Todays 26’ double-ender, woody named Annie probably started life as a lifeboat. Carved into her stem is ’S1’ which may have indicated starboard side #1 lifeboat.
The story goes that she was owned by the Connells Bay Store, Waiheke Island and used as a supply vessel c.1950’s > 1960’s, a large front hatch supports this. No engine but was previously powered by a For 60hp inboard. The shaft and prop are still in place.
Hauled out at Mangawhai several years ago, her restoration may to a halt not far in – could be a nice lake boat project. (Tme heads up thanks to Ian McDonald)
In the above photos we see the launch Micheline – while both photos appear to be on the same day, they are tagged March 1967 and 1965 – obviously a typo. The photos come to us from the Tauranga City Library collection via Dean Wright.
Given that on Micheline’s stern she has her port as Tauranga, there is something strange going on – in the top photo she has either just come out of the shed or been hauled out. In the second photo she is being positioned onto a transporter. Maybe its as simple as going somewhere land based to have engine/s installed.
Can we ID the location and learn what became of Micheline.
UPDATE – Location is Hutcheson Boat Builders yard/slip by the Tauranga Harbour Bridge – opposite the Bridge Marina.
05-10-2023INPUT ex Dean Wright – Waimarie II, renamed Kiwi Cruiser, hit Tapeka one night in 2000 and was a total loss. This article says built by O&G in 1967 https://issuu.com/sunmedia/docs/wl1102/23
Back in May 2022 WW ran a story on the relaunch of the 1959 Roger Carey built 33’ double-ender – Quest , link below. The story goes that she was Roger Carey’s private boat and when sold was converted to a work-boat and then later on returned to pleasure use fit out. Her current owners did an amazing job of refitting her after a long spell on the hard in Picton.
KOURA – a sunset cocktail cruiser Koura the 24’ launch, built c.1930s possibly built by Ford Craft, Ellerslie, Auckland – popped up on WW back in June 2019, at the time her owners were looking to sell her via tme. Fast forward to last month and her new owner contacted WW to advise they purchased Kora in Jan 2023 she had a new mission in life. Koura has been de-commissioned and now resides in the Whangarei area, alongside a jetty that is on land with no direct water access. Her owners undertook several alterations, completed in the same style and livery as the original. The hull is yet to be painted with anti foul, to keep the original look. Below is an edited version of what been done to Koura – read on, I think this is a wonderful use of a craft that may have struggled to find a traditional home.
“The engine and gearbox have been removed along with battery and fuel, and all previous wiring updated with additional instrumentation and more accessible switch panel. Power is 230v through an all weather RV cable and socket from the jetty. A timer with back-up turns nav lights on at 6pm and off at 12 midnight whether we are there or not. The jetty lights are solar red and green approach lights, as well as white walkway lights. I rewired the original instruments so that when the new “ignition” key switch is turned on, the rev counter, oil and water instruments indicate an engine running at about 1400rpm. In a further burst of eccentricity normally reserved for the clinically bewildered found Spotify sound tracks of a marine diesel starting up and of a diesel engined boat swishing though waves. A master switch allows me to isolate certain functions, including the new compressed air fog/ nav directional warning horn so it can’t be operated by kids or inebriated adults.
The hydraulic lines to the rudder have been retained to give an authentic resistance, along with the engine/ gearbox throttle, and the winch with its loom ( disconnected as the 100amp draw is not available, but could be reinstated with a closed gel battery if we ever wanted to).
The vessel has a new call sign as we remain members of Coastguard. We removed the VHF and antenna as we didn’t want it played with, but keep a good hand- held in the house.
Existing lights are retained but mostly fitted with LED, and all new lighting is of matching style. When in night Nav mode, concealed blue lights illuminate the curved cockpit ceiling to appear as sky, and the original brass compass is illuminated with red light. A short raked flag pole on the transom allows us to fly the NZ maritime ensign or other flags.
The cockpit cover was built by our builder who is both a master builder and talented cabinet maker. The side of the hull was opened up and double doors fitted that open out, and some port hand cabinetry removed to allow a swivelling skipper’s chair with adjustable height to be installed. A ramp of low slope from the jetty meets the doors and grab handles were installed to enable me to enter the vessel and move around, as I am partially disabled and can only manage shallow steps. We found a company that still makes wooden grab rails identical to the ones on the forward cabin roof, and fitted them, not withstanding the fact that they are now purely decorative. By inserting a packer under them rain water on the curved surface is channeled away from the new windows that are top hinged with insect screens.
Removing the engine and retaining original seating allows for 4 to sit in the cabin in comfort, and the two forward bunks were also retained. All re upholstered. The front hatch which had a bit of rot, and which was not easy to move, was replaced with a tinted acrylic vent that can pop up in any of 4 directions or just up for ventilation. It circulates air even when closed while remaining water tight. It also has a fitted insect screen. The cockpit can seat 3- 4 people.
The overall result is that Koura is now a sunset cocktail lounge with wide cove and harbour views. The line of classic vessels and more recent vessels just off the beach give an air of being part of that little fleet. It is also a sleep out, for which we have installed a compliant fire extinguisher and smoke alarm. Insurance was another odyssey, persuading our Insurer that it was no longer a vessel, but rather a “boat shaped” building extension for the purposes above, but our Broker did a great job navigating those shoals.”
In the photos above we see the game launch – Moana under tow from the yacht Bounty, the photo is dated February 1965 and comes to us from the Tauranga Library collection via Dean Wright.
Moana is an unknown to WW so would love to learn more about her.
UPDATE – No Longer A Mystery – Ian McDonald has pointed out the previous WW stories on the launch – can not understand why the WW Search Box didn’t pick those up 🙂
While most Kiwis heading to the northern hemisphere had France on the radar, Murray Deeble was swanning around Britain feeding his other addiction in life – classic automobiles eg the Silverston Classic Festival and the Goodwood Revival.
Luckily Murray took a few wrong turns and ended up in Windermere in Cumbria. Lake Windermere is found in the Lake District National Park and is Englands largest lake, more importantly it is home to ‘Windermere Jetty – an on-the-water museum of boats and steam launches built at a cost of 20 million pound.
Murrays photos above are just a snap shot – checkout the displays here
The 24’ launch Snow Goose was built in 1963 at the Salthouse yard, and recently popped up on tme (thanks Ian McDonald). The forward propulsion is via a marinised 3L Mazda Titan diesel engine.
And that woodys is all we know about her – can we learn some more about what she has been up to for the last 60 years. Home is currently Tauranga.
Today I wanted give you a heads up about an upcoming woody event – the 2023 Whangarei Maritime Festival , October 14>15th, at the Town Basin.
The venue is already a very cool destination for anything maritime based, but over the weekend it will buzz with non stop activities – 30+ boats on display, free boat rides, food and entertainment, trade displays, talks and movies, arts and crafts market. Check out the Festival Sound programme below + the link to the festival website.
Saturday is a big day for NZ – hopefully the nation awakes up and heads off to a polling booth. Depending on the result I’ll be at the festival on Sunday, if the worst happens on Saturday night, probably best I’m not behind the wheel of a vehicle – I’ll be investigating setting up bryonbaywoodys 🙂
The photo below has appeared many times on various social media sites, but this is the best reproduction I have seen – comes to us ex Dean Wright via the Tauranga Library collection.
