Wanderer II

WANDERER II
Wanderer II was built in 1965 by Owen Woolley and measures approx. 39’ with a 13’7” beam. Powered by a Ford Lees 100hp 6 cyl. diesel she gets along at a comfortable 8 knots. A recent addition to tme (thanks Ian McDonald).


Can we uncover where and what Wanderer II has been up to for the last 55 years?

Input From Nigel Drake – Below is another photo of Wanderer 11, I am a friend of the present owner. The previous owner showed me this photo of her when he sold her 5 years ago. She is in her original colours. Not sure of the date but interestingly the name on the side is Wanderer not Wanderer 11. The previous owner had her for about 17 years to my knowledge and kept her in Doves Harbour, Bay of Islands. The owner before him, who was the 2nd owner, also had her for about 17 years apparently.

Mystery Motor-Sailer

MYSTERY MOTOR-SAILER
The photo above of the motorsailer is dated late 1960’s, early 1970’s. Location probably in/around Whangarei. Anyone able to ID the boat and tell us more about her past?

I know the answer, just hoping the arrival of this good quality photo will shift a few brain cells in some woodys.

Stuart Turner Engines One of the woodys was unable to attend Sundays boat boot sale – he has x5 Stuart Turner engines…1 P66 (10hp) and at least 4 P55 (8hp), for sale at a modest sum to a good home. One P55 and the P66 are intact, the rest in various stages of disassembly. Plus various manuals and technical articles. These wonderful little British 2 stroke engines run like a sewing machine….when handled by a knowledgeable operator!Once a very popular yacht auxillary but would be perfect for that restored classic clinker dinghy/open launch. If interested, I can supply contact details.


WOODYS CLASSICS RIVERHEAD TAVERN LUNCH CRUISE – RSVP TODAY Just need boat name and guesstimate of crew numbers – email to waitematawoodys@gmail.com

MARIAN – Ex Work Boat Conversion Project

MARIAN – Ex Work Boat Conversion Project

Marian was built by Alf Saunders, is 50’ in length and powered by a 6LX 110hp Gardner. Her present owner has started the conversion to pleasure craft and now reluctantly offers her for sale.

Sadly no interior photo on her tme listing (thanks Ian McDonald). Currently berthed in Lyttleton, South Island. The listing states that she is ‘an amazing and well respected sea boat – the photo below would call for an underpants change for most of us Waitemata harbour woodys:-)


WW – SLIPWAY MILFORD BOAT BOOT SALE – Important Info
1. Sellers arrive at 9.30am – a tip – if you can, bring a table for you items + cash ‘change’ for buyers

2. Doors open at 10am for buyers

3. Cash only

4. Gold coin sausage sizzle BBQ

5. Its all over at 11.30am so don’t be late

ANY ONE RECOGNIZE THIS NAME BOARD – ATATU

A WW reader, Brent Farquhar,  sent in the 2 photos below of a name board his daughter found washed up high and dry on Waiheke Island. It appeared that it had been there for a considerable period. It measures approx. 410mm x 100mm. I have asked the Brooke brothers (Robert & Don) for comment, given the ‘Built by J Brooke – Devonport’ reference, but the name Atatu does not appear in any of the records that they have. So woodys – can anyone shed some light on the origin of the board?

Harold Kidd Input – Interesting! It’s not a launch and it’s not a Frostbite; I wonder if it’s a Wakatere canoe that Jack built or someone bought from him. It looks like pokerwork or chipwork and could easily be the backboard of a canoe which will go back to the late 1920s.

Classic Wooden Launch Project

Classic Wooden Launch Project
Last week I was contacted by Bruce Deeming about the above woody launch that had been brought to his attention. Bruce advised that he had been approached to take over the project due to changing circumstances of the present owner. Unfortunately its not on Bruce’s radar so the search is on for a passionate woody looking for a restoration project. 

There is no name on her and the design / build is also a mystery, but Bruce suspects maybe a Cauldry, length is approx. 30>31’. Was sitting in Kaiaua mud berths opposite the Kaiaua fish & chip shop for a number of years. Bruce commented that it requires some plank work and the window surrounds in main cabin are not good, but it has good bones. It has been in the water up until 4 odd months ago. Decks & cabin appear to be very sound, with exception to those main cabin window areas.

Bruce has the original motor, an air cooled Lister or similar, not going. The owner is happy to look at any offer & discuss options.

Anyone able to ID the launch for us?

UPDATE – 03-03-2021 Bruce Ryrie has taken over this project and thus far has scraped and red leaded below the waterline and gutted the interior and set up a soaker system inside to stop her drying out. Some process photos below. Well done Bruce 🙂

Mystery Wooden Boats – Lake Manapouri

Mystery Wooden Boats – Lake Manapouri
The above photo, ex Lew Redwood, of Pearl Harbour, Lake Manapouri could almost be a painting. Its rather stunning and features two very smart woodys. Can anyone help ID either or both of these boats? Sadly there is no date accompanying the photo.


Booked Your Woody In For Its Annual TLC?
Talking last week to a couple of yard managers + marine engineers and given the knock-on effect of the CV-19 lock-downs the work diaries are VERY full, in fact depending on what you want done, there is a strong chance you will miss out. So get on the phone today – or you might end up like this guys stern drive………..

Lady Gay Australian Holiday

LADY GAY – Australian Holiday Postcard
Almost a year to the day we reported that the 1935, Colin Wilde designed and built launch – Lady Gay was holidaying in Australia. Recently LG’s current custodian (their words) Graeme Wilson, wrote in and advised that LG was tucked up safely at marina in Sydney. Graeme commented that she has seen a constant stream of onlookers since she arrived in Sydney with many intrigued to hear of her history and how she has come to be in Sydney, and that she is holding her own when alongside woodys in Australia. 

Graeme has been cruising her mainly in Port Jackson waters with COVID and politics having thwarted plans to head to Queensland for the foreseeable future.  Sadly with the Wooden boat show in Tasmania cancelled for 2021, for the same reasons, he is hopeful of taking LG south for the show in 2023.  

Graeme wrote that Lady Gay is particularly well suited to the upper reaches of Port Jackson, Pittwater and the Hawkesbury.  Two weeks ago they enjoyed a lovely spring cruise up in the Hawkesbury and Smiths Creek and plan to return in a few weeks to explore further upstream to Wisemans Ferry and Berowra Waters.

Waipa + Boat Boot Sale

WAIPA + BOAT BOOT SALE 
Baden Pascoe recently sent in the above photo of the workboat – Waipa and commented that she was owned by Ray Bronlunds and if his memory is correct, Logan built. Wait brings back many memories for Baden, having helped his father, Howard, and Ray cut the box shed off her. This would have been back in the days Baden wore short pants i.e before school days and he was helping them do odds and ends. Then Howard Pascoe built the configuration as in the above photo. Back then s.he had a Perkins P4 and went like stink. With in a year Ray and Waipa were no 1 cray boat in the Bay taking the crown off Ronomor and Norma. Do we know what became of Waipa?

Left, A young Ray Brondlund and Don Ross on
board coaster Lady Jocelyn . Without any question two cornerstones of
Whitianga commercial boating and absolute gentlemen. Just to add Ray is a
former owner of the lovely Waione.


BOAT BOOT SALE NEXT SUNDAY (18TH) – ARE YOU ATTENDING?
If so, make life easier for everyone and drop us an email so we know how many sausages to buy 🙂

MORE DETAILS BELOW
Lets be honest, we all collect / hoard boat bits. Could be a good time to gain some more space and earn a few dollars.Waitematawoodys and The Slipway, Milford are hosting a boat boot sale on Sunday 18th October at their boat yard in Milford, Auckland. Details below.So woodys, be brave and get together anything boat related that you think needs a new home and bring it along on Sunday 18th (10.00>11.30am) – to stop some ponker turning up with an alloy mast – there is only one rule – items must fit in a car boot 🙂 But we will make an exception for grandad’s kauri clinker dinghy.Its a big shed but space will be limited so drop me an email to reserve some space  waitematawoodys@gmail.com
As its the day after the General Election – I’ll either be in a good mood or very grumpy. AND IT IS CASH ONLY.

Arcturus- New Owner Update

ARCTURUS – An Update
Recently WW was contacted by Annie Bryce who along with her partner bought the 33’, 1952 McGeady launch – Arcturus a couple of months ago. Annie advised that they have put her on the hard and sanded her hull back which was in good condition, re-painted and anti-fouled Her topsides have been painted and they are addressing a few window issues. The engine has had a few minor repairs and the next stage is a full interior re-do.  Annie commenced that Arcturus is a lovely launch and they are keeping her in the Sounds at Waikawa marina.


Annie would appreciate any information the WW readers may have on Arcturus, its a mystery how an Auckland boat ended up so far south.


You can see and read more here from a 2019 WW story https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/03/18/a-mystery-launch-3/

A Peek Inside Six Boathouses + Next On-The-Water Woody Event

A Peek Inside Six Boathouses + Next On-The-Water Woody Event
Every year The New Hampshire Boat Museum, runs a fundraising event in the form of a ‘guided’ tour of boathouses on their local lakes – this year due to CV-19 rather than cancel the event, they want with a virtual concept. I think its very cool, the use of a drone to film the approach to the locations  and meet the owner interviews is a winner.

Sadly you can not fast forward, you have to watch the whole tour but you can halt it and start again where you left off.At the end of the video is a link to donate if your were feeling that way inclined 🙂 Enjoy.

Click on blue text above and then scroll down and click to play


WOODY CLASSICS RIVERHEAD LAUNCH CRUISE – SUNDAY 8 NOVEMBER – RSVP NOW

RVSP To waitematawoodys@gmail.com  Boat name and est. number of crew

RSVP – boat name & est number of crew to waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Rehutai + Woody Boat Yard Boot Sale

REHUTAI + Woody Boat Yard Boot  Sale

Sunday night I was scratching the head thinking what Tuesday’s WW story would be and ping – I get an email from Sally Verbiest inquiring about her grandfather’s, Roy Barton, Sam Ford built launch – Rehutai. Roy lived in the Wairarapa when he owned the boat, unfortunately Sally doesn’t know the dates, but Roy dies in 1968, in his early eighties. 

The photo above is from an old family album and Sally thinks it was taken in Queen Charlotte Sound. The rather lovely cartoon, was drawn by a friend of Sally’s father – a depiction of Roy, whose main retirement hobbies were boating and polo. He must have been a great guy 🙂


Sally has asked that if current owner Tony Whyman? or anyone that knows him, could contact WW (via the comments section) as Sally would like to see these items reunited with the the boat.
You can see and read a lot more on Rehutai here   https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/04/12/the-restoration-of-rehutai/


WOODY BOAT YARD BOOT SALE

Lets be honest, we all collect / hoard boat bits. Could be a good time to gain some more space and earn a few dollars.

Waitematawoodys and The Slipway, Milford are hosting a boat boot sale on Sunday 18th October at their boat yard in Milford, Auckland. Details below.

So woodys, be brave and get together anything boat related that you think needs a new home and bring it along on Sunday 18th (10.00>11.30am) – to stop some ponker turning up with an alloy mast – there is only one rule – items must fit in a car boot 🙂 But we will make an exception for grandad’s kauri clinker dinghy.

Its a big shed but space will be limited so drop me an email to reserve some space  waitematawoodys@gmail.com
As its the day after the General Election – I’ll either be in a good mood or very grumpy. AND IT IS CASH ONLY.

RSVP TO BOOK SPACE TO waitematawoodys@gmail.com