CLASSIC WOODEN CHARTER BOAT – IRIS
Back in March 2015 thanks to Chris Manning and Harold Kidd we had a wonderful insight into the 1923 Ernie Lane built 40’ launch – IRIS. Link here to view details and historic photos. WW March 2015 https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/03/19/iris/
Todays photo comes to us from the Nelson Museum via the Tauranga Library files, and is dated 1938.
THE SINKING OF THE WOODEN SCOW – KALAIA
Todays woody images come to us from Owen Aspden and show the auxiliary scow – KALAIA, built in 1909 by boatbuilder Davy Darroch.
Owen included an excerpt from the Court of Enquiry Report into the vessels sinking in 1936.
“During the early hours of March 25 1936, the scow foundered near Castle Rock south of Mercury Bay. There was a heavy sea and the wind had reached gale force, two hand pumps were manned but the scow settled by the bow and at this point two Maori members of the crew were washed overboard and lost in the darkness.
An attempt was made to launch the dinghy but the propellers then half out of the water threatened to stove in the small craft but reassured by the calls of the two Maoris who were excellent swimmers, the crew stood by the dinghy until the KALAIA was sinking beneath their feet.
The two Maoris were picked up and the five crew rowed through five miles of rough water and through the surf on to Hot Water Beach.”
Owen commented that back then this was just part of the job for these tough sailors.
28-04- 2025 INPUT ex STUART JOHNSTON re STANMORE BAY – As a young fellow and regular holiday and weekender to Stanmore Bay Whangaparaoa, I have memories from early/ mid 1950’s of Scows grounding in the shallows at the eastern end of Stanmore Bay loaded with red chip road metal (from McCullams Island I think) destined for Hopper Bros. Hoppers trucks, some being ex WW2 were loaded by on board Dragline before departing up what is now Stanmore Bay Rd destined for road seal and or concrete footpaths and foundations.
Whence this procedure terminated, scows were motored up the Wade River to the then new landing stage to feed the growing needs of the area which included a ready mixed concrete plant and later concrete building blocks and other construction needs. This was probably very late 50’s early 60’s. Are there any historical photographic records on the beached scows as this activity was instrumental in the growth of Whangaparaoa?
CLASSIC CLINKER RUNABOUT – IN THE MEANTIME
Back in April 2022 we ran a brief story ex Rob Bark in regard to a clinker run-about he had purchased named – IN THE MEANTIME. Back then Rob was hoping to learn more about the craft.
The photos above are recent ex Rob and are a vast improvement on what we saw back in 2022, those photos are below – the first one dated c.2015, shows the boat as purchased by the previous owner (who was based in Rotoiti, Lake Rotorua). They removed the cabin and hot-house.
The second & third photos below show her as a work-in-progress.
WW was unable to unable to uncover any intel in 2022 , so today we ask again – the WW readership numbers have move than doubled in the last few years so maybe some fresh eyes and minds might help. Any intel , even possible build date would be appreciated.
Rob is currently in the process of deciding how he should power her (inboard, outboard etc) – any advice.
The launch KARINA last appeared on WW back in Dec 2022, link below, where with the help of Harold Kidd and Paul Drake we were able to join the dots and link the launch to MERLIN. https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/12/06/mystery-lake-okataina-launch-can-we-now-confirm-her-id/
We now know thanks to Greg Philpott & Lew Redwood that KARINA was originally built as MERLIN by Dick Lang in Auckland in 1939. The commissioning owner is unknown.
MERLIN was apparently based in Auckland in her early years and may have been used to deliver mail to Great Barrier Island during World War Two.
She went to Lake Rotorua in 1945 and then in 1947 to Lake Okataina. MERLIN was sold in May 1957 to Les Tetzlaff who took the boat to Kawhia where she was operated primarily for fishing charters. Jim Storey, a long established Taupo based launch operator, purchased MERLIN in 1961, relocated her to Taupo and on arrival there, renamed her KARINA. Her last survey (to enable commercial use) was in 1965.
Anyone know what became of her beyond 1965.
(Photo of KARINA as MERLIN when on Lake Okataina, courtesy of Beamish-White family archives)
CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – TAURIMA – A Peek Down Below
Todays woody is the 1961 classic launch – TAURIMA. Built from kauri with double diagonal planks. She measures 36’4” in length, with a beam of 10’6” and draws 3’7”. Forward motion is via a 110hp Lees Marine Ford diesel engine that gives her a cruising speed of 6>7 knots. In recent years TAURIMA has enjoyed a ‘rolling restoration’ and appears to be presented in very good condition.
TAURIMA made an appearance on WW back Feb 2017 link below https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/02/13/24919/ Lots of chat in the comments section on designer / builder – the thinking is possibly based on a Billy Rogers design and a home build.
The interior is a tad cluttered but this is a reflection of her current use eg live-a-board, a big black sack and a few hours would see her looking smarter 🙂
NOTE: the first 5 photos are dated c.1961
CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT SPOTTING IN THE BAY OF ISLANDS
Last week I received a note from Denis O’Callahan, past owner of MV TASMAN, Denis commented that he had been sailing in the Bay of Islands with his son Logan on his Farr 10.20 “Drums of Time”.
Logan wanted to explore the KeriKeri inlet in his newly refurbished wooden dinghy so they rowed up to the Stone Store, observing the many boats on pile berths along the way.
In the top photo we see the Brooke families Colin Wild launch LINDA, which resides in Kerikeri these days.
Later they were at Paradise Bay, Rangapukapuka and photographed the bridge-decker TAMAROA – link here to previous WW story on her https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/09/21/tamaroa/
Later in the trip they were at Matauwhi Bay anchored near the ketch/yawl – OKERE. History unknown, can we learn more.
Finally, as Denis was preparing to go ashore for the bus trip home they were anchored at Paihia near an old gaffer named FROLIC.
Logan later leant that FROLIC is from Hobart and is preparing to head up into the Pacific soon.
WOODEN BOATS AND YOUTUBE
In the Jan/Feb issue of the USA magazine WoodenBoat they ran a small feature on some of the best Youtube channels that focus on wooden boating. Most of them are on my watch / rotate list but I thought some of the WW readers might appreciate knowing where to look. I hope the links below work, if not given the weather forecast to have plenty of time to manually search 🙂
My favourites are – TALLY HO, Building a boat by the river, Travels with Geordie and Madison Boatworks.
Also in the magazine is a great article on the re-building of TALLY HO by Leo Goolden, worth the cost of the mag just for this. As an aside Leo’s YouTube site has had over 113 million views and has been an amazing funding stream for the project.
Also keen on these ones
And of course there has to be a boat photo – on Thursday I was at The Slipway Milford and both CENTAURUS and AWARIKI are looking stunning. CENTAURUS has the final coat on her topsides and owner Angus has been leaving away on some of the brightwork. The varnishing work has also just started on AKARIKI’s coamings.
HOW DO THESE WOODEN BOATS STAY AFLOAT
Recently Alistair Rowe sent in the two photos above of wooden vessels berthed at Westport marina.
Alistair described them as crusty old work boats, but I think he was being overly nice. If they were up any of the rivers, creeks in and around Auckland I think it would be a pretty safe bet that the Harbour Master would have removed them.
The boat in the top photo appears to have an oil/fuel boom around her, but the boom looks as old as the boat….
Forecast for the long Easter weekend is evil so leaving the marina will be a challenge – have already cancelled my mooring booking at Kawau Island.
You have to feel sorry for the Kawau Boating Club, seems of late every long weekend sees an unfavourable weather forecast . Fingers crossed things improve for the legendary ANZAC Day dawn service at KBC.
STELLA – CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT SOS
Last week Andrew Motte-Harrison commented on one of the stories that he had a old kauri launch ’currently deteriorating behind his farm hay shed’.
Andrew believes she was originally named STELLA and alsp possibly named TOILER at another time. Possibly built c.1910>15 by Lane Bros in Christchurch (thats a new one, was there such a place?). Andrew described STELLA as a line fishing boat.
Andrew also commented that when they had her up at the Nelson Marina, talking to an elderly boat builder up there years ago, he passed on what he understood to be some of her history. He thought she had been working out of Bluff, Hokitika and perhaps Oban in years past (back then)
As the photos show the boat is in need of some serious TLC, starting with a few hours with a water blaster- inside and out. And maybe a session with a tungsten tipped chainsaw and then a new cabin. Her hull deserves saving.
The last photo was taken over 20 years ago, before being hauled out.
So southern woodys anyone looking for a project, STELLA is located 20 minutes south of Murchison, approx. 2 hours out of Nelson.
INPUT ex DICK HALL – Built by Ernie lane in Picton for the Boese family with a low cabin and rails instead of bulwarks. Later purchased by well known fishing identity Jimmy Aldridge and converted by Jack Morgan with new wheelhouse, bulwarks and new air-cooled Lister. Jim crayfished mostly outside Tory Channel. Next owner Alex McKenzie from Blenheim who re-named her Toiler but after a few years sold her for a bigger vessel. Fished out of Picton all her life before going to Nelson for pleasure conversion. Her original name was Elaine then Toiler. Never Stella while in Picton
MYSTERY DOUBLE ENDER WOODEN LAUNCH – PATINA
Todays photo was sent in by Heather Espin and comes to us ex a photo album from Bryan Walden. Walden was one of the first boat brokers in Auckland and he categorised the boats he sold.
The location to me appears to be Wellington and the boat has a the distinct look (double-ender) of a vessel that would have crossed Cook Straight with ease.
Can anyone confirm the location and put a name to the launch.
The boats PATINA, built in 1913 by Ernie Lane in Picton – more here https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/10/17/classic-wooden-boat-patina-le-reina-a-peek-down-below/
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