Category Archives: Non Waitemata

Sir Francis & A Cool Family Idea

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SIR FRANCIS 

During the week Paul Drake commented that every year he produces a family calendar for circulation amongst my family – brothers, children, nieces and nephews. What a cool idea 🙂

All family birthdays are included. Every year the birthday list grows longer.  Paul said it takes a bit of work, but it serves to keep family connected, and it pleases him to know that the calendar hangs on walls in England, Austria, and Australia, as well as in New Zealand. 

Every year I choose a photo of one of the familiesboats, for the calendar, this year it features SIR FRANCIS, a photo from the 1980’s, homeward bound on Lake Taupo. Paul brother Michael is on the helm, and out of sight in the cockpit is their mother. Looking at the phot you would think that SIR FrANCIS had just rounded one of the headlands on the east coast of the North Island, a great reminder that Lake Taupo can get little gnarly.

SIR FRANCIS has made several appearances on WW before and is of course is a 1916 Collings and Bell built launch. 

Paul remembers that as children, the brothers all thought that any vessel which was not Collings and Bell was rubbish! These days they are not so blinkered 🙂

I’m back on dry land now after 9 days mooching around the gulf – lots of woodys out and about – big story on Monday. Talking of big – the beast below was anchored in Bon Accord, Kawau Island on New Years Eve – the tender was approx. 48’ 

Wainui – A Peek Down Below

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WAINUI – A Peek Down Below

The 32’ launch – Wainui last appeared on WW back in Sept. 2015, link here https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/09/30/wainui/

Now thanks to a tme listing (via Ian McDonald we get to have a gander down below.

Quick overview – built in c.1960 and powered by a Ford 60hp diesel engine.

Current home is Monks Bay, Christchurch.

KAWAU BOATING CLUB – OPEN FOR BUSINESS

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KAWAU BOATING CLUB – OPEN FOR BUSINESS

If the weather gods have been nice to me I’ll be in residence at KBC tonight- checked out the photos above of the recent (winter of 2023) refurbishment – the club / bar is looking its best ever. Big shout out to everyone involved.

BUT – these things come at a cost – so if you are cruising about Kawau _

1. Call in for a fizzy drink and /or meal – all welcome

2. Consider joining the club while you are there – we need your support.

Happy New Year Woodys 🙂

UPDATE – Dinner was very good. Scallops & Salad and the kiwi classic- fish & chips

HAZEL MAY – Update

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HAZEL MAY – Update

The launch – Hazel May last appeared on WW back in Dec 2015, link below, lots of intel and photos there.

Today thanks to some dockside (Nelson marina) mooching we get a better look at Hazel May.

Quick overview ex Geoff Brebner – built c.1920, probably by T le Huquet.

CLICK ON THE YELLOW BANNER BELOW FOR TIPS ON NAVIGATING THE WW SITE

WEKA – 1

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WEKA – 1

Woody Murry Deeble sent in the above photo of the workboat – Weka-1, that he spotted on his xmas/ny migration north. 

We have previously learnt from a Lew Redwood post that in a past life she was a cray-boat > snapper longliner working out of KAWAU ISLAND.

Previous owners have included Wilf Tech and Gordon Johnson.

Photos below ex Lew’s fb

A very smart, well proportioned workboat, you dont see many of those 🙂

WAIONE – LATE 1960’S

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WAIONE – LATE 1960’S

Todays photo of the 32’ launch – Waione was sent in by Neil Cummings, whose parents owned her in the late 1960’s , in the photo Neil is seen with his older sister, at the time Neil was aged 4>5 years old.

Harold Kidd has previously commented on WW that she may have been built by Joe Wheeler, in Bayswater c.1970.

Waione has made many appearance of the WW site, a lot linked to my ‘recent’ restoration. The link below will take you to a summary go Waione stories.

https://waitematawoodys.com/?s=Waione&submit=Search

In the 2022 photos below we see her first at the Mahurangi Regatta and then again in November at Kawau Island.

The fat man in the red suit is scheduled to make an appearance tonight – remember to leave out a piece of Christmas Cake, a glass of whisky and a carrot. 

Lady Karita Needs Some TLC

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Lady Karita Needs Some TLC

The magnificent 43’ Sam Ford built (1934) launch – Lady Karita is looking very unloved on her Nelson marina berth. Sadly her owner passed away earlier this year and the southern sun is starting to have its way with the finish 😦

Someone needs to buy some shade cloth. 

(photos ex J. Burland)

Boatshed Parties Getting All Trendy

The Slipway Milford had their end of year bbq bangers in bread + few beers yesterday – Here I go getting in trouble with the Human Rights Commission again – but the additional of some workers with two X chromosomes has stepped up the calibre of the fare 🙂 Two of the below graced the lunchroom table – well done Jan B.

Classic Boats – Kerikeri – Workshop Visit – PUFFIN

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Classic Boats – Kerikeri – Workshop Visit – PUFFIN

Bay of Islands woody – Dean Wright recently dropped into the shed of Classic Boats in Kerikeri (website link below), one of the projects underway is a complete replanting of the 100 year + classic above, named Puffin.                              Master boat builderHerbert Crumb-Gartner was just about to turn the hull over- wonderful craftsmanship on display.                              Dean has promised to call back and update us on the project.

Check out some of the past and present work that Classic Boats have been connected with https://www.classicboats.co.nz

INPUT From Herbert Krumm-Gartner – I am restoring ‘Puffin’ for her current owner of over 30 years. I first laid eyes on her in a shed in Russell about 3 years ago. Her owner phoned me up asking if I would be interested in restoring her to her former glory.

She is now 102 years old and was built as a fishing boat south of Sydney by some carpenters.

The current owner has all the history of her, he even knows, I think the great grand sons of her builders. When I had a look at her I realized that restoring her planking would not be satisfactory at all, as most of her laps had cracks where the copper rivets were, plus lots of the ribs were broken.

I suggested to the owner to completely re-plank and re-rib her. Instead of having 11 planks a side I decided to go to 13, which reduced the overall size of the individual planks considerably. I have retained the deck that the current owner built in the 1990’s. She will be re-powered with a 14hp Nanni diesel engine. Most of her interior, like seats, floor boards, etc, will be re-furbished and re-installed.

At present she is right way up, back in the shed and we are steaming in new Tanekaha ribs. Puffin is just under 18ft long.

WAIONE

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WAIONE

Todays 28’ woody just popped up on tme (thanks Ian McDonald), the listing states that she was built by Lanes in Picton c.1918 and spent her early life around the Marlborough Sounds and French Pass and then more recently at Mapua. For the last 50+ years has been stored in an apple shed in Mapua, where she still is today.

Has been in one family ownership for almost 50 years.

Was originally powered by a Standard Gas Egine Co. diesel and is offered for sale with an addition Petter diesel.

Big leap of faith given the only photos are obviously at least 30 years old. Would be nice to learn more about Waione. I suspect that WW has a cub reporter very close to the apple shed so hopefully more to follow 😉

UPDATE 16-01-2024 More photos and details here https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/01/16/waione-shed-visit/

RAWHITI I

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RAWHITI I

Todays woody photo was sent in by Peter Radford who spotted the photo on his sister-in-laws wall, sadly no comments/ notes on the back. 

Recently another woody – John Dawson sent in the bottom photo with the comments that he believed the 32’ Rawhiti I  was built c.1905 by Bailey & Lowe for Caesar Roose of Mercer. 

Started life as a ferry. What became of her after that is a blank to WW.

As you would expect of anything that came out of the Bailey & Lowe shed, she has wonderful lines. The small cabin ‘fits’ perfectly. Very unpractical but as designer William Atkin once said – ‘lack of headroom is one of the least objectionable features a small boat can have’ 🙂

21-12-2023 INPUT ex RAY MOREY – In both of those photo’s Caesar’s baby sister Mary is fourth from the bow of the young girls. This was a picnic outing to what was called “The Rocks” at Pukekawa and later the site of Smeed’s Quarry”. Somewhere I have the complete list of all on board, included is the local P.C. plod. That launch was later sold to Walter Dwenn, Ceasar’s wharfinger at Port Waikato and when in season he was a whitebait buyer, the launch was renamed “Seagull and he sold to the cannery at Tikorahi, up towards The Elbow. After Walter passes away his son Sammy sold it but I don’t know where she went. This was about the very early 50’s. I have a photo somewhere of her alongside the LST when she came in to Port Waikato

22-12-2023 Photo below ex Ray M. of Rawhiti in later life. As mentioned above, called “Seagull” a play on words, Walter was a whitebait buyer in season and seagulls like whitebait too.