Category Archives: Non Waitemata

CLASSIC WOODEN EX WORK BOAT – ALBATROOS V – BROKEN UP

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CLASSIC WOODEN EX WORK BOAT – ALBATROOS V – BROKEN UP

The 64’ Millar& Tunnage ex tugboat – ALBATROSS V last made an appearance on WW back in May 2022 when we reported that after a lengthy time on the market she sold for $7,100.

Over the next few years she would regularly pop up on tme for sale again. I do not know the history behind her but at one stage the starting bid was $1, and no reserve………. Link to the May 2022 story here  https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/05/18/albatross-v-sold-for-7100/

Recently WW was contacted by Dick Fisher (MV AKARANA), Dick is currently undertaking a major rebuild / refit of the 1934 Chas Bailey & Sons built ex work boat – MELODEON . Link here to WW story. https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/09/25/update-on-melodeon-restoration/
Dick advised that ALBATROSS had been pulled onto the slipway in Port Road, Whangarei for dismantling. A sad ending to what Dick described as a very well built grand old lady.The only upside to her demise was that Dick was able to ‘harvest’ some of her bronze fittings, which will be up-cycled on MELODEON.

CLASSIC MOTOR SAILER – ASTROLINDA + 4Sale

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CLASSIC MOTOR SAILER – ASTROLINDA  + 4Sale

Todays classic wooden motor-sailer ASTROLINDA has a magnificent provenance – designed by Athol Burns and built professionally by Morgan Boatbuilders  of Picton in 1966 (named MANUTAI when launched)                                                                                                Built of carvel construction, 34’6”, with kauri hull and decks, mahogany cabin sides and ply deck-head. Put simply an elegant classic with pedigree and class, she fully retains her original aura, character and pedigree. But at the same time, a careful integration of modern systems and technology ensures the very latest in comfort – auto pilot, cabin heater, furling headsail, hot shower, + extensive systems upgrade, sleeps 4>5.

ASTROLINDA has benefited from a succession of caring owners that have all maintained her in consistently exceptional condition.

 Her current owners have enjoyed her for approx. 10 years, during this period they have undertaken the following projects – (overview only) –

• Powered by a Ford 80hp 4 cylinder diesel engine – fully reconditioned • New fuel lift pump, new starter motor, new alternator, reconditioned raw water pump • New Maxwell RC10 anchor winch installed with remote control • New 12 volt batteries installed • Mast removed and all rigging stripped off > mast paint stripped/sanded and repainted with 8 coats of paint, halyard winch fitted > mast fitted with new wiring and new riding  and steaming lights plus new deck floodlights. Rigging checked, reassembled and mast reinstated • New Simrad  radar + chart plotter/sounder + / VHF (AIS capable) installed  • New 1 KW transducer installed • New 12/230 volt fridge fitted • New 80 m x 10mm galvanised anchor chain  fitted • New gas detector and electric solenoid safety on/off valve installed

ASTROLINDA is a practical classic motorsailer that is fun to use and with the use of low maintenance materials is easy to maintain.  An inspection will showcase the quality of materials, construction and craftsman ship evident throughout and attest to the fact she has been well loved and cared for by her owners, past and present.

Now offered for sale to the next generation of cruising sailors and their families. ASTROLINDA should be a must-see for anyone in the market for a well-maintained, classic sailing yacht on which to have their own adventures, whether that be as a floating bach in the Picton or relocated to the northern cruising grounds.Interest parties wanting to learn more about ASTROLINDA to initially contact waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Possibly when launched

Click images below to enlarge

CAN WE PUT A NAME ON THIS CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – SAGA

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CAN WE PUT A NAME ON THIS CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – SAGA

Today’s woody has us scratching our heads — can anyone put a name to this classic?

We’re told she was built in 1946 by Bailey with a kauri hull, and measures 35’. Power comes from a 146hp Perkins T6354 diesel.

A recent appearance on tme — thanks Ian McDonald for spotting her — suggests she has benefited from a number of systems upgrades and maintenance work in recent times.

At under 15k, she could represent a very affordable ticket into the world of classic wooden boating.

If you recognise the boat or know anything about her history, drop a note in the WW comments section. Home is Opua, Northland.

INPUT ex NATHAN HERBERT – her name is SAGA https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/11/06/saga-a-peek-down-below/

CLASSIC WOODEN WORKBOATS OF THE HAURAKI GULF – ANZAC

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CLASSIC WOODEN WORKBOATS OF THE HAURAKI GULF – ANZAC

Trolling thru the WW archives I found a file tagged Anzac that was created in 2019, inside was was the above photo of a launch named ANZAC, back in 2019 Harold Kidd had advised that she was 33’, built at Great Barrier Island and in those days powered by a 12-18hp Zealandia engine.

ANZAC was used for general cargo and passenger work in the Hauraki Gulf. Harold commented that she was probably built by G Osborne in Tryphena.

Todays photo originally came from the Auckland War Memorial Museum and was tagged – ‘ANZAC on the Puhoi River.

Do we know what became of ANZAC.  Harold once told me these launches were the equivalent of todays Toyota Ute. Everyone had one. I’ll get it wrong but I think I was told the annual production was something like 3>4,000 a year.

WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER

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WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER

Recently I was trolling the web and came across a youtube channel by Larry Eastwood from Pittwater Wooden Boats in Australia. Larry is restoring / rebuilding the Logan built gaff cutter named PETREL. Lots of video footage of the work in progress. Larry’s been in Auckland checking out our Logan fleet and getting ideas and most importantly inspiration. Link to Larrys channel here https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Larry+Eastwood

In one of the back stories was the photo above, these days we panic over the frig/freezer working, well back then you just grabbed a chock (I assume from a crate below) and you had fresh meat for dinner.

The photo reminds me of a tell that will not include names – of a yacht crew member doing something similar to turkey that he ‘liberated’ at Kawau Island………… the noise and mess was something else. Sadly the bird was despatched to the depths with a weight on it when the Ranger started searching the bay. My lips are sealed.

WOODYS ON TOUR – UK BROADS CLASSICS

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WOODYS ON TOUR – UK BROADS CLASSICS

Classic wooden boat (& car) fan Murray Deeble is currently enjoying summer in the UK and sent in todays photo gallery from an excursion on the Norfolk Broads. 

In a couple of the photos we see St Benets Abbey, founded in the 9th century and later rebuilt in 1022. 

Love the photo of the plastic boat, no one rushing re-float it 🙂

Sales of fenders must be good at the local chandlery , shades of Canada. 

1929 CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – SOUTHERN MAID SAVED

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1929 CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – SOUTHERN MAID SAVED

Lately too many WW stories have been about wooden craft that have an impending appointment with a back-hoe. Today is a feel good story – the 1929 classic 42′, Ernie Lane of Picton built wooden launch – SOUTHERN MAID has been saved.

Let’s back the truck up – back in June  2026 we ran an SOS story on SOUTHERN MAID, reaching out for someone to step up and save her. Link here  https://waitematawoodys.com/2026/06/13/sos-southern-maid-classic-1929-motor-launch-needs-saving/

On Saturday I received an email from Jeff Giddens – reproduced below

“As you often post, of boats that are heading for an appointment with the back-hoe, this one brings joy. 
The vessel “Southern Maid” which had fallen into hard times, had been placed up for sale, was once owned by the McAllister family in the Marlborough Sounds for a very long time years ago, has now been purchased for $1 back to the family to be restored to her former gory. Such a fantastic outcome”.

We look forward to following the project.

04-09-2026 INPUT ex JOHN WICKS – In the  photo below of her under way is actually right in the middle of Blenheim, on the Opawa River, the other photo is at a wharf just inside the Wairau River bar. Date is c.1950, maybe a year either side.

SAILING BACK IN TIME — 1930s CLASSIC YACHTS

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Off Waiwera
Tryphena, Great Barrier Island

SAILING BACK IN TIME — 1930s CLASSIC YACHTS

Todays classic wooden boating photo gallery comes to us from the Leith family in Dunedin via Peter Mence.

The accompanying note commented that the photos came from a family album and are dated approx. 90 years ago. Looking at the tags one has ’Season 1936>7’ on it, halcyon days before WWII kicked off. Given the age of the ‘boys’ in the photos, no doubt most of them would have seen service.

The two yachts seen are OTRIA L25 and NOMAD H5.

Do we know where OTIRA L25 is these days.

The last news we had on NOMAD L5 was she was on fire at Mapua, Nelson in June 2024. Link below. Any update on what became of her post the fire. https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/06/19/nomad-on-fire-at-mapua-nelson/

A CLASSIC BOATING VENUE LOST FOREVER

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A CLASSIC BOATING VENUE LOST FOREVER

During the week the  media have been flagging the sale of the Royal NZ Yacht Squadron Kawau Island property (Lidgard House and property”) to Ngati Manuhiri. I have no issue with who bought it and I’m not going to enter into the debate around whether the property will be visually and physically respected by its new owner. 

What concerns me is the loss of access to a resource that all boat owners had access to. Sure the RNZYS owned it, but no one ever stopped a boat owner stretching their legs or exercising the family dog. And if you were a squadron member, you had access to an all tide wharf/pontoon where you could tie up the dinghy. 

If you think it will be business as normal re access, you are wrong. I quote from the RNZYS advice to members –  “In recognition of the Squadron’s long stewardship of the property, Ngati Manuhiri has warmly invited RNZYS to continue to enjoy use of the beachfront, jetty, pontoon and lawn area TWICE annually….. for an initial period of 20 years”.

Sadly I suspect the real loser from this sale will be the Kawau Boating Club, there will be fewer ‘walk up’ customers frequenting the club and less fuel sales. The only winner out of all this is Waiheke Island retailers, and when you factor in high fuel costs – I predict boats will be dropping anchor closer to home this summer. 

NORTHWIND – NOT LONG OF THIS WORLD

The 33’ wooden motorsailer NORTHWIND is very close to an appointment with a back hoe. In the words of the wellington Harbour Master – “this is a serious project for a classic boat and not for the faint hearted” – that would be the understatement of the year.

In my eyes probably best viewed as a donor boat for someone wanting some fittings. Searchable on tme. (thanks Ian McDonald)

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH STERLING GIRL RISES IN PRICE

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH STERLING GIRL RISES IN PRICE 

It seems the southern woodys haven’t quite received the memo about the classic wooden boat market reset.

Back in 2018, while wandering the Picton waterfront, I had to be practically dragged away from the 1913 bridge-decker STERLING GIRL.

Back then, she ticked just about every box for me — 35 feet, Bailey & Lowe, ex-workboat, a wood fire and, best of all, a Ford Model T steering wheel/helm. (Yes, I know… I’m shallow.)

And in my eyes – absolutely drop-dead gorgeous.

At the time, STERLING GIRL was priced at 26k, which seemed pretty fair value. Fast-forward seven years and she’s apparently still looking for a new custodian — but the asking price has risen to 29k

Perhaps she has been re-powered or received some serious TLC along the way. Or perhaps there’s simply now a broker involved and a commission to accommodate…

The real challenge may simply be geography. For a northern-based woody enthusiast, getting STERLING GIRL relocated could add a significant chunk to the purchase price.

Seven years later, I still think she’s a stunner.