Category Archives: Non Waitemata

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.

WOODY ON TOUR – VENICE

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WOODY ON TOUR – VENICE

The owner of the 36′ classic launch IONA II currently midway thru a total refit at the Slipway Milford is currently mooching around in Venice and sent in the above photo gallery of the hard working Venetian woody water taxis. Nice to have window into the other side of the world and to see the sun 🙂

The scope of the work on IONA II is next level and includes conversion to electric powered – there will be no combustion engine or generator i.e. not a hybrid. Really looking forward to following the project. IONA II was designed by Bruce Askew , and built in 1994 from strip planked wood + some f/glass, all good on a 1994 craft. Link below from when the work first commenced. I’ll get down there later in the week for an update, or maybe Jason Prew could put the tools down for a minute and send in some iPhone photos 😉 https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/05/28/iona-ii-gets-a-birthday/

MOANA SOS

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MOANA – SOS

Yesterdays winner of the quiz to name the launch – TEINA , John Dawson returned the favour and sent me the above photos of the launch – MOANA.

John commented that it was on tme late last month with a $1 reserve. According to the listing she was built in 1930, is 33’ in length and powered by a Ford 40hp engine. Located in Rawene, Northland.

As we can see she is looking very sad and probably beyond restoring.

Keen to hear what became of her and any known history.


MYSTERY CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH QUIZ + Win A WW Burgee 

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MYSTERY CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH QUIZ + Win A WW Burgee 

Todays photo is very cool, cool enough to be my screen saver on the laptop.

I know the boats name and the location is probably Kawau Island. The photo is a bit of a tease to Mondays story that will be a photo bomb of images of the launch. She would have to be a contender to knock MY GIRL of its perch as the most photographed classic launch on WW 🙂 All disclose the source of the photo etc in Mondays story.

All correct entries go into the draw – cut off is 6pm Sunday 7th July.

ENTRY VIA EMAIL ONLY to waitematawoodys@gmail.com

CIRCLE THE CALENDAR – UPCOMING CLASSIC BOATING EVENTS

MARLIN – Can We Learn More About This Wooden Boat

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MARLIN – Can We Learn More About This Wooden Boat

The photos above of the 17’ MARLIN were sent in by new owner Brian Thomas. MARORO is built with two skin, possibly in the South Island (top end). Currently powered by a Yanmar 2QM engine.

Brian plans to ’tidy up’ (his words) to use as his river boat on the Waihou River. I meet Brian and his family back in April 2022 when a group of woodys under the command of Jason Prew (MY GIRL) ventured up the Waihou River to the Paeroa Maritime Museum. The Thomas family launch – MARORO made the trip and I got to have a tour – link below – so when Brian says ’tidy up’ I suspect thats an understatement https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/04/25/maroro-a-peek-down-below/

Brian is keen to learn more about MARLIN – can anyone help out.

(photos below of MARORO at Paeroa)

UPCOMING CLASSIC BOATING EVENTS

SAD END TO A WOODEN BOAT

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SAD END TO A WOODEN BOAT

South Island (Waimate) woody – Russell Wallace reported in earlier in the week of a sad sequence of events at Oamaru Harbour. Russell tells the story below –  “Oamaru harbour has been the refuge of a number of old small double ended fishing boats which have over the years succumbed to both their age and the elements.

The above photos show the latest sad victim which I took from the Oamaru Today Facebook page (credit to Oamaru Live and Oamaru Today for details and photos) Maybe some of your fans may know of this particular boat” edited

The story ex the fb posts goes like this – she broke her mid-harbour mooring and drifted to the inside of the breakwater and sank. From there she was towed to the Stanford’s berth.

From the photos a decision must have been made to hoist her out – the question is – was the breaking up intentional or was there an oops with the lift ?. Either way it is a very sad end to what looked to be a pretty woody double-ender needing restoring.

CIRCLE THE CALENDAR – UPCOMING CLASSIC BOATING EVENTS

JUDITH AIMEE – Classic Wooden Launch

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JUDITH AIMEE – Classic Wooden Launch

Woody Geoff Fiebig sent in the above photo that he took while doing the Coastal Walk at Ti Point (Omaha / Leigh area, Rodney). The launch was moored in the entrance to the Whangateau Harbour. An interesting blend of styles and a rather large poop deck on her stern.

Can anyone tell us more about the vessel.

INPUT ex SHANE ANDERSON – Shane pointed me in the direction of the Percy Vos book – Launching Dreams – where we learnt she was built in 1966 to drawing by Ken McCormick. 42′ and when launched powered by a 75hp Gardner 6LW

INPUT & PHOTOS ex DONNA LEWIS
M father – Don McMillan and his father Neil McMillan went out on the JUDITH AIMEE when she was in Whitianga. My Grandfather retired to Whitianga from the Bay of Islands.

My best guess on the photos is between 1958 & no later than 1962 ( I was 4 years old then and did go boating with my Dad) but never on the JUDITH AIMEE.

I don’t know who owned her but have a feeling it may have been Malcolm Cruikshank who lived next door to My Grandfather on the esplanade.Pictured on the bottom photo is my grandad Neil – we called him Grandad Dick- sitting on top of the cabin with beret facing forward..I wish I new who the others are/ were. I will go on a fact finding mission

24-08-2025 INPUT ex Liz Needham – The captain of Judith Aimee was my Uncle Jim Needham

And on the subject of additions – we have a new leader in the craft that most resembles a block of flats. I wonder what they grow up there 😉 The woody that sent in the photo below should probably remain anonymous. The location looks like Kawau Island.