Todayswoody story bends the WW rules eg probably ply and f/glass and an American design, but there are some redeeming features – ZOET was built at the Auckland UNITEC Boatbuilding School in the 1980’s, its got a canoe stern + she is a good looker.
Some background – 28’ in length, built c.1980’s to a Ted Brewer (USA) design, powered by Nissan SD22 inboard diesel. Shallow (28”) draft = great inner harbour / lake boat.
One of my Gulf Harbour spies sent in todays photo of the launch – ECHO, he spotted her late last year hauled out at the Gulf Harbour Marina in Auckland.
Now hopefully I’m right in saying its a woody, could be ply/f-glass or even worse pure white plastic…….
Her size lets her get away with the flying bridge and sun shade. Smart looking craft.
Can we learn more about ECHO.
INPUT ex ANGUS ROGERS – photos below taken during her pervious owners period.
28-02-2026 INPUT ex ALAN SEXTON – ARTICLE BELOW EX SEA SPRAY MAGAZINE MAY 19991
UPCOMING AUCKLAND ON-THE-WATER BOAT SHOW – 5>8 MARCH If your looking for classic wooden boats you will looking for a long time but if you need a new – tender, outboard, safety gear, bbq, electronics, VHF etc – this is the boat show for you. Personally I always seem to find something I didn’t know I needed for the boat 🙂 Its a very professional run show and a great opportunity to see the latest and greatest marine related goods – just do not buy a white plastic boat 🙂
WHAT BECAME OF THE OWEN WOOLLEY MOTOR LAUNCH – RESOLUTE
Last month we were contacted by Charles Allen – I have reproduced his (edited) email below
My mother and I are trying to track down a motor launch built by Owen Woolley named RESOLUTE. The boat was built for my grandfather Peter Crotty in the mid 1990’s and was based in Auckland for many years. My grandfather would’ve sold it in the early 2000’s and apparently in recent years it may have gone down to the South Island.
Info we can remember off the top of our head is that she was approx. 50’ in length, had a displacement hull (believe it was glass over wood), was registered as a ship, had a mahogany interior, and yes powered by a single approx. 300hp engine.
So woodys, Charles was hoping we may be able to help re information on its current whereabouts and who owns it?
28-02-2026 ex INPUT ALAN SEXTON – article ex Sea Spray magazine Oct 2000
As the photos will quickly confirm, Saturday 7 February delivered near-perfect conditions for the Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Association’s annual gathering. While the event unfolds over four days, it’s the Saturday on-the-water get-together that remains the undisputed highlight.
From a photographer’s point of view, wall-to-wall sunshine and tricky angles don’t always play nicely with timber and varnish. So, if I’ve missed your boat or the images aren’t quite showroom-perfect, my apologies — I was doing my best to keep up with a lot of very good-looking boats.
The day naturally divides into two acts: the Parade, followed by the Picnic. A few familiar regulars were absent this year, but they were more than ably replaced by some truly stunning “new” additions to the fleet, making for an impressive and varied lineup on the water.
Sit back, enjoy the gallery, and soak up a little Lake Rotoiti magic. As always click photos to enlarge.
Special thanks to David & Glenys Wilson for the generous loan of a boat for the day 🙂
IT’S NOT WOOD BUT IT TICKS ALL MY CLASSIC BOXES While at Rakino Island on Saturday, the magnificent craft seen above was at anchor. Woody boat chat told me that she was a tender to a SUPER Superyacht visiting NZ from some TLC and maintenance. I missed seeing the superycht but a quick ChatGPT search answered my questions on STARGAZER (home port Georgetown). Check out the size of the props – zoom zoom 😉
“The classic yacht tender Stargazer — the 23 m (approximately 75 ft) chase boat/tender built to support a large sailing superyacht — was built by theDutch shipyard Claasen Shipyards in collaboration with Vitters Shipyard.
The vessel was constructed at Claasen Shipyards in the Netherlands, with Vitters Shipyard working together on the project.
It was designed by Hoek Design Naval Architects, who handled the naval architecture, structural engineering, and exterior and interior design.
This collaboration marked the first new-build project between Claasen and Vitters, resulting in a classic-lined, aluminium-hulled motor yacht used as a tender for transporting guests, serving as a diving platform and providing extra accommodation.”
INPUT ex GRAEME FINCH – photo beow of the ‘mothership’. Given the 75′ length of the tender, I assume somewhere there as a ‘supply ship’ that transported the toys.
REMEMBER – LAKE ROTOITI CLASSIC AND WOODEN BOAT PARADE THIS SATURDAY
PERFECT WEATHER, PERFECT WEEKEND FOR WOODEN BOATING
Today’s story is a potpourri from the weekend. A good forecast had a lot of woodys slipping the dock lines and heading out. Some were at Kawau for the sailing activity there and a lot dropped anchor at Rakino Island. Because I’m sure I was spotted – I’ll own up to my worst anchoring exhibition in Woody Bay, just couldn’t get it to dig in. Made worse by the number of craft. Gave up and retreated to West Bay- less boats and a better % of woodys at anchor. BUT – I made a novice mistake – anchored close to a large plastic US import with a petrol genset. I quote the owner “everyone tells me it sounds like a Massey Ferguson tractor “ – IT DID 😦 Experienced a stunning Rakino sunset on Saturday night.
VISITING USA WOODY
Over the last 2 weeks we have had one of the USA’s nicest wooden boating ambassadors – Bob Yaro visiting NZ Aside from being a great guy, Bob has some serious tags to his name – Chairman of the Herreshoff Marine Museum & America’s Cup Hall of Fame in Bristol, Rhode Island.
We had big plans to host Bob and friends aboard Angus Rogers – CENTAURUS for the Mahurangi Regatta but the weather gods dealt to that plan – so Bob’s been lunched on CENTAURUS in Auckland and had a day cruise on Margo and Jamie Hudson’s – LADY CROSSLEY up in the Bay of Island. The woody web is world wide 🙂
Just before xmas WAIREKA was popped back in the water (Bay of Islands) looking stunning. Looking forward to getting some interior photos ………… hint hint 🙂
16-02-2026 UPDATE – A sneal peek at the interior – floor coverings to come.
CLASSIC WOODEN MOTORBOAT RACING ON THE WAITEMATA HARBOUR – Auckland Anniversary Regatta
After the disappointment of a cancelled Mahurangi Regatta weekend I was chafing at the bit to get out on the water.
Being Auckland Anniversary Day yesterday , I secured a spot aboard Jason Prew’s classic launch MY GIRL – WW readers will be aware that MY GIRL holds the title of fastest classic wooden launch on the Waitemata.
So at 11am we were on the start line for the classic launch inner harbour race – start off RNZYS > down to Orakei Bouy > across to Devonport area > back up the harbour to the finish line (aka the start line). Conditions were best described as ok, certainly better than the previous 4 days, overcast, the occasional shower and westerly >20 knots.
This year we were lacking a few of real quick woodys so Mr Prew had the race in hand after 10 seconds. Some close racing with the ‘recently’ re-powered woodies – NGAIO and LUCINDA. Do not have the handicap results but line honours went to MY GIRL / NGAIO / LUCINDA. All serviced at The Slipway Milford yard so a nice trifecta.
Earlier in the morning the tug/workboats put on their normal spectacular performance – see below.
The parade of sail was bolstered by several classic woodys that did not race – parade photos second group above.
Enjoy the photo gallery, light on the winning boat, always is when the bloke with the camera is aboard the favourite 😉
As always – photos can be enlarged by clicking on them.
RACE RESULTS – MY GIRL collects line and handicap honours
WAS THIS MAHURANGI REGATTA OUR BEST CLASSIC WOODY EVENT EVER
As some of you will be aware todays Mahurangi Regatta was cancelled sadly for all the right reasons – the safety of our craft and people must always come first.
Earlier in the week I was sent the photo above with a very short note – “Found an old photo. Not sure of the boats name but if anyone wants the picture they can have it.”
So woodys can we ID the craft and hopeful learn where she is today and then we can offer the photo to the current owner.
MAHURANGI REGATTA –CANCELLED
A LEFT FEILD QUESTION
WW was contacted by the owner of a vessel named WATERHORSE – message below.
“I was wondering if someone can give me information on a boat I bought. It was built around 2006 for the movie ‘Waterhorse” for Weta Workshop designed by Bruce Askew. It was the PT boat during the later part of the movie. It is a glass over ply construction 32 feet long. Any help would be greatly appreciated.”
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