Category Archives: Non Waitemata

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – GLENIFFER – A Peek Down Below

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – GLENIFFER – A Peek Down Below

Todays woody is the 39’ classic wooden Bridgedecker – GLENIFFER. A recent addition to tme (thanks Ian McDonald) – as always seems to be the case a few factual discrepancies, so in the interests of getting right on WW , we will go with what Harold Kidd advised in a previous WW story (linked below – great b/w photo there) that she was built by Chas Bailey & Sons and launched in October 1930.

GLENIFFER also made a cameo WW appearance in April 2017 (linked below)

WW April 2013 https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/04/11/glenifer/

WW April 2017 https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/04/13/woody-on-tour-havelock-marina/

Her name came from her original engine make -a Gleniffer. These days her forward motion is via Ford D series 6 cyl engine.

Home is Port Tarakohe, Tasman, Sth Island.

COULD THIS BE THE CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – MANU-ITI

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COULD THIS BE THE CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – MANU-ITI

Last weekend one of the woodys that we past on the Wairoa River was the launch – MANU-ITI, a rather striking small classic launch that was crying out for some TLC.

During the week WW was contacted by Kerry Alexander who posed the question – could the launch seen in the top photo above be MANU-ITI ?

Kerry commented that he I did not remember the build name but i think it may have been for Mr Yates sen , of the seed company. The builder Keith Atkinson is seen in the doorway. 

A possible date for the photo is c.1965 and the boat maybe a Bill Couldrey design.

So woodys can anyone comment / added to this mystery boat in the shed photo.

INOUT ex NATHAN HERBERT – yes, designed 1964 for Yates and one for Birkenhead and Northcote Yacht Club. Only the Yates boat built.

02-10-2024 UPDATE ex Chloe Salthouse – photo below of Manu-iti crossing Parekura Bay up in the Bay of Islands, with Norman Yates at the helm. Date probably not long after her launch in 1965.

LADY CAROLE RESTORATION – UPDATE #7

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LADY CAROLE RESTORATION – UPDATE #7

Today we have the latest update on the restoration of LADY CAROLE, as previously co-owner Patrick Crawshaw will walk us thru it – Patrick commented that there were a few things still to do like put the non skid on the decks and the mast and some more fittings. But LC is days away from touching the water – hopefully tomorrow ✔️

The last couple of weeks has been spent finishing the painting, getting the mast made, and trims fabricated for the aft deck curve. Next year the rub rails will be changed to stainless steel, but we used the existing ones for now. Most of the chrome fittings are on. Hull with anti-foul, prop speed, etc.  

Starting to come together with the chrome going on. 

Spring Equinox – The cover gets removed and we see her for the first time from a distance. 

RSVP – waitematawoodys@gmail.com

REEL THING / REAL TIME / MARY ANN + 2025 TALL SHIPS REGATTA 

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REEL THING / REAL TIME / MARY ANN + 2025 TALL SHIPS REGATTA 

Not often I start with an apology but todays craft wouldn’t normally be a lead WW story, a tad too much happening up top but I spotted REAL THING berthed in the Tutukaka Marina recently and the there is a very smart hull under the additions. I’m sure the addition would pass the Auckland Council Unitary Plan re height of new dealings 😉

Can any of th northern woodys tell us more about REEL THING.

INPUT ex ERIC SANDERSON – the boat featured on WW back in 2023 under the name REAL Time (also once named MARY ANN) built in 1962 by ‘Tauranga Boatbuilders’ See/read more at this link https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/08/15/reel-time-mary-ann/

TALL SHIPS REGATTA 2025 – RUSSELL BOATING CLUB

Learn more here russellboatingclub.org.nz

CLASSIC MASON MARLIN WOODEN RUNABOUT MORPHS INTO A SPEEDBOAT

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CLASSIC MASON MARLIN WOODEN RUNABOUT MORPHS INTO A SPEEDBOAT

During the woodys trip to the Clevedon Cruising Club last weekend, one of the members brought along a recent project.

The speedboat SUZI Q started life as a Mason Marlin but her cabin top was toast so the call was made to start from scratch and the end result is what we see above.

Quite an impressive conversion and no doubt a flyer, did not get a chance to talk to the owner but it would be interesting to learn how she performs / handles at speed. I image a windscreen will be on the shopping list 🙂

THIS WOULD HAVE TO BE ONE OF THE STRANGEST COMMENTS ON THE WW SITE

CLASSIC WOODEN CRAFT ON THE WAIROA RIVER

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WE ARE OFF

CLASSIC WOODEN CRAFT ON THE WAIROA RIVER

Following on from yesterdays (scroll down to view) story on the woodys cruise up the Wairoa River to the Clevedon Cruising Club, today we have a gallery of craft that both Jason Prew and myself photographed on-route, some old favourites there, most looking a little worse for the lack of TLC over winter, but a few newbies.

Enjoy the journey – we did 🙂 (remember to click photos to enlarge)

#3 PONSONBY CC CLUB NIGHT – FEATURED VESSEL – Rainbow II

This Thursday – 26th – 4pm >> – Refer below

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – VOI

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – VOI

On my recent trip to Tutukaka marina one of the classic craft that caught my eye was – VOI.

A modern-ish hull and a small apartment on top but VOI is set up for game fishing so gets away with it nicely.

My brains trust have suggested its design starts with a V,  as in vindex, with a possible spot of lengthening. Dam if it is thats another one thats slipped under the WW radar 😦

Anyone familiar with the vessel and can enlighten us more on her design / builder.

Hopefully today I’ll be enjoying the company of fellow classic woodys tied up at the Clevedon Cruising Club for our annual (ish) overnight BBQ cruise up the Wairoa River 🙂 Lots of photos on Monday.

CLASSIC WOODEN BOATS AT TUTUKAKA MARINA

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CLASSIC WOODEN BOATS AT TUTUKAKA MARINA

Łatę last week I had to visit Tutukaka Marina in Northland, first up a confession – I had never been there before by road. Made an emergency stop there 40+ years ago on a yacht that was taking on water to the extent that we were sinking i.e. manual bilge pump and bucket couldn’t keep up – ’saved’ by a fishing boat that rafted us up and took us into Tutukaka where we went straight on the grid and waited for the falling tide. Issue repaired and after a very long day at the bar in the Swordfish Club, continued on to the Bay of Islands. That woodys is the short story, before the fishing boat arrived we were at the point of grabbing what we wanted to take with us in the very small dinghy……..

Very impressed with the marina and surrounding area, friendly staff and well maintained set up.

While waiting to meet someone I walked the docks and snapped a few photos of some of the classic wooden craft berthed there. I have a few more but will save them for future stories.

Looking forward to the woodys Clevedon overnight / BBQ cruise this weekend – weather forecast to looking good.

RSVP – waitematawoodys@gmail.com

1954 CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – YVONNE

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1954 CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – YVONNE

The 38’ Swanson designed / built classic launch – YVONNE was launched in 1954 in the Marlborough Sounds and I think has resided there all her life.

We last saw her back in Dec 2022 in a WW photo gallery from Dean Wright who had been mooching around the Waikawa Marina.

Before that in April 2017 she appeared on WW and was for sale at the time (last photo) now thanks to woody John Dawson spotting her on fb we get a close up view.

She is a unique style and appears to be very well cared for – we like that 🙂

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RESTORATION OF A NEW ZEALAND CLASSIC WOODEN YACHT IN AUSTRALIA – ROXANE 

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RESTORATION OF A NEW ZEALAND CLASSIC WOODEN YACHT IN AUSTRALIA – ROXANE 

Back in May 2018 we ran a great story about a gent named Keith Dawson that was celebrating his 105th birthday and we learnt of Keith sailing to Australia back in 1937 onboard the Tercel brother built 26’ yacht – ROXANE. Link here to that story below –https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/05/13/roxane-a-105th-birthday-party/ make sure you read the comments section – lots of chat there.


Now fast forward to early Sept and WW is contacted by Ralph Finch from Queensland in Australia – a summary of Ralphs notes to me below –
“I’m in the process of purchasing the little boat called Roxane that you have on the WW site.  Roxane has sat in a back yard in Townsville for last 25 years partially restored. I’m beginning the process of completing the restoration.I’ve read snippets about her history and would love to fully document the history and contact past owners and descendants and anyone previously connected. Roxane is now 90 years old and my intention is to eventually get her back in the water and sailing again.The centenary would be an exciting maritime event for both New Zealand and Australia I think.”

“I have already begun cleaning up and restoration work. The photo of her on the transporter was taken about 20’ish years ago as she was removed from the Townsville Slip Ways to go to the owner’s house where she sits till this day. I am very excited to take this project on and eventually build a website dedicated to her with as much history as I can find. It’s important to me to trace and document all those connected to her. If you know any of those people or descendants, could you please let them know that Roxane is still alive.
She does have a brand new deck, cabin and cockpit. The cabin has been extended to just in front of the mast. The  owner has also built a new timber mast and boom.
I completed clearing away 20 odd years of rubbish from on, and around Roxane yesterday and took some clear photos.”
WW will follow this project and Ralph has promised to keep us updated. In the mean time as mentioned above he would love to hear from anyone with links to the yacht.