Category Archives: Non Waitemata

BONITA  – Only In The South + Boat Boot Sale

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BONITA  – Only In The South

Cameron Pollard sent in the top photo of – Bonita, seen here in the Marlborough Sounds c.1985. Bonita was built in 1923 by ER Lane in Picton, her specs are 36’ in length with a beam of 8’6”.

The second photo is from the 1960> period and the last from 2022 when she had just had a major birthday prior to selling.

There is a wonderful history of the vessel in the WW links below.

The History of Bonita
Bonita

UPDATE 30-08-2023 – Input ex Cameron Pollard. Photos of Bonita as launched and later pics from the 1960’s.

BOAT BOOT SALE – THE SLIPWAY MILFORD – SEPT 16 – 11am

Mystery Launch At Gt. Barrier Island – 1963 – WESTWIND

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MYSTERY LAUNCH AT GT. BARRIER ISLAND – WESTWIND

Todays photo was spent in by Dave Stanaway and shows the Radio Hauraki ‘pirate ship’ – Tiri alongside the wharf at Fitzroy, Great Barrier Island. 

The photo is dated 1963 and todays question is can we ID the launch alongside Tiri. Dave commented that he recalls she was island based but the name eludes him.

UPDATE – As mentioned in the comments section, as pictured above Tiri wasn’t yet the Radio Hauraki ship. Dave advised his father ran the Tiri for Tiri Co-operative Shipping Co at the time of the photo. Ran from Auckland to Whangarei and Great Barrier.

Grant Schults ID’ed the launch alongside as Westwind, that serviced the local guesthouse on the island.

23-08-2023 INPUT ex Greg Philpott  – photos below of Westwind in the Whangarei Town Basic Marina.

Ronaki – Collings & Bell

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RONAKI – Collings & Bell

In my communications with Sue Rivington re Sundays story on the launch – Leone, we uncovered that her grandfather also owned the launch – Ronaki. There are several vessels with that name on WW, but this one last appeared on WW back in August 2015, the two photos below ex the team at Whangateau Traditional Boat Yard are from then when Ronaki was jn storage in Ruakaka, Northland.  At the time we learnt that she was built as a fast harbour launch by Collings & Bell for the Auckland Harbour Board in January 1913, a 38 footer powered by a big 55-75 hp H.C. Doman marine engine with a max of 14 knots.

The last photo above is of her, ex Ron Watton, during her sea trial. After many years of service with AHB she was sold to G Hyauiason  (Sue Rivington’s grandfather) who had her bridgedeckerised.

The RNZN took her over in 1942 for control service (at the boom, HDK thinks) but sold her in 1944 to J.A. Collins. Harold’s uncle – Lou Wilson, MD of Morris Black & Matheson bought her soon after that. The AHB bought her back subsequently and fitted a Leyland.

The photos above come to us ex Sue’s family album/s, Sue commented that the background in several of the photos is at Sandspit. They used to own the farm there above the Motor Camp and out down the point to Brick Bay and around to Kanuka Road. Sue’s father sold the farm to developers in 2015 – now a subdivision. There maybe more than one launch in todays photo gallery – I would appreciate your views on the below and anything else that you see-
1. Are the launches #746 and #1661 the same launch

2. Is #748 the ‘bridgedeckerised’ launch Harold refers to above

3. Is the dark hulled launch another launch or part of the evolution of Ronaki

Back in 2017 WW got two comments added to the 2015 story. A Graham Watt advised that he owned Ronaki from 1969 > 1971, when he purchased her she was moored off Little Bucklands Beach. Graham immediatly undertook repairs to the boat at Westhaven as she was very ‘run-down’. Back then a Perkins P6 powered hr. The second comment was from a gent named Grant advising that Ronaki was on the hard at Mangapai, Whangarei, Northland and work was underway to refit her. We haven’t heard anything since then so very keen to learn the status of Ronaki.

INPUT ex Nathan Herbert – Three boats shown: First one possibly Miss Aussie then progress photos of the single-sheer Ronaki being rebuilt into raised foredeck bridge-decker. Third and dark painted boat is the Iorana in original guise.

Woody On Tour – Rhode Island, USA

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Thania
Thania

Woody On Tour – Rhode Island, USA

Woody Angus Rogers has just return from a whri-wind trip to the USA, at the top of his to do list was a visit to the Herreshoff Marine Museum in Bristol, Rhode Island.

Link her to see and read more about the place  https://herreshoff.org

I exhibit that caught / captured Angus’s eye the most was the 1905 launch – Thania, designed / built by Nathanael G Herreshoff. Over view 59’8” in length, beam of 10’7” and draws 2’8’.

More details in the photos above, as always click on a photo to enlarge. ENJOY 🙂

REEL TIME ( Mary Ann)

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REEL TIME ( Mary Ann)

Yesterday on WW one of the launches included in the Tutukaka Marina photos was named Reel Time (photo below), ex owner Eric Sanders contacted WW advised that Reel Time is a Athol Burns design and built in 1969. 

When Eric brought her in 1991 off Wally Lambie in Tauranga she was named Mary Ann. Eric sold her around 2002 to Mal Sharples who changed the name to Reel Time.

Three of this design were build by Tauranga boat builders, one is in Opua moored off the break water.

In the photos above the first photo is from 1991 and the next three show her in 40 plus knots. The last last one is as sold in 2002 aprox.

16-08-2023 INPUT EX OWNER – Ron Bell – when I bought her in 2010 from a Phil Halse,at Tutukaka it was called Reel Thing. I got information from Phil that she was built in 1962 by Strongman Bros at Coromandel, I have since met Eric at Dockland 5 in Whangarei and said no it was Tauranga built. I still have the Mary Ann life-bouy ring that was on the old flying bridge. I had the new flying bridge put on in 2018. Have had to fix a reasonable amount of rot around decks and along and under the belting, shes in pretty awesome shape now and is used fairly regular, Still got the 180 HP Ford diesel which does not miss a beat.

Northern Classic Woody Gander

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PATHFINDER
October 2017 https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/10/17/eunice-k/
March 2023  https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/03/30/pathfinder-eunice-k/
LEISURE HOUR
WHITE HERON
May 2017 https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/05/25/white-heron/
REEL TIME
LADY J 
May 2020 https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/05/06/joel/
April 2021 https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/04/29/lady-j-joel/
UNKNOWN
UNKNOWN
NGAIO
BLUE FIN
Nov 2014 https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/11/26/blue-fin/
Dec 2018 https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/12/09/blue-fin-an-old-sailor-dies/
April 2021 https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/04/27/blue-fin-2/
CLOUD NINE
FLORENCE MAY
Jan 2016  https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/01/21/florence-rose-2/
Feb 2022 https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/02/22/florence-may/
LINDA II
FOUR WINDS
Oct 2018 https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/10/22/four-winds/

Northern Classic Woody Gander

Today thanks to Dean Wright we get to wander the docks at Tutukaka marina and point the lens towards the Ngunguru River.

It was a slow day yesterday so I have done the hard work for you i.e. you will find links to previous WW stories on the boats that have appeared on WW in the past. Links found in the title section under each photo – enjoy 🙂

And if you can tell us more about the unknown boats e.g. there provenance, that would be great. If you haven’t come to grips with using the comments section – just send an email to waitematawoodys@gmail.com

What Became Of Sonar Mia

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What Became Of Sonar Mia

Earlier this week we featured a 16’ Carl Augustin designed run-about named Mare-Ee-An, today we have another craft by the same designer. A little bigger this time at 40’ and built in 1968. 

Sonar Mia popped up back in February in Gisborne on a Turners Auction site after a grounding (their words) and was for sale as-is-where-is. The opening bid was $100. From the photos there was a lot of work needed, but someone may have got a bargain. The engine is a Ford Lees Marine 180hp diesel.

Do we know if she was saved or went to the land fill.

FYI – back in March 2019 a descendent of a previous owner was trying to track the boat down. I forwarded the 2023 Turners link but never heard back from them – that story here https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/03/23/edna/

Old photos below, possibly c.1970’s

What Became Of Raruhoa RENUHOU

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What Became Of Raruhoa RENUHOU

Todays woody comes to us from the Tauranga Library collection via Dean Wright. The photo is tagged – Raruhoa and dated April 1963. 

Quite a distinctive craft being a double ender so fingers crossed we can learn more about her and whether she is still afloat.

I assume that the location is Tauranga but I’m not familiar with the area so hopefully someone can confirm the location as well.

UPDATE ex Nathan Herbert – seems the library got the name wrong – its named Renuhou and sadly ended up as a land based sleep-out/shed. Full details at the 2014 storylink below

https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/11/13/renuhou/

WW Caps – low profile, 6 panel, canvas caps in the new camel colour topped with dark brown WW embroidered logo has a dash of understated style.

Just click the email link here and tell me your name, postal address and number of caps required. I’ll come back to you with payment details – $38 + $6 p&p. waitematawoodys@gmail.com

LEILANI (Florae / Floray) + Jolly Roger

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LEILANI (Florae / Floray) + Jolly Roger

In the photo above the launch on the left is Leilani, she first appeared on WW back in March 2016, link here https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/08/13/leilani-floray/ At the time she was high and dry in a paddock in Thames, second photo.

Thanks to Harold Kidd and Ken Rickets we learnt a lot about her – probably designed and built (hull only) by Lidgards and Major George Bailey finished her off. Named Florae / Floray when launched, her original owner was Percy Coutts, more details on her owners in the link.

In her day she was a very fine looking woody, will be sad if she dies a slow death – anyone able to update us on the status of the Leilani.

In the photo the launch in the background is Jolly Roger, built in 1956 by Roy Parris in the mid to late 1960’s this boat was owned by Clive & Bernice Irvine. The Irvines eventually purchased the house besides the Panmure Bridge and berthed the Jolly Roger on the jetty at the bottom of their property. This was probably around late 1960/1970. She made an appearance on WW back in Oct 2015 link here  https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/10/15/jolly-roger-2/

  I spotted her berthed in the Whangarei Town Basin in March 2020, photo below

MARE-EE-AN

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MARE-EE-AN

Last week WW was contacted by Tim Munro enquiring about a 16’ run-about that his father-in-law, Bryan McLeod,  built early 1960’s. The vessel was to a design by Carl Augustin and built in his farm wool shed. Bryan used the run-about regularly into the 2000’s, particularly on the Kaipara Harbour which his farm backed onto but he also took it into a few events on the Waitemata Harbour, as seen in the photo above.

Bryan passed away last year in his mid 90s and the family are getting the boat refurbished.

The reason for Tim’s email to WW and todays question is – does anyone have a copy the Carl Augustin plans that Bryan will have used for the build. And /or is there anyone that has an interest in the designer that Tim could chat to.

UPDATE 10-08-2023 – WW Rocks – Cam Malcolm at The Slipway Milford has a set off full plans and build instructions- photos below just to show the detail included.