SPIRIT OF TRADITION LIONEL JEFCOAT WOODY
During the week WW was contacted by John Spooner concerning his 35′ yacht – GLOWWORM. Built in 1971 by master boat builder Lionel Jefcoat to a Cox design.
As we can see from the photos GLOWWORM is a very salty looking vessel and wouldn’t be afraid of the odd blue water wave, probably GOOD THING GIVEN HER HOME PORT IS WELLINGTON.
Check out the stove, would be very cosy down below at anchor.
Do we know anything GLOWWORMS past.
It is only a mystery because the owner doesn’t think a vessels name is part of its history…….
The woody featured above is approx. 33’ in length, with a carvel hull and powered by a Ford 75hp diesel engine. And that woodys is all we know so keen to learn more about her other than home is Nelson.
I suspect her owner has some basic engineering skills – the stern davits suggest a DIY addition, practical I’m sure but maybe better suited to a workboat.
CLASSIC WOODEN LAUCNH – ROSINA (Iron Bark)
Earlier in the week WW contacted by Steve Bass concerning details on a Weiti River craft. Steve mentioned a launch that he had previously owned named – ROSINA, and in reply to my standard reply -“send details”, we get to learn her history. Best if I let Steve tell the story (edited)
“I bought Rosina at Easter 1999 after she had had a major rebuild from 1986 to 1995, work included her Kauri planked hull clad in 1/4″ ply on the sides of the hull and 1/2″ on the bottom over 1/2” kauri planks and then fibreglassed. Her decks, cabin and interior were new so was basically a brand new boat when relanched at Stillwater on the 15th Jan 1995.
She was originally called Iron Bark and was launched at Meola Creek in 1947. I re-powered her in 2005 with a Nanni 3.10HE as the original 2 cyld Nanni was too underpowered. She is 20’ long x 6’ wide and draws 18”. Has a cruising speed of 6.5k and tops out at 8k.
Sadly I sold her in March 2024 after owning her for 25 years when I retired. She is currently land bound near Raglan after her current owner took her out of the water after sitting in the mooring at Wyuna Bay Coromandel for 20 months. Hopefully she will see some more use in the near future.”
In the last photo we see ROSINA being hauled and trucked back to Steves property for her biannual dose of TLC.
Anyone able to make a suggestion on the design / builder.
In NZ we get upset when the Prime Minister uses one of our Air Forces ageing transport planes – life is a tag more swish in Oslo, Norway – check out the Royal yacht below https://www.instagram.com/reel/DdEdyxFoZtF/?stkn=ZHJjb3IzcW14YnZw
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
