Riwaka Waterfront Walkabout
Following on from Sundays story on Matahorua the sailing cutter tied up at the Riwaka river / estuary , today we follow the camera of Tim and Pauline Evill as they explore the craft that call Riwaka their home ‘port’.
A fine collection of woodys, all appearing to be well loved – if you had the Riwaka agency for marine varnish , you wouldn’t remain in business for long 🙂
Enjoy the stroll
The Perfect Clinker Day Boat
Today’s clinker woody has been popping up in social media (tme & Facebook) for a while. If your looking for a day boat or something to get you out and about on the lakes, this could be the boat.
Almost 14’ in length, with a Stuart Turner engine that if you believe her tme listing, runs sweetly eg starts and keeps running 🙂 And when it doesn’t there is a Seagull long shaft o/board to get you home.
Not sure about the build year of the boat, but the engine is dated 1940.The rather smart trailer is part of the package.
Any takers?
ps 1-1 in the A-Cup, I’m happy with that 🙂
100 Year Old Wooden Fishing Boat Saved
Ok I’m getting older and boring but when out and about (driving) I normally listen to Radio NZ – Nine to Noon show, but with CV-19 lock-down I missed Wednesdays show. And woodys I missed a goodie, but Charles Rogers via Angus (Centaurus) Rogers pointed me to the RNZ website for the story.
That story involves the 27’ 1915 Milner & Milner ex workboat – Elsie and how Brian Railton the commodore of the Dunedin classic boat club, came to own her. There is a link below to the full on-line interview between Brian and Kathryn Ryan (RNZ), but a quick overview looks like this.
Elsie started life as a hand lining fishing boat on the Otago Harbour, she remained as a commercial fishing boat until the early 2000’s when she was retired. Like a lot of oldies Elsie didn’t like retirement and escaped i.e. broke her mooring and took herself on a tour of the Dunedin waterfront, eventually ending up on a rock seawall. Repaired but then she suffered damage on a sandbar. Luckily for Elsie the boat was spotted by Brian who acquired her and transported the boat from Carey’s Bay near Port Chalmers to his home in Wyndham in eastern Southland where Brian and a retired boat builder friend, are undertaking a rolling restoration. Most importantly – they intend to use her for what she was designed for i.e. fishing. In the photo above, taken by Brian, the pumps are working overtime to keep her a float.
Click below to hear the full interview
Harold Kidd Input – ELSIE was built by the MILLER brothers.
A LOCK-DOWN TREAT – FREE ACCESS TO THE WORLDWIDE CLASSIC BOAT SHOW
Our friends over at Off Center Harbor have been orchestrating a new gig on the classic boat scene – a virtual worldwide classic boat show. Its been live now for 10 days and only available via purchasing a ticket (US$5) – now woodys to help us kiwis (and the WW overseas followers) during CV-19 lock-down – the show is now free.
See below instructions on how to visit the show.
You can use the globe / map to see an amazing collection of vessel around the world + locations of museums & trade folks – but the real gem for me is the daily video presentations from some of the worlds leading lights on the classic boating scene – sailors, teachers, photographers, event promoters and boat builders. You will be addicted so I apologise in advance for ruining your day/s – but, you’re supposed to be in lock-down 🙂
If you only watch one presentation – make it the legendary Tom Cunliffe presentation – you’ll find it on Sat Feb20th under the heading ’Seas of Northern Europe’ – do not be put off by the boring title – its a cracker, the mans one of the best storytellers around, you’ll be glued to the screen for 2 hours. ENJOY THE SHOW 🙂
How To Get Your Free Ticket:
1. CLICK HERE to get your free ticket (here is the full link if you need it: https://classicboatshow.com/product/one-free-ticket-for-full-access-to-the-worldwide-classic-boat-show/ )
2. Checkout for free, and your username and password become your ticket
3. To login, go to ClassicBoatShow.com, click login in the top right corner to get full access, and enjoy the show!
If you have trouble getting your free ticket, you can always email the show’s crew for help at crew@classicboatshow.com.
If the show turns out to be an enjoyable and valuable experience for you, they have a voluntary “tips/donations” button on the top of the screen where you can contribute.
JACK LOGAN WOULD BE HAPPY
Back in November 2020 we reported that Lake Rotoiti boatbuilder Alan Craig (Craig Marine) had taken on the restoration of the 1956 Jack Logan built 17’ clinker cabin run-about – Sea Spray. The WW link below will show you the boat as Alan received it. https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/11/14/sea-spray/
I can report that Alan’s yard are well under way with the project, as you can see in the above photos, once the reciprocating saw comes out there’s no turning back. Alan commented that most ribs were repaired and structure added. Her shape was pretty bad, had a chine in it almost. A few planks to replace on the bottom then into the cabin. Looking forward to following this project – just need to keep reminding Alan to send in the updates 🙂
RURU
I spotted the launch Ruru at the recent Lake Rotoiti Classic and Wooden Boat Parade, it would have been hard to miss her – she is such a perfect lake boat. The name Ruru has several meanings in Maori but the most common one is – the name for NZ’s native Morepork bird. On her stern it lists her home as Tapuaekura, which is a bay found on the southern shores of Lake Rotoiti.
The brief sneak peak I had of her interior indicated a very tasteful and age considerate restoration, very original. Her owner is a very passionate classic owner, with several craft on the lake. Would love to learn more of Ruru’s provenance and when she was restored.
Update – Nathan Herbert to the rescue – he is better than the WW search box 🙂 https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/07/22/ruru/
25-02-2021 Update ex Alan Craig (Craig Marine) – I had a look at RURU for George Joseph last year, its been in his shed for 20 years, George had had it for 60 odd years and previously was owned by someone who owned most of the land between moose lodge and the Marae. The Austin trident engine got taken out 20 years ago and never made it back in and got as far as the end of the shed! until now obviously. She’s a nice looking boat, 19′ long, mahogany hull and kauri top. Couldn’t find a builder’s plate but guessed it’s around 1930s or 40s? Built well with seam battens and ribs, the planks had hardly moved.
Any idea of the builder is the question…..
MONITA
Tony Brewer contacted me regarding his recent purchase of – Monita a 17’ Mason Marlin which was built by Sutton Mason & Co. Ltd in Mt Roskill, Auckland sometime in the 1950’s. She is powered by a 2003 90hp 4stroke Honda, which Tony feels maybe to heavy. He is considering re-powering with a 2013 Mercury Mariner 50hp ELPTO 2stroke. Tony’s not interested in a high top speed but would like to be able to travel at between 15 to 18 knots. Fuel economy is not an issue as they do not travel far and there would usually be only 2 people on board.
So woodys – the question of the day is – would the boat be under powered with the 50hp motor?
MYSTERY NORTH SHORE LAUNCH
Today’s woody story comes to us via Peter Jenkins fb. Peter’s father – Des Jenkins and his uncle Murray Jenkins built the above 23’ launch in the families backyard at 67 Shakespeare Road in the early to mid 1960’s.In the photos we see the neighbours and friends assisting in turning the hull over for completion of the topside.
A transporter was later backed down the side of the house, boat loaded on an then transported to the launching ramp by the northern side of the Harbour bridge, probably Sulphur Beach boat ramp. It was sea trialed and then moored up to the jetty in Milford Creek at # 12 Craig Road, which was where Peter’s grandparents lived. The launch was used for family fishing trips around the Rangitoto Channel, and beyond.
Peter is keen to ID the design of the boat and learn what became of her. It has been suggested that it may have been a Pelin Express design.
CYA ROUND RANGI LAUNCH RACE & BBQ – THIS SATURDAY – DETAILS BELOW
The CYA are running a Round Rangitoto Launch Race and BBQ at Islington Bay, if you wish to be eligible for prizes, please nominate a female skipper, or someone that ‘looks’ the part, get your entries in to admin@classicyacht.org.nz as soon as you can.
If you want to just arrive, eat and socialise without the round island voyage, thats all good – but can you please let Joyce know on admin@classicyacht.org.nz so they can plan how many sausages to get.
The “race/log rally” will start off Orakei, using the Yacht Start Line at 10.45am (Sat 13th feb). The race is clockwise around Rangitoto and Motutapu, do it at your own speed. BBQ only boats should aim to be there by late afternoon. Families welcome, but feel free to BYO some top up food, drink etc….. There is A-Cup racing this day so if you want to watch the racing and attend the BBQ this another option.BBQ kicks off at 5pm. ish….
PICNIC
24th LAKE ROTOITI CLASSIC & WOODEN BOAT PARADE – 175+ PHOTOS & VIDEOS
As promised todays WW story is a doozy, we travelled down to the lake very early on Saturday morning and were hosted by the clubs commodore Dave Wilson and wife Glenys, who own the magnificent 1947 Colin Wild built bridge-decker – Haumoana. The launch is kept at the end of the lawn at their lakeside property (photos below) – More details on Haumoana here https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/06/05/haumoana/
Dave lent me is ‘fishing boat’ – the f/glass runabout seen the photo below, to use as a photo boat for the parade – fingers crossed no one got a photo of me at the helm 😉
Close to 80 classic and wooden craft of all shapes and sizes – power, sail, oar and steam participated in the days events – starting with a parade that snakes around the waterfront properties and vantage points. Post parade every one heads off to Wairoa Bay for an old school boating picnic – being lake based, no issue with tides or anchoring, people just nudge up to the shore – perfect for checking out each others woody.
The afternoon activities had something for everyone – adults and kids activities (egg throwing, bucket diving for sweets etc) + lots of cool prizes to be won.Without a doubt its the best organised and executed boating event I have been to – very slick and the bonus – lots of nice friendly people – we like that 🙂
Enjoy the photos. As always – click photos to enlarge 😉 If I missed your boat, sorry but one boat and one camera can only be in so many places at one time – next year.
HINEMOA – 1904 Logan 4sale
Having spent yesterday on Lake Rotoiti surrounded by a stunning flotilla of classic wooden boats, I feel some what obligated to find a home for Hinemoa. She was built by Logan Bros in 1904 for the NZ Government. 24′ overall double ended. Very heavily built. She was fitted with an 8hp Union petrol motor and carried on the NZ Government steamer Hinemoa for general use particularly when servicing the NZ lighthouses.Her history is known and she has had but five owners.
She is now fitted with a 1960 10hp twin cyl. Kelvin diesel (spares included) – ex NZ Maritime Museum that was recently reconditioned and is regularly serviced. Electrics include nav lights, echo sounder and VHF. Fishing chair for one and rod holders. An excellent sea boat (as you would expect) and there are the bones of a tandem trailer that with modifications would transport her. She is very usable – fishing, picnics or traditional boating events. Lots of fun and an eye catcher.
I’d like her to remain in Auckland but she would be a perfect lake boat. Interested parties, email me and I’ll point you in the direction of her owner. waitematawoodys@gmail.com
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