Category Archives: Working Boats

HOW MANY MORE SUMMERS WILL YOU LET SLIP BY WITHOUT A BOAT …….

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HOW MANY MORE SUMMERS WILL YOU LET SLIP BY WITHOUT A BOAT ………

Waitematawoodys has a sister  – its called the Wooden Boat Bureau and we sell classic wooden boats – launches, yachts, big and small. We like to fly under the radar, as do most of our clients. Someone asked me what I did the other day – below sums it up (sounds a bit fluffy, in reality I just sell boats.

Inform and enthuse interest in the joys of owning and sailing traditional and classic wooden boats. And we do this by promoting partnerships between the boats, the sellers and the buyers, for the benefit of all. At the end of the day – its all about the boats, as most will out live their current owners.

To view a sample selection of classic woodys berthed at the virtual Wooden Boat Bureau dock, click this link –  https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/10/17/buying-or-selling-a-classic-boat/

Myself and David Cooke (MV Trinidad) are almost always available to offer advice to sellers and buyers – in the interests of marital harmony – in the first instance email to the below

waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Milford Sound – Mystery Boat

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Milford Sound – Mystery Boat

The above photo is rather stunning, and comes to us from Lew Redwood’s fb. Its date c.1940’s – and woodys is all we know.Hopefully we can ID what appears to be a commercial boat, given that she is boarding passengers attired for tramping.The poster below were used to promote the area in the 1940’s.

Seeing we didn’t have a winner to the WW t-shirt quiz last week, the most accurate (you’ll need to explain e.g. it could be XXXXXXX that was contracted to the NZ Tourist and Health Resorts Dept etc) answer wins a WW t-shirt – entries via email only to – waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Manurere – Work Boat Wednesday + WW Crew Gear 4sale

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MANURERE – Work Boat Wednesday

The 43’ Manurere was built by Miller and Tunnage in Port Chalmers and launched in 1937. She spent her working life cray and cod potting, exclusively in the Dunedin and Stewart Island areas. She is constructed in 1 and ½ inch kauri strip planking with spotted gum frames. Manurere has a 11’ 6″ beam and 5′ draft.

Based in Lyttleton, for the last 18 years, she has been extensively restored during that time. Powered by a 120hp Iveco Fiat. (thanks to Marcus Petraska for the tme listing heads up)


IF YOU ARE WANTING WW CREW GEAR B4 XMAS – ORDER NOW – LIMITED STOCK –  LINK TO ORDER https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/11/11/58095/

Ozone

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OZONE

The above photo was sent in by Scott Taylor, son of the late Mac Taylor, a prominent marine broker based in Westhaven. The caption reads – H. Vipond, Silverdale, 32’ x 8’6”. Scott commented that it would most likely have been – Mr Vipond of Vipond Road, Stanmore Bay, Auckland.

In a WW story back in July 2016, Harold Kidd commented that Ozone was built by Percy McIntosh in Whangarei in 1914 for a Harold Vipond for the Auckland-Wade River trade. Then he took Ozone north to the Bay of Islands in 1925 or perhaps a tad earlier for game-fishing, which she was very successful at. Link below to the 2016 story

https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/07/29/ozone/

In the photo above we see her before her helmsman ’turret’ and mast were added. Any guesses on the photo location – I’m always wrong, but my guess would be Whangaroa Harbour. (to confuse maters HDK advised that there were two launches named Ozone around the same time – the other was built by Collings & Bell and wrecked at Takatu in Jan 1930) 

I’m helping Scott re-purpose some woody goods – check out the photo below of the pair of pohutukawa knees, quite large but maybe a little thin for a big sailing woody but a nice launch………… 

Blue Skies

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BLUE SKIES

The photo above is of the game launch – Blue Skies, anchored off the Hotel Marlin in Whangaroa Harbour. The photo is ex The Northlander – issue #4, 1964 and comes to us via Anthony Waddingham. 

The photo was used in an advertisement for the hotel. The ad stated that Blue Skies was licensed to carry six fisherman in unsurpassed comfort.
Can anyone enlighten us as to theft of Blue Skies, is she still around and if so, in what configuration?

I’m told from several sources that the snapper fishing in the gulf is excellent at present – my daughter caught 5, late afternoon on Monday – and says this was the smallest 🙂 yeah right. You’ll note the low % of wood in the photo – points off for going out on a plastic boat.

Work-Boats In The Bay

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Work- Boats In The Bay

Todays photos came in from Dean Wright and show two of the well known Bay of Islands work-boats – Miss Brett and Miss Dorris.

In the top photo we see Miss Brett heading out with a charter group aboard. Interesting mix of woodys in the background at anchor in the bay. The 2nd photo has Miss Dorris in her role as ferry boat, propelling the vehicular ferry.

It was a strange Labour Weekend for boaties, the weather probably kept most of us at home which would have softened the blow of the postponement / cancellation of the two major weekend events – Kawau Sailing Weekend and the annual Coastal Classic yacht race. Looking at the photo below of Mike Mahoney’s grand old lady – the 1901 Logan Bros built, 55’ – Moerangi, at anchor in Patio Bay, the weather wasn’t bad everywhere. 

Leonardo – Gets A Birthday

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LEONARDO – Gets A Birthday

Back in 2017 we reported that the 21’ carvel planked (kauri) ex workboat Leonardo was  for sale. At the time she was in Christchurch an had had a new wheelhouse added. You can read and see more at this link https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/04/11/leonardo/  She was powered by a 20hp Ford diesel engine.

Fast forward 4 years and Grant Edwards, owner of the launch Phyllis M reports in that Leonardo had been purchased by a fellow Waiheke Island gent named Lance Peterson. Lance had the boat transported to Auckland and started an extensive period of repair and restoration as she was in very poor health. Included in the refit was a replacement engine, another Ford, 2 cylinder this time, and the additional of a set of bilge keels for ‘drying out.

Leonardo was slipped back in the water during the week, but I understand did not travel far as she has a wee gearbox issue, which I’m sure will be righted quick smart.

I have to say she is a very salty looking ship and a fine additional to the island’s woody fleet. The photo below is from her early days in top of the South Island. Apologies for the two middle photos above , camera person oops 🙂

Toroa – Gets A Birthday

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Haulout

TOROA – Gets A Birthday


Back in 2014 Toroa made an apperanace on WW (link below) and generated a lot interest in the comments section. What we learned was that she was built by Chas Bailey & Sons c.1950’s, is 28’ in length (including the hanging off bits at both ends) with a 9’ beam of and a draft of 2’6”. Constructed of kauri, in 1966 she was bought by Coastguard and used until 1968 as a patrol boat and training vessel. The price was 4000 pounds paid for with the assistance of the ASB Bank and the Golden Kiwi lottery. What became of her after 1968 is a tad cloudy but owners may have been, John Cheswass / Water Keen / Michael McMahon. https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/10/07/toroa/

In approx. May 2014 Brian & Judy Simpson purchased the launch and transported her to Lake Taupo, where she remained for the last  6 1/2 years, before being hauled out for some TLC that included a repaint and anti-foul. Brian advised that Toroa was recently slipped back into the lake after the refurbishment which was done by Judy and Brian, under the watchful eye of Larry Palmer, boat painter extraordinaire at Taupo Marina. Larry also trailer-ed Toroa out of and back into the lake. 

Toroa is powered by a 4 cylinder, 4L Ford diesel engine, fitted in the 1980’s. She uses around 4 litres an hour at 1700 revs achieving a comfortable cruising speed of 6-7 knots. In the top set of photos above she is looking very grand. In the 2nd set we see her being hauling out.

Koputai – Workboat Wednesday

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KOPUTAI – Workboat Wednesday

I was recently contacted by Campbell MacLean after he ‘discovered’ the WW stories (links below) on the boat – Koputai. She was built in 1939 by Miller & Tunnage in Port Chalmers for use as a pilot vessel. Her specs are 56’ x 14’6” and she draws 6’5”.

Campbell sent in the above photos he has of Koputai, his grandfather, John Maclean was chief pilot and Harbour Master in Dunedin, and had a bit to do with commissioning of the Koputai in the late 1930’s.
The top photo is a painting by C R Carey in 1940. This was on the wall at the MacLean crib (Pilot House #1) at the Spit, Aramoana, and probably gifted to John before he died in 1940.

The 2nd photo is of Koputai in the harbour near Taiaroa Head, opposite the spit.
Do link on the above below links – so much material and photos from the past and her conversation to pleasure craft.

https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/03/08/53293/

https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/09/06/koputai


LABOUR WEEKEND – MATAKANA RIVER RAID – POSTPONED 

The folks at the Kawau Boating Club have advised that due to the uncertainty of the ability to gather due to CV-19 restrictions, the decision has been been made to postpone the event – fingers crossed for a new date this year 🙂

Imalone

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IMALONE 
Todays woody was designed in 1950 by Jack Guard, who built the hull and John McCauley did the decks and wheelhouse in Putatea Bay, at the top of the South Island. As per all of Jack’s boats she was built of kauri / hardwood with birch ribs.

Her specs are 34’ in length with a 10’ beam. When built she was powered with a JP2 Lister engine, that was replaced approx. 25 years ago with a Detroit GM 371.

Subject to a survey – she appears to have great bones and would be a cool candidate for a conversion to pleasure use. Nelson is the home port.

Thanks to Ian McDonald for the tme heads up.