Category Archives: Non Waitemata

CLASSIC KAURI LAUNCH. – PUTIKI

Posted on by
1

CLASSIC KAURI LAUNCH. – PUTIKI

Todays classic wooden launch has  recently popped up on tme (thanks Ian McDonald). Terrible listing, eg so few details but putting that aside with an $8k asking price, PUTIKI could be a great project for the winter. Some boatyards would charge you more than $8k to make that butterfly hatch.

What we know is she is 32’ in length, kauri planked (but sadly f/gased – but maybe thats keeping her a float) and powered by a 80hp 4 cyl. Ford Lees diesel engine. 

Home is currently Kerikeri.

The boat and name is unknown to WW so keen to learn more on her past .

06-05-2025 INPUT ex STEV LITTIN – Putiki was owned by my father Albert Littin while in Port Albert from about 2003 till 2010 and then moved to One Tree Point, Whangarei till sold about 5 years ago to Totara North. Current engine was rebuilt and fitted by Dad to replace the engine that broke a crankshaft and self destructed while fishing on the Kaipara.

Built 1907-10 we believe in Mangawhai. Dad has a picture from I think the 1940’s-50’s taken on the Mahurangi River.

WOODEN LAUNCH – RANGATIRA + I BOUGHT A YACHT

Posted on by
3

WOODEN LAUNCH – RANGATIRA + I BOUGHT A YACHT

The wooden launch RANGATIRA recently popped up on tme (thanks Ian McDonald) and reading the listing it sounds like an abandoned vessel forced sale.

34’, kauri hull, Perkins 6 cyl. engine (not working) – that is about all we know other than a $1 reserve. 

Possibly beyond a restoration but surely someone needs some kauri for a project……

I BOUGHT A YACHT

Well a small one, very small eg vintage pond yacht. Another one for the collection. Very good condition.

On the centre cockpit there is a cover (to keep water out – this one actually sails) on the top are the letters ‘RMYC 1923” and two burgees / pennants – refer photo below. My initial thought was ‘Royal Melbourne Yacht Club’ but can’t find any reference to that other than a Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron and they have no reference on their website to those two ‘flags’. Anyone ablate help ID the graphics / yacht.

IS THIS WOODEN LAUNCH – RANUI / EL ALAMEIN

Posted on by
2

IS THIS WOODEN LAUNCH – RANUI / EL ALAMEIN

Yesterday Liz France posted on fb asking for help ID’ing the above launch pictured in the top photo in Western Bay, Lake Taupo c.1950’s.

The smaller vessel in the photo was built by Liz’s father and uncle in 1954, and has recently been restored and was re-launched last weekend. This craft is named STINGRAY and seen in the photo gallery above.

Several people commented that the bigger launch could be RANUI / EL ALAMEIN.

Link below to a previous WW story on RANUI / EL ALAMEIN  https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/08/19/el-alamein-ranui-on-lake-taupo/

Can we confirm that the launch Liz has referenced is in fact RANUI / EL ALAMEIN.

INPUT ex PAUL DRAKE – EL ALAMEIN continued to be EL ALAMEIN for many years when she was in private ownership at Taupo. When put into survey (not sure of date) and operated commercially by Jim Storey, she became RANUI. This photo is interesting, and I think it shows RANUI in the eastern corner of Waihora Bay.

CLASSIC WOODEN CHARTER BOAT – IRIS

Posted on by
1

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

Posted on by
Reply

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

Posted on by
2

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.

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – KARINA (ex MERLIN) 

Posted on by
Reply
CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – KARINA (ex MERLIN) 

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

Posted on by
Reply

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

Posted on by
5

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

Posted on by
Reply

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.

@SampsonBoatCo

@TravelsWithGeordie

@AcornToArabella

@Building_a_Boat_by_the_River

@MadisonBoatworks

@SailingYaba

@TipsfromaShipwrightvideos

Also keen on these ones

@SailingMagicCarpet

@SmallSailboatCruising

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.

AWARIKI