Category Archives: Non Waitemata

1902 CLASSIC WOODEN YACHT – 4sale

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A CLASSIC WOODEN TRAILER-SAILER YACHT – Yeap You Read That Right 🙂

As covered many times on WW the cost of a marina berth is the #1 deterrent to owning classic wooden craft. I have speculated that smaller trailerable woodys will be the future of the classic boating movement in NZ.

MERLN – todays 22’ clinker kauri built, gaff-rigged sloop is one such boat that ticks all the boxes. And most importantly MERLIN is a looker and we like that.

Built c.1902 as a motorboat she was converted in the 1920>30’s to a yacht (deadwood/keel added etc). Then in the late 2000’s restored by professional Christchurch boat builder – Davie Norris. 

MERLIN received another birthday in 2015/16 with restored gaff-rig and ‘converted’ to tabernacle set-up, plus new sails and all rigging. Also included was a new custom trailer and new 4-stroke 6hp outboard.In the last 10+ years MERLIN has been shed stored and only used on Lake Hood, Canterbury, South Island.Her current status is in storage and as with all traditional built clinkers may need some tweaking / re-caulking to the garboard seam.

So woodys if you’re considering stepping up to life as a classic woody owner, MERLIN is the vessel for you and at the end of a days sailing you get to take her home. Interested parties to initially contact Andrew  andrew@siseed.co.nz for more details. And almost forgot – she will sell for around $25k – a bargain.

RSVP – waitematawoodys@gmail.com

WOODYS ON TOUR – South of France Wooden Boats

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WOODYS ON TOUR – South of France Wooden Boats

Todays thanks to the owner of the launch – IONA II we get another peak at the wooden boating scene on the other side of the world.                                                                                      The family are currently cruising the Canal du Midi in the South of France for a week and sent in some photos of the local work boats earning their keep.                                                              Most of the boats are old converted steel bulk barges (with wooden wheelhouse and interior) or the modern plastic rental boats. The photos of the rarer wooden boat on the canal is rather smart
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CAN YOU HELP LOCATE THIS WOODEN BOAT

Last week WW was contacted by John Chambers the owner of the launch – NGARUNUI, asking for help locating a boat from his past – I’ll hand over to John to tell the story – 

“In my earyl years, aged 10 to12 years i.e.1957 -58, I lived at Okura River  (Long Bay / Wade  River) after school, weekends, holidays – the river was my playground. I was the only kid on the river full time, there were only 11 locals living there at the time  plus 2 farms. The 1st was Warmans just up from the houses, 2nd was Jacksons about 1mile up the road down a long  drive. Mr Jackson built a big boat in the shed which I used to check out every few days.    Launch  day – boat was 60’ long, a double end ketch, heavily built in kauri and teak. The boat was towed across the paddocks by bulldozer to the river where a ramp had been bulldozed   and a wire cable  across to big tree  on the other side then back to the dozer. Boat in water high tide, my  job  lead the way  down the river to deep water, job  done. Next hurdle a big ketch that had broken the mizen mast on the new harbour bridge.    The point of this  – what was her name and were did she go? I think the plan was to sail back to England.I think the boats name was Tyrant or Truant “.        

CLASSIC LAUNCH ARIZONA 

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Arizona moored between Mushroom Rocks, Whna
Arab (L) and Arizona at Awanui, 1914
Arab (L) and Arizona at Haruru Falls, Waitangi, 1914

CLASSIC LAUNCH ARIZONA 

The classic launch – ARIZONA as made a couple of brief appearances on WW – back in Dec  2022 we were trying to track her down – link below to that story and then in May 2023 we learnt that there was a rolling restoration underway on her- that story also linked below.

Fast forward to last week and ARIZONA popped up in a link ex Nathan Herbert to the McLeod collection at the Auckland Libraries Heritage Collection – there we saw her on what appears to be a 1914 (ish) Northland Cruise. Given she was launched c.1914 could have been a shake down cruise. 

In the photos above according to the captions we see her with the launch – ARAB, not 100% sure the captions are correct at times, I have tagged the photos so the woodys brains trust can review and comment.

WW Dec 2022 https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/12/08/arizona-where-is-she-cya-heritage-basin/

WW May 2023 https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/05/05/arizona-gets-a-happy-ending/

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CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT – MOVARIE – A Peek Down Below

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CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT – MOVARIE – A Peek Down Below

The 1938 launch – MOVARIE II has in recent years made as many appearances on tme as it has on WW.  We know that the bridge decker was built by W&G Lowe, is 40’ in length, with a 11’ beam and draws 5’. Powered by twin Ford 80hp diesel engines. The launch started life as a game fishing.

Numerous WW story – lots of detail and photos of her over the years – best I post a link to all of them –  https://waitematawoodys.com/?s=MOVARIE&submit=Search

Once owned by Russell Ward so must have been a goody back them. These days there are a few issues, reflected in the current tme listing having $5k start price.

RSVP – waitematawoodys@gmail.com

CLASSIC LAUNCH – LADY CAROLE RESTORATION – UPDATE #4

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Mock up of potential new paint

CLASSIC LAUNCH – LADY CAROLE RESTORATION – UPDATE #4

Today co-owner Patrick Crawshaw walks us thru the latest work, different layout today, might make it easier to follow. 

The last couple of weeks have been focussed on getting the sanding finished for first coat and the wood work finished.  The forward hatch, which had been blocked up was re-instated. Tthe forward cabin, where the mast once was had been opened up to make way for a hatch. Two of the ribs had been cut into and this was compromising the strength. So, ribs were replace and the hatch filled in so that the mast can go back to its original location. 

The main cabin hatch (shown below) which is above the helm had to be moved inward to allow for the railings to match the other side – from front to back. At some stage, it had been cut too close to the port  side and so the railings had to start back behind the hatch which looked awful.  This is about the lines – again. 

The windows have been a complex and long process. Firstly, we had to find the old curved line which ran along the side connecting the forward cabin to the aft curve. 

We had to completely fill the existing windows in so that we could draw that line. Once that was drawn, we could then find out where the windows (from the photograph above) once were.  The filled in ply was then taken out and cut to the new window lines. Then they had to be rebated for the glass to then be glued in. Next week is the glass templates and once the glass is in, we will have to cut the trims to go around the windows… The windows have been the most complex part of the job with so many elements and stages to the process. It’s so important we get this right, as they are crucial to the lines of the boat, and we can only work off this photo and a few other tell tale signs.   

Rod holders…such fun getting the angle right so they are flush on to the transom.

CLASSIC LAUNCH RAIRA – BEFORE THE WOOD BUTCHERS GOT HOLD OF HER 

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CLASSIC LAUNCH RAIRA – BEFORE THE WOOD BUTCHERS GOT HOLD OF HER 

The top photo is the 1915 launch – RAIRA, moored in the Waihou River, Te Aroha.  RAIRA was built by the McLeod brothers, Ted and Ray + J. Verran at Bayswater,  Auckland.  – to a  Collings & Bell design.

The photo comes to us from the Auckland Library Heritage Collection – McLeod collection via a Nathan Herbert link.

The 2nd photo is from late 2015. Location is Woolshed Bay, Coromandel.

Last heard she was calling Waiheke Island home.

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WHATS HAPPENING UP THE TAMAKI RIVER / PANMURE BOATING NEIGHBOURHOOD

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LONG GONE
GONE

WHATS HAPPENING UP THE TAMAKI RIVER / PANMURE BOATING NEIGHBOURHOOD

Recently woody John Bullivant had been smooching around the Panmure boating area – seems that the boating community have been have been overlooked by town planners or the likes that work in small windowless city offices and never actually see what their work actually ends up doing – I’ll let John tell the story – 

“I recently came down from the Hibiscus Coast to buy some paint, and thought I’d have a look at the new Panmure bridge additions. Took a few more pics of NAU MAI, – looking very sad now. IMATRA is still afloat as well. A few interesting boats further up but out of camera range. Hoping to do a dinghy tour from Half Moon Bay this year to see what’s new and identify a few mystery boats.   The old Panmure marina has gone with the new busway and cycle path over the area, and the slip is now cut off by a cycle path and the busway at the top of the road. Could have made a good boat ramp, but you know councils, – not a clue ! Not sure what the future plan is, as things are still under construction, with only the up stream access road open now. Another haul-out area gone, only the Panmure Yacht Club and Half Moon Bay left now for the whole of the Tamaki River.” (edited)

Can any of the river rats tells us more on the goings on to what was once a vibrant marine hub.

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH SERENE – Way Back

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH SERENE – Way Back 

The 36’ classic wooden launch – SERENE, probably built by Roy Paris, has made a couple of appearances on WW, the last on back in May 2022 when we were given a review of the work that owner Tom Lindesay had undertaken during the cv-19 lockdown period -link below to that story and others

WW MAY 2022 https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/05/05/serene-2/
Fast forward to last week a gent named Kevin Baker contacted WW to share some of the SERENE’s history – I’ll hand over to Kevin to tell the story (edited)

“When I was approximately 6 years old I remember helping my grandfather John Leslie Hume shape a model of the Serenes hull out of timber and what looked like some sort of builders bog, it was a half hull down to the keel line and not very big.

I also helped grandfather make plugs of the fittings like the port and starboard rear cleats also the winged port holes. All this was done in my grandparents home at Matahui Road KatiKati Bay of Plenty. I never saw the Serene while she was being built and I am not sure of the builder but my mother who is now 95 is sure she was built in the Coromandel.

I spent time on the boat with my grandfather, a few trips in the KatiKati Harbour. Serene’s main mooring was at Omokoroa but a small wharf was built behind the Matahui farm on the Aongatete River and she spent time there, later she would also spend time at Whangamata.

As time past and my brother Ron and I grew up we took Serene on a few adventures, on one we went to the Mayor Island and were anchored in South East bay for the night when a weather change bought a swell straight into the bay, with the anchor rope pinging the decision was made to move around to the north side of the island , we did this in a pitch black night, I remember it was a long night rolling in the swell with minimal shelter against the cliffs.

Serene had sails stored up the front hatch for her auxiliary motor, I remember one night with the wind in the right direction we set one of the small sails as a stabiliser  . My brother was the skipper and we took Serene as far north as the Cavalli islands stopping at Great Barrier and travelling on the outside of Little Barrier. The Perkins motor in Serene is not original as she was built with a Fordson and it remained in service during our time, the gear box had a manual linkage with a shifting level at the helm.

The photos above of Serene with the Aldermen Islands in the back ground also in Whangamata Harbour. You can see she was built with no fly bridge which must have been added by someone.”

While there appears to be some confusion re the design / builder, I’m sure  it was Roy Paris.

Bay of Islands photo below ex Dean Wright dated Jan 2021

CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT APACHE – Looking Very Sad

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Kawau Island

CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT APACHE – Looking Very Sad

Earlier in the week I was in Thames and dropped down to the Thames Sailing Club marina. I have covered on WW before most of the residents that inhabit the marina.

 One that caught my eye was the1939 launch – APACHE, she appeared to be ’stuck’ in her mud berth i.e. I visited at low and mid tide and she had not risen with the tide.

APACHE has made several appearances on WW and sadly is looking very tired and in need of a new caretaker, there was a 4sale note on her window. 

From previous stories we have learnt that she was probably built by a Mr. McCallum, with the help of a Lou Burn. 

In 2020 Bryce Strong sent in several photos of her – the b/w photo of her above before the addition of the rear dodger, seen in the cockpit photo. Byrce also later supplied the colour gallery of her looking very smart. Ken Rickets supplied the last photo showing (L>R) GAY DAWN, ALOFA, APACHE at Kawau Island.

UNKNOWN CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH ON THE MOVE

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UNKNOWN CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH ON THE MOVE

Woody owner Mark Russell (MV KARANGA) sent the photo above of the launch he spotted in Te Hana heading north yesterday. No visual name, two props so most likely twin engined and in my eyes its got Oliver and Gilpin, Tauranga, written all over her.

Can we put a name to the launch and learn where she is heading.