Category Archives: Tales & Yarns

ALBATROSS SPEEDBOATS

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ALBATROSS SPEEDBOATS

The annual Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade always attracts a good turn out of the Albatross speed boats, but at last weekends parade we had the biggest turnout in one spot in the Southern Hemisphere. Read below for the local (Lake Rotoiti) on the craft – as told by Richard Stevens.

“Campbell Motors (Queen St Auckland) were the NZ agents.
The Beamish-White family at Okataina Lodge had a fleet as “Drive U-Self” hire boats, including a 4-seater with Coventry Climax version of the engine and one of the two seaters had a factory alloy-framed full height 4-pane glass windscreen.
They also had a set of hull jigs and did all their own maintenance on site including re- skinning.
These boats took a hammering and were eventually replaced by outboard-powered craft. Les Warner ran a small hire fleet from his home at Hinehopu. (I recall as a kid seeing one as a crumpled mess after crashing into the jetty at speed.)
There was also a hire fleet on the Rotorua lakefront. These were painted red. One allegedly sank and was never recovered.
There was also a fleet at Queenstown. These may have been the remnants of the Rotorua hire fleet.
The boat in these fleets may be double-ups. I do not know how many boats there actually were in total.
In addition to the Stevensons and ours there were two more on the Lake during the ’60s. One was the Annabel family, the other the McDonalds. (I saw their boat in Auckland a few years ago, complete and painted black) 

These boats are the MG Midget of the water. They don’t have excessive power in their standard format, but they are fast, nimble, well designed and beautifully built with excellent handling. They are simple, cheap to run, easy to maintain and, above all, great fun. 

These boats have held classic status worldwide for many years now and are highly collectible.
It is pleasing to see that they are acknowledged on Rotoiti as part of our boating history. 

Addition: Alan Clark owned one here at Lake Rotoiti in the 1950’s. 

Addition: Don Wykes and his brother purchased the Rotorua Lakefront business from Judd & Jean Davies in the 70’s.
It had the launch Ngaroto (the Davies had this built in England) that took people out to Mokoia Island and had 3 Albatross hire boats: 2x 2 seaters and 1x 4 seater. They were painted Red. 

He is able to confirm that one of the 2 seaters sank just short of Mokoia Island, when his worker was heading over to mow the grass. They put a buoy over the oil slick, but when they went back to retrieve it someone had moved the buoy. They sent down 2 divers but were never able to locate it, the water was too murky. He doesn’t recall who he sold the others to, but remembers one of their workers bought one and put a bigger motor in it, a 105 he thinks. “

Below is a gallery of the Albatross craft that participated in the parade – as always click on photos to enlarge. Also scroll down to view yesterdays WW story – 200+ classic and wooden boat photos from the 2024 Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade.

Read more about the boats at the WW link below to a 2015 story on Greg Lees pride and joy. https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/07/30/an-albatross/

Also included is a copy of the NZ Register of Albatross craft- supplied by Alan Thorn

boat-register-v7Download

PAHI REGATTA + Worldwide Classic Boat Show

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Video Link Below

https://www.facebook.com/savingkuparu/videos/1106504107453648

PAHI REGATTA + Worldwide Classic Boat Show

Master wooden boatbuilder – Colin Brown sent in the above photo of the recent Pahi Regatta. The video ex fb ex Krystal Waller gives us a peek at the on-the-water activity.

WORLDWIDE CLASSIC BOAT SHOW

Screenshot

For the past few years the crew at uber cool v-blog – Off Center Harbor have been hosting a virtual wooden boat show. Tagged {the} Worldwide Classic Boat Show. Its a must do if you have any hint of sawdust in your veins – its live from Feb 16th > Mar 3rd – more details here https://classicboatshow.com/welcome-to-the-worldwide-classic-boat-show/

Watch the video below to get a gander on the show

WHAT HAPPENED TO WAIRETE

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WHAT HAPPENED TO WAIRETE

Todays woody photo comes to us from ’Timespanner’ via a Chris Priestly fb post. The photo above we see the launch Wairete on the beach / foreshore at Devonport, Auckland. The photo was captioned – ’The launch was destroyed by fire, which started in the engine room. The owner was overcome by fumes and fall overboard, narrowly escaping drowning’ The story appeared in the NZ Herald on 15th March 1926.

And that woodys is all we know – can we learn more about Wairete and weather she was a write off or was salvaged and lived a 2nd life.

03-02-2024 INPUT EX GREG PHILPOTT –

The following is a report from the Auckland Star of 14 March, 1926 (from Papers Past)

“LAUNCH DESTROYED • OWNER NEARLY DROWNED • FIRE ON THE WAIRETE • CREW RESCUED BY ESME.
Fire destroyed the launch Wairete, worth £800, off Devonport wharf, at 3.45 o’clock on Saturday afternoon, and the owner, Mr. Robert Maynall, who was overcome by the fumes in an endeavour to quench the flames, fell overboard unconscious and was rescued by his two companions. Drifting opposite the wharf, one of the crew noticed that fire had broken out in the engine room. Mr. Maynall went below immediately with a small chemical extinguisher, but the flow from this proved useless. He set to work with blankets and tried to put out the fire. Soon strong benzine fumes overcame him, and he just managed to reach the deck. There he collapsed, and fell overboard. Not realising for a minute that their skipper was unconscious, Messrs. A. and F. Williams, who were on the launch, saw Mr. Maynall sink twice. As he came up the third time, they both dived to the rescue. Holding Mr. Maynall under the armpits, they contrived to keep his head above water while they clung to the launch, which was soon blazing from end to end. Relief came when the launch Esme drew near, racing from a distance at top speed. After taking the hapless trio aboard, the crew of the Esme made a great effort to save the Wairete. Flames were leaping high, and it was found to be a hopeless task. A large crowd had assembled on the wharf, and the rescue of Mr. Maynall, the timely arrival of the Esme, and the efforts to save the Wairete provided some exciting moments. The Devonport Fire Brigade, summoned by one of the crowd, could do nothing till the vessel had drifted to the rocks on the eastern side of the wharf. When the launch came within distance of a hose, water was played on her blazing length. When she struck the rocks she was badly charred, being almost totally destroyed. Dr. Rout attended to Mr. Maynall, who was found to be suffering from shock, more than anything else, and the doctor later motored all three to their homes.
Owner a Heavy Loser. Described as the most elaborate and up-to-date vessel of its kind in the harbour, the Wairete, which cost the owner in all £830, was insured for £500. She was a 28 h,p., 6-cylinder self-starter boat, fitted with electric light and all modern equipment. The launch was practically new. The origin of the fire is unknown. It was suggested by the crew that the engine back-fired, and burst a pipe leading to the petrol tank, located near the bow, in a separate compartment.

BIG WOODY EVENT AT LAKE ROTOITI (Nth Is.) COMING UP THIS WEEKEND

Always an amazing turn out of classic craft at the Lake Rotoiti wooden and classic boat parade –  Details on the website – https://www.woodenboatparade.co.nz/wooden-boat-parade/

CLASSIC WOODY + TUG/WORK BOAT RACING

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My GIRL
MY GIRL
PAIKEA
LUCINDA
WAIKARO
ST CLAIRE
REHIA
JUANITA
MERIHI
JEUNESSE
VANESSA
MEOLA
MERIHI – ST CLAIRE

CLASSIC WOODY + TUG/WORK BOAT RACING

On Monday of Auckland’s  Anniversary Weekend I joined a very small club – boaties that have legally exceeded 20 knots in Auckland’s inner harbour. Probably only Deodar (police launch), Coastguard and the Harbour Master would be in the club. As part of the anniversary day regatta Jason Prew organises an around the buoys race for classic launches. The event has the most entrants of any event on the day. The Harbour Master waves the normal 12 knot speed limit and even provides an escort around the course. 

This year I was invited aboard Jason Prew’s xxxx launch – MY GIRL for the race. The conditions were very average SW18>23 knots , gusting 28 knots, bad enough to keep most of the classic yacht fleet tucked up in her berths for the day.

At the bang of the start gun My Girl took the lead and we never looked back – at the 1st mark we were 58 sec ahead of the next boat (Paikea) and just kept pulling away. Crossed the finish line doing 22.9 knots, that woodys is very fast. The foiling kite surfer that miscalculated our speed probably needed a change of wet suit pants 🙂

My Girl is powered by a Volvo 150hp 4cyl. turbo diesel engine that in another life powered a Queenstown jet boat . Mr Prew has tweaked it ‘a little’ – video of engine at idle and proof of speed 🙂 Note – there is no engine box /cover 🙂 

Results 

Across the line – 1. My Girl, 2. Paikea, 3. Lucinda 

Handicap – 1.Waikaro, 2. Lucinda, 3. St Clair

Entrants – My Girl, Paikea, Lucinda, Rehia, Ngaio, Waikaro, St Clair, Juanita, Meola, Marihi, Vanessa, Jeunesse

TUG/WORK BOAT RACING

The 2nd biggest event in terms of numbers is the highly popular tug/work boat race. Photos below.

Lots of Great Photos Here https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=813851850548987&set=pcb.813852363882269

Can We ID This Sinking Woody

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Can We ID This Sinking Woody

Todays story comes to us from Ian McDonald via the Bay of Plenty community website – SUNLIVE’ –Article written by Rosalie Liddle 

“Plans are in place for the removal of a vessel rotting and sinking on its mooring in Tairua Harbour. Sadly, the boat’s owner has recently passed away. Last week a commercial operator alerted Waikato Regional Council to an old wooden vessel sinking on its mooring in Tairua Harbour, says Waikato Regional Council’s regional harbourmaster Chris Bredenbeck. Staff from our Maritime Services team responded, pumping out the water.

The team returned again on Sunday, after becoming aware that the vessel was again taking on water. They pumped the water from the vessel and then towed it to shore on the high tide, where it remains, says Chris. After establishing that the owner has recently passed away, we arranged for the 300 litres of diesel onboard to be safely drained and taken away so it no longer posed a risk to the environment. Chris says while the diesel was being removed from the vessel at low tide, booms were set up around it just in case any contaminants escaped.

Unfortunately, the timber is rotten which prevents the vessel from being lifted off the beach, so it will be dismantled and removed over the coming days,” says Chris.”

So woodys – can we put a name to the vessel

ELUSIVE – A Peek Down Below + 4sale

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ELUSIVE – A Peek Down Below + 4sale

I talk often on WW about some classic woodys being lucky in terms of their owners over the years – the 1963 Claude Smith 30′, E-Class yacht – Elusive (E75) is one such craft, enjoying 33 years of continuous ownership.

Elusive was designed and built by Allen Smith at his boatyard on Riverside Drive in Whangarei , Northland as his own yacht She was a very successful yacht in her first season winning many races, in fact probably every race entered.

• OYC 100 and 150 mile races   • The White Island race    • Balokovic Cup    • 4th in The Noumea race

Her builder once told  her owner, Alan Turner, that she was built with the “surplus” timber in their yard and is mostly full length kauri and has three bilge stringers instead of the usual one. As a result she is very strong and has had 2 pot paint to the topsides for the last 25 years and was repainted circa 5 years ago. 

Her keel was dropped and bolts checked at the same time. The stern tube was replaced with fiber-glass c.10 years ago and a new Blue Water seal is about to be fitted

When required forward motion is via a Ford 15hp diesel engine. She sports an extensive wardrobe of North Sails in good condition – main, No1, No2, Storm jib and spinnaker plus a cockpit tent and sunshade (cockpit is 6′ long). Toilet is near new and holding tank fitted. Electric windlass and chain.

Talking with Alan he commented that with her mainly paint finish she is very economical to maintain.

Elusive is for sale and when I asked Alan what her strong points were he said –   very easy to sail and strong as and doesn’t have any vices. She did the Noumea race in the 1960’s and is great at sea. She is a great little ship for a mature couple wanting an easy ship to manage and maintain. Her marina berth at Half Moon Bay will be available to rent and with a first right of refusal when up for sale.

Alan is happy to answer any questions, in the first instance contact via email. xpdxrd@gmail.com

WAIONE – Shed Visit

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WAIONE – Shed Visit

Back in late December 2023 we reported on the 28’, Lanes (Picton) built woody – Waione that had been in storage in a shed in Mapu, Nelson for 50+ years – link here to that story https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/12/21/waione-2/

At the time John Burland had promised to track her down, which he did with his friend Patrick. The above photos come to us from that days outing. 

Patrick also included his observations from the visit: 

“Well I went to inspect the Waione a few days ago and she’s securely parked in a shed and you know it’s been well covered, out of the water for a long period I think 30 years and the paint basically has all been stripped off so it’s a bare hull. Construction is kauri and seems to be double skinned, the inner skin is diagonal and the outer planking is end to end or a longitude carvel arrangement, she has a long keel and  a counter stern,  quite a small volume boat. I think built by Lanes in Picton, so she would’ve been designed for the Marlborough Sounds before there was much access via road so would’ve been designed to to operate pretty economically with a small 5 to 10 hp engine, some sail arrangement plus large oars or sweeps as they called them in those days to propel the boat and manoeuvre it should the engine fail or docking or whatever. Some of the first engines didn’t even have a reverse gear so you were up against it a bit for manoeuvrability, but it would’ve been a very easily driven boat being quite narrow and very fuel economic and quite fast for the time. That sort of a classic early 20th century design with tram cab arrangement in the higher part of the cabin and then a curved front to the the cabin not a lot of room inside it but a very sweet little boat and seems to be in reasonably sound condition. And I would say a relatively easy restoration as far as restorations go, a little bit of dry rot on the cabin top and things around some of the work around the hatch at the companion way probably a little bit not keeping with the times made of not solid timber, but overall it’s amazingly original and so I think it would be a very worthwhile and enjoyable project for anyone who who was keen to take something of that nature on. The caulking that would all need to be redone, it’ll all need to be re-caulked and primed and painted and possibly refastened, no doubt and just a good going over really, but there didn’t appear to be any worm in the keel or or anything. The propeller shaft, propeller and rudder are all in place. The oval portholes and the fore cabin were still serviceable and able to be to be restored to their former glory I would say and it’ll be a lovely little craft once it was operating again and quite practical and useful for you in sheltered waters so I would recommend anyone that was interested in that sort of boat and had the desire to keep a little bit of our maritime history going would be well worth a look at.”

Don’t normally link to tme listings but this one deserves to be saved + a $1 starting bid  https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/boats-marine/motorboats/listing/4475286531

CLASSIC WOODEN MOTORBOAT RAINDANCE – SUMMER 2023/24 – TRIP REPORT

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CLASSIC WOODEN MOTORBOAT RAINDANCE – SUMMER 2023/24 – TRIP REPORT

With 2023 being the worst boating year that I can recall, whilst I held high hopes I also was semi expecting another fizzer – well as most of you will know the Christmas – NY period turned out to be a winner for those that slipped the lines and headed away. Other than New Years eve being very wet (but warm) we enjoyed great launch cruising conditions. Not always perfect but if you picked a spot that suited the wind and travelled at times when conditions were settled it was never unpleasant. I put my faith in PredictWind and they delivered. 

We left the marina on the 27th Dec. and chose Woody Bay, RAKINO ISLAND for Night One. Sundown drinks aboard Jenny and Angus Rogers stunning classic launch – Centaurus. Stunning sunset (as above)

Day Two was also spent in Woody Day as the wind had picked up, but very sheltered in the bay + the call had gone out for pizza from the islands Woody Bay Pizzeria, truely the best pizza’s I have eaten. 

Day Three we moved around the corner to West Bay as the forecast had a W in it which isn’t normally a good thing at Rakino – very quiet in the bay so again secured a good spot and sent Day Three and Four there.

Morning of the 30th, Day Four was decision time – head north to KAWAU ISLAND or south to WAIHEKE ISLAND – forecast was turning south so WAIHEKE was probably the better call but me stuck with the original plan and head to KAWAU, Raindance is at her best when everything on the nose so it was an ok passage. We choose to anchor for the day / night in Bostaquet Bay , a first for me, and can report a very nice anchorage and again very few boats.

Day Five (31st) we headed over to Bon Accord Harbour and took up residence on one of the RNZYS club moorings just off Lidgard House in Smelter House Bay. Plan was NYE at the recently refurbished and re-opened Kawau Boating Club. Slight problem, the power had been off on the island for 24+ hours so club closed 😦

As we relaxed onboard several helicopters were flying overhead with all manner of kit dangling below – ladders, tool boxes etc – Around 3pm power returned and thank god the back up generator had kept the beer frig working 🙂 . But the rain arrived and continued non-stop most of the night. KBC appeared to get well supported but people tended to come ashore for a meal and retreat to the boat.

Day Six was a lazy day mooching around the island and back to the mooring + KBC

Day Seven we head south to WAIHEKE ISLAND and spent the day in Oneroa re provisioning and hosting some friends from Devonport for drinks, then catching up with Waiheke friends ashore.

Day Eight a lazy day exploring WAIHEKE and moved to Hekerua Bay for the evening. I crossed the dark side and had drinks onboard another friends new non wood boat – putting aside the construction it was very grand (ice maker + water maker – 200L a day) our pup was very taken with the ability to do 360° laps of the boat.

The plan was to head down to the ‘bottom end’ the next day but the forecast included a H & a E so the decision was made to head home after another lazy day, on Day Nine. 

The trip restored my faith in owner a boat and helped make 2023 a distant memory.

There is so many photos that I have divided the trip report into two sections, Part One = the trip and Part Two (tomorrow) = the classic boats that were out and about. Todays story is broken up by location – ENJOY

(And sorry for the lengthy, slightly over-the-top title but there are key words that do wonders for the overseas search engines)

RAKINO ISLAND 🔻

KAWAU ISLAND – Bostaquet Bay 🔻

KAWAU ISLAND – Smelter House Bay 🔻

KAWAU ISLAND – Kawau Boating Club 🔻

WAIHEKE ISLAND 🔻

Have To Include One Of Raindance

Sir Francis & A Cool Family Idea

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SIR FRANCIS 

During the week Paul Drake commented that every year he produces a family calendar for circulation amongst my family – brothers, children, nieces and nephews. What a cool idea 🙂

All family birthdays are included. Every year the birthday list grows longer.  Paul said it takes a bit of work, but it serves to keep family connected, and it pleases him to know that the calendar hangs on walls in England, Austria, and Australia, as well as in New Zealand. 

Every year I choose a photo of one of the familiesboats, for the calendar, this year it features SIR FRANCIS, a photo from the 1980’s, homeward bound on Lake Taupo. Paul brother Michael is on the helm, and out of sight in the cockpit is their mother. Looking at the phot you would think that SIR FrANCIS had just rounded one of the headlands on the east coast of the North Island, a great reminder that Lake Taupo can get little gnarly.

SIR FRANCIS has made several appearances on WW before and is of course is a 1916 Collings and Bell built launch. 

Paul remembers that as children, the brothers all thought that any vessel which was not Collings and Bell was rubbish! These days they are not so blinkered 🙂

I’m back on dry land now after 9 days mooching around the gulf – lots of woodys out and about – big story on Monday. Talking of big – the beast below was anchored in Bon Accord, Kawau Island on New Years Eve – the tender was approx. 48’ 

Is There Money To Be Made In The Classic Wooden Boat Industry

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Is There Money To Be Made In The Classic Wooden Boat Industry

Short answer yes – if you are good, own a railway slipway and fair in your costs.

The Slipway Milford smoko room wall of honour is a good indication of the woodys that have been for a ride on the Slipway railway 🙂

Would make a good quiz – ID’ing the boats but too busy / lazy doing nothing in a bay at the moment.