As mentioned yesterday on Thursday evening I attended the monthly ’talk’ at the Devonport Yacht Club – this months speaker was the one and only Harold Kidd. The topic was ‘Yachts & the Waitemata, HDK broke the talk into several time periods, I recorded the talk on my iPhone and with HDK’s permission are reproducing on WW. The filming was a last minute idea so the quality is a little average and on the night there were a few technical issue with the sound, I have edited the best I can.

Today we have PART #1 – The Early Period1840 >1870.

• Reliance on maori for fish and produce • Development of boatbuilding industry • Regattas and match races

Make sure you check out WW on Monday for part #2 – lots of motorboats featured.

NOTE: The supporting slides were always going to be average in terms of reproduction so I focussed on the man (HDK) and his narrative. Turn up your sound and enjoy (approx. 5 minutes)

ADVICE NEED – A woody has a serious problem with bird poop. The photos below are from a 2 week period, that coincided with the’Tern season’ – the young fledglings are leaving the nest and still being fed by the parent birds – it also coincides with the whitebait being plentiful as well. So boats in the area become the nursery and whitebait processing station. The boat has since been ‘covered’ with line and bunting.

The bird poop is staining the newly painted side decks and the varnish has what looks like a calcium scale which resists scrubbing.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. So The Question Of The Day – How do you clean off the poop, any secret old school tips ?

PELORUS JACK – What became of her

Last week I was contacted by Lewis Horrell looking for intel on a woody that his grandfather – Clifford Horrell rebuilt / restored. Lewis commented that it was probably a long shot but thats what we deal in at WW. I’ll let Lewis tell the story – 

“This is a long shot but I’m hoping you may have acces to a photo that may shed some light on the finished product of a project my grandad finished and sold. He bought the damaged Pelorus Jack race boat after it was in a shed fire. He extended the top deck and made it into a very unique cabin cruiser. This is where my hopes of a finished moored picture comes in as its very distinctive. Pelorus Jack was a very successful stepped hydroplane and it retained the stepped hull once converted. The above pictures of the boat show her in her racing days and what it looked like after grandad converted it. It had a V8 in it to my knowledge. It was sold to a man in Methven who then moored it in Picton until it got rot and was burnt.”

So woodys can we help Lewis out.

GOTTA FISH – A Shout Out To All Woody Fisherman (& woman)

A friend of a friend (named Tulsi -13 years old) has a YouTube fishing profile under the tag – Gotta Fish. Fishing and his YouTube postings are the #1 thing in his life. I have included a links below to the YouTube URL and also one of Tulsi and his mate landing a good sized snapper from his very dodgy looking dinghy.

Why am I telling you all this? To ask a favour and help make a 13 year old’s day. Sp how about visiting the page and if you like the fishing videos, click subscribe (its free). And if your are feeling really nice – forward the link to your friends.- Tulsi has approx. 350 followers at the moment and it would be so cool if we could bump that number up. Many Thanks 🙂

Gotta Fish YouTube Page – https://www.youtube.com/@gottafish9276

Massive Snapper

KORORA SOS

Over the weekend I was alerted to an old woody – Korora that is about to have a date with a chainsaw. Tim Merkens advised that he believes the boat was launched in 1938 and built by Lanes at Totara North. Hull is 1 1/4” kauri planking. Harold Kidd has commented that she was built in Russell or Opua for a J.B. Williams in Dec 1927. Either way she is an old girl that deserves to be saved.

The clock is ticking – currently located at Harbourside Boat Works, Whangarei and the chainsaw date results from approx. 6 years unpaid storage fees.

Anyone looking for a project or even parts / timber – contact the yard on 09 438 9907 SOON.

DEEMS BOAT YARD – Help Needed

During the week I was contacted by master boatbuilder – Peter Murton regarding a craft currently in his workshop rafters. Peter has been told that the 14’ clinker won a NZ Outboard Cup race in the 1930’s.The very skinny craft was possibly built in 1932 by Deems boat yard and has all kauri planking, ribs, natural knees and stem all look like mangrove and pohutukawa. Ribs are 3/4″ x 1/4”, planking all 1/4”
Peter would like to confirm / uncover more of the boats provenance – can we help.

RESTLESS – Needs A New Home 

The 40’ yacht Restless has a wonderful back story – built by the Tercel Bros in 1920 to a Alden / Tercel design. She is constructed of kauri, her beam is 11’3” and she draws 6’ (lead keel). 

Amazingly Restless has had only one owner for the last 55 years, that gent being Tim Beattie, one of the Bay of Islands most respected guardians of classic craft. Sadly Tim has reached that stage in life when sailing Restless is starting to get too much for him, so he would like to find good home for her.A young family of maybe several mates looking for an affordable entry point into classic sailing. 
Link below to a WW story on her with more details and photos. Seriously interested parties to contact waitematawoodys re specs and price. https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/03/19/restless/

IDOLON – Where Is She

A by the name of Brad McDermit yesterday posted on the ‘Old North Auckland – Northland Photos & Stories ‘fb asking if anyone knew the status / whereabouts of a launch named – IDOLON that his uncle, Francis Arlidge built in Russell for this other uncle Fred Baker.

Can you help Brad out re the boat.