Category Archives: Non Waitemata

Dawn

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DAWN

I was recently in Thames and snapped the colour photos above of the launch Dawn. Then last week while looking thru Andy Donovan’s old brokering photos, I came across the b/w photo of Dawn – do we think its the same boat? The b/w photo does appear to be on a lake.
Health & Safety – yeah right
Also in the Donovan photos was the photo below of the Cape Brett lighthouse, check out the guy hanging off the aerial on the top of the dome…………..
Cape Reinga Light House

Manunui

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MANUNUI
The 42’ Manunui was designed and built in 1939 by Bill Couldrey for Percy Colebrook, back in 2013 she appeared briefly on WW (link below) but the photo was very poor, now thanks to Lew Redwood fb and Harold Kidd we get to see her in her finest and learn a little more about this very smart launch.
Couldrey was a stunning craftsman, in fact one of the few boat builders preferred by Arch Logan.
When launched she was powered by a 55hp Benz diesel. The Benz lasted until 1963 when it was replaced with a 100hp Perkins diesel.
In 1942>44 Manunui was commandeered from Max Colebrook and taken to Fiji as a Naval patrol vessel.
In the 2013 story it was mentioned that Manunui had possibly headed south to Wellington, HDK has confirmed this, she calls the Boat Harbour marina in Wellington home.
Would love to see some up to date photos.
Input from Simon Smith – these photos were taken approx. 3 years ago and show Manunui motoring round Wellington harbour. Simon commented that her elderly owner is struggling to give her the attention she needs as he lives a 2 hour drive away from the marina.
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Manunui Gun rack

Update ex Hylton Edmonds c.1981 > 1982

Manunui 1943

Manunui 1947

IManunui 1953

 

Manunui 1954

 

Woodys In The Whangarei Town Basin

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Woodys In The Whangarei Town Basin

Previously on WW we have seen numerous b/w photos of the Whangarei Town Basin , today’s photo comes to use via Lew Redwood’s fb. and show a lot of classic launches tied up on pole moorings.
While its a great photo of the area, the wide angle makes it a little hard to ID the boats – any on brave enough to suggest the year ?
The Perks of Being The Commodore
Thankfully we have moved on in terms gender equality in advertising 🙂 the image below appeared in an early 1950’s edition of the American published ’The Rudder’ boating magazine.
Old sexist Ad

Ruru

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RURU

I have been contacted by Lake Rotoiti boatbuilder – Alan Craig (Craig Marine) regarding a lake boat that he and the owner are looking for more details on. Ruru is 19’ in length, with mahogany hull and kauri top. Alan commented that she is well built with seam battens and ribs, the planks have hardly moved. The build date is thought to be in the 1930’s > 1940’s period and was built for Sir Frank Mappin.
The engine is an Austin Triton, it was removed 20 years ago and was never put back in, as you will note in the photos it got as far as the end of the shed.
The owner – George Joseph has had the boat for 60+ years, the last 20 of which has seen Ruru stored in the shed. The previous owner, owned most of the land between Moose Lodge and the Marae.
Can anyone help ID the designer / builder?
Harold Kidd Input –
1. Lidgards built an unnamed runabout for Mappin in September 1935. The Austin TRITON (not TRIDENT – corrected AH) marine engine, based on the Austin 10 car engine, came out in 1935, so it’s a good match.
2. Got a Herald cross-reference on Mappin’s runabout. She was an 18 footer intended for Lake Rotorua. Rotoiti isn’t a huge step.

Heather Dawn + John Street on Tug Boat Racing on the Waitemata

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HEATHER DAWN

This double-ender launch has got Lake Rotoiti written all over her – her trademe listing (thanks Ian McDonald) states her design is ‘lifeboat’ and built in 1955 – this would suggest that she has been converted to pleasure use. The first thing I would say is the photographer has not been kind to her, in most photos she looks a lot shorter / ‘chunky’ than her actual length of 21’ 6” (the last photo gives us a better view).

Heather Dawn is powered by a 34hp Yanmar diesel. And is very well fitted out.

Home is the bottom of the South Island > Dunedin – but she comes with a new purpose-built braked trailer, so woodys this makes her very flexible in terms of her future location/s.

That diesel stove would help take the chill out of an early morning Lake fishing trip J

JOHN STREET – ONE MAN’S TREASURES VIDEO SERIES – Part 6

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Every day this week WW featured a video filmed at John’s recent speaking engagement at the New Zealand Maritime Museum. The language is a tad ‘blue’ in places, but that is how John rolls 🙂 NOTE VIDEO IS COPYRIGHT DO NOT DOWNLOAD WITHOUT PERMISSION. Videos edited & enhanced with the help of Andrew Christie

PART Six – Tug Boat racing on the Waitemata (turn your sound up)

UPCOMING VIDEOS

Monday –          Fosters the Beginning

TUESDAY–        History of The Breeze

WEDNESDAY– The schooner Daring

THURSDAY–     Amercias Cup

FRIDAY –            The steam crane ship Rapaki

SATURDAY–      Tug Boat Racing on the Waitemata

 

Naomi (Huria > Vanora) + John Street taking about the steam crane Rapaki

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NAOMI – Huria > Vanora

One of WW spotters, Shane  Anderson was driving thru Whangateau this week and spotted a woody parked up on a yard in the middle of a major restoration.
Turns out the 45’ launch is named Naomi (see interior carving photo) – the boatbuilder – Josh, working on her believes there may have been a name change in the past, but if so, a long time ago – the skylights have Naomi sandblasted on them. There is talk of her possibly being a Logan and even originally steam powered. Also talk of a 1897 build date. Her name board records her builder as Chas. Bailey. Investigation shows the existence of 3 sets of engine beds.
There also appears to be old repairs to both sides of the boat.
Her current owner has had her for 20 years, kept in dry storage in West Auckland.
A suggestion – in a previous WW story (link below) on a launch named Naomi III, Harold Kidd spoke of the original Naomi (I) being built in March 1902 and Naomi II in November 1902, both by Chas. Bailey Jnr and both for M.A. Jenny of Nelson. Could the above launch be one of these boats?
Input from Harold Kidd – The story is unbelievably complex; the NAOMI bit is the result of an assumption on someone’s part, many years ago, that any launch owned by M A Jenny of Nelson and Auckland was a NAOMI. This launch seems to have started life as the oil launch HURIA (twin 2 cylinder Daimler petrol engines) built by Logan Bros in January 1899 for Capt Mercer of Nelson as a trader, bought by Jenny in 1905, fitted with a 30hp Gardner in Wellington and rechristened VANORA. In 1907 Jenny sold her to Lindsay Cooke of Auckland who got Chas Bailey Jr to refit her for cruising. She took part in the 1908 RNZYS Rudder Cup race around Sail Rock.
Need several pages more to bring her up to date.
In summary, the current name and builder carved into her is bs.

JOHN STREET – ONE MAN’S TREASURES VIDEO SERIES – Part 5

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Every day this week WW we are featuring a video filmed at John’s recent speaking engagement at the New Zealand Maritime Museum. The language is a tad ‘blue’ in places, but thats how John rolls 🙂 NOTE VIDEO IS COPYRIGHT DO NOT DOWNLOAD WITHOUT PERMISSION. Videos edited & enhanced with the help of Andrew Christie. 
PART Five – The Steam Crane Rapaki (turn your sound up)
UPCOMING VIDEOS
MONDAY–         Fosters The Beginning
TUESDAY–        History of The Breeze
WEDNESDAY– The schooner Daring
THURSDAY–     Amercias Cup
FRIDAY –            The steam crane ship Rapaki
SATURDAY–      Tug Boat Racing on the Waitemata
 

John Street – One Man’s Treasures Video Series – Part 3

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JOHN STREET – ONE MAN’S TREASURES VIDEO SERIES – Part 3

Every day this week we are featuring a video filmed at John’s recent speaking engagement at the New Zealand Maritime Museum. NOTE VIDEO IS COPYRIGHT DO NOT DOWNLOAD WITHOUT PERMISSION. Videos edited & enhanced with the help of Andrew Christie.

Today John talks on rescuing the schooner Daring – a hugely significant piece of New Zealand’s maritime history that lay buried for 153 years on Muriwai Beach, West Auckland, until shifting sands revealed the wreckage. The 2ndvideo is from last weeks TV1 ‘Sunday Programme’

Scroll up to view videos one & two.

PART THREE – The schooner Daring 

UPCOMING VIDEOS

MONDAY –        The history of Fosters

TUESDAY–        History of The Breeze

WEDNESDAY–  The schooner Daring

THURSDAY–     America’s Cup

FRIDAY –           The steam crane ship Rapaki

SATURDAY–      Tug Boat Racing on the Waitemata

 

 

 

Sir Francis Relaunched + John Street Video Series – Part One

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July 2019

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July 2019

28 MAY 2018 (2)

In need of attention – May 2018

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Prep for new caulking
Re building the stern deck
Fore deck ready for painting
New toe rail and refurbished bollard
Stern deck finished
SIR FRANCIS
Back in June 2016 one of the woodys spotted Sir Francis berthed on Lake Taupo and commented on WW  that she was looking a little tired. Well folks I can report that after thirteen months of hard labour, Sir Francis went back into the water on July 6. Co-owner Paul Drake commented that she was last out of the water for 9 days, 10 years ago and she was becoming an embarrassment. 
As part of their re-fit the deck canvas has been replaced with the usual ply and glass cloth, and much other deferred maintenance was attended to. (scroll over photos for captions)
 
Sir Francis is 22’ and built by Collings and Bell in 1916, powered by a Universal Utility Four. This engine was added in 1937. 
When launched she was named – Fairy, then renamed – Aloha and when Grandfather Drake purchased her in 1938, he changed the name again to Sir Francis. She has been owned by the Drake family for the last 81 years. 
The Drake brothers (Paul, Nigel, Roger and Michael) individually and collectively are a great bunch and between them own numerous woodys. I have meet them at the Lake Rotoiti Wooden Boat Parade. Photo below.
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Brothers Nigel and Roger on SF late 1950’s.

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Paul

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L to R – Michael, Paul, Nigel, Roger. Oldest to youngest

 

 

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JOHN STREET – ONE MAN’S TREASURES VIDEO SERIES 

Every day this week WW will feature a video filmed at John’s recent speaking engagement at the New Zealand Maritime Museum. The language is a tad ‘blue’ in places, but thats how John rolls 🙂 NOTE VIDEO IS COPYRIGHT DO NOT DOWNLOAD WITHOUT PERMISSION. Videos edited & enhanced with the help of Andrew Christie.
PART ONE – Fosters The Beginning (turn your sound up)

 

UPCOMING VIDEOS
MONDAY–         Fosters The Beginning
TUESDAY–        History of The Breeze
WEDNESDAY– The schooner Daring
THURSDAY–     Amercias Cup
FRIDAY –            The steam crane ship Rapaki
SATURDAY–      Tug Boat Racing on the Waitemata

The Portland

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THE PORTLAND

 
Several months ago Thames woody, Clive Monds was visiting  the Catlins area at the bottom of the South Island and chanced upon The Portland moored at the mouth of the Catlins River, see location map/photo below.

Unfortunately he was en-route to rendezvous with people so did not have much time but he did glean the following from people who lived close by.
The Portland arrived from ‘up north’ some years ago with intentions to be used for some tourism venture. She had, it seemed from the twin stacks been repowered at some point. The venture has not come to pass and she has sat for some time, rotting into the mud. There was talk to the effect ‘you could have bought her for $5’. People Clive spoke to had no idea what is happening to her. 
Clive is interested if some to learn more about the vessel – can anyone shed light on her origins etc. ?
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26-10-2019 Input (unconfirmed) by Michael Raynes

The Portland built 1910 by Geo Niccol of Auckland for John Wilson Walkworth {brother of  Nathaniel Wilson founder of Wilsons Cement Woks on the Mahurangi River Warkworth] carrying 160 lb bags of cement to Auckland. Sold 1918 to Wilsons NZ Cement Co of Portland Whangarei. Sold 1926 to Aspden Shipping Auckland trading from Auckland up north to Awanui, general cargo up butter back also running to Whakatane. Sold c.1936 to a Foxton company running between Foxton & Wellington. Sold c.1938 to Puponga  shipping Co Nelson carrying coal from Port Puponga Golden  Bay to & from the Puponga Coal Co to  Nelson, Onekaka Iron Works , Tarakohe Cement Works & Wellington. Sold 1946 Westhaven Co Nelson carrying milling machery & general cargo to Westhaven Inlet {Whanganui Inlet] Northern West Coast bringing out  timber from Mangarakau wharf to Nelson & Wellington also carrying cargoes in & out of Golden  Bay Ports of Tarakohe, Waitapu Collingwood &  Milnethorpe   [Dolomite]  And Tasman Bay ports Motueka, Mapua & Nelson. Also Marlbrough Sound Ports of The portage Nydia Bay Havelock, Titirangi. Plus many others to Wellington. Sold to Karamea Shipping Co Nelson c.1968, continued on same runs. Made one visit to Kaiapoi  1967. Struck rock or submerged object 1972 in Cook Strait off Wellington, beached at Island Bay, re-floated, patched up at Evans Bay tio by Te Aroha to Nelson 1972. Sold as / is to group of fishermen in Dunedin, repaired at Careys  Bay yards made an illegal  trip down to Auckland Island area with mutton birders. Sold  to Mr Matheson of Owaka taken down and moored at Pounawea upriver from where she is now. The  Portland was advertised for sale 2002, in trade a boat didn’t sell. Article in NZ Marine News that she was to be taken up to Dunedin for slipping 2011. Didn’t happen. Sank at her moorings, struck by log in flood, patched  & re-floated. Sold to an Aucklander c.2016, on trial run down river she started to leak & was run up onto beach where she is now. New owner was advised his agent sold  her for $5. Was going to turn her in to back packers accommodation – so far. Edited by Alan H

1964 Bay of Islands Mystery Event

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1964 Bay of Islands Mystery Event

The above photo is captioned – 1964, Ohio Bay, Rangihoua, Bay of Islands and comes to us via Lew Redwood’s fb.
There is an impressive collection of classic wooden motor-boats in the bay and quite a crowd assembled on the beach / sand dunes watching something to the right (out of screen). Interesting that in the middle of the bay is a commercial boat with passenger looking ashore.
So woodys two tasks today – what’s happening and can we name some of the Woodys?
Oracle Nathan Herbert reckons he can ID most of the launches so lets see how good the rest of us (combined) are 🙂
Input from Simon Smith – In 1814 S Marsden held the first Christian service in NZ here. Thus 1964 would be the 150th celebration of that event. I suggest the photo represents the celebration of that first christmas sermon.
Nathan Herberts List Below
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17-07-2019 Update / Input from Graham Clifford: 

“The day before the 1964 commemoration event which recalled Reverend Samual Marsden’s Christmas Day service in 1814, I assisted Norman Fuller in running a wooden barge ashore on the beach towards the eastern end, just out of picture to the left. This barge was to facilitate getting passengers ashore who had made the trip on various Fullers launches from Paihia. A wooden ramp was lowered to the beach and used as an accessway. I made three return trips from Paihia as skipper of Miss Ida, carrying about 40 people per trip in perfect weather.

In identifying the boats in the photo I can name only three : ‘Bay Belle’ – a Fullers boat – and ‘Penguin’ whose home was at Purerua, an inlet within Mangonui Inlet which runs north as far as Te Tii. The people in the dinghy are rowing out to Penguin and we could surmise that two of them would be owner George Hansen and his wife whom he always called “Mum” when radioing her when he was out gamefishing.

The boat which another correspondent suggested is Fuller’s Miss Brett, I would put down as Miss Russell. The two boats were very similar but Miss Brett just had the edge in looks. I skippered both in the 60s, more so Miss Brett including for gamefishing and many line fishing trips with the Italians who were building the oil refinery at Marsden Point.
1964 was the second year of my 42 years as a Fuller’s skipper.”

 

11-08-2019 Input for Hylton Edmonds
“As promised – photo and story scanned and attached taken from the December 30 1964 issue of the Weekly News of Christmas Day commemoration activities at Oihi Bay.
Fuller’s Kewpie and Knoxie IV (?) in attendance complete with one of their barges acting as a landing platform, and maybe Bay Belle in your photo was awaiting its turn?
Graham (Clifford) might be able to elaborate and confirm, seeing he was there with the Ida as well.
Being too young, my Mother “dragged” my older brother and sister over there, whilst the Old Man and I stayed at home and played with all their presents, hah,  – all things considered,  a great day.”
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JOHN STREET ON FILM – a waitematawoodys exclusive
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Starting on Monday in addition to the daily woody story I will run each day a video from John Street’s recent speaking engagement that supported the exhibition – ‘One Man’s Treasures’ at the New Zealand Maritime Museum. For the overseas readers, John Street was at the helm for over half a century of Auckland’s historic ship chandlery – Fosters. Such was John’s influence on the New Zealand boating and marine scene, that the late Sir Peter Blake tagged John the ‘Waterfront Mafia’. These days John has a mighty passion for preserving New Zealand’s maritime heritage.  :
MONDAY –         Fosters The Beginning
TUESDAY –        History of The Breeze
WEDNESDAY – The schooner Daring
THURSDAY –     Amercias Cup
FRIDAY –            The steam crane ship Rapaki
SATURDAY –      Tug Boat Racing on the Waitemata
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