Riwaka Woodys

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RIWAKA WOODYS
 
My woody spotter in the Nelson area, John Burland, recently sent in the above photos from the Riwaka Inlet.
The top photo is of the 36’ Varlene, built by Supreme Craft c.1940’s. She has made several appearance on WW and I last saw her in Torrent Bay, Abel Tasman National Park in early March 2019 (photo below)
 
Can anyone ID the very smart launch alongside her in the 3rd photo?
 
The work-boat it Tina, built in Wellinton to service the Flying Boats, but never did. Spent a chunk of her life pushing logs around the Sounds. Has called Riwaka home for the last 8 years.
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Pohuwai + Lakeside Woody Parade

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POHUWAI
The owner of Pohuwai, Danny Dalton, is 46 years old and has owned her for 29 years – I’ll save you the maths, he bought her when he was 17. That must have been like owning a Ford Mustang when you were still at high school.
The 1963, 17’ Mason Marlin has been a rolling-restoration over the 29 years, when purchased she had a 350ci Chevrolet V8 inboard and is currently on its 4th outboard.
Danny is keen to uncover any history on the boat, what he knows is – Pohuwai started life on Lake Taupo, her name has not changed since launched.
The boat resides on a custom trailer in it own shed in his home town and sadly does not get a lot of use as Danny currently resides in Australia. But he has set a target to be back for the North Island’s – 2021 Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade.
Fingers crossed Danny has promised some photos of her when he purchased her.
2021 LAKE ROTOITI CLASSIC & WOODEN BOAT PARADE – THIS SATURDAY – 8TH FEB
If you are a regular visitor to the WW site you will know that this woody event, held on the North Islands Lake Rotoiti is one of best on-the-water woody events in New Zealand. One of the really cool aspects of the parade is that the ‘public’ i.e. those without a boat – can view 100% of the parade from the banks of the lake at the Okere Falls Inlet. The fleet of 60+ woodys do a lap of a waterfront course, only 25m from the shore, complete with commentary.
The parade starts at 11am, but to secure a good spot for your rug / chairs, I would suggest you are on-site by 10>10.30am.
To see previous years parades, enter Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade in the WW search box.
WIN A 2020 Lake Rotoiti Classic Wooden Boat Calendar
The first 2 woodys to correctly answer the question below – will win a calendar.
If you miss out you can but them at  zea.rachel@gmail.com
$15 for one and $40 for three – + $7.50 p&p
NOTE: Entry is via email only – To waitematawoodys@gmail.com
Q: What year was the first parade? (Hint answer on their website) www.woodenboatparade.co.nz
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Ocean Angler

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OCEAN ANGLER
 
Chatting recently with Paul Pedersen the owner of the 42’ Ocean Angler and Pauls has asked for some help filling in the gaps in the boats past.
So, firstly – what we ‘know or have been told’.
Built c.1960 on the Panmure River, possibly a Lane (aren’t they all) or could have been built by a retired electrician, who then on sold her to the late Noel Maker. She appears to have spent a large chunk of her life in and around East Auckland. She also spent time in Kerikeri and the Clevedon River area.
Noel possibly had a partner in the boat, named Murray Forsythe and they may have used her as a dive charter boat. The current owner, Paul, bought her of a gent named Dan Monroe, who kept her at West Harbour, Dan only had her for a short time.
 
When Noel purchased her she had twin Ford 4cyl. engines in her, Noel swapped these for the 120hp’s she still has today.
She is of diagonal construction with three layers of plank kauri and has since had a layer of fiberglass cloth and resin added to the bottom to make her water tight with out caulking.
Paul and partner Jo Whiteman have owned Ocean Angler for approx. 10 years and her home port is Dove Bay, Kerikeri.
 
Each to their own but I’d lose the hot-house if she was mine 🙂 
 
So woodys can we digest the above and see if we can confirm / expand her history.
UPDATE 04-02-2020  – photos below from the ‘past’ 😉
 
THE WAITANGI DAY WOODY PICNIC IS SHAPING UP TO BE A GOODY – 18 BOATS CONFIRMED ALREADY
If you have not RSVP’ed – time to get off the couch and do it 🙂 email to address below. The venue is – Waikalabubu Bay, Motutapu Island.
waitematawoodys@gmail.com
Had a few woody yachts asking if they can join – of course, the more the merrier 🙂
Woody Waitangi Picnic
 
 
Any One Need / Want An Old Style Ford Engine Manual
Baden Pascoe sent these in, he thinks they are for the old style Trader type engine. Free to a good home.
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TIO

TIO

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TIO

I recently received the above colour photo of Tio from her owner Richard Cross, the older b/w photos popped up on fb. 

Richard commented that he had fully re-corked her 3 years ago,and was chipping away at the interior fitout. He has purchased the majority of big ticket items including new solar set up and batteries.
The engine – a Detroit 671 two stroke, had a  top end rebuild last year and the real reason for today’s story is Richard is looking for advice on what to do. A bottom end bearing has now gone and having spent a lot of money last year on the engine, he is looking for advice of what options he has, as he is currently not in a postion to engage last years mechanic – so is there someone knowledgable whose brain Richard could pick?
Also looking for input on the design layout for the stairs to the old hold, which he is thinking will be two double cabins, storage, office and workshop.
 
Tio is 55’ in length, 28 ton, designed by Hubert Levy, built in kauri in 1953 by Jack Guard at Putatea Bay (French Pass) for the Marine Dept as an oyster research boat. Later served as a Navy Pilot vessel (registered ship number 316485).
Also did time as a Great Barrier Island passenger ferry. These days she is a live-aboard and I have to say sports midships, what would best be described as a ’shed’ 🙂
 
Any mechanically minded / qualified woody able to help Richard out with some advice? I’ll throw in a WW t-shirt and Lake Rotoiti Wooden & Classic Boat 2020 calendar to the most helpful – Richard can decide who that is 😉
 
VENUE DECIDED FOR WAITANGI DAY WOODY PICNIC – WAIKALABUBU BAY 
After hours of reviewing weather forecasts, the WW weather guru has selected Waikalabubu Bay, Motutapu Island for the venue. Of course this could change but for now, that  is the spot. 
If you haven’t RSVP’ed – click the email link below . Great numbers already confirmed for next Thursday 🙂     waitematawoodys@gmail.com
Woody Waitangi Picnic
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Mahurangi Weekend – Biggest On-The -Water Wooden Boating Event Down Under  – 200+ Classic Wooden Boat Photos

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Mahurangi Weekend – Biggest On-The -Water Wooden Boating Event Down Under  – 200+ Classic Wooden Boat Photos

I think I should start today by apologizing to all the partners and bosses out there – I can see a very slow start to the week, might take a few hours to digest the above photo gallery – a selection of photos from Friday night thru until my trip home on Monday.
The weather for Auckland’s long weekend was just ace – for everyone, launches and yachts, for the whole 4 days.
As always the turnout for the regatta was incredible, I would predict record numbers afloat. The woody launch parade saw 25 launches register and another 17 (approx.) joined in on the day. One of the photos above shows some of the parade launches snaking across the harbour. Well done woodys.
If the attendance count was based solely on the number of dinghies at Scotts Landing for the Saturday night party, again it would have to be a record.
I apologize for the lack of photos from the Saturday night party at Scotts Landing, I was unable to attend, I was banned . Now I can imagine maybe one person on any committee could be a dog hater, but for the ‘Mahurangi Action’ (formerly  known as ‘Friends of Mahurangi’) committee to agree on a total 48hr dog ban ashore is hard to believe. But then I was told by a very public figure in the area – none of them have ever had to buy contraception in their lives – they use they personalities. So my question – Is it actually their ‘role’ to decide on whether boat owners can bring Fideo ashore?.
Maybe Mahurangi Action should stick to their core reason for being i.e. the Mahurangi Harbour.
I can imagine the relationship between the Mahurangi Cruising Club, the promoters of the actual boating regatta – the reason we all attend and Mahurangi Action, who run the shore based activities at Sullivans Bay and the Saturday night party, must at times be interesting. If I was MCC I would be appointing an event manager and running a solo event, including a function that the revenue from, would help fund the club. The weekend has got too big – I and a lot that I have spoken to would buy a ticket to attend – food for thought MCC ……..
Ps There were numerous dogs ashore, I was just one of the unlucky one that were apprehended coming ashore. What a waste of rate payers money to have professional security there + a dog ranger……….
A special thank you to Roger Mills for the aerial (drone) photos of Scotts Landing and the launch parade. Also Graeme Finch for topping up my photos with some of his own – thanks Graeme.
The photo below, while out of focus due to distance and 2 moving boats – sums up woody boating perfectly. The launch is Linda and the gathering of life jackets on the bow is the Brooke clan 🙂
Monday also saw the CYA running a launch race as part of the Auckland anniversary day regatta – coverage of this later in the week.
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WAITANGI DAY WOODY BEACH PICNIC – FEB 6 – Put A Circle In Your Diary, All Woodys Welcome. RSVP Below
Woody Waitangi Picnic
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Not At The Mahurangi Woody Regatta Today?

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Not At The Mahurangi Woody Regatta Today?

We have a special post for those unable to attend – click the link below to view the stunning 5 minute video Roger Mills filmed of last years regatta.

WAITANGI DAY WOODY BEACH PICNIC – FEB 6 – Put A Circle In Your Diary, All Woodys Welcome. RSVP Below
Woody Waitangi Picnic

Steam Launch Estral

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STEAM LAUNCH – ESTRAL
Marine engineer (retired) Bill Voisey sent in the above photo of his 21’ kauri steam launch – Estral. Estral has a a beam of 8’6” and draws 3’, and was originally built in Port Chalmers, for a Riverton Rocks farmer c.1940s. Bill understands this family (Jaimison) owned and used her until the 1990s.
Bill restored Estral and converted her to steam in the 1990 > 2000 period with the installation of a Stewart Turner 6A steam engine, and a Stirling  water tube boiler.
Video below of engine prior to clean up and painting
Video below showing back of engine showing boiler feed pump, and condensate pump.

The vessel is currently being re painted and tidied up to put it back in the water. Below is a summary of her set up:

Engine. Stewert Turner No 6a, 2 cyl compound,
Pumps engine driven condenser pump and boiler feed pump.
Keel condenser with return to hot well.
Prop 16″x 18 pitch. Hull speed 6 knots .
Stern tube oil filled with mechanical seals?
Thrust block fitted with forward and reverse thrust bearings.
12 volt alternator v belt driven from prop shaft.
Water tube boiler,pressure tested to 600lbs static pressure,stamped by inspector at 400lbs (not marine certified.)
oil fired automatic pressure controlled with Beckett oil burner fitted.
Water level kept by manual control via needle valve bypass.
Engine can be run to atmosphere
Tanning type boiler water treatment used.
Boiler always left with the total boiler system full of treated water filled from hot we’ll by hand boiler feed pump.

30-01-2020 Update – Russell Ward requested more details on the boiler. The below was supplied by Ben Voisey

“The Boiler design is of the type of water tube boilers common in the late 1890’s, taken from an article in book No 5 of the Modeltec magazines Sept 1988 page 27.
I adapted the design to suit the available space in the hull of Estral.
As you can see the design can be varied as to width, height and length with ease.
The headers at each end have only a 1.5 “ gap and the total of the boiler’s water capacity is under 30 litres .
Fuel type can be whatever suits the furnace that is designed, in this case oil fired.
These photos were taken when I did the last boiler clean.”

 
Hopefully I’ll See Some Of You Tomorrow At The Mahurangi Regatta – If You Don’t Make It, We Will Have Coverage In Tuesdays WW Story 🙂

 
WAITANGI DAY WOODY BEACH PICNIC – FEB 6 – Put A Circle In Your Diary, All Woodys Welcome. RSVP Below
Woody Waitangi Picnic

Maharatia (Anita Bay / Te Repo Repo Relaunched

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MAHARATIA RELAUNCHED
 
Last week in the WW inbox up popped a note from Troy and Dave Searle the owners of the 1947 Roy Lidgard built – Maharatia, the subject line said “Maharatia (Anita Bay) Update”. Well woodys that was an understatement, I can report that Maharatia has been relaunched 🙂
Firstly excuse me while I rewind – back in August 2015 Paul Drake sent me a single b/w photo (c.1960’s) of a rather large woody on the back of a truck in Taupo. Paul commented that the launch was Te Repo Repo as she was named while operating commercially on the lake.
That single photo (below) ignited one of the biggest chat sessions on WW, there have been over 64 comments posted around the boats provenance.
I attempted to summarize it into one read, which you will find along with a great photo gallery of her past at the WW link below. Make sure you read the comments, start at the bottom 😉 
 
 
Now back to the the Searle’s email – I have reproduced it below – rather a big project – well done guys, amazing effort – email me your T-shirt sizes and I will gift you a couple of WW t-shirts. Hopefully in person at this weekends Mahurangi Regatta.
 
“Well finally after a 4 1/2 years restoration we have relaunched Maharatia.
Last Wednesday (8th Jan 2020) Boat Haulage safely transported her up to Dockland 5 in Whangarei from the boat shed at Omaha. 
She is now berthed in Marsden Cove Marina
Colin Brown, Josh Hawke and owner Dave Searle have worked hard to help bring her back to a very solid representation of her former glory.
Just a brief overview of the restoration work
– Replaced 23 frames in hull
– Replaced garboard plank
– Replaced all keel bolts
– Replaced all through hull skin fittings
– Re-corked hull
– Replaced worm shoe
– Rebuilt shaft logs
– Rebuilt rudder logs
– New diesel tanks 
– Motors (2 x 6LX Gardner) rebuilt by Shaw diesels Ltd
– Replaced all fuel systems, lines and filters.
– Complete rehire and re-plumbed.
– All new toughened glass windows
– New dash panel, gauges and instruments
– New Interior, saloon and galley
– Raised and built new roof to increase headroom by 80mm
– New shower/head room built in.
– New capping on rail
– New exhaust system
– All porthole windows removed, new glass and seals fitted.
– 2 new hatches made. Fwd cabin and roof top.
– New anchor winch
– Aft deck, seating and storage compartments made and hatch to lazarette installed.
 …and Lastly a full repaint.
 
Looking forward to spending our summer on the water this year! 
We hope to be at the Mahurangi regatta In a few weeks time and catching up with other woody enthusiasts.”
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Tall Ship Peking Rounds Cape Horn – Movie

Tall Ship Peking Rounds Cape Horn – Movie

The above 1929 film is shot and narrated by Captain Irving Johnson and records the tall ship Peking on her outward bound journey around Cape Horn.
Special thanks to Max Pike for sending me the link.
Input from Keith Ottaway

“She is still afloat and being restored……..

http://ss-peking.de/en/viermastbark-peking/bildergalerie.php

There is another of these in Sweden / Finland

https://sjofartsmuseum.ax/en/the-ship-pommern/

And a read of Eric Newby book on sailing these with a complete set of photos.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/298571.Learning_the_Ropes

The book has some very good photos under way and what they had to do – very readable – but on a winters night in front of the fire to make you appreciate what you have.”

 

Bay of Islands Woodys

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Bay of Island Woodys

Dean Wright has just sent in a few more photos from the BOI, as always stunning photography.
We have Alma G and Winsome fishing off Onewhero and Tapui coming through Kent Passage.
Enjoy.
Hopefully I’ll be afloat this weekend and in case it slipped you by – next weekend is the BIGGIE – Mahurangi Regatta, the biggest woody event in NZ.
If you believe the MCC website – there is a classic launch parade, I understand the CYA are behind it, but details are a ‘little’ light’ 😦
I have cut and pasted below what appears on the MCC website and marked the parade assembly area / time i.e. 10.15am at Scotts Landing.
As per previous years, entry is a formality that a lot turn a blind eye to, you can just rock up on the day – as long as you are a classic and made of wood 🙂
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Remember to slip $20 cash into your pocket to pick up a copy of the Mahurangi Cruising Club year book – its a cracker
MCC YB 2020 Cover