NAPIER CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – BETTINA – GETS A SECOND LIFE
Recently Sam Avison acquired a berth in Napier, but there was a slight problem, the berth included a 1950’s kauri built launch. The launch named BETTINA wasn’t / isn’t in good shape, in fact at the time of purchase she was taking on water (sinking). Sam couldn’t bring himself to call in the back-hoe boys so decided to take on the challenge.
First job was to sort out the leak, that’s done and he’s currently getting his head around where to start next.
The primary reason for Sam contacting WW to see how f he can learn more about the vessels past. All he knows is 26’ long, built in Napier and probably had a name change in the 1990’s.
Today we have another great photo from the ‘Thames Historic Pictures’ fb via Lew Redwood.
On the left is the steam launch PUKE, standing off the sunken paddle steamer KOPU. The location is the top end of the dead end channel, Puke Wharf, Paeroa (I assume).
Question of the day for the steam heads – is this the same steam launch that I photographed at the 2025 Whangarei Maritime Festival or a replica? Photos below.
Recently, woody Angus Rogers sent in the top photos of HOTSPUR , a recently restored 24’ Mason Clipper that calls the Outdoor Boating Centre (OBC) in Auckland home.
Angus pointed her owner – Fraser Elder in the direction WW and Fraser sent in the gallery of photos of HOTSPUR.
This wasn’t a fast project, in fact Fraser commented that from start to finish it was 9 years, fitting it between work and family commitments.
Some background – HOTSPUR was built c.1968/1969 and during the restoration, several bits of the timber in the boat were numbered (as in the photo with H15 on the inside of the instrument panel) and they are numbered H15, H16 and H17. Fraser reinstalled these parts to keep the numbers in the boat. Puzzled about the presence of three numbers, Fraser spoke to Anne Mason about this, and was told ‘Oh that’s to be expected, we built the boats in threes’, so there was always an amount of cross pollination between the boats.
HOTSPUR was built with a fibreglass hull, after the first tranche of builds with a timber hull, but there is a lot of mahogany in her. During the restoration Fraser needed to replace a high percentage of that timber, using sapele, as real mahogany is no longer allowed to be sold because of the CITES agreement.
Before the restoration, she had a BMW D150 (around 140HP) diesel engine. However, this had several parts that were too corroded or rusted too be used and very hard, or impossible to replace because of the age of the engine. So Fraser installed the BMW D190 (around 180HP) that he had purchased along with the boat. It was also newer and had, he was told had been rebuilt, although this is later questioned. It is this engine that you see running in the boat after he had figured out the few issues he had getting the engine started.
The restoration was mainly completed around August 2022 after nine years but as with any of these restorations, there are still (mainly small) tasks to do, and things that Fraser will eventually get around to, including replacing some of the work he did in the early days, as he says he is now more skilled 🙂 and more knowledgeable about some the techniques to use.
Todays woody popped up on tme late last year (thanks Ian McDonald), at the time the starting bid was $300, sadly it didn’t sell.
What we learnt was she was 18’ in length, built from kauri carvel planking, and there was a Lees Marine Ford engine in her. Her fittings must have been worth the asking price, but the location – Maungaturoto, Northland, would have put people off + no trailer in the sale.
Anyone know more about the launch and what became of her.
Todays woody gets to be on WW because its just so cute – as Harold told me once re classic wooden boats “dear boy do not be under any illusion, it is a beauty contest” .
What we learn from her recent tme appearance is – designed by John Spencer, launched in 1960, 16’ 5” in length powered by a40hp Mercury outboard. I wonder who built her, most likely a home / DIY project.
Home is Kaitaia, Northland so hopefully someone in the BOI buys her.
BUDGET BOAT BLING
There is a secret to buying well on trade me , I have bought ace clinker dinghies for $200 and an embarrassing amount of bronze hardware for next to nothing.
The waitematawoodys Slipway Milford car boot sales are also legendary.
Aside from the clinkers I think this weeks buy is the best to date. A pair of bronze/chrome 1/2 vents for $25. A quick clean up with a scotch pad and WD40 and almost like new. Have I a need for them ? – of course not, but better in my glory box than sold for scrap.
The reason for the bottle of wine in the photo below (size comparison) is when I told Jason Prew what I’d bought and the price, his reply was “I bet they are 1” high and from a model boat kit” if I’m honest I was concerned when the seller wouldn’t answer my question re what size they were (post buying) 🙂
Todays very cool photo comes to us from Lew Redwood via the ’Thames Historic Pictures’ fb page.
The location Is the Junction Wharf, Paeroa and its dated 1907.
I hope I’m correct when a say the small motorboat in the foreground is what was back then referred to as a ’Settlers Launch’. Todays equivalent would be a Toyota HiLux Ute.
Harold Kidd once told me an approx. figure for the number of these Settler Launches built in the 1900>1930 period, the exact number has slipped thru the cracks in my grey matter but it was I think (starting to sound like Ken Ricketts…..) +/- 5,000.
At the recent 2026 Lake Rotoiti Classic and Wooden Boat weekend one of the stand out craft was LADY BETH, a 23’ picnic / day boat, builder unknown. I was surprised with her build date as she had a ‘new build’ level of presentation.
Today thanks to the LRC&WB team we get to learn more about LADY BETH’s past and how she ended up my pick of the 2026 parade.
LADY BETH, formerly named HIDDEN AGENDA, was first used in Whakatane as a picnic and tour boat. She then moved to Napier and was used in the same way until she was to be found on Lake Taupo, moving to Lake Rotoiti about 40 years ago. Purchased by the current owners in April 2018, she underwent a major 20 month refit at Alan Craig’s boatyard where she was transformed into the very beautiful classic wooden boat she is today. She is named after Lady Beth Moore, (mother of her co owner), who was born the same year the launch was and loved the lake since coming on her honeymoon in 1942.
Her inboard has been replaced by a 9.9hp outboard in a concealed well. The glass house is made of teak and a teak bowspit and duckboard were fitted with stainless anchor and remote windlass. During restoration it was noted she originally had 2 portholes each side, not just the 1. So stainless ones were imported from Italy.
This 23′ woody recently popped up on tme and immediately caught my eye — helped in no small part by the great photography and those postcard-perfect backdrops.
Built in 1966, RAROA presents as a very well-sorted example of the Mason Sports Clipper style. She’s beautifully finished and comes with one very practical bonus – she’s trailerable. That means no marina fees and the freedom to tow her to wherever the water (and weather) looks best.
At 23’ she strikes that sweet spot between classic elegance and modern usability.
Power comes from a Chevrolet blueprint 383 V8, pushing out a serious 405hp. Top speed would have to be well and truly off the dial. The engine alone reportedly cost around $50k, which tells you straight away this is not an entry-level woody.
This is a complete packagethat has the woody wow-factor.
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 🙂
As the WW early birds read todays story I will heading down State Highway 1 to attend the Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Festival.
Therefore its only appropriate that todays classic craft is a 1967 25’ Mason Clipper. Good looks and breeding let me overlook that her hull is the evil f/glass.
Powered by a 250hp Yamaha 4-stroke outboard one would assume she can lift her skirt and run rather fast 🙂 Thanks Ian McDonald for the heads up.
If you couldn’t make it to the lake today – check out WW Monday for a photo gallery / parade report.
SERIOUSLY – DID I READ THAT CORRECTLY…….
You have worry when you read the criteria for boat selection at an Australian (Victoria) Classic Boat Rally – “ If its older that 25 yrs, of historical value or of classic design”
True classics must be few and far between over the ditch to have craft built in 2000 labeled CLASSIC.😎
TODAYS THE DAY – LAKE ROTOITI COMES ALIVE WITH 70+ CLASSIC BOATS
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