Category Archives: Spirit of Tradition

Someone Stop Me

Posted on by
2

Screen Shot 2019-11-06 at 6.41.34 PM

Screen Shot 2019-11-06 at 6.43.29 PM

Some One Stop Me
If I lived near a lake or Mahurangi etc – I would not be posting this story, I would be on-route to New Plymouth to buy this very cool double diagonal cold moulded kauri double ended day boat (thats a mouthful).
She measures approx 14’4” with the rudder on, built in 1970 in York Bay, Wellington.
Her motion is via a Petter 3.5hp diesel inboard, that was fitted c.1980s and has only done 40 hrs. Gearbox has N/F/R.
Her trailer hs been refurbished and fully road worthy.
Rod Prosser / Shawn Vennell – one of you must need another woody at the lake – perfect for the kids…………………
Thanks to Ian McDonald for the trademe heads up 😉

2019 Thames Traditional Boat Festival – 100+ Classic Wooden Boats

Posted on by
4

20190721_115027

20190721_151551

2019 Thames Traditional Boat Festival

Woody Ian Gavin was travelling with family in July and included the Thames Traditional Boat Festival (Henley-on-Thames) in the itinerary.
Its an event on my bucket list, so I was a little envious when Ian handed me a USB stick with 100+ photos of the event. Special thanks to Ian for sharing.
Included in the Festival was a special Dunkirk Little Ships section. As you would expect it was a very civilised affair with the boats moored up to the river bank and they took turns at parading up and down the river.
The large rowing barge is an ex/retired Royal barge that has been recently restored.
Included on the day were a selection of old motorbikes and cars, including a few amphibious one.
Enjoy the gallery 🙂

 

Governor

Posted on by
1

Screen Shot 2019-10-17 at 8.02.20 PM

Screen Shot 2019-10-17 at 8.06.28 PM

Screen Shot 2019-10-17 at 8.06.09 PM

GOVERNOR
I got a subtle dig in the ribs yesterday that (a) I hadn’t featured anything very quick of late and (b) there had been a noticeable lack of varnish – So todays woody is a very ‘fresh’ restoration / rebuild i.e just launched (2019).
Governor started life back in the 1960’s, with the hull being built by Brin Wilson, her trademe listing comments that she was originally built following the lines of Chris Craft boats.
The project saw her totally rebuilt (in fact lengthened by 6’ – now 21’3″), glassed and a reconditioned 2016 4.3L 214hp Mercuriser TKS engine installed. One of the lake boys needs to buy her……….
Thanks to Rod Prosser for the elbow in the ribs 🙂

Highlander

Posted on by
6

DW-160115_D862355

DW-160115_D862358

20191008-_DHW7278

HIGHLANDER

I have been having ongoing chat with Bay of Islands woody and photographer Dean Wright, he is about to undertake a build / installation of a new wheelhouse for his almost 100 year old (99) 33’ Bob Brown built ex gaff rigged cutter – Arethusa, these days presented in work-boat / launch style.  The wheelhouse will be made from Iroko and the big question is yellow or red Uroxsys (Allwood) primer.
Dean sent me a sample of the timber and I have done a 1/2 and 1/2 varnishing job – the result? Not much between it, slight golden tinge to the yellow section. I think the natural colour of the Iroko is just so strong that the primer tint makes little difference.
I have attached at the bottom of the story a photo comparison of the existing wheel house and the plan for the new one – very smart.
Anyone back to todays story – Dean email me mid-week and said “check out what’s parked in our bay tonight” and sent the above photos of the 49’ Highlander. Designed by Roger Carey but not built by Careys. Wheelhouse designed by Don and Peter McManaway.
Dean mentioned Highlander was featured (page 127) in the 1988 book ‘By Boats We Live”, written by Joan Clark. The book records the history of the boats built by Roger Carey. I have reproduced the page below, have a read – its very good
Screen Shot 2019-10-11 at 10.46.30 AM
Arethusa – New Wheelhouse

The Refurbishment Of Tamariki

Posted on by
Reply

The Refurbishment Of Tamariki
Todays story is a video essay on the refurbishment of Tamariki, the 45’ Gary Wheeler designed ’spirit of tradition’  ketch owned by Peter Mortimer, father of CYA Chairman James Mortimer.
The video was filmed and edited by the very talented Roger Mills, a friend of Peter’s
Post the refurbishment Peter has been cruising the Pacific and attended the 2019 Australian Wooden Boat Festival in Hobart – in fact the only Kiwi boat in attendance. Roger joined Peter for the homeward leg – Hobart > Picton.
Enjoy – it is a great insight into the 7 month project – wonderful work, well done everyone that rubbed up against Tamariki during this labour of love.
Screen Shot 2019-09-03 at 3.24.37 PM
RSVP– you and your boats name + approx. numbers to sueedwards@xtra.co.nz

Wooden Boat Festival – 30 Wooden Boat Photos 

Posted on by
2

IMG_1976

IMG_1973

Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival – 30 Wooden Boat Photos 
 
Todays photo essay of over 30 photos was captured by NZ Traditional Boatbuilding School trustee, Kere Kemp. Kere has just returned from the 2019 Festival and in Kere’s words “the festival was 3 great days of wooden boat jewellery everywhere you looked”.
 
I’ll let the pictures tell the story – remember you can enlarge a photo by click on it 😉
Enjoy
ps – nice to see the WW cap made an appearance 🙂
IMG_1947
 

Screen Shot 2019-09-03 at 3.24.37 PM

RSVP– you and your boats name + approx. numbers to sueedwards@xtra.co.nz

Sorceress SOS – Washed Ashore

Posted on by
8

MVIMG_20190929_103736

MVIMG_20190929_103748

Sorceress SOS

Was sent the photos above today from Keith Ottaway of Sorceress ‘ashore / washed up’ under the Pohutukawa’s at Little Shoal Bay on the western side of Northcote Point. Keith understands she went ashore at low tide on Thursday and has been pushed up under the trees by the rising tide wave action. The tide today was too high for Keith to ascertain if there is any terminal damage.
Sorceress has appeared on WW before, link below, she is a fine ship – someone needs to save her before its too late 😦

UPDATE from Keith –She is flooded by damage to the after  keel bolts – after wooden keel section has pulled away from keelson – with broken bolts. Water was draining still at low tide so its only a small leak at this stage. The hull looks OK at the moment  – but that keelson damage may be the issue. Hope its not a chainsaw salvage. There is a lot of Kauri in there.

MVIMG_20190929_145114

MVIMG_20190929_144812

MVIMG_20190929_145339

Screen Shot 2019-09-29 at 2.02.59 PM
30-09-2019 UPDATE  Photo below from John Hilt of the the yacht aground and being pushed ashore by wind & tide.
20190926_123607
Screen Shot 2019-09-03 at 3.24.37 PM
RSVP– you and your boats name + approx. numbers to sueedwards@xtra.co.nz

Lady Jane

Posted on by
Reply

Screen Shot 2019-09-01 at 4.18.21 PM

Screen Shot 2019-09-01 at 4.18.46 PM

LADY JANE

Lady Jane is described in her listing as a 12’5” Squirt model and while is was built in 1975, she ticks all the classic boxes.

Tucked away under a cover is a 25hp Johnson that is more than enough to make her 12’ hull fly along.

Being easily trailerable Lady Jane would make a great family fun boat for the beach or lake. Christmas is only 14 weeks away 🙂
A neibour of mine has a teak ladder 2.5m long 580mm wide (photos below) that is surplus to their needs. They are keen to sell it to someone who needs it as part of a restoration or whatever. It was in their house when they bought it so could be ex Navy, maybe it was an old engine room ladder. Anyone interested call David 021 793 439

Miss Rose

Posted on by
Reply

IMG_6588

IMG_6589

IMG_6584

IMG_6594

MISS ROSE
Today’s woody lives a long way from the Waitemata, but her owner Andrew Christie from Queensland, Australia is a man of immaculate taste in woodys. Recently Andrew, owner of the 32’ woody – St.Helena, WW link below, recently contacted me and told me he had, had a rush of blood to the head and had swooped up the stunning woody Miss Rose.
Built approx. 10 years ago to a c.1930’s Zimmer design, Zimmer was a good friend (shared a desk) of the Hacker  boatbuilding dynasty in the USA. She was built in Australia by a very cool, OTT woody – looks like its brand new.
Andrew commented that the design specs were done  to run on 1930’s horse power not the modern V8 sitting in her today, that is good for 100kph…………….
Andrew has a great eye for detail and already is tweaking a few things to please the eye.
Now I just need to convince him to pop Miss Rose in a sea container and ship her over to NZ for the two (North & South Island) Lake Rotoiti Wooden Boat Festivals…………. 🙂
Screen Shot 2019-08-25 at 8.58.58 PM

Galatea

Posted on by
8

IMG_8496

IMG_8498

IMG_8497

Mystery Yacht – 28-07-2019 – solved – it is Galatea

I have been contacted by Denis Woodward who has a collection of signed Winkleman sailing photographs asking for help to ID the yacht above. If we are really good we might even be able to put a name to the crew 🙂
Mystery Spirit of Tradition 
I know with that engine well and leg I’m stretching things a little but folks we are going to see a lot more of this style of craft as the price of marina’s continues to climb. David Vaassen spotted – Sprat, at Orams dry dock and was wondering if we could find out more about her – design, builder, engine etc. At first I thought it was one of the new Greg Salthouse launches but no, Sprat is not quite as beautiful to the eye 🙂 More work boat styling.
chzEx4y9RD2ESfvoIbVmgw
UPDATE from Tim Jackson

Sprat is a Badnam launch designed by the late David Thomas . Built in the Bay of Islands and recently sold out of Wanaka. She has a builders plate in her.Here is some blurb about her genesis, ex the Wooden Boat Association of NSW, Sydney – 2012 newsletter.

 

 

 

IMG_4593

IMG_6232

IMG_4595

Another woody from my club reporter 🙂  location = Santorini. Might be glass 😦
65028241_2391800927546746_1866603683173629952_n