Category Archives: Working Boats

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE CLASSIC LAUNCH – NGATEA

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WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE CLASSIC LAUNCH – NGATEA

Recently WW was contacted by Jeff Giddens concerning the launch NGATEA – best if I let Jeff tell the story

“Have attached a few photos of my good friend Alan’s boat – Ngatea.History……builder unknown apparently. Rumour has it, way back in the day she may have been some sort of mail boat to Kapiti Island. Ngatea is over 100 years old and was owned for a long time by well known boat builder Reg Saunders of Paremata. She was his pride and joy.

For the last 15 or so years she has been owned by another well-known Paremata identity, and ex fisherman Alan Codyre.    As much as she needs a good clean up and TLC in her paint work, she is in outstanding condition for her age.We recently removed the old Perkins and refitted her with a wee Yanmar diesel.  It would be great if anyone out there knows more about her history and where she was built and by whom.She is currently on a swing mooring in Ivy Bay Paremata.”

So woodyscan we help Jeff and Alan out and fill in the gaps re NGATEA’s back story.

CLASSIC WOODEN MOTORBOAT RACING ON THE WAITEMATA HARBOUR – Auckland Anniversary Regatta

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RACE START VIDEO
MY GIRL

THE PARADE

CLASSIC WOODEN MOTORBOAT RACING ON THE WAITEMATA HARBOUR – Auckland Anniversary Regatta

After the disappointment of a cancelled Mahurangi Regatta weekend I was chafing at the bit to get out on the water. 

Being Auckland Anniversary Day yesterday , I secured a spot aboard Jason Prew’s classic launch MY GIRL – WW readers will be aware that MY GIRL holds the title of fastest classic wooden launch on the Waitemata.

So at 11am we were on the start line for the classic launch inner harbour race – start off RNZYS > down to Orakei Bouy > across to Devonport area > back up the harbour to the finish line (aka the start line). Conditions were best described as ok, certainly better than the previous 4 days, overcast, the occasional shower and westerly >20 knots.

This year we were lacking a few of real quick woodys so Mr Prew had the race in hand after 10 seconds. Some close racing with the ‘recently’ re-powered woodies – NGAIO and LUCINDA. Do not have the handicap results but line honours went to MY GIRL / NGAIO / LUCINDA. All serviced at The Slipway Milford yard so a nice trifecta.

Earlier in the morning the tug/workboats put on their normal spectacular performance – see below.

The parade of sail was bolstered by several classic woodys that did not race – parade photos second group above.

Enjoy the photo gallery, light on the winning boat, always is when the bloke with the camera is aboard the favourite 😉

As always – photos can be enlarged by clicking on them.

RACE RESULTS – MY GIRL collects line and handicap honours

TUGBOAT RACE

1942 EX OTAGO HB CLASSIC WOODEN WORKBOAT – MARORO

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1942 EX OTAGO HB CLASSIC WOODEN WORKBOAT – MARORO

When I get an email that has the boat name MARORO in the subject panel, it gets opened straight away – lots of classic boating history surrounding that name. Turns out todays woody is an ex Otago Harbour Board workboat, that started life as a tender to a OHB dredge. 

MARORO was launched c.1942 and she is 30’ x 9’3” x 3’ and built from kauri carvel planks and rebuilt in 1990 and still owned by the family that rebuilt her. Powered by a Mazda 4cyl HA 76hp diesel engine, she has a cruising speed of 7>8 knots.

Home is still Dunedin and she looks like she could handle a sporty weather day + very well fitted out.

Each to there own but the mahogany interior doesn’t get a tick from me – a tad too perfect for an 80 yr old classic. (Thanks Ian McDonald for the tme heads up)

Remember – if you are at a loose end tomorrow (Monday), head down to Westhaven / waterfront to watch the Auckland Ann. Day Regatta – Classic MotorBoat Inner Harbour Racing.

Race start off RNZYS / Westhaven > Orakei and return > RNZYS

WAS THIS MAHURANGI REGATTA OUR BEST CLASSIC WOODY EVENT EVER

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WAS THIS MAHURANGI REGATTA OUR BEST CLASSIC WOODY EVENT EVER

As some of you will be aware todays Mahurangi Regatta was cancelled sadly for all the right reasons – the safety of our craft and people must always come first.

So today we flash back to 2020 , the biggest and best classic woody weekend on record – check out below and enjoy a vicarious regatta 🙂 https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/01/28/mahurangi-weekend-biggest-on-the-water-wooden-boating-event-down-under-200-classic-wooden-boat-photos/

Race start off RNZYS / Westhaven > Orakei and return > RNZYS

MYSTERY CLASSIC LAUNCH – CAN WE ID

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MYSTERY CLASSIC LAUNCH – CAN WE ID

Earlier in the week I was sent the photo above with a very short note – “Found an old photo. Not sure of the boats name but if anyone wants the picture they can have it.”

So woodys can we ID the craft and hopeful learn where she is today and then we can offer the photo to the current owner.

MAHURANGI REGATTA – CANCELLED

A LEFT FEILD QUESTION

WW was contacted by the owner of a vessel named WATERHORSE – message below.

“I was wondering if someone can give me information on a boat I bought.  It was built around 2006 for the movie ‘Waterhorse” for Weta Workshop designed by Bruce Askew.                                 It was the PT boat during the later part of the movie. It is a glass over ply construction 32 feet long.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.”

MYSTERY 20’ SOUTHERN CLINKER WOODEN BOAT

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MYSTERY 20’ SOUTHERN CLINKER WOODEN BOAT

Last week WW was contacted by a Christchurch based gent named Mat Pascoe regarding a 20’ clinker craft he had just acquired.

Mat was hoping that the WW readers could help either confirm what he has been told about the craft and / or learn more.

Mat advised he purchased the old girl for $1, with the intention of getting her floating again. The lady Mat brought it off had no confirmed history, her dad was storing it possibly for someone and he passed away leaving the property it was at to her in his will and she wanted it gone asap.

At the time of purchase it was based in Kaiapoi. The river there was a working port up till the 1970’s  so Mat thinks maybe it worked out of there. The seller also seemed to think it came from Sumner, it could have been tied up in Moncks Bay but she said she was just guessing at something her dad told her years ago. 

As far as can be observed the hull is all native timber and it is all copper rove and rivets. The cabin may have been made later as it is possibly pine and plywood. Mat questioned if she may have been a fishing boat at some time. It’s fitted out with a single cylinder diesel. Possibly Dolphin brand but Mat can’t find any info on them making diesels. (Mat is by trade a diesel mechanic)
Mat has had a good dig around and scraped a bit of paint off in the places where you would expect a name would be and has not found anything. 

Mat is 100% she was originally open topped with maybe a small deck at the bow and stern. He can see a change in the wood work in these areas where the cabin has been fitted. Probably explains why it is so narrow in the beam. Mat commented that a lot of the center line is made up of short lengths of timber scraped together as we. It’s like it was just built from what was around.

So Southern woodys – anyone know more about the boat or recognise her.

CLASSIC WOODEN BOATS ENJOYING SUMMER CRUISING

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THETIS – HAURAKI GULF
GAY DAWN – HAURAKI GULF
ROA -HAURAKI GULF
WAIARI – HAURAKI GULF
AOTEAROA – HAURAKI GULF
JUANITE & MARINUS – Oneroa
ARETHUSA – BOI
KOROWAI – BOI
POSEIDON – BOI
KAIKOURA – BOI
SOUTH SEAS – BOI
RATBAG – BOI

CLASSIC WOODEN BOATS ENJOYING SUMMER CRUISING

Over the 2025/26 xmas / new year period a couple of woodys have been sending in photos of classic craft that they have seen out and about. Angus Rogers onboard the motor launch CENTAURUS has been mooching around the Coromandel / Bottom End of Waiheke Island and Murray Deeble on his Townson yacht MORGANA in the Bay of Islands. 

The evil weather we had around the 27th >31st keep a lot of boats in the marina and those out were not moving around much . Angus recorded winds of 68 knots in Te Kouma at anchor. 

Quite a few washed ashore and sales of SaltAway will be high this month with a lot of dinghies / outboards flipped over in the high winds. 

PHOTO BELOW FROM ABOARD CENTAURUS

BAY OF ISLANDS – RUSSELL  – CLASSIC LAUNCH PARADE

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VIDEO EX IAN HOLT

https://www.facebook.com/groups/316224205161973/permalink/25652234717800906/?mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=KPLPuWDP0YaaYW1o#

BAY OF ISLANDS – RUSSELL  – CLASSIC LAUNCH PARADE

Yesterday (Friday 9th) saw a group of woody classic boat owners participate in a parade of classic craft as part of the Russell Boating Club – Tall Ships Regatta weekend.

Great turn out with an even mix of launches, ex game boats and ex work boats, looked like perfect conditions and a great time by all. 

Part of the event was a log rally which my spies tell me was a tad too long and my lips are sealed but maybe a few skippers may have been using the smart phones for more tha just phone calls……..

Photos thanks to Hilton Ward onboard SPINDRIFT.  (as always click on photos to enlarge)

Today (Saturday) will be a biggie on the water with the running of the 50th Tall Ships Sailing Regatta.

WINNERS ARE GRINNERS – The winner of the log rally was the Owen Woolley built launch – KORAWAI, owned by Tania and Matt Cooper. Photo below of Matt (R) and cabin boy Grant Gibbs. I suspect they won it fair and square – I know both well and both are luddites when it comes to technology 🙂

12-01-2026 UPDATE BELOW – ex Margo & Jamie Hudson

CLASSIC WOODEN BIG GAME BOAT – DOROTHY – FLASHBACK

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CLASSIC WOODEN BIG GAME BOAT – DOROTHY – FLASHBACK

Back in July 2015 WW ran a great story on the Oliver & Gilpin built launch DOROTHY, link below. At the time we only had one every stunning b/w photograph  https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/07/01/dorothy-2/  There is lots of chat on DOROTHY at the link.

Fast forward to late Dec 2025 and woody John Dawson sent in the great photo above .

Can we learn more about where she is today.

05-01-2025 – INPUT ex CRAIG OGLE – My old mate Wayne owned her in the 90s he sold her to a couple fellas in Wellington as far as I know.

CLASSIC WORKBOAT – MARILYN – STILL AROUND?

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CLASSIC WORKBOAT – MARILYN – STILL AROUND?

Todays woody is the 34’6” fishing boat MARILYN, built in 1959 by her owner Thomas Clements. Details below.

Question of the day – is she still afloat and if so where and in what condition.

Photos ex Sea Spray magazine c.1960 via Ken Ricketts