Category Archives: Non Waitemata

A CLASSIC 1949 NORTHLAND HOLIDAY CRUISE

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A CLASSIC 1949 NORTHLAND HOLIDAY CRUISE

Todays woody story comes to use from Archives NZ via Liz Ferry on the Northland Heritage Group fb. The film was a National Film Unit production from 1949 and mostly showcases the 1949 Russell (B.O.I.) Regatta.

Lots of familiar woodys to be seen, sail numbers A3 – ARIKI, A4 – IORANGI, A18 – TAWERA, A19 -The regatta was won by IORANGI, the 1901 Arch Login designed classic yacht. With ARIKI second.

We see several classic launches at the start of the film.

Given the date, the crews would have been enjoying post WWII informality.

CLASSIC LAUNCH – FREYA – A Peek Down Below

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CLASSIC LAUNCH – FREYA – A Peek Down Below

Launch FREYA was built in 1963 is sits on the fence between a classic and spirit of tradition.

It has been commented that she is a ‘Banshee’ design (but shortened to 30’) from the yard of Alan Williams in Milford, Auckland.

30’ in length and powered by a 60hp Ford Parsons engine ( I suspect the word Parsons refers to the gearbox). Home is Nelson, South Island.

CLASSIC WOODEN WORKBOAT – TENACITY

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CLASSIC WOODEN WORKBOAT – TENACITY

Back in 2024 the 44’ classic wooden workboat TENACITY was for sale in Nelson as a commercial fishing boat , but the suggestion was she had the bones to make a good recreational cruiser.

At the time we learnt she was a Jack Guard design, built in 1988 from kauri and was powered by a 150hp Gardner 6L3B engine.

Todays woody question is did she sell, and if so did she remain in commercial work or get converted to recreational use.

RONAKO – ANOTHER CLASSIC WOODY NEEDING SAVING

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RONAKI – ANOTHER CLASSIC WOODY NEEDING SAVING

There is a fb page titled – ’Sitting there rotting, help save me’ which has a NZ version. Recently a gent named Bill Webb posted seeking anyone that might be interested in his 30’ mullity named RONAKI (note – boat most likely 28’ in length)

Bill states that RONAKI was built in 1903 and is still a solid boat thats has a lot of history behind her.

Bill also commented that she needs a new home asap and its his view that it wouldn’t take a great deal of work to get her looking beautiful again.

RONAKI has been out of the water about 3 years.

There is no mention of price – its not ‘free to a good home’, so being located in Waihi it will be a big ask to find a buyer.

There is some colourful chat on the fb page – worth a visit 😉

Photo below c.1990’s when owned by Jason Kinghorn.

19-06-2026 UPDATE ex HAROLD KIDD – built in 1908 by Collings & Matin, 26′ in length

HOW MANY OF THESE CLASSIC CRAFT WERE SAVED.

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HOW MANY OF THESE CLASSIC CRAFT WERE SAVED.

While using the WW search box yesterday for the SOS – SOUTHERN MAID story I typed in SOS and was amazed how many WW stories had SOS in the headline of text (selection above)

Ata glance not many of them were saved. The common denominator was lack of timing, in most cases WW was contacted with less than 24hrs notice of an appointment with a back-hoe.

Click on this link to see all the SOS stories . https://waitematawoodys.com/page/2/?s=SOS&submit=Search

Also any update on the classic launch – SILENS, last I heard , $500 would have secured ownership. A great project boat, hopefully saved.

SOS – SOUTHERN MAID – CLASSIC 1929 MOTOR LAUNCH NEEDS SAVING

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SOS – SOUTHERN MAID – CLASSIC 1929 MOTOR LAUNCH NEEDS SAVING

The 42’ 1929 wooden motor launch – SOUTHERN MAID, built by E.R. Lane in Picton has just popped up on tme with a call out for someone to help save this significant southern woody. Current owner is unable to continue the upkeep of the vessel and the call has gone out for a new owner to step up.

As we can see from the photos below, she hasn’t always been in the ‘as presented for sale’ condition.

There must be a woody follower in the South Island that can bring the SOUTHERN MAID back to the condition she deserves. ( thanks Ian McDonald for the heads up)

CLASSIC WOODEN WORKBOAT – OCEAN SPRAY – BEACHED IN 1967

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CLASSIC WOODEN WORKBOAT – OCEAN SPRAY – BEACHED IN 1967

Todays classic wooden workboat is seen aground at Santoft on the west coast of the north island (Manawatu – Wanganui region). The photo comes to us from Chriss Taylor, via Maurice Sharp fb.

Thanks to a comment from John Hair we learnt that at the time of the mishap the vessel was named OCEAN SPRAY, later named  KERIMOANA. John also commented that these days her home is Tonga.

Any input on design / builder.

19-06-2026 – UPDATE ex HAROLD KIDD- built 1942 by Jack Guard

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – PIRATE + Win A WW Cap

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH- PIRATE + Win A WW Cap

Recently WW was sent the above photo of the 46’ Leon Warne built (1939) classic wooden launch PIRATE by Derek Gerritsen.PIRATE has made many appearances on WW – links below.

 https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/06/14/pirate-a-peek-down-below-4sale/  https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/05/30/beautiful-boats-attract-beautiful-people/ https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/06/24/the-waitematawoodys-x-factor/

WWhasn’t seen this particular photo. The crew shirts suggest the photo was taken during a game fishing tournament and possibly indicate the dateisn’t as old as the boat appears in the photo.

Woodys that can correctly name the crew go into the draw towin a WW cap.Note the more correct names = more chances in the draw.ENTERY IS VIA EMAIL ONLY TO– Entrycloses at 9am 10-06-2026

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – RONGO

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – RONGO

WW was recently contacted by Joan McCracken regarding a classic wooden launch – Joan is helping prepare a 2027 calendar for the Alex Turnbull Library.

During her search for photographs matching the calendar theme ‘Picnics’ she came across the photo above that is dated March 1952 and tagged ‘RONGO in Queen Charlotte Sound’.

The photo was taken by K. V. Bigwood. Joan is hoping WW readers can help with any information on the vessel, the photo, and specifically  who owned the RONGO at this time – and is the owner / captain the person in the cap serving tea in the photo.

Back in May 2013 we a RONGO story that featured RONGO, at the time Harold Kidd provided extensive details on vessels named –  RONGO / RONGO I, RONGO !! – Link below to the 2013 WW story –  https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/05/29/who-can-id-this-launch/


1908 CLASSIC WORKBOAT WOODYS PICNIC

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1908 CLASSIC WORKBOAT WOODYS PICNIC

Todays woody photograph was taken by A. J. Watson and originally published in the Auckland Weekly News in February 1908.

The photo captures the Thames fishing fleet departing for a community picnic ‘up the river’, which usually refers to a trip toward Kopu or further up the Waihou River, a common tradition for the local heritage groups and fishing families to celebrate a successful season.

While the full names of every vessel in the 1908 fleet are not all documented in a single public list, we can identify several based on the registration numbers visible in the high-resolution original:

Identified Vessels

T 547 (Left): This is the DREADNOUGHT. It was a well-known launch in the Thames fleet during this era.

TS 35 (Right, background): This vessel is the VIKING The “TS” prefix was common for Thames-based sailing or auxiliary vessels.

T 514 (Right, foreground): This is the MIZPAH. 

 Historical Context- The fleet shown here represents the early motorisation of the Thames fishing industry. At this time, many of these launches were owned by local families (such as the Judd, Maxwell, or Mears families) or by the growing Dalmatian fishing community that revolutionised the Hauraki Gulf fishing trade.

(photo ex Toby Hyman)