Category Archives: Working Boats

The Halvorsen Story

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Neutral Bay, Sydney – 1936
25′ Wonglaa
42′ Pollyana – 1934
38′ Kweena – pre restoration
Kweena – post restoration
Kweena – interior
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.

Lady Colleen + Mystery Tug

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LADY COLLEEN 

Todays woody the 30’ Lady Colleen was launched in December 1933, built for a Mr. W.D> Burns of Devonport, Auckland. The photo angle / compression isn’t helping the look of the boat.

Sadly 5 months late in May 1934 she was destroyed by fire at Bayswater, Auckland. A gogle search comes up with zip on who built her and the cause of the fire.

Any one able to expand the story more.

(photo ex NZ Herald ex fb via K Ricketts)

INPUT EX HAROLD KIDD -LADY COLLEEN was a “bridgedecker” built by the Invincible Boat Co (Sam Ford) in December 1933 for W.D. Burns of Devonport and that’s what she did best, unfortunately.

MYSTERY TUG

I have been contacted by a gent named Phil Doyle who has recently purchased the below painting and would like to know the vessels name and anymore details. Phil commented that the flag may help with the ID.

Hauraki Gulf Mooching

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WAIKARO
AC/DSEA
HINEWAI
KOWAI

Hauraki Gulf Mooching

Bay of Islands woody Dean Wright reversed the trend over the Labour Day holiday long weekend and pointed the car south for some Hauraki Gulf cruising aboard his friend’s classic 33’ launch Waikaro. Waikaro was designed and built in 1978 by Roy Parris and later underwent a major refit at the hands of boatbuilder Geoff Bagnall.

Waikaro’s owners, the Smit family have given her a new lease of life with system upgrades and a return to varnished coamings.

Dean also spotted several other woodys out over the weekend – in the photos above Waikaro, AC/DSEA and Hinewai are anchored off Ocean Beach at Motuihe Island. Kowhai is in Waikalabubu Bay at Motutapu Island.

As always from Dean, stunning photos.

Previous WW Stories

Kowai https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/11/22/kowai/

Hinewai https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/06/21/hinewai-a-peek-down-below/

AC/DSEA https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/02/18/ac-dcs/

Waikaro https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/11/10/waikaro-emerges-from-the-beauty-parlour/

Woody Euro Tour

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Siesta – approx. 45′ canoe stern bridge-decker – Stockholm
Vasa – 17th century warship – Vasa Museum – Stockholm
Oslo, Norway
Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Gothenburg
Probably steel

WOODY EURO TOUR

Todays story comes to us from the camera of Rick McCay, owner of the 1920 MT Land built 47’ launch – Luana. Rick has been tripping around the northern hemisphere. Rick didi a similar trip back in 2017, you can view that story at the WW link below. https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/11/02/a-woody-on-tour/

Where known I have tagged the locations – enjoy the photo gallery.

WHANGAREI MARITIME FESTIVAL TRIP REPORT

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WHANGAREI MARITIME FESTIVAL TRIP REPORT

A little late posting todays story – its been rather a full on weekend – on Saturday we had our general election, which resulted in a change of government (very happy with that). Then early Sunday morning the All Blacks had a do or die clash with Ireland in the Rugby world Cup which resulted in a well deserved win for the AB’s. 

After the final whistle I was in the car and heading north to Whangarei to check out the Whangarei Maritime Festival. The temptation to stay in Auckland and enjoy a celebratory breakfast was very strong but wow I’m so glad I didn’t – I was rewarded with a most enjoyable day out.

I’ll start by thanking Druce Dunlop for alerting me to the upcoming weekend and also say that the organisers did an great job promoting the event on social member. Anyone contemplating hosting a similar event  could learn a lot from mirroring the WMF. It ticked all the boxes and was rewarded with a huge turnout.

A wonderful collection of mostly wooden craft on display that given the location / layout of the dockside, allowed the public to get up close and experience the vessels.  

Well done to everyone involved – both on and off the water. Enjoy the gallery of images.  As always – click photos to enlarge 😉

Dolly – AK1901

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DOLLY AK1901

A bit of a sober story today, probably brought on by its Election Day in NZ and probably the biggest one in my (voting) life time. Most of the time WW is politics free, so I’ll bite my tongue today.

The photo above of the launch – Dolly comes to us from a fb post, via Ken Ricketts. It shows the early 1900’s 33’ launch – Dolly that was lost at sea in early December 1927. On board were owner/skipper Joseph Henery Maslam and crew Thomas Hook.

I have done some research and the story goes like this –

Maslam left his home town of Whangrei on November 14 with the intention of buying a small fishing launch and returning to Whangarei, the launched purchased was Dolly.

About November 18  he engaged Hook to work for him as a fisherman, on the same day Maslam had the Customs Dept. inspect the launch and confirm the Marine Dept. fishing license number AK1901 was painted on the side of Dolly. The departed Auckland on November 22, heading to Little Barrier to fish, and the intention was to take the catch to Whangarei. The departure date was confirmed in a telegraph that Hook sent this wife on November 22.

On December 3 a fisherman named Matthew Janovich, owner of a launch named  Busy Bee, who sited Dolly that night in Nelson Bay, Kawau Island. At the time in a conversation with one of the men he was told Dolly had been fishing for Hapuka. When Busy Bee left the bay the next morning, Dolly was still there. Janovich is on record stating that there was a strong southerly gale for a couple of days after he had seen Dolly, the weather compelled Janovich to return to Auckland.

Dolly was not sighted again and a hearing in Auckland Magistrates Court found that Dolly was lost at sea on or about December 5.

(Thanks to Sun Newspaper – December 8 1927 and the Northern Advocate = 31 May 1828 for intel)

Question of the day – do we know who designed / built Dolly and when she was launch – she was 33’ x 9’ x 3’ – and possibly powered by twin engines 

Tamahine

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TAMAHINE

Bay of Islands woody – Dean Wright sent in the above photos of Tamahine, photos are ‘photos-of-photos’ so a tad hazy. The original images are held by Reb Aplin, the current owner of – Pearl Diver. Tamahine used for game fishing out of Waihau Bay on NZ’s east coast.

Can we learn more about Tamahine – under all that gear there is a very traditional looking hull.

ANNIE – Maybe One For The Lakes

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ANNIE – Maybe One For The Lakes

Todays 26’ double-ender, woody named Annie probably started life as a lifeboat. Carved into her stem is ’S1’ which may have indicated starboard side #1 lifeboat.

The story goes that she was owned by the Connells Bay Store, Waiheke Island and used as a supply vessel c.1950’s > 1960’s, a large front hatch supports this. No engine but was previously powered by a For 60hp inboard. The shaft and prop are still in place.

Hauled out at Mangawhai several years ago, her restoration may to a halt not far in – could be a nice lake boat project. (Tme heads up thanks to Ian McDonald)

Woodys Classic Launch & Motorbike Stillwater Picnic Trip Report

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Woodys Classic Launch & Motorbike Stillwater Picnic Trip Report

Saturday was one of those days when what weather conditions you had depended on where in Auckland you where. A few woodys made the call early and stayed home, the glass half full woodys were rewarded with a good day. The only H2O arrived around 3pm as we were getting ready to head back down the river. Once out of the river mouth it was ‘thank god’ for GPS, sea mist and a light drizzle covered the coastline.

As always its great to catch up after winter and see who’s been doing what to their craft.

Big thanks to the skippers and helpers that assisted with the wharf docking, made harder by a bin-liner (my new name for Bayliner plastic launches) that was claiming squatters rights at the end of the wharf. Good skipper handling skills and many lines saw everyone alongside without any grazes or bruises.

Lastly special thanks to Mark and Sue Edmonds for co-ordinating the location and organising the classic motorbikes that joined us on the lawn. Everyone was very smitten with the 3 wheeler –  I understand a Morgan with a Matchless V twin transplant. 

MILFORD CRUISING CLUB 100TH BIRTHDAY 1923 > 2023

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MILFORD CRUISING CLUB 100TH BIRTHDAY 1923 > 2023

Rather a big weekend in and around the Milford Creek – the Milford Cruising Club is celebrating its 100th anniversary this weekend. I would have lost money on that – for some reason I wasn’t aware there had been woodys sliding in and out of the creek for that many years.

Yesterday I joined a group of past commodores, life members, patrons and quests for afternoon tea – so many familiar faces . Clubs need to do more of this, the collective age in the room would have been seriously high, and sadly the numbers are dropping.

Todays photos are to give you a snap shot of the amazing photo gallery that has been pulled together recording the clubs history – the club rooms are open Sat & Sunday from 10am > 4pm for anyone and everyone to visit and experience the exhibition.

Also today at 2pm there will be parade of vessels out of the marina , down the creek and along Milford Beach.

Clubroom address is 24 Craig Rd. Milford