Todays woody is Rangimarie, a 45’ motor sailer built in Paremata in 1959 by Saunders boatbuilders.
Construction is heart matai (black pine).
Forward propulsion is from a Gardner 6LX diesel. She appears to be very well spec’ed , as are most serious southern woodys.
Rangimarie has called Riverton home for the last 18 years and thanks to a tme listing (ex Lan McDonald) we get to have peek onboard. On face value good buying at $100k.
Well after two days of ‘wall2wall’ classic woody porn it was always going to be a big challenge to back up with a run-of-the-mill story, so I thought its Wednesday so must be time for a Work Boat Wednesday story.
Todays woody is the Terry Bailey built 1983, 36′ ex workboat – Kirikiriroa , a woody thats been on my top 10 list ever since I first spotted her at Gulf Harbour marina many years ago. Built from strip plank kauri.
She was originally built for the mussel industry on Great Barrier Island and later used for various fright and cargo transportation. While not currently in survey (on hold), she is still capable of carrying 5 ton of cargo.
AND – down below is a 70hp 4LW Gardner…………….
Kirikiriroa recently popped up on tm , thanks Ian McDonald. I could own her but I’d have to stop churning out WW everyday, I’d be too busy polishing that engine 🙂
07-03-2024 Input ex Russell Ward – Kirikiriroa was ashore at Gulf Harbour for a tidy up when I had Hinemoa’s Boat up for the same several years back. The sign in the wheelhouse appealed to me somehow. She was looking a bit tidier back then, but she’s an appealing wee boat for a real man.
HAVE YOU RSVP’ed FOR THE WOODY CRUISE TO RIVERHEAD TAVERN – SATURDAY 16 MARCH
Over the last 2+ years I have religiously followed a YouTube series put out by Madison Boatworks. Sounds very corporate but its the total opposite – a youngish couple named Jonathan & Whitney who refurbished a 1960 37’5” (on deck) ‘Ingrid’ ketch designed by William Atkin named Julia. After 4 years of working on the boat they left Seattle, Washington, USA and pointed the bow towards Mexico. After this the big call was made and they were off to the Pacific. There are 21 videos in the series that have clocked up over six million views and each one is gold.
The cinematography and narrative is just outstanding. Jonathan is a wonderful storyteller and one follower commented that his voice is semi tranquillising – it is, the man should do sleep videos 🙂
I have featured their latest – ‘Exploring the islands of Fiji, Vanua Levu and Taveuni’ below. And also a link to the master YouTube collection
INEAWA (White Lady) On Lake Taupo One of the gems of the WW site is its ability to spark connections between past and present boat owners and crew. Recently a gent named Rob Harvey commented on a previous WW story (links below) on the 1930 34’6” launch – Ineawa (White Lady) that he was now the owner and were we interested in some photos. I obviously relied ‘Yes please’ and got back a note from Rob saying that he was currently undertaking some renovations / updates to her interior and photos would follow when she wasn’t looking like a bomb site 🙂 Ineawa was built in 1930 by Jimmy McLaren in Onehunga, Auckland This chat on the site prompted Karin Newrick to advise that they had owned Ineawa in the late 1990’s. Karin also sent in the above photos of her on Lake Taupo, along with some old documentation, which sadly is very faded, hopefully you can read, click images to enlarge.
AUCKLAND WOODEN BOAT FESTIVAL – I popped down yesterday, most impressive. If you are thinking of attending, a tip – go today – Jellicoe Harbour, Viaduct.. Sunday could be a zoo – its the annual Round-The-Bays waterfront race. Full story + photos on Monday.
Regular WW readers will be aware of my thoughts on the Logan 33 replica launches and how they were decades ahead of the market place. These days there always seems to be a good market for a classic craft that allows an owner to still retain a connection with some canvas and string but enjoy all the benefits of a modern motor boat including the low maintenance benefits of GRP construction.
The L33 Heao, hull # 17 was built in 2002 in Whangrei by Eric Knight, one of approx. 40 that he built.
L33’s are very slippery craft – their 39hp Lombardini engine can achieve a comfort cruising speed of 8.5 knots. Add in the addition of a steadying sail, auto pilot, bow thruster, bilge keels and cabin heater and you have a very comfortable family cruising launch.
Back in August 2019 Baden Pascoe drew our attention to a 32’ launch named Spartacus that was parked up in a paddock in Waipapa, Northland (top two photos).
Fast forward 4+ years and she’s is on tme and looking VERY neglected and offered up for sale, a suspect a ‘on-behalf-of’ sale. There is talk she may have started life as a NZ Navy cutter.
Question of the day, did she sell or will someone in Kerikeri not need to buy firewood this winter?
The double end motorsailer Mana-Nui has made several cameo appearances on WW but today we get to see and learn a lot more about this classic vessel.
Mana-Nui was built by Harvey & Lang in 1913 and is kauri carvel construction and approx. 39’ in length with a 10’6” beam and 5’ draft. Power is courtesy of an underfloor Ford 120hp diesel engine that sees her cruising at 7 knots while sipping 4L per hour.
In recent times her owner has spared no expense on bringing Mana-Nui up to a very high standard of presentation – the recent addition of the custom davits an example. Amongst todays NZ classic fleet Mana-Nui is one of the few that retains her original aura, character and pedigree, while at the same time, a careful integration of modern systems and technology ensures a high level of comfort and safety. Stepping aboard one of the first things that hits you is the great accomodation space and her light and airy saloon with large windows, these features make her a very comfortable classic cruising vessel both on-route, at anchor or in the marina.
By now I’m sure you will have guessed that Mana-Nui is offered for sale and unlike so many craft offered for sale, she is sail away ready. If you or someone you know is scouting for a 9/10 classic that is perfect for either day cruising or weeks away at a time – contact waitematawoodys@gmail.com for more information. Note – photos below dated c.1956>1961. Location is Hokianga
Recently WW was contacted by Daniel Keat who owns the yacht – Helena. Daniel was reaching out to uncover more on the craft. Daniel has owned Helena for approx. 4 years and is working away to bring her back to her former glory.
Story goes that she may have been built c.1920’s and built in Helena Bay, hence the name. She’s made from 1&7/8” thick kauri. When the wind is off-duty there is a Perkins 6.354 to help the forward motion.
In her early days Helena fished out of Dunedin and Lyttelton , and fishing out of Nelson when in 2012 an Irish boatbuilder bought her and completely rebuilt her except of the hull (thats an Irish statement). Recently Helena has been at the Norsand Boatyard in Whangarei, Northland where Murray Wilkinson commented that she maybe older than the stated c.1920’s.
So woodys – can we help Daniel out re Helena’s past.
27-02-2024 UPDATE – photo below of Helena on sea trials off Onehunga ex Baden Pascoe
Almost always when John Burland sends in photos from the Motueka marina the tide is out, not in todays photos from earlier in the month.
So woodys today we get to see the woodys afloat and its certainly a better look 🙂 Enjoy.
The ‘ditty’ was sent in by Dave Stanaway – Dave commented – ‘Below is a ditty I learned as a 12 year old. An old retired seaman thought good for me to learn as I spent all my school holidays on towboats. Funny thing was when studying for second mate I was told to forget such a ditty.’
Faith is a well travelled old girl, originally built by Phil as his own boat for commercial fishing out of Whangaparoa, Auckland. She later went to Northland then to Dunedin, South Island (Port Chamlers & Carey Bay). Then up to the Marlborough Sounds. These days she resides in Picton.
Forward propulsion is via a 38hp Nanni diesel engine that gives her a cruise speed of 6.5 knots.