperpast via Nathan Herbert – read the caption
I took the photos below of Seafarer on Sunday afternoon as she was sitting on the slip at Devonport Yacht Club, awaiting re-launching after her annual winter haul-out.
Owner Richard Darke is one of those classic owners that we all aspire to – as well as being a perfectionist, he has the skills to undertake almost everything on the boat & builds most of the bits himself. See/ read more here https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/11/25/seafarer-2/
Hiding under the covers is a stunning Uroxsys job on the coamings. Speaking of stunning Uxroxsys jobs, I also had a look over Trinidad in the weekend , she was relaunched last week after a spell in the Greg Lees Boat Builders, Sandspit shed – looking even smarter after a ‘few’ more coats Uroxsys were applied. Interesting to note that its now the norm to add some of the tinted primer to the middle coats, helps the UV protection* & gives a richer depth to the finish. New cockpit clears as well. Barbara & David Cooke are getting her ship-shape for the upcoming NZ circumnavigation. I’m crewing on the Bay of Islands > down the West Coast > Picton leg.
INPUT FROM THE UROXSYS (Awlwood) GURU – DAVID W
“Can I just clarify that the Awlwood topcoat is chocked full of UV absorbers – each coat blocks 90% of UV so over 8 coats you are left with practically nothing getting through. Trouble is that visible light degrades timber as well – and the only way of reducing this is by adding colour hence the improved performance from coloured primers. Cheers, David.”
Swanson Sedan Launch
This rather cute 26.24’ sedan launch was designed / built? by Swanson in 1969. She has a 9’10” beam & draws 3’3”, so a rather fat bottomed old girl. Her trademe listing says she has an inboard diesel engine but that’s about all in terms of specs. It does tell us that she comes with a fenders, boat hook & clock 🙂
Picton is her home, any Southern woodys able to shed some light on her?
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