Category Archives: Non Waitemata

CLASSIC GAME LAUNCH – ALMA G

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CLASSIC GAME LAUNCH – ALMA G

Todays woody story features the Bay of Islands big game launch – ALMA G. In the above photo we see her at Russell departing on what appears to be a day trip. Interesting observation – the majority of the passengers appear to be female .

The photo comes to us from the ’New Zealand Vintage Postcards’ via a Garry Law fb post.

ALMA G has made numerous appearances on WWRefer link below. She was designed / built by Collings & Bell and launched in late 1922. https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/11/19/what-price-provenance-100-year-old-game-fishing-wooden-launch/ https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/11/05/alma-g-alma-g-ii/

IF YOU HAVE SPOTTED ANY WOODYS OUT AND ABOUT OVER THE XMAS/NY PERIOD – EMAIL ANY PHOTOS TO waitematawoodys@gmail.com

CLASSIC LAUNCH FLASH BACK – AMANDA LEE

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CLASSIC LAUNCH FLASH BACK – AMANDA LEE

WW was recently contacted by GlenIs O’Callaghan concerning a November WW story on the 30′ launch – AMANDA LEE, link below. AMANDA LEE was built in 1978 at Greg Lees yard at Sandspit. https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/11/04/wooden-launch-amanda-lee-a-peek-down-below/

Glenis and her late husband, Terry (Red) purchased the launch in the late 1980’s and sold it in mid 1990’s.  At the time they resided in Whangarei and had it on a berth at the Tutukaka Marina. In the above photos we see the launch as it was when the O’Callaghan’s first bought it and the other after the flying bridge was added to it.  The top over the back was also cut back as Terry enjoyed deep sea fishing which made it easier and it also gave them access to the flying bridge. They also had the steering added up top on the flying bridge.

Glenis commented it was Terry’s pride and joy and he spent many  hours keeping the varnish spick and span. They had many happy holidays on it with our 2 sons.
In discussions with an old work colleague of Terry’s, Glenis learnt that AMANDA LEE had been at the Marsden Cove Marina for the past 4 or 5 years and has recently been sold and moved down to Auckland. 

Photo below from the November WW story – my lips are sealed…………

LADY ELLEN – Out For Some TLC

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LADY ELLEN – Out For Some TLC

Recently the very stunning classic wooden launch – LADY ELLEN popped up on a fb page titled Mangawhat and the Mudflats’ , the poster was Carol Forsyth and the above photos were sent to WW by John Dawson. The photos were tagged ‘Doug’s Boatyard, Opua’ – will woodys whoever Doug is, he has a very smart yard.

We have featured LE on WW several times, following her restoration in the 2018 – 2019 period, in fact I attend the relaunch in December 2019 at Opua, Northland.- link below https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/12/16/the-launching-of-lady-ellen/ also on this page is links to all the WW restoration stories.

Its believed she was build in the late 1950’s by Supreme Craft in Auckland. At one stage she was spending her winters in Auckland as a floating office and escaping to the Bay of Islands for summer. But recently her Auckland berth has been occupied by another vessel so maybe she has retired to the north.

INPUT ex DENIS O’CALLAHAN –  I remember Doug’s boatyard very well. We hauled Tasman there in May 2004.As I recall there was no road access and we walked around a track from the Opua wharf.There was talk at that time that Doug might be forced to close the yard.However looking at the flash shed in the background he must have resolved the issues.
Photo below of Tasman at Doug’s yard.

CAN WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CLASSIC LAUNCH – JAN MAREE

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CAN WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CLASSIC LAUNCH – JAN MAREE

Recently WW was contacted by Hamish Moore regarding the classic launch – JAN MAREE, that in Hamish’s words is in the family stable and has resided on Lake Taupo for many a year. The family are short on her history and Hamish was wondering if any of the WW followers might know more about her.
The WW post on the Vindex RENA brought some more thoughts to Hamish’s mind and having recently had JAN MAREE surveyed for insurance and the gears have been turning to find out more about her. 

What we think we know about JAN MAREE – she was in the Bay Of Islands owned and used by one family line and ownership changed to another family line, Taupo based.  Her specs are 33’9” x 10’9” x 3’3″
What everyone would like to know is :-

• Confirm design (Vindex?)- • Who built her and where • Tales of her life on BOI 
She lives in a shed on Lake Taupo  and is enjoyed by family members for fishing, recreational and sightseeing. 

JAN MAREE was recently hauled out and trucked to Auckland and underwent some TLC.  • New Heart transplant, now a 320 Cummins • Hull Maintenance and replacement of all skin fittings.  • Remove and plug all redundant fittings.  • New Dash and systems upgrades, to complement the new Engine package.  • New Paint and varnish.  The above work was completed by :-
• The Boatbuilders, HMB, • Ray Bryant Marine • Halfmoon Bay Electrical.  • Gloss Boat, Tāmaki Park 

2025 AUSTRALIAN WOODEN BOAT FESTIVAL – The Perfect Xmas Present

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2025 AUSTRALIAN WOODEN BOAT FESTIVAL – The Perfect Xmas Present

Starting to get a little excited about heading over the ditch in early 2025 (Feb7>10th) for the 2025 AWBF. Have confirmed by support crew, booked flights and accommodation = so its locked and loaded.  NZ is getting its day in the sun this festival with a focus on the pacific region. But 95% of the show content will be beautiful varnished wooden craft, which WW will be reporting on.

If you’re at a loose end in early Feb and have a few pennies to spare – consider treating yourself this Christmas and get over to Hobart. Air NZ fly direct these days, and I can assure you as a woody lover you won’t regret it.
Link here to the offical 2025 Festival https://www.australianwoodenboatfestival.com.au

CLASSIC 1916 WOODEN CRAFT – MAKORA

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CLASSIC 1916 WOODEN CRAFT – MAKORA

The 35’’ woody – MAKORA was supposedly built by Baillie Bros in 1916 and started life as a yacht. To my eye she has a very fetching rear end, when it comes to lookouts hard to fault as canoe stern.

What we know about her is that she is 35’x9’6″x4′ and powered by a 40hp, 3 cyl. Fordson Dexter engine that gets her along nicely at 7 knots at 1600rpm. This we know thanks to Ian McDonald and tme.

Anyone know more about her past.

19-12-2024 HAROLD KIDD INPUT – MAKORA was built by Chas Bailey Jr in 1914 for Fred Alison of the Devonport Steam Ferry Co as a launch not a yacht. Her original power was twin 9hp Andersons (Christchurch built) for which Bailey was the Auckland agent.

CLASSIC WOODY WORKBOAT MARISSA – GETS A NEW LIFE

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CLASSIC WOODY WORKBOAT MARISSA – GETS A NEW LIFE

When my phone rings and the ID says John Wright I always answer – why? Aside from the fact he is a great guy. John has a great eye for our classic craft and if he tells me to get my A into gear and do a yard / dockside visit, I know it will be a goody.

This time the woody was the semi-ex 24’ workboat MARISSA, a 100+ years old and owned by the Monaghan family for a very large chunk of that time.

Home port is Great Barrier Island and after her re-launch at Te Atatu Boating Club she will be heading back to the barrier.

Some of her history – at one change when she was a cray boat she went ashore at GB and was abandoned on the beach. I may get this wrong, someone correct me if I do – either Don Armitage or the Monaghan family saved the wreck and concerted here to something along the lines of what we see today.

Photos below of her post the wreck / rebuild. These days she is powered by a 4 cyl. Isuzu diesel engine.

INPUT ex KERIN QWEN – Don Milne rebuilt her and crayfished from Wairahi. Then to Whangapara as support vessel for the lodge, then to Monahan’s I believe. That’s from about 1980 on. I would like to know more of her earlier history. I believe she was converted from a launch configuration.

CLASSIC YACHT OSLO

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CLASSIC YACHT OSLO

WW has been contacted by Ulf Uchida who advised that recently friends of his had bought a little wooden keeler named OSLO.  Ulf commented that he had looked at her 12 years ago when she was on the hard on a property Long Beach on Dunedin’s northern coastline. 

The story goes that she is somehow connected with Jack Crooks of Invercargill, the same one who sailed TUARANGI around the world a long time ago now.
Ulf’s friends are enthusiastic beginner sailors and do not know a lot about the yacht but are keen to find out more. They are facing a major repair job but are keen to put in the time and effort required.
The photos above show her hauled out at the OYC recently.

So woodys can we provide anymore backland on OSLO 

16-12-2024 INPUT ex KEN GOA _ I worked on Oslo in the late ’80’s in Auckland as a boatbuilding apprentice. Oslo had broken free of it’s mooring, and holed the starboard side of her hull and topsides. Double diagonal planking and ribs repaired by John Rea Boatbuilders on Archers Rd Glenfield. I have a few hard copy photos of the damage repairs.

A HEADS UP TO THE PETROL HEADS

If you aren’t relaxing at Kawau Island on Sunday / Monday of anniversary weekend – and like to open the throttle up on your woody launch / workboat – the anniversary day regatta drag race (ok, there is handicapping) might be your gig on Monday 27th – dockside chat tells me registering on line is a serious challenge, so if you are considering entering – drop Jason Prew an email and he will talk you thru things. jason@slipway.co.nz

CLASSIC EX WORKBOAT – RATAHI

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CLASSIC EX WORKBOAT – RATAHI

Recently Chris Leech sent me the above photo of the ex workboat RATAHI. Chris had been out on the Awhitu Peninsula, Waiuku and spotted RATAHI right up in the center of town, in the very tidal basin. 

Chris commented that the Ted Ashbey used to work out of there.

In an unrelated WW story back in May 2014 Harold Kidd mentioned that J.J. O’Rorke who built his former E Class Keeler – LOMOMA, in 1909 in Westmere, Auckland had also built several big workboats. One of them being RATAHI, built for use in Tauranga, Bay of Plenty.

Can we learn more about his old girl.

INPUT ex ALAN SEXTON – Write up in Boating NZ a few years ago- LOTS OF DETAILS AND PHOTOS

https://boatingnz.co.nz/2021/03/ferrys-new-manukau-home/

SANDSPIT LAUNCH MOVES INTO THE SHED

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SANDSPIT LAUNCH MOVES INTO THE SHED

Last month we featured a smart looking woody launched that was under a ’tent’ near Greg Lees Boat Yard. At the time we learnt from Greg that in another life he was named POLLY and spent time around Kawau Island.

We can report that the launch has moved into the yards slipway / boathouse and work is underway to complete the rebuild.

Link to previous story here https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/11/18/mystery-classic-wooden-launch-at-greg-lees-boatbuilders/