Category Archives: Non Waitemata

Lake Rotoiti Mystery Launch – 1956

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Lake Rotoiti Mystery Launch -1956

Today’s launch is pictured on Lake Rotoiti, at Okere. The location will be very familiar to any of the woodys that have followed my annual pilgrimages to the Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade.
The photo dated Jan 1956 comes to us via Lew Redwood’s fb postings & shows a family heading out on the lake.
Any woodys able to ID the launch?
ps I would encourage you to scroll down & view yesterdays story on St George again, I added a lot of additional photos late yesterday to the story.

St George

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St GEORGE – Workboat Wednesday

I was sent the above photos of the fishing boat – St George by Tony Borich. She belonged to Tony’s grandfather Ross Kellian.
Tony commented that the ownership period was long before his time, but he recalls that Grandad was very fond of its Kelvin motor.
Ross Kellian was friends with John Walker, the previous owner of vessel Melodeon, both were purse seining out of Leigh and local fishing identities.
Can any of the workboat group supply more details on St. George & what became of her?
As a bonus – read the press story of Ross Kellian’s 26’ fishing boat oops – Lyndon – very lucky to be alive !
Cameron Pollard Input – St George is 75% through a 20 plus year to date pleasure conversion rebirth on an extremely private property in the Thames district.( no expert advisers or health and safety warriors allowed that’s for sure )
So far new decks bulkheads engine bearers wheelhouse and hull splined etc etc. All to a high standard. No engine installed but the current owner has a 5L3 gardner destined for the engine compartment.
Interestingly the shed is half of an old villa converted to boat shed and has no mains power. All lighting and the all important beer fridge is solar /battery powerd with the 230v supplied via generator.
Input from Harold Kidd – Launched 12th May 1934 by Chas. Bailey & Son Ltd for T & M Devcich with a “36hp semi-diesel” replaced in 1936 by a K3 Kelvin. During WW2 she had a 66hp Gardner according to Naval records.
Photo below ex Cameron Pollard from the mid 1980’s
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Just had a cool update from Cameron P. – Bruce McMillan, the owner of St. George has just agreed to share with WW readers a peek at the work underway  – photos taken over a extended period – Bruce commented to Cameron that St George’s rebuild is like the mainland cheese ad. “Good things take time”.
Viewing the photos  showcases the quality of workmanship going into her – very impressive.
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17-08-2018 More photos below from her owner (Bruce McMillan) ex Cameron Pollard. Check out the work done on the 5L3 Gardner (ex FV Heather), stunning & a woody shed to die for 🙂
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Maitai

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MAITAI

The above photos of the launch Maitai are ex the Coralie Hiton collection of family photos of the Deeming & Bedgegoods & come to us via Ross Griffin & ‘BOI Historic photos’.
In the top photo we see Bert & Jack Deeming aboard at Omaha.Te Haumi is in the background.
What more do we know about Maitai – builder & what became of her?
Harold Kidd Input – The Auckland MAITAI is mentioned only once and that’s in connection with a cruise to the Bay of Islands in February 1928. A temporary name change??
Every yacht and launch carried a .
22 at least, like the guy on the dodger, for slaying seagulls, gannets, shags, penguins and other predators. Great sport. The really serious guys used .303 SMLEs like the guy by the mast. His weapon of choice looks like a Mk III Lee Enfield complete with issue sling.

 

Arline

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ARLINE

The above photos come to us from Ross Griffen via BOI Historic Photos & show the launch Arline.
Can we confirm its Arline & gather some details on the vessel & what became of her?
Update: We can confirm it is Arline. You can read /see more at this WW link.

Mansion House Bay – Kawau Island 1950 + Ida is coming home

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Mansion House 1950

Mansion House Bay – Kawau Island 1950 + Ida is coming home
I was sent the above photo by Iain Forsyth who obtained it from an old sailing mate named Ron Thickpenny. Ron restored the Fairmile Seandra, ex Hopper Brothers.
In the photo you can see a HDML along side the wharf.
Can we have a go at ID’ing the fleet in the bay?
IDA To Return To NZ
During the week Harold Kidd reported on WW that John Street and Wayne Olsen have just returned from Sydney, & John has bought IDA, the 1895 C & W Baileys built 65’ yacht & is shipping her back for restoration. She has been based in Sydney for a very long time. Once back in NZ & restored by Wayne Olsen she will give the CYA A-Class fleet a big fright 🙂
The photo was supplied by Kim Watts, who purchased the original 1912 signed Winkelman print 25 years ago.
There are more photos & details on her past owners at the WW link below
To quote Harold – “The man’s (John S) blood is worth bottling!
WW IDA Link    https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/05/15/ida-sailing-sunday-more/
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Mizpah

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MIZPAH

The 1st photo above shows the launch Mizpah at a jetty in Crail Bay, Pelorus Sound, dated c.1900’s.
Harold Kidd has commented that she was built in Dunedin c.1904 most likely by Jas M’Pherson for FJ Sullivan. M’Pherson had him also build the hire launches Moana & Maitai around the same time.
Sullivan bought a fishing company in Pelorus in 1905 & shipped Mizpah up there. By 1909 she was being used as a passenger & hire vessel from Pelorus by JW Taylor of Kenepuru. In 1924 she was taken to Wellington & survived there under that name into the 1930’s. She had a 20hp Standard engine around 1920’s but was re-engined in 1929. Her dimensions were 40’x8’6”x3’.
(photo is ex Lew Redwood fb)
24-11-2018 Harold Kidd Input – I thought I would hasten to advise that MIZPAH was built by John M’Lellan in Dunedin, not by James M’Pherson. Any residual stress occasioned to WW followers by doubts about her provenance are therefore resolved, and they can now resume their normal lives, untroubled by this concern.

Te Kowhai

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Te Kowhai

TE KOWHAI

Todays story features the game boat Te Kowhai coming in to the wharf at Russell to weigh their catch.
The photo comes to use from Lew Redwood via ‘BOI Historical Photos’
Can anyone tell us more about the boat & what became of her – she is a very pretty launch.
09-04-2020 Input from Hylton Edmonds -Te Kowhai was one of the lessor known game boats operating in the Bay of Islands (based in Russell) around the time of the 60’s. As the advertisement below, from the 1963-64 BOISFC Yearbook, shows, Des Neal ran it for a partnership based in Hawera, a vague memory is that they were chartered accountants?

I have no idea what became of her, and compared to the other game boats, I do not think she was “on the scene” for that long.

Hopefully info will come to light on what was ostensibly a Bridge Decker (similar to Pirate) in survey, and put to work.

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Harold Kidd has previously commented that she was designed and built by J.G. Cox with a 6-95 Lycoming for Fred Reynolds in 1939. In NAPS in 1943 as Z42.

 

Regards,

Hylton

Zora – A71 – Workboat Wednesday

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ZORA – A71 – Workboat Wednesday
The above photos show Ron & Joy Olds woody – Zora, hauled out at Opua for some below the waterline TLC, sent in by Baden Pascoe. Baden commented that she was built by Lidgard Bros in 1937/8 for Mr Delich & Yuich as a seine boat. Originally powered by a 80hp HMG diesel. She carried the fishing reg AK 71.
And if you want some proof that these old girls can be converted into wow woodys – check out the photo below 😉
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Harold Kidd Input – ZORA helped MELODEON refloat ST VINCENT at Parengarenga in 1940. MELODEON has been bought by Dick Fisher (as probably everyone knows already).
The above mention of Melodeon prompted Russell Ward to send me the two photos below that feature Melodeon. Russell took the first one in the 1960’s. The second one shows Melodeon and some mates, with the bows of Aorangi and Shenandoah and Clematis in the foreground.

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Omokoroa

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OMOKOROA
 
I have been contacted by woody – James Trautvetter, who owns the classic launch Taufale (link below to ww story on her), about what appears to be an abandoned launch.
The boat is called Amokora & and has been washed up since last Christmas on the Whitford River, just north of the Whitford Boating & Cruising Club. James commented that she appears to be approx. 40’ in length & it would appear to be easy enough to float again.
 
Prior to the oops, James has heard the motor running & she sounded good, most likely a 100 hp or similar.
James & fellow WB&CC members are keen to uncover who the owner is and what are their intentions.
James commented that if they don’t want it, he will have it!
Anyone know the background to how she ended up here & the story of her past?
Link to Taufale.     https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/06/14/taufale/
08-08-2018 Input from Cameron Pollard
A few years ago she was parked up at the Marine Haulage yard in Te Atatu. Has a 6cyl. Ford. Was then sold on trade – photo below ex NZclassicboats
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08-08-2018 Input from Ian McDonald
We found her semi-derelict on the slip way at [strangely enough] Omokoroa, Tga harbour & bought her in 1982 & relaunched her in Jan1983 (refer photo montage)
I saw her a few yrs back when I owned ‘Signature’ (Miller & Tunnage) down the bottom end of Waiheke & then at Pine Harbour marina. Then she sat somewhere out Beachlands way on 44gal drums for a time and bugger me if I didn’t find it again around 2013 on the hardstand at Thames wharf (more 44gal drums) and the cabin had been altered to the same configuration as shown in the Whitford creek pic’s. Motor when we had it was 6cyl Ford Trader, complete with decompression lever so, Ford people will be able to date that. Had 2:1 borgwarner hyd drive.
The BOP Times article is from c.1980/01 & old b/w photo Ian believes is as she was originally built.
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Omokoroa montage
Omokoroa BOP Times Article
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09-08-2018 Update from F. Foh – 

Photo below of Omokoroa shows her laid over, she was like this for some months right up the Whitford at the site of the old haul out before moving to her current resting site. Had a big Harbour Master sticker on the window saying urgent contact needed.
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Prema

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PREMA

Prema was built in 1965 but looks older, no mention on her trademe listing as to a designer / builder but I’m sure we can uncover that.

She measures 26’ & is kauri built. The zoom zoom is via a 48hp Perkins.

While she obviously needs some DIY repairs / maintenance, given that if her hull is sound, the asking price of $12k is a great entry point to classic wooden boat.

Home port is the Thames Marina & I just weep when I see that the rental is $30 per week.

Input from Cameron Pollard – Billy Rogers.( so we where lead to believe)
Original name was Raewyn.
We bought her from Milford marina some 25ish years ago. Very nicely built and roomy for her size.