Category Archives: Non Waitemata

Rawea Q06

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RAWEA Q06

Back in May 2014 Nathan Herbert sent in two photos of the 50’ Charles Bailey & Son built launch – Rawea and asked if we new anymore info on her – well 18 comments later we knew quite a lot + some good chat around how she was sunk on Feb 12th 1943 by a coastal freighter off Cape Brett whilst doing patrol work for the RNZN. Check out the link to read that story and more. https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/05/02/rawea/

Fast forward to the recent woodys picnic cruise to Stillwater / Weti River and one of the attendees, Buster Hill,  passed a couple of photo sheets onto Mark Edmonds, which then came my way – the above photos of Rawea were among the photos – brilliant to see the war crew aboard enjoying what appears to be a ’staged’ photo opportunity. FYI – when she sank, all the crew were rescued.

Taranui + Woody Riverhead Lunch Cruise RSVP

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TARANUI

Regular WW readers will know that there are no size limitations when it comes to what features on the site and some of the prettiest woodys live on a trailer. Today’s story is on Taranui – a c.1960’s 19’ jet boat, built by a Mr. McPhearson of Mapu, Nelson around 1967>68. Her owners manual says first service was at Perry’s Automotive in Mapua.

The zoom zoom comes from a 220hp Crusader Marine petrol engine (factory marinized 327 Chev) via a 1965 Hamilton Colorado 2 stage jet unit. The tme listing states that Taranui has spent most of her time in Tennyson Inlet, western arm of Pelorus Sound in the Marlborough Sounds but for a 20 year period she was in storage.

Her hull and cabin exterior has been sanded back and repainted/varnished and the interior and upholstery remains untouched and in excellent condition.

Hopefully she will be bought by someone that will continue love and maintain her – BUT she could easily be a piece of art in a large man-cave. Last time I said that about a boat, that is exactly what happened 😉

WOODY CLASSICS WEEKEND – RIVERHEAD TAVERN LUNCH CRUISE – SATURDAY 26th MARCH

I will post more details closer to the event, but if your are considering attending please send a quick RSVP email to the address below – just need your name, vessel name and approx.  (if you know it, the number of people aboard*). waitematawoodys@gmail.com
Remember – participation in the Woody Classics Weekend events is open to everyone, but only one condition – you have a passion for wooden boats.

Beaver II

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BEAVER II

The launch – Beaver II was built by Jorgensen in Picton c.1960 to a Quickly design. She is 36’ in length and powered by a Detroit 4/71 100hp diesel engine that sees her comfortably cruising at 10 knots.

Like most Jorgensen boats she is a very well  (heavy) built boat and has good walk around decks. Home port is Havelock and she is / was on tme.

Anyone know more about the boat?

Oiseau de Mer

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Oiseau de Mer

Earlier in the year Ian MacDonald sent me the link to this Hartley, kauri carvel construction 30’ launch. Named Oiseau de Mer, which we can assume wasn’t the name on her stern when she was launched. The launch made a brief appearance on WW back in Dec 2019, at the time she was for sale on tme and I believe sold for a very low figure.  https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/12/21/oiseau-de-mer/

The ‘new’ tme listing states that work had commence eg replacement fuel tanks and pump + steering but the engine, Ford 100hp,  doesn’t run and from the photos there is some serious housekeeping needed before I’d be heading off the marina in her.

Home is Akaroa down south. The one positive I will say is that well done to the owner for their honesty (photos) re the condition of the vessel. 

Would love to know if she sold again and if someone has accepted the challenge to bring her back to the condition she deserves.

Patina

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PATINA

Several WW readers gave me the heads up on the tme listing for the 36’ launch – Patina. She started life as a passenger ferry in the Marlborough Sounds, but these days is a live-a -board in Wellington.

We are told she was built in 1913. Looking at the stunning shaped stern – this date is possible. 

A very sage woody told me once, when you buy a classic wooden launch, value wise, all you are buying is a floating shed for the engine and that is where the true value lives, in the case of Patina, that is so true. Back in 2007 she was re-powered with a 40hp Yanmar diesel that has only done 150 hours.

Anyone able to confirm / add to what we know about Patina?

Wondabyne > Pakatoa

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WONDABYNE > PAKATOA

In Oct 2021 on the BOI historic photos fb page a photo of Wondabyne popped up, posted by Myra Larcombe who commented that the launch was her fathers, and in the top photo above was berthed at Opua during the war years thence the #27 on her.

Then in early Jan 2022, Phil Bull posted the colour photo above of Wondabyne, now named Pakatoa, sitting in a Warkworth paddock. Phil commented that she had been there for a longtime and it looked like, sadly this was her final resting place. Under the name Pakatoa, the vessel was used to ferry passengers between Auckland and Pakatoa Island in the Hauraki Gulf.

In the past on WW there has been robust discussion around whether Wondabyne was actually the launch – Lolita. After reviewing these recent photos and others on file – Nathan Herbert is confident that Wondabyne and Lolita were in fact sister ships. The only visible difference being the Wondabyne had a short tram top, and Lolita a long tram top. Sadly Lolita ‘resting’ on the beach at Russell / Okiato. Refer below photos  

Anne-Marie

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ANNE MARIE

Back in April 2021 Dean Wright sent me the above photo of Anne-Marie, somehow it slipped into the ‘bottom draw’ of the WW hard drive, so today she gets her day in the sun. The photograph was taken at Tutukaka Marina.

Can anyone tell us more about this ex work boat and when she was converted to pleasure use?

21-03-2022 Input from Phil Vining –  In the comments section Simon
Manning commented that he thought Anna Marie was the old “Lady Fisher” that was one
of the original Outward Bound work boats before being upgraded to a pleasure
launch. That is my memory as well. There was a question as to who built her.
I visited the Vinings Office and they had a old listing in their files, refer below.

VERY QUIET ON THE HERITAGE BASIN NEWS FRONT…………

……………. First Tuesday of the Month today = another Classic Yacht Association committee meeting, no doubt the Heritage Basin marina bigots will table another mock report on the efforts to negotiate with the Auckland Council controlled Panuku Developments to ensure all CYA vessel owners get access to the new >40 berth marina, at approx. $100 a month berth rental, for a minimum term of 3 years.

Mystery Lake Rotorua Launch – 1946

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MYSTERY LAKE ROTORUA LAUNCH – 1946

The photo above popped up recently on Maurice Sharp’s fb. The only details we have is its dated 1946, was taken by N. Bennett for the NZ Herald.

It is a very cool photo and given the year, just after WWII so the boat could have been abandoned while her owner was doing their bit overseas for all of us. I’d like to think some of these rascals went on to own their own boat.

It was commented that the small yacht was an Idle Along.

Anyone able to put a name to the launch – big ask I know 🙂

Mystery Lake Launch – 24/02/22

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Mystery Lake Launch 24-02-22

Today’s woody launch photo comes to us ex Lew Redwood’s fb – I apologise in advance if it has appeared b4 on WW – so many stories, so many boats…..

It would appear that it was either a postcard or the sender wrote a note on the back. I have enlarged the note – hopefully someone can make-out the name of the lake, it is beyond my eye sight 🙂

And maybe even the boat name?

Florence May

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19-03-2025 New Photos Below

FLORENCE MAY 

Back in Jan 2016 Rodney Webb, the owner of Florence May had the boat for sale and commented – “I guess you could say i reluctantly have her for sale and would probably refuse any offer” 🙂 Well he must have because in 2022 he still owns the boat (in fact has for approx. 40 years). But she is for sale again and thanks to Ian McDonald and a tme listing we get to have a better look at her and peek down below.

We know from the previous WW story that she was built near Auckland for Harry Muir and was named after his wife. She spent several years in Ngunguru then went to a retired sea captain in the Bay of Islands. She was then purchased by Tom Thompson who bought her back to Tutukaka. Rodney approached him and purchased her 40 years ago.The builder was Phil Lange.

She measures 28’ in length and is powered by a 80hp Ford D Series diesel engine.

Link to previous WW story https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/01/21/florence-rose-2/