Category Archives: Non Waitemata

SS Alice SOS

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SS ALICE SOS

Yesterday I was contacted by Paul Drake in regard to the 26′ steam ship Alice. Alice has been sitting on trademe for over a year, crying out for a buying.
She appeared on WW back in Feb 2019 –  
 
Paul told me their local paper – the Taupo Times yesterday ran a feature on the boat and the owners desire to find a good home for her.
Alice is from the Kaipara and was completely and very thoroughly rebuilt by a partnership at Taupo in the 1990’s. Paul’s brother Michael was one of the partners. 

Paul commented that she is a remarkably successful boat of her type but needs TLC to get her going again.

Remarkably she carries no ballast – the heavy boiler sits in just the right place
longitudinally and sits her down to her marks perfectly.
She is beamier than many of her ilk which makes her a very good load carrier and very stable.
The owner is currently in Taupo (from UK) for not much more than a week, and intends to see her off before he leaves. So woodys – sounds like a bargain.
 
Would be a perfect candidate for a berth at the CYA’s Heritage Landing – but my spies tell me that venue may / will be lost to the waterfront redevelopments.
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Liberty

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LIBERTY

Last year on the Woody Classics weekend cruise up the Clevedon River I spotted the launch – Liberty on a pile mooring. Recently her owner contacted WW and advised that he has owned her for 30 years and believes she was built c.1928.

As you move from the bow to the stern there is an interesting ‘gallery’ of styles on show – nothing that a sharp skill-saw  couldn’t correct 😉

Currently powered by a BMW 35hp engine.
And woodys – she’s for sale.
Any woodys able to tell us more about Liberty?
17-02-2020 Update ex Philip Goddard

Philip has advised that his father has emailed him the photos below of Liberty. Probably taken late 1960’s when the family had purchased her.
His father recalls that she had no pulpit when purchased, so he had one made. He is certain it looks like the same one in today’s photos.
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Harold Kidd Input – I have always thought she was the LIBERTY built by F & S Shaw in Devonport in 1919 when both brothers got back from WW1. She had a 12hp Regal originally. I suspect she’s been lengthened as well as had a couple of tophamper additions. L.R. Matthews had her in 1947 when Commodore of PCC and Noel Mitchell owned her in the 1960s.
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Sally

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SALLY

Sally has just popped up on tme (thanks Ian McDonald) her listing is a tab light on details. We know that she is 26’ in length, has a 8′ beam and draws 3’6”. Power comes via Ford Dexter 36hp diesel engine. Built from single skin kauri.

Her owner believes that she was built c.1930’s in Wellington for the Harbour Company (Board?), probably as a work boat. Currently based in Picton.
Can anyone tell us anymore about Sally?
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Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade – WW Best Boat Award

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Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade – WW Best Boat Award

The launch Ellen is owned by Helen and Grant Wallace. She measures 26’ and is based on a ‘Milkmaid’ Bailey & Lowe design.
Ellen falls into the ’spirit of tradition’ category, being built of strip plank cedar by Malcolm Sowman in 2006 from a ‘plug’ taken of an old abandoned hull found in Kopu.
A 29hp diesel with standard straight drive pushes her along effortlessly.
I crawled all over her and in my eyes she is perfect, with some very cool touches e.g. her gauges are mounted in a fold away ‘draw’ and the bow ladder is a work of art.
Grant – I hope you found the WW gift I left on board 🙂
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2020 Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade – 150+ photos

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THE PARADE

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THE PICNIC

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2020 LAKE ROTOITI CLASSIC & WOODEN BOAT PARADE – 150+ Photos

From my eyes, this years parade was the best I have been to – brilliant on-the-water marshalling in terms of herding the ducklings into the right order and the skippers kept the boats moving thru at the right speed + an entertaining and informative commentary from ex commodore Grant Cossey. As always the event would grind to a halt without the services of Rachel Jamieson, to call her the club secretary would be a joke, everyone one involved with the parade that excels in their individual roles does so because of Rachel – well done again.
For most of the parade the sun and the clouds behaved, so only a few ‘average’ photos.
Several new boats and a lot had been given some TLC over winter.
Enjoy the gallery of photos from the day, it was a cracker and made the 7 hours of driving yesterday worth while.
As always, if you like on a photo, click on it and it will enlarge, if you are a boat owner and would like a high res copy of your boat photo, just drop me an email and I’ll send it to you.   waitematawoodys@gmail.com
Below are the links that allows you to view a summary of the boats participating in this years parade – check out the number card displayed on the boat and look it up for details 😉

 

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A Woody Boating Day Of Two Halves 

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A Woody Boating Day Of Two Halves 
When I woke up yesterday, the first major decision was – “may I driving to Lake Rotoiti for the annual Classic & Wooden Boat Parade?” Almost didn’t, and I’m so glad I did – its such a cool event – brilliant location – cool boats – and the nicest people. Tomorrows WW story will be mammoth , so many boats to show you.
But today I thought I would share with you the two extremes of woody boating I enjoyed today.
At the end of the Parade I hitched a ride across the lake to the picnic venue aboard Gillian & Grant Cossey’s 1911, Collings & Bell built, 22’ launch – Elva. Grant does the shore based commentary for the parade, greatly appreciated by those that gather lakeside to view the parade. Grant also did the same gig for this years Mahurangi Regatta launch parade.
On my return trip from the picnic I was offered a ‘ride’ on Florence & Rod Prosser’s just rebuilt and launched speed boat – powered by a very souped up 1960’s small block Chev 327ci V8. Earlier in the day I went for a blast that saw us doing 45mph with the engine only at 1/2 throttle – the acceleration is startling, one minute your idling allow, next thing you are pinned to the seat. Sorry taking photos was impossible.
A couple of videos below (turn your sound up), to give you an idea of the sound and speed – no windscreen !
Back Monday with a snapshot of the Parade and picnic.
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MYSTERY WHITIANGA LAUNCH

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MYSTERY WHITIANGA LAUNCH

Have not had a mystery / ID the boat story in a while. Photo taken Whitianga – late 1940’s > early 1950’s.
First woody to correctly name the boat – wins a waitematawoodys cap. Entries via email only to waitematawoodys@gmail.com
As you read this I’ll be at the Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade – lots of cool photos on Monday.
WW Caps copy
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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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