Category Archives: Non Waitemata

GRACIE – 33’ WOODEN LAUNCH + CLASSIC LAUNCH SILENS SINKS

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GRACIE – 33’ WOODEN LAUNCH + CLASSIC LAUNCH SILENS SINKS

In 1741 David Hume termed the phase –  ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder’ – well it certainly applies to todays wooden vessel. In her tme story (thanks Ian McDonald) her owner says “Gracie is a beautifully proportioned classic wooden launch” , they also say she was designed by Jim Young – the claim to her beauty and designer have been challenged in the tme comments section and would have to agree. To my eyes has a high degree of yacht looks to her.

All the above aside she is constructed from kauri carvel planking, has a beam of 10’9’ and draws 4’3”, built c.1970’s. Her forward motion is from a Nissan 2.7L diesel engine giving her a top speed of 8 knots.


SAD NEWS CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH SILENS SINKS

Several reports have come in about the 1912 Harvey & Lang built, 38′ classic wooden launch SILENS sinking on Thursday/Friday while moored in Algies Bay, Mahurangi Peninsula. The unconfirmed story is that she had left her berth in Westhaven and was traveling to the Bay of Islands. Based on the weather forecast / conditions on Thursday the decision was made to stop in Algies Bay on a mooring.As a result of at this stage unknown water ingress, and possible bilge pump issues, she sank. Her mast is visibly at low tide so hopefully salvageable. Keen to learn more. In my early days on the classic woody scene SILENS was one of the in-crowd and I have happy memories from times aboard. https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/08/16/silens-a-peek-down-below-4sale/

CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT – VANORA

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CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT – VANORA

During the week I was tagged into a Lew Redwood fb post on the classic wooden boat – VANORA.

Lew’s post was captioned ‘Whakatane 1911’ and that woodys was all Lew knew. Thence why WW was tagged.

Well as you know, most of the time WW delivers the goods. A quick search revealed several WW stories with lots of details and photos. The 2018 one with input from Harold Kidd, nails her name and provenance. Click links to discover more.

Last heard she was in a add state at Whangteau – anyone able to update us.

WW 2018   https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/08/26/vanora/

WW  2020  https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/07/17/huria-vanora-naomi/

WW 2018
WW 2020

CLASSIC SOUTHERN WOODEN WORKBOATS 

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CLASSIC SOUTHERN WOODEN WORKBOATS 

Earlier in the month Glenn Martin was mooching around the South Island on a bike  (I assume motorbike) and sent in todays gallery of woody workboat photos from Bluff. 

Not all capable of heading out to sea but wonderful to see them still intact, if that was Auckland they would have made a oneway trip to the landfill years ago.

MYSTERY COROMANDEL CLASSIC LAUNCH

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MYSTERY COROMANDEL CLASSIC  LAUNCH

Todays woody photo was sent in late last year by Ian McDonald – it originated ex the Auckland Libraries Heritage Collection and the photographer was probably a Stapley Farmer and its dated c.1960’s.

Ian commented at the time that there had been some commented re a possible name/s – TARA / REGARDLESS.

The location appears to be the upper reaches of the Coromandel township harbour.

Anyone able to confirm the name supply more details.

The photo below was sent in by Ken Ricketts, vessel hauled out at Te Atatu BC in 2025

CLASSIC WOODEN 1930’s SPEEDBOAT – WINTER PROJECT

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CLASSIC WOODEN 1930’s SPEEDBOAT – WINTER PROJECT

Todays vintage woody recently popped up on tme with a $1 reserve (thanks Ian McDonald).

 Now hush my mouth but the chrome fittings would be worth buying her for. But there’s the bones of a nice lake boat there – 20’ in length, made from mahogany , stored under cover its whole life.  Designer / builder unknown.

OFF CENTER HARBOR WEBSITE

Regular WW readers will be familiar with the USA based website – Off Center Harbour, but if you aren’t already a member I would encourage you to subscribe.

A day wouldn’t go by when I do not log in to view one off the 600+ video’s from the back library – for advice, inspiration of just entertainment.

At the link below you will find a short video on what the site is all about . https://www.offcenterharbor.com/what-is-off-center-harbor-regular-join/

Below is a random collection of screen grabs showing some of the content.

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – LADY ETHEL – A PEEK DOWN BELOW

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – LADY ETHEL – A PEEK DOWN BELOW

The 34’ 1962 classic wooden launch – LADY ETHEL has previously appeared on WW, link below. In that 2014 story and in her tme listing last year it was stated that she was built by Brin Wilson, this is incorrect. Back in 2015 Chris McMullen advised that LADY ETHEL was in fact built by Morrie Palmer of Devonport, he did the hull and Mr Neil Wilson  (owner) finished her off. 

WW April 2014 https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/04/17/lady-ethel/ (thanks Ian McDonald)

These days she is powered by a 1988, 72hp Sole (marinised Mercedes) diesel engine giving a comfortable cruising speed of 7.5 knots.

She did sell – at the time based in Motueka. Can we get an update on where LADY ETHEL is now.

CLASSIC 1950’S WOODEN LAUNCH – TAMAROA 

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CLASSIC 1950’S WOODEN LAUNCH – TAMAROA 

We last saw TAMAROA on WW back in 2022 , link below  https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/04/12/tamaroa-in-the-bay-of-islands/

Early in the year she made an appearance on tme (thanks Ian McDonald) and this enabled us to get afresh look at some of the enhancements.

Briefly overview of what we know – 46’, Collings & Bell launched in 1954, powered by twin 120hp Nissan diesel engines. She had a new kauri hull fitted about 15 years ago up to the water line.

Interested to learn if she sold and if so where she resides now.

SUMMER WAS A TAD AVERAGE BUT AUTUMN GETS A BIG ✔️

Had a lazy weekend at Rakino Island, condition perfect – as expect Woody Bay was packed and zero woodys, but West Bay was the better anchorage.

If you like gin – try PAPA SALT – Coastal Gin, seriously good and the sea glass bottle ilooks the part on a classic wooden boat 😉 

CLASSIC SOUTHERN WOODEN CLINKER – BEATTIEFUL

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CLASSIC SOUTHERN WOODEN CLINKER – BEATTIEFUL

When I first sighted todays 16’, 1961 built clinker run-about I was a little startled and my first thoughts were had she started life as a project boat at a boatbuilding school were every skill / feature was explored. But as they say – beauty is in the eyes of the beholder and if you pay the bills you can do what ever you want 😉  

And she was awarded the top prize at the 2018 NZ Antique and Classic boat show at Lake Rotoiti, Nelson Lakes. So she appeals to them southern folks 🙂

What we know about BEATTIEFUL is she was designed and built in 1961 by Jim Beattie, a kiwi boat builder based in Blenheim, and then in the mid 2000’s she was restored in Blenheim by Wayne Foley of Blenheim. Power is via a 60hp Yamaha outboard.I understand the boat changed hands at the 2026 Nelson Lakes boat show, so nice that she remain ‘local’ and presumably lake based.

(thanks Ian McDonald for the story heads up)

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – MALUA – NEEDS A NEW OWNER

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – MALUA – NEEDS A NEW OWNER

During the week WW was contacted by Jeff Giddens concerning the classic wooden launch – MALUA. Jeff tells her story below – 

“We have sort of acquired the above named vessel “Malua”. At this stage make and builder unknown.Story goes……there was a brand new 65 Volvo marine diesel engine fitted in the boat some 25 years ago, it did very few hours, then was put into a slipway cradle and has been on the slipway ever since (approx. 17 years).

Someone may know some history on this vessel. We would love to see this old girl be restored, hull is 98% sound, but unfortunately the decks and cabin sides need work. Be nice to know there is someone out there that wants her. Not free but her price will reflect the buyers commitment to restoring her.”  

What we know – approx. 26’-28′ in length and very beamy for her length. Constructed from single skin, most likely kauri planking. 25+ years ago, she was on a swing mooring in Ivy Bay, Paremata, Pāuatahanui Inlet, then she went to Tauranga, then came back to Ivy Bay, Paremata, and has been on the slipway cradle ever since.

From the photos we see that her cradle sits above the water at high tide so this should have helped reduce the ‘drying out’ effect over the years.

If you have room and the passion for a classic wooden launch like MALUA in your life – initially contact Jeff at j.giddens@xtra.co.nz

And it saddens me to add that if we can’t find a new owner, she will face an appointment with a back-hoe…… 😢

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – TEMPEST

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2014
2022
2023
2025

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – TEMPEST

The 30’ classic wooden launch TEMPEST recently made an appearance of tme, bidding reached $395 and the listing was withdrawn. Hopefully the seller realised its real value and has found a genuine buyer. Would be keen to learn what became of her.

In the meantime some background – built in 1964/5 by McGeady and powered by a Ford 100hp 6 cyl. diesel engine.

She has appeared several time on WW starting back in 2014, looking very salty, then in 2022 looking very sad and again in 2023. WW 2014 https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/10/26/9340/

WW 2022 https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/05/15/tempest/

WW 2023 https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/05/20/tempest-a-peek-down-below/

Her recent history is that her owner spent hundreds of hours restoring her and then during Cyclone Gabrielle she was struck and sunk on her mooring by a much larger floating foot path (concrete boat). Her owner also experienced  a medical incident and the rebuild is beyond his physical resources and he has made the hard call to find a new custodian.

TEMPEST is #3 of 4 boats that Norm Fairlie had built for him by Mc Geady in the 1950s >1970s period.

She was purpose built in kauri and mahogany for him c.1964/5 by McGeady in his Summer Street, Ponsonby premises , specifically to fish for Tuna in the World Game Fishing Competition held in NZ in March of that year, which he won in her.

TEMPEST’s hull had been started by McGeady to be a boat he had intended for himself but he was persuaded by Fairlie to sell her to him & finish her to Norm’s requirements i

Fairlie owned her simultaneously with his other larger McGeady boat the 38 foot CHALLENGER which McGeady built for him in c.1962. He fished for Tuna in the contest off TEMPEST, & Billfish off CHALLENGER & came second in the overall contest

Fairlie later sold her to his then business partner Mr Bert Grimshaw-Jones, who lived on the banks of the Tamaki River, where he kept her at the bottom of his garden, for a number of years,