Category Archives: Non Waitemata

WHERE ARE THEY NOW -THE FATE OF THESE CLASSIC CRAFT

Posted on by
5

WHERE ARE THEY NOW -THE FATE OF THESE CLASSIC CRAFT

Todays classic wooden launch photos once more come to us from Robyn Kellian via Tobias Forsyth so we can safely assume the location is the Leigh region.  The question today is what’s the background to this series of photos – we have a work (fishing) boat donating her wheelhouse to another classic woody that appears to be a recent pleasure boat refit.

So can any of the Leigh based readers enlighten us on what became of both vessels and put an approx. date to the photos. 

INPUT ex GRAHAM ROWE – The first boat featured (fishing boat 3621) is La Vega. She was built by Millar and Tunnage using Totora planks on Pohutukawa ribs, launched 1965, and fished from Leigh until 25 November 2009 – the last entry in her Log. I know little about her ownership but on her last commercial fishing trip she was crewed by Nick and Jarrod, and hearsay suggests that her owners were two brothers nicknamed ‘Swampy’ and ‘The Animal’ Walker?

Sometime later she was bought to Helensville by Dave Cook and I purchased her from Dave after she had been sitting from 2016 with a non-functioning Mitsubishi 6D-14 engine in 2020. Since then, I have been restoring her. La Vega is 11m LOA, 3.9m beam and draws about 1.2m. She displaces about 11 Tonnes.

The doghouse being removed is possibly to enable an engine replacement. The doghouse shown is the one that was on her when I purchased her, but alas is no more, due to extensive rot. The sliding door however was salvageable and will go back on her in due course.

CLASSIC AUSTRALIAN WOODEN MOTOR BOAT – SILVER CLOUD

Posted on by
1

CLASSIC AUSTRALIAN WOODEN MOTOR BOAT – SILVER CLOUD

Today we hop across the Tasman to see and read about one of Australians most beautiful classic wooden craft – SILVER CLOUD, there is a good Kiwi connection in her build materials. The photos and detail come to us via Australian Classic Boats fb.

SILVER CLOUD was built by Lars Halvorsen Sons Pty Ltd and launched in 1939, she began life as elegant 65′ luxury motor cruiser for prominent yachtsman Jack Bruce, a vice commodore of the Royal Motor Yacht Club and cousin of former Prime Minister Stanley Bruce.

She was the third Halvorsen vessel of Mr Bruce’s to be called “SILVER CLOUD”. (Later, the Halvorsen launched “Kanahoee” was also renamed “SILVER CLOUD II”).

Constructed from spotted gum frames, New Zealand kauri planking, and a beautifully finished Queensland maple superstructure, SILVER CLOUD represented the high end of pre-war Australian yacht building.

Her accommodation included multiple cabins, dining and deck saloons, a galley, shower and electric refrigeration, with power coming from twin Buda 100hp petrol engines with reduction gears, made in Illinois USA.

Requisitioned by the Royal Australian Navy in 1941 for WW2, she was commissioned as HMAS SILVER CLOUD, becoming part of Sydney’s famous “Hollywood Fleet” of converted pleasure craft and motor yachts used for patrol and harbour defence duties.

Armed with Vickers machine guns and depth charges, she patrolled Sydney Harbour during some of Australia’s most uncertain wartime years and was present during the period surrounding the 1942 Japanese midget submarine attack on Sydney Harbour.

In July 1943 a catastrophic engine-room fire engulfed the vessel. Official reports described much of the hull as burnt beyond repair and the Navy subsequently decommissioned her.

Lars Halvorsen Sons ultimately purchased the damaged hull for 700 pounds and undertook an extensive rebuild, returning SILVER CLOUD to her former glory.

Since then, subsequent owners have done amazing restorative work and enhancements. She has passed through the hands of the Hannan family, Bob Ibbottsen, Gary Rothwell and Dr Derek Freeman — who altered the bow and added the flying bridge to replace the bridge deck style.

Current owner, Robert Hunter undertook an extensive restoration that returned SILVER CLOUD to magnificent condition, ensuring this extraordinary survivor remains one of the most important and beautifully preserved examples of Australia’s classic boating heritage.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Builder: Lars Halvorsen Sons • Year: 1939

• Length: 65 ft (19.8m) • Beam: 14 ft 9 in (4.5m)

• Construction: Spotted Gum, New Zealand Kauri and Queensland Maple

• Current Engines: 2 x Cummins 6B diesels, 120 hp

• Naval Service: HMAS Silver Cloud (1941–1943)

• Class: Channel Patrol Boat (“Hollywood Fleet”)

To Read More On The Craft Built By Halvorsen’s click this link https://youtu.be/HyNO9qUgXew?si=D3Dq1PXIwwYvhCcf

My all time favourite is the 60’ TOORONGA, owned these days by yachtsman – Iain Murray – photo below

Also a WW story on the yard here https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/11/04/the-halvorsen-story/

CLASSIC WOODEN GAME BOAT – MARGARET ANNE 

Posted on by
2

CLASSIC WOODEN GAME BOAT – MARGARET ANNE 

I start todays classic woody story with an apology – I can not recall who/how I received todays photo of the classic wooden launch – MARGARET ANNE.

Lots of woodys on WW named Margaret Anne, my clouded memory says she is a Oliver & Gilpin design / build.

Obviously from the photo she spent time as a big game boat. 

Todays woody question – is today woody the same vessel as below. What throws me is the visual look of the photo, maybe its just the camera angle but it appears shorter than 42′ – thoughts?

WHY DO SOME WOODEN BOATS NOT SELL – MARAMA

Posted on by
3

WHY DO SOME WOODEN BOATS NOT SELL – MARAMA

Short answer because the owners are just lazy – take todays 1927 built double-ender 33’ classic wooden boat currently on tme, one photo and the copy below –

“Boat and mooring in Oamaru. Fordson major engine parsons3/1 gearbox. Needs some ribs replaced ( freshwater damage) also comes with 8 meters of brand new 60mm thick heatproof waterproof sound deadening for a new engine cover ( cost me $2000 ) Good wee sea boat. Time for someone else to give it some love. $1 reserve”

OK – there is no reserve and a starting bid of $1, but seriously you’d be better off giving it away.

I hope she finds a new owner, the bones are there of a smart woody.

REMINDER – TOMORROWS BOAT BOOT SALE – 10am – details below – BRING CASH 🙂 PLENTY OF ROOM

 MYSTERY CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH 

Posted on by
2

 MYSTERY CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH 

Today classic wooden launch photo is once more from Robyn Kellian via Tobias Forsyth so we can safely assume the location is the Leigh region. 
No names to help us but I’m sure we will get a positive ID from the readers.

IF YOU NEEDED PROOF CLASSIC WOODEN BOATS ARE COOL – my daughter tells me that over the weekend one of New Yorks biggest (1.1 million followers) fashion socialites – Brigette (the bride) got married and the couple arrived at the ceremony aboard a very smart classic wooden boat – link here for those with instagram  https://www.instagram.com/reel/Db6HX-nBHkA/ Screen grabs below for those that dont 🙂

CLASSIC WOODEN MOTOR SAILER – HUIA

Posted on by
Reply

CLASSIC WOODEN MOTOR SAILER – HUIA

Todays classic wooden boat story is a great example of the ‘power’ of WW. We run a story an a craft and most of the time get fast feedback / input from people that have rubbed up against the vessel – however sometimes it takes a tad longer.

Back in September 2022 we ran a story on the 48’ ketch rigged motor sailer – HUIA  https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/09/08/huia-2/ We learnt then that she was built / launched in 1951>53 and was the first vessel built by the founders of Gough Engineering in Invercargill. Powered by a Garner 6LW – great story on the engine in the 2022 story.

Fast forward to last week when WW was contacted by Cameron Gough, the great grandson of Joe Cough, who is mentioned on the 2022 story. Cameron ‘found’ the WW story when he was  scanning some old family photos, some of which were of HUIA, he then did an on-line search trying to learn more about the boat’s history. Jackpot – there she was on WW, so long story short – Cameron sent in todays photos of HUIA , location being Paterson Inlet, Stewart Island , c.1950.

CLASSIC MYSTERY WOODEN LAUNCH + Boat Boot Sale RSVP – SURF

Posted on by
2

CLASSIC MYSTERY WOODEN LAUNCH – + Boat Boot Sale RSVP – SURF

Today classic wooden launch photo is from Robyn Kellian via Tobias Forsyth so we can safely assume the location is the Leigh region.  No names to help us but thats a very distinctive side profile so I’m sure we will get a positive ID from the readers.

In the photo she looks quite big (40’) until you factor in the child on the fore deck and the gent in the cockpit – so maybe 32-34’.

10-08-2026 INPUT ex HAROLD KIDD – SURF was built in late 1916 by W. R. Dawson who owned her until 1927 . Fred Woolley of Auckland bought her in 1930. She was 32′ loa and was fitted originally with a 25hp Wisconsin which probably developed about 80bhp. She may have spent a season gamefishing out of Whangaroa in 1927 run by Kent.


LESS THAN A WEEK TILL THE WOODYS BOAT BOOT SALE AT THE SLIPWAY MILFORDIF YOU’RE WANTING SPACE TO SELL YOUR TREASURE  – BOOK NOW. Email waitematawoodys@gmail.com

MANSION HOUSE BAY – THERE WAS ALWAYS ROOM FOR ONE MORE

Posted on by
4

MANSION HOUSE BAY – THERE WAS ALWAYS ROOM FOR ONE MORE

The recent Kawau Island photos on WW have rattled the biscuit tin photo albums and WW has received several duplicates of photos that have already appeared on WW.

Todays photo ex Chris Leech is a newbie to my eyes and shows a great mix of yachts and motor launches at anchor in Mansion House Bay, Kawau Island.

 Always amazes me how they used to fill the bay back then. These days even with vastly superior anchors, most skippers are paranoid about you getting too close. 

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – A BLAZE (past event)

Posted on by
4

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – A BLAZE  (past event)

Todays rather disturbing photos again come to us via Robyn Kellian and Tobias Forsyth.Unfortunately WW knows zero about how the wooden double-ender came to be (1) aground (2) a blaze.

I could be wrong but at first glance it appears to have the makings of a ‘Beehive restoration’ eg a box of matches was involved.Whatever the situation its a sad end to what would have once been a fine classic wooden boat.

Can we learn any more eg boats name, date of photo, location and what actually happened.

BOOK YOUR BOOT SALE SPACE HERE waitematawoodys@gmail.com

MYSTERY CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – SIGNATURE (BELUGA)

Posted on by
2


MYSTERY CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – SIGNATURE (BELUGA)

Today again thanks for Robyn Kellian and Tobias Forsyth we get to see another launch from the Leigh region. No name is visible but the photo is tagged – Gav Perry. The photo was taken on 31-01-1994.                                                                                                  

The shed / yard appears to be at Whangateau, back when it was a public facility controlled by Russell Ward and used by the local boating community. 

Can we learn more about the vessel, has a slight workboat look to her.

INPUT ex MARK MCLAUGHLIN – This is SIGNATURE (Beluga), a  late Miller and Tunnage build. Featured on WW in November 2016. Lots of details and photos here. https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/11/08/signature-beluga/