Category Archives: Trailer Boats

Sea Spray > Helena

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SEA SPRAY > HELENA

Back in Nov 2020 boat builder Alan Craig (Craig Marine) and I were chatting re a 1956, 17’ clinker run-about named Sea Spray that was on tme and claimed to be built by J Logan. A quick call to Harold Kidd confirmed the provenance and Alan acquired Sea Spray on behalf of a client.

More photos here of the boat as purchased https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/11/14/sea-spray/

By Feb 2021 Alan was well into the restoration / refit – photos here  https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/02/27/jack-logan-would-be-happy/

The yard re-planked the bottom up to water line and rebuilt the whole cabin top and interior. While to some it may appear a lot of effort for a 17′ boat, remember woodys it’s the real deal – a Jack Logan boat.

The project was finished at the end of 2021 and relaunched at Xmas 2021.. Now called Helena, she has been converted to electric, through a steerable pod in place of the rudder. Helena will do a good 10hrs without charging, Alan commented that’s a lot of trips to the Lake Rotoiti hot pools 🙂 I’m told Helena is a quite comfortable boat, even with 4 people aboard.

Her old engine, a 10hp Arona diesel is hopefully going to replace another in a yacht in the far north. 

Broad Bay Boating Club

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Broad Bay Boating Club

Eldest child, son Tom, was recently mooching around the South Island, from Nelson at the top to Dunedin at the bottom of the south. He was briefed to take a photo of anything afloat that looked interesting. The result was the photos above showing the Broad Bay Boating Club and surrounding area on the Otago Peninsula.

The small double-ender on the trailer looks familiar – but can’t put a name to it.

Amelia

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AMELIA

Todays woody has a very good pedigree in that she was built by Nelson master craftsman Peter Murton as his own boat. Peter’s business Murtons Timbercraft turn out stunning woodwork – from new boat builds and repairs, furniture and nautical art, a piece of which I have at home (photo below).

The launch is a 2018 Weston Farmer sea skiff, 28’ x 8’ x 2’ and is powered by a 60hp Yamaha outboard that cruises nicely at 7>8knots and tops out at 12 knots.

Her shallow draft and bilge keels allow her to navigate some interesting anchorages. An added bonus is the ability to haul out on a trailer for home storage.

The vessel recently popped up on tme so if you are looking for a salty looking, impeccably built spirit of tradition woody – Amelia could be the one.

Caberfeidh – Where Is She

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CABERFEIDH – Where Is She?

Several years ago the classic powerboat – Caberfeidh was bought to my attention by Shawn Vennell, who was attempting to put a price / value on her. 

Caberfeidh at the time was owned by Lindsay Barron whose father, Tom, kept Caberfeidh  in a berth at the Kinloch marina. He used the boat for fishing on Lake Taupo, where the family had a crib (bach). She was also used for big game fishing at Russell in the Bay of Island every year, leaving from Tauranga. So the Caberfeidh had many trips out to sea  in the early days.  

At the time I was talking with Shawn the boat hadn’t been on the water for approximately 8 years. It has always been kept in a large boat shed. Designed and built in 1967 by Dick Smith in Tauranga- a master builder and of a style that is recognised as a Dick Smith boat.Wooden/ply hull with fibreglass matt skin, inlaid mahogany transom – 5 meters in length.Inboard/outboard Volvo Penta motor.

So woodys – todays question is – what became of Caberfeidh? Hopefully still on the lake.

Classic Woody Runabout

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CLASSIC WOODY RUN-ABOUT

Todays woody is a John Spencer Rocket and was built in the 1950’s and has only ever had fresh water use (Lake Taupo), and shed stored.

She is 14’ in length and powered by a Johnson 25hp outboard (1985) and if you believe tme it has only done 30 hours.

Anyone looking for an entry level woody fir the lakes or at the bach?

WOODYS CLASSICS CLEVEDON BBQ CRUISE – I will be sending out details on NEXT weekends (21-22/05) overnight cruise via email tomorrow to the skippers that have RSVP’ed – keep an eye on you email inbox 😉

Luyvon

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LUYVON 

 A few weeks ago Glenn Martin sent in the above photos of woody speed boat hibernating in Taupo. Do not want to give the location away but – near the marina.

As Glenn commented there appears to be a cool hull shape hiding under that tarp. Well thanks to a WW story back in Oct 2017 by Paul Drake we know that the hull was very quick – back in c.1935/36 she narrowly missed out on being the fasted boat on Lake Taupo – just beaten by Piri Pono. Read the story at the WW link below, make sure you also read the Comments Section – good chat there. https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/10/31/three-taupo-boats/

Thanks to Paul and Harold Kidd we know that Luyvon was designed and built by Jack Taylor and launched in November 1934. She was two skin kauri and supposedly 23ft x 7ft. On her trials she attained 25mph.

I love that its tied onto the fence post – just in case it floats away 🙂

Popeye

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POPEYE

The woody day boat Popeye last made an appearance on WW back in August 2018, at the time we uncovered a lot of history on her – see WW link to read and view  https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/08/28/popeye/

A few months ago her owner, Adrian Howitt contacted WW advising that she was most likely for sale and that he was testing the water on tme.

Popeye was built in c.1941 and started life on the Hokianga Harbour as a fishing boat. She has twice been given a birthday – back in c.1998 by Greg Lees Boatbuilders in Sandspit and in 2015 by Colin Brown Boatbuilder. 

The photos above are more recent from when Adrian gave her a ‘general spruce up’ (his words) A newish (2012) Yanmar 1GM provides the forward motion.

Nautical Car Boot Sale – This Sunday – 3rd – Sandspit Yacht Club

Seeing you have an extra hour to play with on Sunday (end of day-light-saving) why not point the car north and do a road trip to the famous SYC car boot sale – lots to see and buy + there is a live band and great coffee & food.

Sale starts at 8.30am > 10.30

Lots of other activities to do in the area, so get off the couch and head north.

WOODYS CRUISE TO CLEVEDON POSTPONED – NEW DATE TBA

100 Year Old Classic Clinker 

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100 Year Old Classic Clinker 
Back in late 2015 I rail-roaded a good friend into buying a beautiful classic clinker day boat – he lives on Waiheke Island and it was a perfect match for him. WW link to the 2015 story here https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/11/21/an-evill-boat/
Well as always seems to happen, life gets in the way of hobbies and the old girl just isn’t being used – so the decisions been made to pass her on to her next caretaker.

As her owner is a far better wordsmith than I am, I have reproduced the trademe listing story below:

“I am reluctantly selling my beautiful 108 year old boat. This clinker built tender/lifeboat is purported to have been built in 1914 likely by one of the Miller Bros (precursor to Miller & Tunnage est 1922) It is claimed to be one of two launched on the back of the tug “Dunedin” on Jan 6th 1914 ( see photo) 14′ length. 6′ beam. The craftsmen in Port Chalmers, where some of the finest boat-builders in NZ and their clinker built craft are amongst the most sought after collectibles around.

Powered by a single cylinder 7HP Yanmar Diesel, installed by Miller & Tunnage in 1961. It propels the craft at 6 knots and is extremely economical. Running for hours straight on a cup of diesel. The engine was last serviced in 2019 and has not run since, so it will need some TLC but should be simple to get going again as it’s fool proof. (I have a 1970 BMW D7 marine engine, semi complete with many new parts, i was going to replace the Yanmar with, that I would consider selling separately.)

It was used as a salmon boat in Port Chalmers for 30 years and then spent ten years on Lake Taupo until I bought her 7 years ago.

I used her a fair amount until 2019. The last owner told me he spent $40,000 restoring her and I can believe it. She has teak decks and posts. Huge bronze hinges and a magnificent bronze bilge pump and prop. Brass whistle and controller and anti- aircraft gun cartridge cases as rod holders! The woodwork is good for her age and the bespoke trailer is really solid. She’s a joy on the water and capable of handling any seas in safety. Extremely stable with 4 on board. Like most of its kind she lets in a little water on first entering the sea but takes up rapidly within 24-48 hrs. This is a superb piece of New Zealand seafaring history. I am looking at offers over $7,500 but it is more important to me that she goes to a good home so if you love classic boats and want to own a piece of our boat building heritage then get in touch.”

To view more photos – click here https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/boats-marine/motorboats/listing/3526252981

Taranui + Woody Riverhead Lunch Cruise RSVP

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TARANUI

Regular WW readers will know that there are no size limitations when it comes to what features on the site and some of the prettiest woodys live on a trailer. Today’s story is on Taranui – a c.1960’s 19’ jet boat, built by a Mr. McPhearson of Mapu, Nelson around 1967>68. Her owners manual says first service was at Perry’s Automotive in Mapua.

The zoom zoom comes from a 220hp Crusader Marine petrol engine (factory marinized 327 Chev) via a 1965 Hamilton Colorado 2 stage jet unit. The tme listing states that Taranui has spent most of her time in Tennyson Inlet, western arm of Pelorus Sound in the Marlborough Sounds but for a 20 year period she was in storage.

Her hull and cabin exterior has been sanded back and repainted/varnished and the interior and upholstery remains untouched and in excellent condition.

Hopefully she will be bought by someone that will continue love and maintain her – BUT she could easily be a piece of art in a large man-cave. Last time I said that about a boat, that is exactly what happened 😉

WOODY CLASSICS WEEKEND – RIVERHEAD TAVERN LUNCH CRUISE – SATURDAY 26th MARCH

I will post more details closer to the event, but if your are considering attending please send a quick RSVP email to the address below – just need your name, vessel name and approx.  (if you know it, the number of people aboard*). waitematawoodys@gmail.com
Remember – participation in the Woody Classics Weekend events is open to everyone, but only one condition – you have a passion for wooden boats.

Pipi

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PIPI
Back in early Dec 2021 WW ran a story on the 48’ launch – Eldon  (link below), now a resident on the Kaipara Harbour. Today we get to see Eldon’s 12’ tender Pipi. That Eldon’s owner – Peter Flood bought off Steve Hanson in 2020.

PIPI was previously owned by William Scott, Steve Hanson’s grandfather, and used extensively on the Hokianga Harbour. When William passed away in 2002 she was passed on to his brother Victor Scott, who did not use her very much & kept her in the Bay Of Islands for a time.

Victor in turn  passed her to his son Mike Scott , and then she went back to Vic Scott, and during this period of their stewardship, she was laid up and put in a shed for about 10 years, and was eventually bought by Steve Hannon, who restored her and eventually relaunched her on the  Hokianga Harbour. Steve sold her to Peter Flood who undertook considerable upgrading & maintenance on her, replacing two planks. partially refastened her, repaired the transom, & made her watertight. These days she calls Eldon home. Details supplied by Ken Ricketts, edited a lot by Alan H.

WW Eldon Story link

Eldon