Category Archives: Non Waitemata

CAN ANYONE TELL US ABOUT THE WOODEN BOAT – LADY JOYCE

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CAN ANYONE TELL US ABOUT THE WOODEN BOAT – LADY JOYCE

Somedays life just gets in the way of writing a WW story, so today’s story is a lazy one eg I was sent the photos above by Dion Lane. Dion had recently purchased the 44’ LADY JOYCE and was seeking more intel on her, makes for an quick story.

Dion commented that he believes LADY JOYCE was built from kauri c.1970 by the ’Carey family’. Home currently is Wellington but she may have spent time in Waikawa, Marlborough, South Island.

The addition of the block of flats doesn’t please my classic eye but as one of my favourite boatbuilders is fond of saying “its only wood and I do own a tungsten tipped chainsaw” 🙂

DAVEY JONES BOOK QUIZ – CLOSES TONIGHT AT 6 pm

Scroll down to yesterdays story for details on the prize and how to enter – FYI – So far the most entries ever to a WW competition and they all have the correct answer ✓ So it seems Davey and vessel are well known around NZ’s coastal ports.

FATHERS DAY SORTED FOR ANYONE WITH SALT IN THEIR VEINS

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FATHERS DAY SORTED FOR ANYONE WITH SALT IN THEIR VEINS

Rarely these days do I pick up a book and can not put it down – well it happened recently. I received an advance copy of Davey Jones just published book – ‘Davey Jones of Wakatahuri’ and its both a cracker read and an amazing account of his boating life and his interaction with the Wakatahuri region. Now I’m sure some of you will be asking yourself ‘ where is that?’ – well its in the outer Pelorus Sound at the top of the South Island, the Marlborough District (refer chart below). The area has been many things to many people – a fish factory, a boatyard, a ship breaking base and a community hub.

Davey Jones arrived at Wakatahuri as a young fisherman in 1956 and still lives there today , on and off when he’s not lapping NZ in his boat.

It’s an additive read that with the help of over 200 photographs will have you hooked. 

And as a bonus – included is a reprint of an equally wonderful read -’Sounds Wrecking Co.’ by Martin Burthold.

So woodys drop a hint to the family re what you want for Fathers Day (Sept 7th) or just order one for yourself – $60+ p&p – all enquiries to daveyjonesofwakatahuri@gmail.com

AND I HAVE A COPY TO GIVE AWAY – just answer correctly the name of the vessel Davey Jones has most recently been lapping NZ on. Enter ONLY via email to waitematawoodys@gmail.com all correct entries go in the draw. Closes 6pm 17-08-2023.

AND THERE ALWAYS HAS TO BE A BOAT PHOTO – this is from Davey’s book and shows the work boat MARLBOROUGH PN47, in Picton Harbour c.1929, built by E R Lane. In the background are VALMARIE, at left, and Ernie Lane’s boat shed, the Picton Rowing Club sheds at right. The vessel under repair at Lane’s yard is a lighter from Port Robinson (Gore Bay)

FAMOUS UK SAILOR TOURS NEW ENGLAND – USA

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FAMOUS UK SAILOR TOURS NEW ENGLAND – USA

One of the many classic boating channels I follow is the very popular small dinghy cruising guru Roger Barnes, star of his own highly popular YouTube channel (link below). Roger recently visited the USA, primarily to promote small dinghy cruising at the recent wooden boat show at the Mystic Seaport Museum.

In the 20 minute video Roger gets to sail on numerous cruising dinghies, visits boatyards and mooches around many port towns . The journey started in Maryland, Washington DC.  and finished in Maine. 

Sit back and enjoy a tour of the wooden boating scene in North America, and woodys it’s not all about dinghies 🙂

LINK TO ROGER BARNES YOUTUBE CHANNEL  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtzWwFEMaEVXejzRKgPjPNA

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH ALPHEUS FINDS A NEW LAKE HOME – AND SOME WELL EARNED TLC

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH ALPHEUS FINDS A NEW LAKE HOME – AND SOME WELL EARNED TLC

How’s this for a spot of serendipity, or maybe just Siri listening in 🙂 

Yesterday I was chatting online with Alan Craig at Craig Marine, the central north island master boatbuilder / restorer about the 42′ classic wooden launch – ALPHEUS. Craig mentioned that they had recently completed some work on her a few months ago. Mainly TLC, tidying up some of the bright work and a few repairs. 

These days home for ALPHEUS is Taupo, at the marina down in Turangi. Craig commented that the location was definitely not the place to be doing that kind of work in autumn but they were lucky with the weather.

Then bingo today on WW in the comments section a gent named Brian Murphy mentioned he owned ALPHEUS from 1992/3 until he sold her to Ian and Rosalind about 2015. Brain’s family has huge memories of a superb ownership and many enjoyable summers.We used to moor her on D52 at Gulf Harbour. Last I heard of her she was on Lake Taupo as a live aboard (edited) 

Back in the early days before the demise of the classic yacht association motor launch division, Ian Rosalind and ALPHEUS were regular attendees at the multitude of events we hosted. Very happy to see she has a new life on the lake.

View more photos here from a June 2020 WW story https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/06/04/alpheus-a-peek-down-below-lady-ava-sinks/

Photo below showing the TLC was overdue 😉

SURPRISE – EX WOODY WHALE CHASER NEEDS RESCUING 

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SURPRISE – EX WOODY WHALE CHASER NEEDS RESCUING 

WW has recently been contacted by Jeff Giddens concerning the Picton built 36′ ex whale chaser – SURPRISE. 

Jeff owns a boat shed at Mana, Paremata, in Wellington and a fellow resident owns the whale chaser. Jeff commented that the craft has been out of the water for some years and is now for sale. These craft hold a special place in NZ’s Maritime history and any example needs to be saved. See old Sea Spray magazine artice on the history of these craft.
Jeff mentioned that she probably needs some work in the hull, and the project is best suited a retired boatbuilder or the like. There is an engine sitting in place, could possibly be a TS3 Commer, condition unknown.

Any woodys interested in taking on the project can contact Jeff at j.giddens@xtra.co.nz

SUNDAYS CLASSIC WOODY BOAT QUIZ- WINNER/S

This got a little complicated – the plaque on the front – see below, incorrectly ID’ed one of the boats. But this was my base and one woody – Noel Baker, entered with the answer that matched the plaque. Then Ken Ricketts entered with a massive (as he does) entry where he supplied intel that differed from the plaque. Consulted Nathan Herbert re the boat names and the boat names matched KR entry.

So decided that in fairness to both – I’d split the prize – NB gets the OCH cap and KR the WW T-shirt. In regard the split it was based on the physical size of these two gents 🙂

I have added an edited version of KR’s entry to the WW story for those interested. Link here https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/08/10/a-classic-wooden-boat-quiz-win-an-off-center-harbor-cap/

CLASS WOODEN LAUNCH CHLOE – WHAT’S HER STORY

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CLASS WOODEN LAUNCH CHLOE – WHAT’S HER STORY

The photo above of the wooden launch – CHLOE was sent in by a reader (not the owner of the vessel), more details on why in a later post. For now what we are wanting to do is learn what we can about the craft.

Its said that she is a Cauldry design, but builder is unknown, possibly Cauldry.

Home these days is in and around Mahurangi Harbour.

From what we can see from the photo, appears to be in relatively original condition, rare to find a sedan launch that hasn’t had a small addition added on top 🙂

EX WORK BOAT ARGO – A Peek Down Below

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EX WORK BOAT ARGO – A Peek Down Below

Back in May 2022 we ran a story on the 55’ ex commercial fishing boat – ARGO, that at the time she was berthed at the Kaipara Boating Club (west coast of Nth Is) during an extended (3yr) cruise around New Zealand. Link here WW May 2022 https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/05/22/argo/

Fast forward and she is currently calling Milford (Sth Is) home and has recently popped up on tme (thanks Ian McDonald).

A very tasteful conversation to pleasure use and being built in 1944 by Miller & Tunnage ARGO is more than capable of handling any conditions that Mother Nature might throw at her.

ARGO is powered by a 240hp Caterpillar D334 diesel engine that gives her a comfortable cruising speed around 8.5 knots.

So woodys today we get to have a gander below decks.

CLASSIC LAUNCH LADY JANE REMAINS UNSOLD AFTER SINKING INCIDENT

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CLASSIC LAUNCH LADY JANE REMAINS UNSOLD AFTER SINKING INCIDENT

The classic wooden 34’ launch – LADY JANE appeared recently on fb, it was a being auctioned by Turners Trucks, and hadn’t reached the reserve price when the auction closed. Thanks Ian McDonald for the heads up.

Reading the listing the seller states that the boat and engine ‘had taken on water’ so I assume she is now a member of the submariners club.

For the record the engine in her is a Ford 80hp diesel.

Hard finding a buyer to take on such a craft, even harder when the seller lists it as fibreglass Roy Ford boat……

Lots of chat re designer/builder in the comments section of this July 2020 WW story link below https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/07/01/lady-jane-3/

And in case you were wondering the highest bid was $5,145, makes you wonder what the reserve was.

UPDATE – NOW SOLD

PAM – OPUA CLASSIC YACHT – What Do We Know About Her

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PAM – OPUA CLASSIC YACHT – What Do We Know About Her

Trolling thru the WW files on Friday and found the above photos of a classic yacht named PAM that had ‘fallen between the cracks’.

The photo was sent to me back in November 2024 by Dean Wright with the commented ‘ spotted today on the hard at Opua’

And that woodys is all we know about PAM, other than she is quite a stunner.

Anyone able to shed some light on PAM.

04-08-2025 INPUT EX DEAN WRIGHT

From the owner, John Oates of Russell: Stuart Knockabout, imported from the US. Fibreglass version of L. Francis Herreshoff’s 1932 Design. 28′ x 6’11”

https://www.stuartknockaboutllc.com

MYSTERY POND YACHT

WW has been contacted by Matt Blaikie concerning a classic pond yacht named – TANIWHA. Matt is selling for a friend and he commented that it was purchased approx. 30 years ago from an antiques dealer in Wellington, and other than that he knows zero about the model. (1.8m tall and 1.5m approx long)

Any of the woodys interested in pond yachts able to tell us anything from the photos (apologise for the quality)

LEGENDARY EX BIG GAME WOODEN LAUNCH SEEKS PASSIONATE NEW CUSTODIAN

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c.2005 tbc
2025
2025

LEGENDARY EX BIG GAME WOODEN LAUNCH SEEKS PASSIONATE NEW CUSTODIAN

The 42’ ex game boat KITTY VANE has a wonderful back story, starting life in 1956 big game fishing and owned by the Going family in Tutukaka, Northland. She has appeared numerous times on WW, starting back in March 2015 when we reached out to learn more about the craft. Link below to that story and others – lots of chat in the comments section.

Fast forward to July 2021 and we learnt that KITTY VANE had been purchased in Auckland and returned to Northland with the intention of a full restoration. As can be seen in the above photos the worked has started and most of the hard yards have been ticked off. Unfortunately circumstances have changed and the decision has been made to find a new owner that can complete the restoration.   As she sits now, under cover in Kerikeri, KITTY VANE is a blank canvas that her next owner can refit to match their style and budget.

As the architects say when working on heritage buildings – KITTY VANE has good bones and has not been ‘altered’ too much from as built.
KITTY ZANE has always been a good looking woody and with a new passionate owner, we look forward to seeing her back on the briny.

Her owners are very realistic in terms of an asking price, so interested parties to initially make contact via michelle@zewnealanddesign.co.nz

LINKS TO PREVIOUS WW STORIES: WW March 2015 https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/03/21/kitty-vane/
WW April 2020 https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/04/20/kitty-vane-where-are-you/
WW July 2021 https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/07/03/kitty-vane-update/