Category Archives: Spirit of Tradition

A SPIRIT OF TRADITION CLASSIC LAUNCH – FAULTLESSLY PRESENTED 4SALE

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A SPIRIT OF TRADITION CLASSIC LAUNCH – FAULTLESSLY PRESENTED 4SALE

If you used the WW search panel you would not find many Pelin Empress motor launches on WW, but there would be more than you would find Vindexs 🙂

Todays 35′ launch, ELYSIUM fits very comfortably into the Spirit of Tradition category.

Built in 1980, 10.6m in length and powered by a 225hp Ford Lehman SP225 turbo diesel engine.

Her owner, a good friend, has ELYSIUM for sale along with her Gulf Harbour marina (note – marina not for sale separately)

The sale is brought about due to health reasons, always sad for an owner but more often, a buyer gets a better boat i.e. most boats sell at the end of an ownership period and their condition reflects deferred maintenance.

There is a tongue-in-cheek saying amongst trades people that goes like this – “the builder has the worst maintained house in the street” – well ULYSIUM’s owner is a marine engineer and he destroys the saying. In terms systems, fittings and maintenance you would struggle to find a better boat. I do not have the room on the page to narrate her extensive fit out. To see and read more go to her trademe listing https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/boats-marine/motorboats/listing/6173940295

CLASSIC WOODYS ABROAD – COLOURFUL CRAFT ON THE CÔTE D’AZUR

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CLASSIC WOODYS ABROAD – COLOURFUL CRAFT ON THE CÔTE D’AZUR

For the last few months, Kiwi woody Shane Anderson and partner Azra have been exploring Europe the hard way — by bicycle and on foot. And we’re not talking about battery-assisted cycling or gentle strolls! These two have been tackling the big stuff, including the mighty Mont Blanc.

This week, they’ve been hiking the spectacular French Riviera, using the beautiful coastal town of Villefranche-sur-Mer as their base.

Naturally, Shane couldn’t resist checking out the local boating scene, and today’s woody photos come from the marina at Villefranche.

Shane reports that much of the local wooden fleet consists of smaller 15–22ft fishing boats, most powered by small diesel engines, with a few sailing craft thrown into the mix.

What really catches the eye is the wonderful use of colour. These working little wooden boats have plenty of character, and sitting together in the marina, they make for a colourful slice of traditional Mediterranean boating life.

KAWAU ISLAND’S LABOUR WEEKEND BOATING MUSTER

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KAWAU ISLAND’S LABOUR WEEKEND BOATING MUSTER

The photo above has appeared on WW before, capturing and promoting the X-factor that makes Kawau Island such a special destination for classic boaters. Its sheltered anchorages, rich maritime heritage and relaxed cruising atmosphere make it hard to beat for a Labour Weekend escape.  

Over the past few years, the Kawau Boating Club, Ponsonby Cruising Club and WaitemataWoodys — three staunch supporters of classic boating and the cruising lifestyle — have been working together to develop and promote a gathering of traditional craft in and around Kawau Island.Brought together under the banner of Labour Weekend Spring Splash.

The event is becoming a wonderful opportunity for owners and crews to get out on the water, catch up with fellow enthusiasts and celebrate everything that makes classic wooden boating so special.It’s all about good boats, good company and the timeless pleasure of cruising in one of the Hauraki Gulf’s most treasured destinations.

Each year it gets better and better and has become one of the most popular events on the waitematawoodys calendar. Link here to last years event  https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/10/28/2025-kawau-island-spring-splash-regatta-a-woody-weekend-to-remember/

There truely is something for all craft – 

• FRIDAY – Cruising to the island

• SATURDAY – Matakana Markets River Cruise & Round the Island Yacht Race

• SUNDAY – Waitematawoodys Classic Parade & Short Course Yacht Race + Race Giving ar KBC

• MONDAY – Breakfast at KBC

Each day the KBC clubrooms will be open to all boaties + we have new managers and menu. Check on-line for opening hours. https://kawauboatingclub.nz

f you are not racing there is no requirement to enter, just turn up and enjoy the weekend and the sociability of the KBC. Hey you my enjoy it and consider becoming a member 😉

PS – I emailed details out to the WW data base earlier in the week, but not surprisingly not everyone is on the database. If you want to be kept updated on classic events and gatherings – just drop an email to waitematawoodys@gmail.com with your name, boat name (if you have one) and mobile number. We do not spam you, it is a very tight list.

Read more in the attached PCC notice of regatta.

NOR LABOUR WEEKEND SPRING SPLASH 2026Download

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HENRY GEROS WOODEN BOATBUILDERS – TAURANGA 

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HENRY GEROS WOODEN BOATBUILDERS – TAURANGA 

Todays woody photo popped up recently on a fb link that features historical events from the Tauranga area.

The photo originated from the Bay of Plenty Times, 22 March 1973 issue.

The poster was Rebecca Muir, who commented that in the photo we see Henry Geros and his two sons – Phillip and Michael(r), putting the finishing touches to a 22’ cabin cruiser built in their Tauranga based boat building yard.

Can we learn more about the yard and possibly the design of the cabin cruiser, which to my eyes is very appealing. Being 1973 the AWB’s (average white boats) can not of been too far away……..

DEFIANT — A RATHER MAGNIFICENT CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH

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DEFIANT — A RATHER MAGNIFICENT CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH

On one of my recent trip north I spotted a rather impressive woody hauled out at in Whangarei named DEFIANT. Hard not to miss her given her size.I had a brief phone chat with her owner Chris Wilkens, and was given the green light to go aboard. Chris went to great lengths to tell me she was a tip inside as he was part way thru an upgrade project.

Excuse the quality of some of the photos, as I edited them to remove WIP clutter.

First impressions of DEFIANT is her overall size , she is huge. As a guide in the photos you can see some ‘LazyBoy’ armchairs – there are 4 in the saloon and they are the full domestic size.

Keen to learn more about her – but for now – designed by Nick Peel, I think 54’ in length, powered by a Gardner engine (possibly 150hp).Home port is Whangaroa, Northland.

INPUT ex PAUL WILSON – built by Dave Bryant, an experienced off shore sailor, as a long range cruiser.

THE IDEAL COMPACT CLASSIC MOTORSAILER

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THE IDEAL COMPACT CLASSIC MOTORSAILER

There are a few ‘hard to achieve’ things in classic boat design – one is to create a motorsailer that doesn’t look like a compromise between a yacht and a motor boat and second to create a craft 30’ or less that to the eye looks proportional correct and visually appealing. Most get it wrong.

On a recent web forage on the Wooden Boats of Tasmania fb I came across todays woody that straightaway caught my eye. 

The boats name is HUON KELLy and is a design by Terry Lean and tagged ‘Cloudy Bay 30’, built in Tasmania at the Wooden Boat Center in Franklin c.2005/6. The fb poster, Andy Mac,  commented that 4 sister craft were built between 2005 >2011.

A quick google search popped up a broker video , link below, from 6 years ago when she was for sale in Sydney. Check it out, a very impressive woody packed with everything you would want aboard but discreetly hidden to give a heritage look.

SPIRIT OF TRADITION LIONEL JEFCOAT WOODY

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SPIRIT OF TRADITION LIONEL JEFCOAT WOODY

During the week WW was contacted by John Spooner concerning his 35′ yacht – GLOWWORM. Built in 1971 by master boat builder Lionel Jefcoat to a Cox design.

As we can see from the photos GLOWWORM is a very salty looking vessel and wouldn’t be afraid of the odd blue water wave, probably GOOD THING GIVEN HER HOME PORT IS WELLINGTON.

Check out the stove, would be very cosy down below at anchor.

Do we know anything GLOWWORMS past.

MYSTERY CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – SIGNATURE (BELUGA)

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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/

WHY CLASSIC WOODEN BOATS BECOME AN OBSESSION

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WHY CLASSIC WOODEN BOATS BECOME AN OBSESSION

There have been several magic bullet moments in the history of waitematawoodys, actions that had significant impacts on the readership numbers. The most significant was an international phone call, now I tend to ignore these calls as normally it is some self titled investment guru wanting to share a once in a lifetime investment opportunity with me. For some unknown reason I took the call  and it was a gent named Carl Cramer, who introduced himself as the Publisher of WoodenBoat magazine in the USA, that got my attention pretty quick. 

Carl told me he and the founding publisher / owner of WB – Jon Wilson, had been chatting on the phone, bored senseless after being snowed in for 3 days. As they were talking Jon Wilson was trolling the web looking for sunny wooden boating content – bingo Jon hit on the waitematawoodys site and the story of the day was my coverage of the  3 day Mahurangi Regatta weekend. Over 200 photos and videos, Carl told me Jon suggested he make contact – which led to our telephone call.  Back then WB was print only and a very popular on-line forum, so he was impressed with this new-ish blog format. Carl used to send a short, chatty weekly email out to the WB magazine subscribers, we talking 50,000+ – he asked if he could do a story on waitematawoodys. The story was a cracker and started with being snowed in and getting an infusion of summer boating that cured his cabin fever. He finished by saying.“This website is truely great”
Overnight the WW viewing numbers went into orbit, from around the world and we still retain a high % of them. In fact the USA is number 2 on the readers list.

Sorry for the long lead in to todays WW story. Over the years I have read several features on how Jon Wilson founded the WB  group but over the weekend I stumbled on a YouTube channel named ‘LIFE ON THE WATER’ – one of the featured videos is titled ‘Jon Wilson – The Restorer’s Journey’. In their words it is is a cinematic portrait of the man who took on a monumental task to change the course of wooden boat history. I haven’t come across a better insight, explanation on this bug we all suffer from. Read it, I promise afterwards you’ll feel better about life and your classic wooden boat.

HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT – WELLINGTON’S CLASSIC WOODEN CRAFT

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HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT – WELLINGTON’S CLASSIC WOODEN CRAFT

I’m guilty of a lapse that a lot of us northern woodys fall into – that being, we forget about NZ’s capital city Wellington as a home to some of our best classic wooden craft. 

Auckland, the Bay of Islands and the top of the South Island tend to dominate WW content. So it was so good to receive a trip report from Auckland based woody Geoff Fiebig (SV CAPLIN) from Chaffers marina in Wellington.

Extra special to see that the 49’ woody VANESSA was now in her new home and looking very salty. VANESSA was Geoff’s reason for the trip, hopefully we can get an insight into the project he has been commissioned to undertake. If you missed her story on WW when she was 4sale with the Wooden Boat Bureau, check out this link https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/10/23/ready-to-unwind-this-summer-classic-motorboat-vanessa-ticks-all-the-boxes/

The next woody is the 26’ 1925 Colin Wild built launch – LITTLE TASMAN, another woody that slipped thru our hands and headed south. Not before an amazing restoration at the hands of Colin Brown and Josh Hawkw at their Omaha yard. Check out this WW link and view the video of the project. https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/06/17/little-tasman-restoration/

Lastly we have the 1964 Ben Hipkins built  50’ bridge decker – RANGIORA looking the best she has in a long time – well done to her owners.

RANGIORA has had an interesting life , check out this 2022 WW story that backgrounds her partial sinking in1973 after hitting rocks off the northern coast of Waiheke Island, Auckland. https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/01/04/rangiora-sinks-off-waiheke-21-09-1973/