Almost A Woody

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Almost A Woody

Today’s story features a Mason Clipper24 that has very good provenance – she was Tony’s own boat and he called it M. Y. Clipper. The later years of production Tony Mason used a fiberglass mould for the hull but all the internals are beautiful timber.
It has been fully restored to a very high quality by a David Smith in Auckland and Dennis Catchpole, who sent me the photos,  purchased the boat three years ago. Dennis commented that he always remembered the Clippers as a young man as being the Rolls Royce of power boats when they were built, and the family did have, for many years a Pelin, which were also beautiful  boats, and of course Pelin, worked for Tony at one point.

This boat has an interesting history as it was used to take Prince Charles across Lake Taupo fishing in 1980 (photo above of both of Tony with the Prince)
The Catchpole family love the boat and have had a great deal of pleasure from it. They keep her in the marina at Kinloch, and  it is powered by a GMC V8 and can do a very impressive 55k at full speed. Most of the time she cruises around at 35k.

The link below will take you to other ww stories on Mason Clippers. Enjoy
https://waitematawoodys.com/?s=Mason+Clipper+24&submit=Search

Cerinara- Sailing Sunday

CERINARA – Sailing Sunday

ww has had a request from Gary Chaplin for any info on his brothers ketch, Cerinara (pictured above), that originally came from New Zealand and is now based in Queensland Australia .
All they know about her is that the hull of Cerinara was a John Alden design & was registered with sail number 6841. She was found in mangroves somewhere and then the topsides were completed & launched in approx. 1990. Probably in Auckland.
Gary is unsure when she went to Australia but he reports she is a beautiful girl and lovely to sail.

Any woodys able to supply any more details on her kiwi past?

24-12-2016 Hauled out photos added.

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cerinara

2017 Centerboard Regatta

Some how the above event slipped below the ww radar – who ever does the publicity for the event need s a nudge 😉 Not much in the way of regatta photos but Baden Pascoe & the coastal rowing guys attended & sent in the photos below. Hopefully some had a camera & they will send ww some photos 🙂

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MELITA

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WW1 Mystery Launch = Stanley

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WW1 Mystery Launch – Stanley

The photo above was taken in Wellington during WW1. Sent in by Baden Pascoe who has offered up a copy of his book ‘Launching Dreams – Percy Vos – The Boats & This Boys’ to the first woody that can ID the launch (middle) tied up along side the wharf. Entries via the ww Comments section. Its not an easy quiz but the prize deserves a toughie 🙂
Copies of Baden book can be bought direct from him – contact  badenhp@xtra.co.nz  the perfect woody Xmas present.

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The answer is – the launch is called Stanley, see below zoomed in photo. No winners 😦

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Lady Noelene

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LADY NOELENE

Lady Noelene has been a ‘rolling restoration’ for the last 4+ years & while still not complete her owner is on the down hill slopes. We do not know much about her past but she is powered by a 6 cyl Ford diesel. The photos are a mix of several people over the years, with the most recent ones, at Greg Less’s Sandspit boat yard, from Ken Ricketts.

Can any woodys expand on the little we know about Lady Noelene ?

Otoroa

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OTOROA
Otoroa is a Miller & Tunnage double-ender built in 1967 as a MSA Pilot boat, later converted to pleasure use. She measures 55’9″ L, with a beam of 15’5″ & has a draft of 6’6″. Powered via a Cummins diesel. Detail via Ian McDonald via trademe.

Any of the work boat woodys able to enlighten us more about Otoroa?

Update & Photos ex Russell Wardedited by AH
Otoroa’s wheelhouse enabled the skipper to look and see the sky or the ship towering above. They had to be real seaworthy ships in those days. You will notice that except for the Arahina and Tautane who was a recycled Miler and Tunnage fishing boat named Centaurus, all the NZ pilot boats of the day were double enders.
That says a lot for the hull form: The following sea tends to part round the boat rather than heaving t skyward and broaching it. You still can broach in a double ender, but they are good in a following sea.
Hopefully an potential buyer will retain her appearance. She has survived thus far though, so here’s hoping. I am refreshing your memory by also attaching a pic of Wairangi when she was in her prime and working and you can judge.
Also below is a photo looking down on the modest wharf that the Port’s workboats nestled each night to share stories. The RNZN shed was alongside and their HDML were kept there.

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05-03-2018 Update ex Stuart Jameson – The Otoroa has been berthed at the Chaffers Marina for the past four years.  The blue non-slip surface was applied last year.  Current owner appears to be very attentive to its maintenance.  Further detail on its current owner etc should be available from the Marina Manager.

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Lady Gillian

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LADY GILLIAN
John Burland sent me the above photos of Lady Gillian moored at Nelson. She appeared on ww back in Oct 2014 (link below) & at the time her owners (Beatson family) commented that she needed ‘a bit of a tidy up’, by all appearances she has had that 🙂 The the 3rd photo we see her berth near Lady Karita, while LK is undergoing a re-fit.

We still do not know much about her – given there is a much bigger ww audience these days, maybe someone knows more about her past?

Lady Gillian

17-06-2017 Update – new photo below ex Andy Beatson

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SEABIRD
Check out the link below to a cool youtube clip that features Steve Thomas’s 1908, John Reid designed classic launch – Seabird, in the musician Greg Johnson’s music video for the song ‘Never turn back’. It was filmed at Cable Bay near Nelson. Nice to see the CYA burgee flying on Seabird. Enjoy.

How Much Is My Woody Worth?

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How Much Is My Woody Worth?
That’s a question ww gets asked on a regular basis, the answer sadly in most cases is a lot less than the owner thinks. People get confused with ‘worth’ & what some one will pay i.e. the sale price, with classic wooden vessels – for worth think replacement cost, for sale price think less than 25% of that.
As I have pointed out before in NZ there is a growing demand for quality classic motor boats, a high % of this market do not have the skills, time or funds to restore one, so importing will become more appealing.
Today’s post features ‘Wando Lady’ a 1966, 65′ Stephens Bros motor yacht from California now calling the UK home. She sleeps 12 & is powered by twin Detroit V71 12 cylinder diesel engines rated at 495hp. Its on the market for approx NZD$400k (asking price) – I post for 2 reasons – its a great looking woody & I think most of you will be interested in viewing her. Secondly as an indication of whats available on the international market compared to NZ prices.

If you want to read more on her http://www.ybw.com/boats-for-sale/5091568?currency=GBP&utm_campaign=20161130_YBW-B_NWL_EO&utm_medium=email&utm_source=ET

Mystery Launch at Nelson

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Mystery Launch at Nelson

My woody spy in Nelson, John Burland sent me the above photo with a note saying the vessel could named Kaituna – any woodys able to ID the vessel &/or supply more details on her.
To confuse us there appears to be a few additions added over the years 🙂

FREE TO GOOD HOME
No not a box of kittens – this gift is both useful & valuable.
ww woody Jason Prew who is currently restoring (aka rebuilding) the 1925 Dick Land launch My Girl ( https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/08/08/the-restoration-of-my-girl/ ) contacted me with the offer below.
” I have a heap of leftover wood cut down to size to use for ribs, it’s red beech and takes to steaming well, a very durable NZ hardwood.  32mm x 16mm x 2.5m is the cut size, but i also have a heap of 8mm x 32mm, free to a good home, also use of a steamer that fits if you wish”

A+B+C Class Yachts Racing To Rocky Bay

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A+B+C Class Yachts Racing To Rocky Bay

In the above photo we see, from left, Kotiri, Ladye Wilma, Waione, Rawene (race winner) & Ngatoa just after the start of the official opening race of the season (year unknown).
Photo ex the Mac Taylor collection.

Help Needed
ww has had a request from Gary Chaplin, who owns the yacht, Fidelity, see below & click photos to enlarge, based in Christchurch Gary has commented that she looks just like the Shiralee which featured on ww in October , (link below).
Gary would like to know if it is the same  vessel or possibly a sister ship . Gary believes Fidelity was built in Milford Creek by Allen Williams in 1960 .

Shiralee E64 – Sailing Sunday

REMEMBER LOTS OF PATIO BAY WEEKEND PHOTOS ON WW TOMORROW

Lake Rotoiti (Nth Is.)Classic & Wooden Boat Parade – Invitation + Calendar Release

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Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade

Good morning woodys – I’m as excited as a dog with two willies today, its the CYA annual trip to Patio Bay, Waiheke Island for the CYA Xmas BBQ, we have fleet of nearly 50 classic yachts racing down & based on past years they will be joined by the cream of the classic launch fleet. Its a magic setting & a fun night – check ww out on Monday for a photo gallery of the weekend.

Another great woody weekend is the Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade, an event myself & Chris Miller have attended for the last 3 years – check out the links to those ww stories & photos below.

2016 PARADE  https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/02/09/lake-rotoiti-classic-and-wooden-boat-parade-2016-150-photos/

2015 PARADE https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/02/09/2015-lake-rotoiti-classic-wooden-boat-parade-photo-gallery/

2014 PARADE https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/02/11/2014-lake-rotoiti-nth-island-classic-wooden-boat-parade-snapshot/

Todays post is really a shout out from the Lake Rotoiti event organizers, 2017 is the 20th parade so will be special – the organizers are calling for any woodys interested in participating in the weekend to contact them – the crew keep things pretty simple e.g. if its wood & it floats – its eligible – so woodys start thinking about attending – I highly recommend it 😉 Date = Feb 3>5, thats Waitangi weekend. Contact details below.

The 2nd shout out is to promote the events calendar (see below) – this year its twice the size (A3) & packed with over 35 of mine & Chris’s photos. Perfect xmas gift for any woodys office, shed or kitchen (if you are brave). The calendars cost $15 or $40 for 3 – order via Rachel at zea.rachel@gmail.com or on the parade website http://www.woodenboatparade.co.nz/

WIN A COPY
And folks ww has a few to give away – so a wee quiz – all woodys that email the correct answer to the question below – go into the draw to win a calendar – email address = waitematawoodys@gmail.com
Q: Name the current Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Association commodore.
Draw closes 5pm Sunday 4th Dec 2016 & winner notified on ww on 5th Dec 2016

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