Category Archives: Mystery Boat

MYSTERY CLASSIC MOTOR-SAILER – YVALDA

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MYSTERY CLASSIC MOTOR-SAILER- YVALDA

Recently Alistair McRae sent in todays photos that a friend of his uncovered – unfortunately neither the friend or Alistair know anything about the boat,  and he wondered if any of the WW readers might recognise it and or the location. There is a name on the stern but I can’t make it out – maybe something like IWATO or IWATU.

Alistair commented that looking at the vehicle in the photos the date could be from the early 1960s’.

INPUT ex GREG LEES –

She is the Yvalda. Came to NZ in the 70’s from Scotland and spent some time in Sandspit at our yard. Yes now on Lake Wakatipu.

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MYSTERY  JUDGES BAY CLASSIC LAUNCHES

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MYSTERY  JUDGES BAY CLASSIC LAUNCHES

Last week WW was sent the above b/w photo by Dan Barnett. Dan commented that he had been going thru a collection of old newspaper clippings that his recently deceased uncle had saved.

The article is headlined ‘Auckland Spring Winter Day’ and the photo tagged – ‘Launches swinging to their moorings in the still waters of Judge’s Bay’

Can any of the woodys help us ID the craft.

MYSTERY LIDGARD WOODEN LAUNCH – LE ANNE > SALACIA TOO > EMMZEE

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MYSTERY LIDGARD WOODEN LAUNCH – LE ANNE > SALACIA TOO > EMMZEE

John Dawson wrote in earlier in the week that while sniffing around fb he came across the above photos. In them we see a c.1960’s launch built by John Lidgard at this West Auckland yard on a Winstone Ltd transporter on route to launching.

Can we ID the boat and learn more about what became of her.. Update – was originally named LE ANNE and now named EMMZEE.

INPUT ex KEN RICKETTS – The boat is the SALACIA TOO. She lied at the Sandspit for many years & was named as she is, (or was originally), by the early owners as their first boat was called SALACIA. Photos of SALACIA TOO below (last three relate to – SALACIA)

Now named EMMZEE – photo below

HALVORSEN 21 – Classic Australian Wooden Boating

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HALVORSEN 21 – Classic Australian Wooden Boating

On one of my many scrolls thru the classic wooden boating online world I came across a story by Tad Roberts, an American yacht (the generic USA term for all boats) designer. Tad was talking about the iconic Australian boating marquee – Halvorsen. 

Several of their craft have appeared on WW, but Tad’s focus was on the Halvorsen 21’, and he advised that the craft were built from the late 1940’s and were available with both a broken and straight steer. Tads preference was the broken sheer version, commenting that ‘it carries a bit more strength of character’.

Else where on the story we learned that the 21’ launch had a beam of 7’3” and was originally powered by petrol engines of around 50hp.

Back in Nov 2023 WW ran a story on the Halvorsen boating dynasty, which included a wonderful video by Tony Mackay.                 LINK to the WW story here https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/11/04/the-halvorsen-story/

These smart looking woodys were years ahead of the market, and sadly we never had anything similar in NZ. If had and they were still around today – the Wooden Boat Bureau would be able to sell them in a flash 🙂

The colour photos above feature the launch – GLENORIE. The black and white photo below is of the Halvorsen yard in Neutral Bay, Sydney c.1936

MYSTERY WOODEN BOAT – 09-08-2024 – REO

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MYSTERY WOODEN BOAT – 09-08-2024 – REO

Todays photo comes to us from the Tauranga City Library collection and is tagged ’the-rio’. Doing a WW search on the word rio doesn’t show any vessels that look like todays woody.

Can we learn more, the stern set-up says workboat, so maybe converted to pleasure use at some stage and a name change.

INPUT ex RAY MOREY – Its “REO” built as line boat for the Reotahi Freezing works in Whangarei harbour. This view after a massive rebuild and re-power by Tauranga H.B. engine was a Detroit 4-53 and the gantry frame for servicing moorings

INPUT ex HAROLD KIDD  – Ray is right, it’s REO run by the Tauranga Harbour Board for many years from 1923 as a pilot boat. Built by Bailey & Lowe 1903. Was in Whangarei until 1923. More recently in Tutukaka.

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CLASSIC LAUNCH WANDABYNE – 1929 KAWAU CRUISE

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LOYS AT COPPER MINE
Rhonda

CLASSIC LAUNCH WANDABYNE – 1929 KAWAU CRUISE

Todays photos come to us from Max Arthur and date back almost 100 years. Max came across the WW site while research his father – E.W. Arthur and grandfather – H.R. Arthur.

The photos record a cruise to Kawau Island inc.1929.

In the 1st photo (and other) Max believes the flush deck launch is – WANDABYNE. Which is a newbie to me , but in a previous WW story we identified a launch named WONDABYNE (LOLITA) , link below. At first I thought typo but in my eyes not the say boat. https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/06/24/wondabyme/

Can we learn more about WANDABYNE and keen to ID the other launch shown in a couple of the photos.

Help Needed ID’ing This Wooden Boat

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Help Needed ID’ing This Wooden Boat

Todays photos another from the McLeod Collection at the Auckland Library Heritage Collection and comes to us thanks to Nathan Herbert.

The photo is just tagged Bayswater and has a 1900>1909 time period on it. It does look vaguely familiar but I couldn’t find any reference to the photo in the WW archives.

Can anyone help put a her to her.

What’s The New Must Have In Classic Wooden Boating

Answer bow thrusters  – the Slipway Milford is doing a roaring trade in retro fitting – hauled out for work that included a bow thruster – IONA II, SEA FEVER , PACIFIC

PACIFIC

WOODYS ON TOUR – South of France Wooden Boats

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WOODYS ON TOUR – South of France Wooden Boats

Todays thanks to the owner of the launch – IONA II we get another peak at the wooden boating scene on the other side of the world.                                                                                      The family are currently cruising the Canal du Midi in the South of France for a week and sent in some photos of the local work boats earning their keep.                                                              Most of the boats are old converted steel bulk barges (with wooden wheelhouse and interior) or the modern plastic rental boats. The photos of the rarer wooden boat on the canal is rather smart
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CAN YOU HELP LOCATE THIS WOODEN BOAT

Last week WW was contacted by John Chambers the owner of the launch – NGARUNUI, asking for help locating a boat from his past – I’ll hand over to John to tell the story – 

“In my earyl years, aged 10 to12 years i.e.1957 -58, I lived at Okura River  (Long Bay / Wade  River) after school, weekends, holidays – the river was my playground. I was the only kid on the river full time, there were only 11 locals living there at the time  plus 2 farms. The 1st was Warmans just up from the houses, 2nd was Jacksons about 1mile up the road down a long  drive. Mr Jackson built a big boat in the shed which I used to check out every few days.    Launch  day – boat was 60’ long, a double end ketch, heavily built in kauri and teak. The boat was towed across the paddocks by bulldozer to the river where a ramp had been bulldozed   and a wire cable  across to big tree  on the other side then back to the dozer. Boat in water high tide, my  job  lead the way  down the river to deep water, job  done. Next hurdle a big ketch that had broken the mizen mast on the new harbour bridge.    The point of this  – what was her name and were did she go? I think the plan was to sail back to England.I think the boats name was Tyrant or Truant “.        

Wooden Boat Beached at Sulphur Point – 1930’s

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Wooden Boat Beached at Sulphur Point – 1930’s

Todays photo comes to us from the McLeod collection at the Auckland Library Heritage Collection via Nathan Herbert. We see a launch in the configuration of a tram top + dog house, has to a 1920’s build most likely a flat top with the later (1930’s) additional of the tramtop and dog house.

The photo is tagged ‘ Launch beached after storm at Sulphur Beach, Northcote (Auckland) , 1930/39.

Can we put a name and builder to the boat.

UNKNOWN CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH ON THE MOVE

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UNKNOWN CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH ON THE MOVE

Woody owner Mark Russell (MV KARANGA) sent the photo above of the launch he spotted in Te Hana heading north yesterday. No visual name, two props so most likely twin engined and in my eyes its got Oliver and Gilpin, Tauranga, written all over her.

Can we put a name to the launch and learn where she is heading.