WHISKEY HILL – Looking for help to identify this wooden boat
If you haven’t discovered it, there is a very cool fb page titled ‘ Sitting There Rotting, Help Save Me’ lots of junk on there but the occasional woody that deserves a 2nd chance.
Todays woody is named – Whiskey Hill (pretty good chance there has been a name change) and that all we know about her. The story comets us via a Lew Redwood link.
Todays woody story is a deep dive back to 1927 and concerns the mystery surrounding the reported loss of the 33’ game fishing launch Speedwell.
In the photo above ex Papers Past, ex Lew Redwood via by K Ricketts, we see a 215lb swordfish across the stern of Speedwell. The fish was landed by a Mrs. Dunville listing from Ireland. Some sniffing around in Parers Past told us that the photo was dated 11 Feb 1926. The photo was used to highlight the plight of the launch after it went missing on a passage from Auckland to Russell in the Bay of Islands. The launch owner / skipper – Mr. Edwin Walker departed Auckland on 26 September and was last seen off Leigh, Warkworth by a local fisherman..The NZ Herald covered the unsuccessful search and also reported on the discovery in June 1937 of a hull washed in the Whananaki Inlet area.
Below are press clippings of the event.
Can anyone tell us the design / builder of Speedwell. I’m assuming no more information / finding surfaced on the vessel.
My part time resident (1/2 year in Tasman area and the other 1/2 in Germany) has just returned to NZ and wasted no time checking out the Riwaka Inlet waterfront – todays photos shows a recent addition – the very funky Kahurangi Boat Shed Coffee House. Tied up alongside is the launch Aurora II. Rumour has it that you can get a good fix of caffeine there, when its open 🙂 (closed when John Burland was there).
The 38’ launch Aurora II was possibly built in 1927 by Collings & Bell, that is if we believe her 2016 tme listing. Thanks to Harold Kidd for the input on a WW story from Feb 2016 – link below
Auroroa II’s semi permeant spot at the end of the Riwaka Wharf has been taken by a launch that was once named ‘Hatterleys’ (last photo above) that at first glance has Lidgard written all over her. But a call to the 4sale phone number on the front screen told me it was built c.1960 in Whangarei, Northland by a M. Ryan. Anyone able to better ID her / confirm the build details. The seller is contactable on 021 026 23890 – if not sold by xmas she is off to the landfill 😦
08-12-2023 UPDATE ex John Burland
The owner of Aurora II is named Oli and he the back story to the boat is – Aurora II is 1923 built, kauri, worked as a whaler out of Akaroa, has a massive V8 up forward and that when the owner retired from whaling, he took off and replaced the superstructure and used her as a pleasure boat.
Oli was selling coffee from a the boat shed but the Tasman District Council (TDC) had issue with that so he moved the set-to the boat – But guess what ‘you can’t have commercial activities in a coastal environment (plus some other bylaw) and there is a $700 daily fine – so sadly the poplar cafe has now closed.
John commented Oli has a cart at the Motueka Sunday Market, so if you’re local, make sure you support Oli. (photos below ex JB)
Back in 2016 the launch Phyllis M popped up on WW and was harshly listed as a finalist in the Husqvana Chainsaws Boat of the Year Awards. She popped up again in 2020 looking very smart after receiving a ‘top chop’. From these stories we learnt from Harold Kidd that she was built by Fred Mann in 1919 and named Phyllis M, when sold in 1953 her new owner, Clive Power, who renamed her Wainunu, and then later changed back by another owner to PM. Search either name in the WW search box for more details and photos.
Fast forward to yesterday and WW was contacted by Vic McDonald, Vic and partner purchased Wainunu in 1995 from Mark Power, Mark is the nephew of Clive Power. The McDonald’s owned her until August 2005. Mark Power and family restored and refurbished the craft after she had been stolen and scuttled in Big Muddy Bay, Waiheke Island.
In the photo above Phyllis M / Wainunu is seen during the McDonld’s ownership period. Vic commented on the original butterfly wing hatches, brass portholes and 2 masts with roller furling sails. The Lister engine had a dry exhaust from the top of the forward mast.
The craft has had a very interesting and colourful history, a lot of which was covered in a Jan 1995 Boating NZ article – refer below (click on photo to enlarge) Also below a very early photo.
Its not often you see the words classic and quick in the same sentence when reading about one of our classic launch fleet – there are a few exceptions out there and probably the quickest is the 1919 Bailey & Lowe designed and built launch – Romance II.
Back in c2012 Romance II was rescued by Pauline Kidd and taken under Harold Kidd’s wing. I remember Colin Pawson who went with HDK on the post purchase delivery trip to Gulf Harbour, scoping out suitable locations on the eastern shore for a potential beaching, the water ingress was a tad worrying. HDK’s answer was to have the throttle wide open the whole way to keep the bow up 🙂 An old salt told me once that Romance II ran like a skinny hogged i.e. 18+ knots. Check out the video above.
Romance II sent a few years at Gulf Harbour before the decision was made to transport her to Marco Scuderi’s Helensville yard (MSN Shipwrights) for a major refit – photos of this work above.
HDK and family used the relaunched Romance II at many CYA launch gatherings before making the hard decision (HDK had waited 10+ years to acquire her) to find new owners that would use and enjoy her more. A partnership was formed and the future looked promising. Sadly life things like young children and work got in the way and now the Wooden Boat Bureau has been tasked with finding a new custodian for Romance II.
As she presents today the hard-to-do structural stuff is complete, leaving work that an average do-it-yourselfer could carry out e.g. clean her out, paint her up and you will have a very fine boat to enjoy. Because Romance II is plainly finished without brightwork (varnish), she’d be easier than most her size to maintain. Her owners have just completed a mechanical service (including diesel tank cleaning), 2x new start batteries, and re-bedded the tram top windows, so as stated her needs now are largely cosmetic.
Romance II’s zoom zoom is via a marinised Hino W-06e 162hp diesel engine, several years ago James Mobberley at Moon Engines fitted these engines to several woodys, including at the time his classic launch Falcon. Falcon and My Girl are probably the only two woody launches that would come close to pipping Romance II in a straight line.
So woodys this is a special opportunity to acquire one of the fleets icon classic lunches for entry level dollars – $35k will buy her – interested? Initially email waitematawoodys@gmail.com.
Todays woody has one of the best back stories we have had on WW – the giff-rigged auxiliary yawl yacht – Caplin was built in Penarth, Wales (UK)I in 1937-38 at the Anderson & Sons shipyard for Commander Robert D. Graham (R.N. ret.).
Graham set off in late 1938 on a circumnavigation of the world, whilst cruising the Pacific he was alerted to the out break of WWII, he headed to New Zealand first stopping in Nelson then Wellington. In Wellington he placed Caplin on the market and returned to the UK to reenlist.
Caplin was purchased by an Oamaru family* who kept her in Oamaru Harbour for nearly 60 years.She then moved to Queen Charlotte Sound , then Akaroa, where her current owners bought her in 2015 and moved her to Golden Bay. Culpan now calls Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour home. Her current owner is the granddaughter of the GT Gillies* (George Thomas Gillies), who purchased Caplin from Cr Graham in Wellington in April 1940.
Caplin is built in pitch-pine planks over oak frames with mahogany and teak trim – specs > 35’ length overall, 9’6” beam and draws 5’4”. Power is via a Yammer 3GM30F diesel.
While her owners have invested significant time and funds to ensure that Caplin retains her original aura, character and pedigree, they have also carefully integrated modern systems and technology to provide peace of mind and comfort – for example – new galley, new toilet , completely rewired + panels and fittings, new bronze winch, diesel heater to name just a few.
Her light and airy saloon makes for a spacious and comfortable vessel both on route, at anchor or in the marina. Caplin attracts admirers anywhere.
12-11-2024 UPDATE – Below decks has been feeling the love, new owner Geoff Fiebig is a man of style and good taste.
Todays woody is a wee bit of a mystery and comes to us from the William Tension collection > Auckland Library Heritage Collection > Lew Redwood fb.The photo is captained ‘motorboat and rowing dinghy moored in a creek. The motorboat is flying a pennant with the name Orlando’ The date listed.states 1920>1929. Harold Kidd has commented that there was an Orlando in Dunedin c.1912/13 Are we able to learn more about Orlando and what became of her.
ORAKEI HARDSTAND UPDATE
I received advice yesterday on feedback from the recent ‘public’ consultation process that the Orakei Local Board called for. These findings will be discussed / reviewed at the boards next meeting – this Thursday -16th Nov. address details below. The topic is #1 on the agenda and its a public meeting, so I encourage all interested people to attend – being the first item, you can depart after topic #1, I could not think of anything more boring than listening Scott Milne and his cronies for too long.
Interesting that Auckland Council’s marine biosecurity staff have recommended that the local board consider maintaining a limited area of facilities at the Landing for short stay cleaning and antifoul application. Staff from the Parks and Community Facilities Department also note the biosecurity benefits of a hardstand.
Clear public support for a hardstand at The Landing
Results of the Ōrākei Local Board public consultation on retention of the hardstand at Okahu Bay shows a clear majority (64%) support retention of a short stay haul out and hardstand facility for boat cleaning and/or anti-foul application.
So woodys will The Ōrākei Local Board give due regard to the public input they sought? Will they protect the Hardstand’s designation in the Marine Precinct specified in Auckland’s Unitary Plan?
The Orakei Local Board needs to receive the feedback generated by their public consultation on The Landing and revise their draft refresh plan to incorporate a hardstand facility.
MEETING LOCATION: St Chads Church and community centre, 38 St Johns Rd Remuera, 3pm Thursday 16th Nov. 2023
60′ Tooronga – owner by A/Cup skipper – Ian Murray
57′ Sinana
THE HALVORSEN STORY
Todays WW story comes to us via the crew at the Australian Wooden Boat Festival and features a video presentation by Tony MacKay on the legendary
Australian boat building dynasty – the Halvorsen family. Tony gave the presentation at the 2023 festival.
Some background on Tony – he has been on board Halvorsen boats all his life, having owned nine substantial cruisers, all of which were significantly and lovingly restored. Through his involvement with the Halvorsen Club, he has passed some of this passion and energy to like-minded owners of these beautiful craft, also assisting with the improvement of skills and historical information. He has also represented the family for significant events at the Australian National Maritime Museum, exhibitions, on water parades, birthdays and even eulogies. It has been a lasting passion.
Tony is a real character and has a very salty Australian vocabulary e.g when referring to a narrow beamed craft he said “it would roll on a wet lawn’.The photos above are just a taste of the many in the presentation – linked below – ENJOY.
Thanks to Lindsay Grenfell we have two new contestants for the boat that most resembles an apartment / bach. As Lindsay commented and I have to agree – “what were ya thinking and why?”
The good news is they dont reside in NZ, the photos were taken several years ago when Lindsay was staying at the Jamaica Bay Inn at Marina Del Rey, a 30min drive from LA Airport and out of the city.Lindsay commented that there was a marina adjacent and naturally (as we do and like to) he ventured off to view some of those berthed, it was a biggies, from memory – 5000 berths.
Back in July Dean Wright sent in some photos of the launch – Nga Kiwa being relaunched at Opua in the Bay of Islands, link below to that story. At the time we learnt from Russell Ward that she was designed and built by Percy Vos and the original spelling was Ngakiwa. The launch had previously appeared on WW back in June 2013, link below) – lots of details and photos at both links + read the comments section.
Fast forward to September and I was contacted by John Oates a previous owner of the launch, John was ordering a WW burgee and made comment that he was a previous owner of Nga Kiwa. John offered up some photos of her during his ownership. Then yesterday an envelope arrived in the post with todays photos. I had a chuckle, not often these days you get sent prints and negatives 🙂
In an accompanying letter John mentioned that he is not sure of when he bought and sold her but the photos show her at the Slipway at the bottom of Roy and Irene Parris’ property Rawene Ave in Westmere. Roy did the boarding platform, the 2 poles on the transom, the rails forward and rebuilt the mast.
The photo on the grid is most likely taken during a pre-purchase inspection.
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