Aquarius

Unknown-1

Unknown

AQUARIUS

I have been contacted by Rob Watt who is  wondering if any of the woodys may know what happened to his old boat Aquarius.

She was a 27’ kauri built, with pohutukawa stringers. Some thought it was built in 1928 and may be a Logan.

At the time she was powered by a 60hp Isuzu diesel and around her home port of Tauranga harbor, where she was nicknamed the ‘Flying Pencil’. Rob kept Aquarius at the Sulphur Point Marina & sold her some years ago to a couple who were going to use it on Lake Taupo.

Rob told me that his family spent many a happy time on her when his kids were little and made memorable fishing trips out to Mayor Island.

So woodys, can we help Rob out & uncover what became of Aquarius & possibly some insight into who built her etc?

 

Glenlee

Screen Shot 2018-06-01 at 2.10.24 pm

MV GLENLEE

Glenlee is one of the historic Marlborough Sounds Launches, she was built around 1908 by Claude Wells for the McNabbs to service their Crail Bay guest house Glenlee.

In her time Glenlee has also been used as a mail boat and commercial fishing boat. Last two owners (approx 60 years) are both relations of the original builder
She is made from double skin kauri & measures 39’, with a beam of 9’. The zoom zoom comes from a 6 cyl. Ford diesel with pumps out approx. 120hp.

Currently moored at the Okiwi Bay South, Grove Arm, Queen Charlotte Sound, she is for sale on trademe. Thanks to Ian McDonald for the listing heads up.

Input & photos from Cameron Pollard– Glenlee had a Regal engine (see below) originally, followed by a Lister Blackstone, then a Detroit & a Ford

Unknown

Unknown-1

Wai-iti

Unknown

WAI-ITI

I have been contacted by Simon Manning on-behalf of a friend of his who is trying to track down a Marlborough Sounds launch named Wai-iti.

Wai-iti was possibly built c.1950’s by Swanson. Simon’s thinking around Swanson is based on her sheer and the location near Blackwood Bay and Picton. Although Simon commented that the chine forward is a bit unusual for a Swanson.

Back in her day, Wai-iti was based at Mistletoe Farm, in Onahau Bay (Queen Charlotte Sound) and was owned by Jim and Jo Vogel.  They apparently had 2 boats; ‘Aqua Lady’ which was a speed machine used for waterskiing and “Wai-iti” which was used for picking up guests and supplies in Picton and for fishing trips – which were legendary. Wai-iti was white and quite elegant but unassuming.  Simon’s mother and others he has spoken to, do remember the boat but don’t know what happened to her, or where she is now.

The people trying to locate Wai-iti have a genuine and special reason for doing so and will be visiting NZ, so woodys – it will be a very cool thing to be able to find out what became of her.

11-06-2018 Update from Simon Manning –

08-06-2018 Update – photos below of Wai iti / Sea Shanty that Chris’s brother, Chris, took during last weekend at Mana Marina.

Unknown

Unknown-1

 

 

Mahana

Screen Shot 2018-05-10 at 9.35.43 am

Screen Shot 2018-05-10 at 9.37.27 am

MAHANA

Mahana being built in c.1975 by Atkinson falls into the ‘Spirit of Tradition’ category. She is a biggish girl – 46’ LOA & is pushed along by a 315hp Yanmar.

Ian McDonald commented that he was on board Mahana up Kawau Island some years ago. She was then powered by a big old 6 cyl Foden and was owned at the time by two brothers connected with Rinnai NZ. She is strip planked. Ian next saw her in Picton marina about 2008.

Home these days is the Marlborough Sounds & she is for sale on trademe.

Do we know any more about her past life?

16-01-2023 Update – new photos ex tme listing

 

 

 

 

Photina – Sailing Sunday

Screen Shot 2018-06-01 at 8.41.12 am

Unknown-1

PHOTINA –  Sailing Sunday

 On Friday as part of the post on the launch Luanda, there was a photo of Luanda with a yacht alongside, I ran a wee quiz to find out the name of the yacht, won by Martin Howson (does that man sleep?) – the yacht was the 39’ Photina built by Trevor Managh and Ces Watson for her owner Trevor Managh. In the photo below she’s still to have her mast stepped.

Tracing the history of Photina on the web is a little ‘misty’ as after Trevor sold her, a future owner took her to Mururoa in 1995 & certain ‘people/country’ have clouded (excuse the pun) the on-line media coverage of what happened up there. You can read more in the book ‘Mururoa Blues’ by John Simpson page 149.

Trevor also did a Noumea race in her before selling her. The boat went on to do 4 circumnavigations, so Ces Watson knew how to build a good boat.

Thanks to Mike Elliott for the photos & details.

Unknown-4

Mystery Launch + Lake Woody 4sale

Unknown

Mystery Launch 02-06-2018

The photo above (ex Lew Redwood fb) was tagged 1962, New Lynn, preparing for boating club picnic, but someone commented that it was more likely to be the Te Atatu Boating Club, either way can we ID the double ender closest to the camera?

 

Kayla Marie – A Woody Lake Boat Looking For A New Home

I have been contact by the owners of the launch below who inherited this boat with the purchase of their house at Okere Falls, Lake Rotoiti.

The owners have never used the boat, but last time they tried (a couple years ago), the motor went fine.

I’m told that overall the boat is in better condition than the photos show – an engine tune up and maybe a new spark plug and what nots, plus the exterior is in need of a good clean up & paint, But it’s a project.

The thinking is she probably made from kauri, its 7m long. has a Toyota diesel engine in it, bilge pump was going fine last time had going. It does not have a trailer, and is sitting at a jetty on Lake Rotoiti, Rotorua.

The owners are not asking a lot for her – the contact is Juliet 0211810402, or email julietboo@gmail.com

0079782c_original

Unknown

 

 

 

Hero Photos of Luanda

Scan10117

0015

Trevor at launch

Luanda

Unknown-5

 

B.O.I

Unknown-4

 

Hero Photos of Luanda

Following from yesterday’s story on Luanda, Mike Elliott sent in the above photos that show her in her finest, before her ‘enhancements’. These photos were too good to just add to the existing story. She was a quite a looker in her day.

Mike has promised to send us more photos on the Managh family boats.

I’ll give a WW t-shirt to the first correct reply in the WW comments section, as to the ID of the yacht alongside Luanda in one of the photos

Unknown

Update 02-06-2018 – interior photo below ex Nigel Brown via Ken Ricketts.

LUANDA below

 

Luanda

Screen Shot 2018-05-30 at 12.52.48 pm

Screen Shot 2018-05-30 at 12.52.56 pm

LUANDA

The photos of Luanda above are from Lew Redwood’s FB page, sent in by Ken Ricketts. They show Luanda on launch day, year unknown.

We do know that she was designed & built by T.C. Watson of Whangarei for Trevor & Norman Managh. She measures 50’ with a beam of 13’. As launched her engines were x2 100hp diesels.

The lady doing the honors is Mrs Managh snr.

Do we know more about Luanda & where she is today?

Update from Mike (surname unknown) “Luanda was built by T C (Ces) Watson of Whangarei in a shed at Kauri behind Trevor’s house.
Trevor and Norm worked with Ces on the build and must have picked up few skills as they built many more boats including Photina which escorted the Mururoa fleet, a 58′ Ketch, a Vindex, a steel Ketch and several trailer boats.
Currently she is used as a party boat in Wakatipu and has some ugly poem handles fitted.
Luanda was launched December (3rd?)1962
Length 50’ Beam 12’9” 12,500lb
Sold about 1968 to one of the Subtriztkys
Powered by 2 recon. 100hp Perkins”

Update – 2018 Photos below ex Ken Ricketts

Unknown

Unknown

 

 

Classic Woodys at Sandspit Marina

P1030047

P1030090

 

 

P1030025

Classic Woodys at Sandspit Marina

A couple of weeks ago I was up Sandspit way & spent an hour or so mooching around the new (ish) marina. Very impressive set up & with the yacht club’s haul-out facilities its a prefect spot to keep a woody. The real win win factor is the proximity of the ‘Greg Lees Boatbuilder’ yard, in recent years Greg & his talented team have rubbed the magic wand over some of our finest classic woodys. Just type Greg Lees in the WW search box to see the level of workmanship & perfection.

I have included a few photos of the motor camp where I stayed with my ex woodys boater – Chris Miller in this stunning motor home. 

A real bonus was the amazing meal & service we had at the Sandspit Yacht Club on Saturday night – I was expecting burgers & fries but no – everything – décor, service & the food was superb – check it out if you are up that way. The scallop entree was as good as anything you would get in Auckland City. Photos below.

IMG_2942

Update: I have been sent by Dean Wright the photo below of the dinghy ‘Tiki’ in happier times 🙂

Unknown

Very Cool Classic Sailing Clinker Dinghy 4 Sale

Unknown

 

Very Cool Classic Sailing Clinker Dinghy 4 Sale

I was contacted last week by CYA buddy Dan Renall who pointed me in the direction of a woody that was looking to off load one of his dinghys. Wise man, very few that get bitten by the bug are able to let them go.

Owner Drew Hayward has a classic launch that he keeps in the creek on the way out of Kawakawa Bay. He also has another clinker so has decided to part with this one. 

Details are – 14’, built by boat building tutor, Keith Aitkenson of Carrington Tech. Kauri planks with steam bent hardwood ribs. Her sails are by Boyd & McMaster. Mast is solid Oregon, as is the boom & gaff. Drew commented that as pictured above the hull needs a little clean up – mainly mould.

Anyone interested in this woodys should initially contact Drew Hayward via email  drew1949@icloud.com A very cool gift for a young woody, so come on dads & grandads – its the perfect way to start the kids off in woody boating. 

Below is a photo from Lew Redwoods FB page that is titled ‘Yacht Racing, Auckland Harbour, NZ – any of the woody yachties able to advise the class of boat & which part of the harbour?

IMG_1129