Category Archives: Spirit of Tradition

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – SAPPHIRE 

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – SAPPHIRE 

Back in July 2023 the Oliver and Gilpin 1972 designed and built 48’ launch – SAPPHIRE made a guest appearance on another story (LADY LYNN) as seen in the top b/w photo that came to us ex the Tauranga Museum via Dean Wright. 

SAPPHIRE has recently popped up on fb and she has obviously been on the growth hormones over the years – as seen in the second photo, quite an increase in stature…………  as they say no navel architect got rich on the additions 🙂

But – each to their own – nothing a tungsten tipped chainsaw couldn’t fix 😉

WINTER CRUISING ON A 47′ CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT

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WINTER CRUISING ON A 47′ CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT

Today thanks to the eye / camera of Dean Wright we get to have a virtual Fiordland woody cruise aboard the launch – MONOWAI III. 

Lets start with some background – Dean and partner Deb are ‘frequent flyers’ when it comes to these cruising grounds. They were back there last in May 2019. As before guests of Andy and Brenda Bell aboard their launch – MONOWAI III for a week in Fiordland mid July.

This time they flew into Dusky Sound and worked their way North, Breaksea, Charles Sounds before flying out of George Sound a week or so later. They aced it with brilliant, calm weather and just a bit of rain. The photos above show a few of the amazing anchorages down there.

MONOWAI III is a 47’ Saunders, built by Harold Saunders in 1976, carvel kauri construction. Her beam is 11’10” and she draws 4’6”.

Forward motion is via a 8V71N GM. Lots more info on the boat in the 2019 WW story link here https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/05/06/monowai-iii/

Some Great Video Action To Finish

Lake Alice Anchorage:

Sportsmen Cove: 

WOODY ON TOUR – VENICE

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WOODY ON TOUR – VENICE

The owner of the 36′ classic launch IONA II currently midway thru a total refit at the Slipway Milford is currently mooching around in Venice and sent in the above photo gallery of the hard working Venetian woody water taxis. Nice to have window into the other side of the world and to see the sun 🙂

The scope of the work on IONA II is next level and includes conversion to electric powered – there will be no combustion engine or generator i.e. not a hybrid. Really looking forward to following the project. IONA II was designed by Bruce Askew , and built in 1994 from strip planked wood + some f/glass, all good on a 1994 craft. Link below from when the work first commenced. I’ll get down there later in the week for an update, or maybe Jason Prew could put the tools down for a minute and send in some iPhone photos 😉 https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/05/28/iona-ii-gets-a-birthday/

SPIRIT OF TRADITION CLASSIC DOUBLE-ENDER WOODEN LAUNCH – BONITA

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SPIRIT OF TRADITION CLASSIC DOUBLE-ENDER WOODEN LAUNCH – BONITA

Over the weekend I was mooching around the upper harbour and came across the very smart looking double-ender above.

She is moored just off the old Salthouse yard / wharf and looks very new.

At a guess I would say approx. 28>30’ , would love to see the wheel house sans the covers.

Can anyone provide more intel on the vessel.

Ken Ricketts pointed out the she made a cameo appearance back in Feb 2023, photo below, nice to see the wheelhouse, James Hutchinson also commented that the boats named BONITA, built by Lanes. Details here for a peek inside the cabin. Amazing the difference a paint job makes. https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/07/07/borato/

INPUT ex CHRIS SALTHOUSE – The Vessels name is Bonita not Bonito and yes Eric Lanes of Picton built her in 1923, I bought her 2 years ago, steamed her across the Cook straight then trucked her to Auckland were we are slowly getting her in shape as time permits. Thanks for the interest.

IONA – TAUPO

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IONA – TAUPO

Now do not be confused  with todays woody – it is IONA as spotted in the weekend by Jason Prew at the Motuoapa Marina in Taupo. Jason commented that she is a sster-ship to IONA II that currently sits on the hard at {the} Slipway Milford.

Photos below of the work happening on IONA II.
In the last photo below we she IONA II’s room mate – REHIA which has a fast approaching re-launch date. More on her later in the week.

TE KUIA – Workboat Wednesday

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Kerry Lilley Boatbuilders – Panmure
Panmure River
Tauranga – Blue Ocean Charters
Russell – September 2023

TE KUIA – Workboat Wednesday

Retired boatbuilder Kerry Lilley sent in the photos above of the 52’ workboat – TE KAUIA, which he built in 1978 in Panmure. Kerry built TE KUIA for Harbour Transport, Tauranga which at the time was part New Zealand Forest Products. Her role involved ferrying workers to and from Matakana Island, towing log barges, and other duties and the occasional fishing charter.

TE KUIA was later sold to Hugh Ensor in 1989, who then operated her as a charter fishing boat based at Tauranga. Later Jack Elliot converted TE KUIA to a passenger ferry. At the time the cabin roof was extended.The vessel is powered by a GM 6/71 Detroit diesel engine.

In 2023, the Bay of Islands ferry – WAITERE was involved in collision off Russell and.suffered major damage, and was a write off. TE KUIA was purchased as a replacement in June, 2023 for the Pania > Russell run.

IONA II – Gets A Birthday

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IONA II – Gets A Birthday

Back. In October 2022 we reported that the Bruce Askew designed 36’ launch – IONA II had been sold and relocated from Nelson to the Milford Marina in Auckland. INOA II was built in 1994 so slips comfortably into the ‘spirit of tradition’ category of classic wooden vessels. At the time the story she was hauled out at the Slipway Milford for some maintenance – link to that story here –  https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/10/04/iona-ii/

Fast forward to yesterday and IONA II is back at the yard booked in for a serious dose of TLC. Total refresh of everything other than the engine , a 60hp Nissan TD23.
Should be a great project to follow.

UPDATE 09-08-2024 – Lots of activity at the yard, loving the custom bow / anchor sprit

UPDATE 29-08-2024 – new cabin sole undrway

11-09-2024 UPDATE – New windows going in, liking the green tint ✔️

01-10-2024 UPDATE – Get close to re-launching.  First coat on the topsides and interior waiting for the varnish brush. The replacement duckboard brackets are a big improvement from what was there 🙂

04-10-2024 UPDATE – 2nd coat of paint on and some very impressive engineering work on the electric motor installation from Cam Malcolm at the Slipway Milford.

09-10-2024 UPDATE – getting closer, the shiny stuff is going on 🙂

LADY K

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LADY K

The photos above go the launch LADY K come to us from Lan Krules and we see her in a mud berth at Kailua, Firth of Thames.

Ian commented that her owner told him that LADY K was built c.1970’s and is kauri planked.

She may have been a ‘rescue’ boat at some time in her life, looking at her I think she is close to needing to be rescued her self:-)

Can we learn more about LADY K

SUSIE BELLE – A Peek Down Below

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SUSIE BELLE – A Peek Down Below

Todays woody photos come to us from John Dawson and feature the spirit of tradition launch – SUSIE BELL, built in 1986 by Don Brooke to a G Wheeler design. 

She is 34’4” in length with a 9’5” beam and draws 2’9”.

Built from wood with that very thick ’special’ top coat paint (f/glass) 😦

Forward motion is from a 60hp Isuzu Diesel engine.

Mystery Lyttelton Launch

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Mystery Lyttelton Launch
Again only a mystery because her owner didn’t include a name on tme (thanks Ian McDonald). If we believe the tme story she is a Logan, built in1908, 36’ in length. Powered by a 1970, 65hp Rustin Rover (???) 

And that woodys is all me know – any southern readers able to enlighten us more on the launch.

BUY OF THE YEAR – HEAO – LOGAN 33 – A Sailors Motor Boat – Reduced Price – Low $80’ks – Click link below for details. https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/02/29/heao-a-peek-down-below-4sale/