CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – ARIKI
Todays classic wooden boating photo comes to us from John Dawson and shows the launch – ARIKI. At the time of the photo (1946) the launch was located in Napier. At the time of the photo the launch was owned by B. R. Menzies.
And that woodys is all we know.
Interested in learning more about the craft.
AND ONE FOR THE WTF FILE
A recent arrival on tme. I’m sure she will find a home, someone, somewhere must need a floating porte-loo. (thanks Ian McDonald for the photo)
IF YOU THOUGHT CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCHES WERE LOW PRICED – Check out OMICRON
The 20’ classic sloop OMICRON was built in 1945 to a Harrison Butler design at the Percy Vos yard in Auckland. She made a cameo appearance on WW back in November 2019.
Full length 1” kauri planking, kauri deck and teak cabin and cockpit coamings + all the proper metals in the bolts and rivets.
As testament to her build and easy of sailing this 20’ has even been offshore.
And the added bonus is a purpose built road trailer.
Her tme listing mentions she needs some TLC so its safe to assume todays photos are not recent.
OMICRON is one of those classics that look perfect from any angle.
At sub $30k someone needs to buy this woody, its so much boat and drop did gorgeous 🙂
CLASSIC WOODYS IN COWES BAY WAIHEKE ISLAND
Todays photo captures times of old when power and sail played together. The location is the idlic Cowes Bay at the bottom end of Waiheke Island. The bay was a common destination for picnics and regattas. Todays view looks less organised and just shows people enjoying the day.
The photo is from the Ian Farquhar Collection and the photographer is S H Rawson , dated c.1900-1916. And comes to us via Lew Redwood fb.
Can any of the sailing woodys ID the design of the yacht in the forefront of the photo.
And happy mother days – we wouldn’t be here without them 🙂
LAKE TAUPO CLASSIC WOODY LAUNCH – ROMANCE – GETS SOME TLC
Todays woody story is really prompt to Paul Drake the owner of the Lake Taupo based 1914 Bailey & Lowe built launch – ROMANCE to send in a story on the recent upgrade.
If it had not been for woody Steve Pople (MV Royal Falcon) recently mooching around the Lake Taupo docks we wouldn’t have know she had received some TLC.
So fingers crossed Paul reads todays story and gets his ‘A into G’ 🙂
Lots photos and details on Romance in this Sept 2014 WW story https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/09/22/8829/
MAGGIE – A CLASSIC CLINKER DAY BOAT
Back in March 2013 we ran a brief story on the classic day boat – MAGGIE, at the time we learnt that MAGGIE was designed and built by Roy Parris in 1982 as a small work boat. Originally she had a large hatch in the foredeck and a doghouse aft-end.
After an early life transporting supplies to & from Kawau Island she was refurbished in 2004 as a small clinker built day boat, being 18ft 6″ overall.
Her stem and keels are heart totara with a hull built of rewa rewa ribs and kauri planks. A Sole diesel engine gives her a comfortable cruising speed of 7 knots at 2100 rpm.
Back in 2013 she was berthed in Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour Basin. MAGGIE attended several woody cruises to the Riverhead Tavern.
A change of ownership saw her relocating to Lake Rotoiti in the central north island, where her owners participated regularly in the Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parades for the last 12 years.
A change in personal circumstances saw MAGGIE appearing on tme where she has sat for the last two years – probably a result of the asking price.
Putting the price to one side MAGGIE is a stunning vessel and desires a new owner – hell if I lived near a lake, I’d buy her. Sitting on a top end trailer, you can say goodby to the marina robber barons.
CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – AVALON – UPDATE #4
Following from last weeks update (#3) on the restoration of the 1954 Sam Ford built classic wooden launch – AVALON, owner Tobias Forsyth sent in more photos of the work-in-progress.
Tobias commented that the next time home (works at sea) he will be building the cabin top, this has been down the To Do List as keeping it off makes working inside a easier, especially when it’s really hot.
The rebate is in for the glass and all the templates are made, ready to send to the glazier for new glass.
Tobias said the To Do List is getting smaller every time he is home and it feels very good to be finishing jobs and making things look nice again.
She’s came a very long way since sitting on his Grandma’s lawn and he couldn’t be happier with how good everything is falling into place.
The plan is in the water ready to go by next summer. 🙂
RESTORATION OF THE CLASSIC WOODEN EX WORKBOAT – CLYDE GS 28
WW has been contacted by Mark McLaughlin regarding the 25’ Roger Carey built (1949) ex workboat – CLYDE GS28. Mark’s notes below –
“I have been following the Facebook page of Doug Johnson who is a traditional boatbuilder in Picton documenting his restoration of the lovely little Roger Carey 25ft fishing boat “Clyde”. Originally built in 1949, Doug has rescued Clyde and spent the last three and a half years on a thorough restoration which is nearing completion with launching planned for Labour Weekend. Clyde features in the book “By Boats We Live” by Roger’s daughter, Joan Clark, which recorded all of her father’s designs & builds and designs built by others. The watercolour image is by Joan from her book and shows Clyde’s original working boat configuration”
Mark also sent in the selection of photos above from Doug’s Facebook page, and commented that there are many more photos and videos of the restoration there, link below https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084924609149 Mark tracked down a copy of the story on CLYDE in the “By Boats We Live” book from his mother down in Marlborough. Photos below.
MYSTERY 1933 MULLET BOAT
Todays outstanding classic wooden yacht photo comes to us from Heritage Images – TW Collions collection via a Lew Redwood fb post.
The photo is tagged ‘1933 Mullett boat under power Bay of Islands’, and that woodys is all we know.
To me it has a Whangaroa Harbour look to it but I’m sure I’ll be corrected 🙂
Tudor Collins was a very talented photographer and most of his work is clearly identifiable without any reference to his name. The Bay of Islands was one of his favourite locations and his collection of work is vast and just not limited to marine. In fact better known for his native bush / forest work.
Can we learn the yachts names and designer / builder.
CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – AVALON RESTORATION UPDATE # 3
Todays photo gallery of AVALON the 24’ 1954 Sam Ford built woody was sent in by John Dawson and is a follow up to our last update in November 2025 – WW link here https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/11/17/classic-wooden-launch-avalon-restoration-update-2/
Owner Tobias Forsyth has been making good progress and I love his approach to semi finishing areas while the overall project continues – I’m sure it helps with the motivation.
AVALON is a member of a very small classic wooden boating club – one family owner since new.
Lots of background on AVALON in this 2021 WW story https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/11/29/resurrection-of-avalon/
Photo below from pre launch day.
KAWAU ISLAND — Idyllic Classic Times Afloat
Todays very cool photo comes to us from a recent Lew Redwood fb post and is tagged – ‘Yachts & Launches at Kawau Island 1900-1916, Hocken.
Can we ID the canoe stern launch on the righthand side, middle/top of the photo.
Its a very salty clinker dinghy, what’s the significance of the ‘4 KAWAU’ on the stern – was here a fleet back then.
😃 given the dates even K Ricketts can’t claim he was there when the photo was taken 😉
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