Category Archives: Working Boats

Miller and Tunnage – Double Ender – Fisher Lassie

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Miller & Tunnage – Double Ender – Fisher Lassie
If you spend as much time as I do stalking wooden boats on-line you will have noticed the growing trend for work boat conversions, you either love them or not – me I’m in the love them camp. We do not know a lot about todays woody, thanks Ian McDonald, other than she was built by Miller and Tunnage in 1922, out of kauri, is 40’ in length, has a 9’ 10” beam and draws 3’7”. A Gardner 3LW 150hp diesel pushes her along at a comfortable cruising speed of 7 knots. Appears to be very well fitted out.


Can anyone put a name to this woody ?

18-11-2020 Input from Mark Erskine – I was interested to read about the above Miller & Tunnage Double Ender. I agree it’s a real nice boat and was interested to read about her Gardner 3LW engine.

Depending on the fuel and governor / rpm settings, the 3LW engines produce between 36 to 53.5HP from their 4.184 litre capacity.

Dimensions

The “Gardner 150” badge on the Miller & Tunnage control panel is for a 6-cylinder 6LXB Gardner (127 to 150HP) or possibly the 8-cylinder 8LXB (150 to 200)

Gardners are great engines and although the whole range are all low on HP for their considerable size, capacity and weight, they all produce a lot of torque at low rpm and are very reliable.

Although 36 to 54 HP seems a bit low for the size of the boat, I’m guessing the 3LW is a good match for a double ender hull because torque turns the prop rather than HP and the 3LW should also be very economical to operate at 7 knots.

24-11-2022 UPDATE ex Steve’s Coffee Cart – Steve sent in the photos below of Fisher Lassie below, hauled out at the Waikawa hard stand. Check out the new look, it is not often we see people ’taking away’ as compared to adding on. Well done to the owner.

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BONITTO

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BONITTO
Today’s woody would have started out in life back in the mid 1920’s a work boat. Her tme listing (thanks Ian McDonald) tells us that her present owners family have had the 36’ Bonitto for over 40 years.

In the late 1970’s > early 1980’s she was refastened and completely re-built. During this period she received a new Ford engine and Borg-Warner transmission, this set up gets her along at a cruising speed of 8.5 knots. Current home is Pelorus Sound, Marlborough region, upper northern section of the South Island.

Bonitto is presented in very good condition and could easily see another 50 years of service, in my eyes she is the perfect platform for a work boat restoration, along the lines of Dean Wrights – Arethusa, WW link below

https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/09/07/arethusas-new-woody-wheelhouse/

REMEMBER – RIVERHEAD TAVERN WOODY CRUISE TOMORROW

Maroro

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MARORO 
A couple of weeks ago we did a story on the woody – Maroro that had recently been relaunched at Thames after a 8 year refit (WW link below).

Yesterday I was passing thru Thames so stopped at the marina and snapped the above photos. She is very salty looking, with a lot happening up top but that just adds to her work boat looks 🙂
https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/10/23/maroro-special-boat-shed-invite/


FINAL REMINDER RE WOODYS RIVERHEAD LUNCH CRUISE THIS COMING SUNDAY – If you are a starter, drop me an email with boat name. Remember – if you’re boatless, come by car 😉

Its A Woody But It Won’t Float

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Its A Woody But It Won’t Float
They say life goes something like this – Boat > Motorhome > Die

Will if you are in or approaching the middle category the Holzmobil woody motor home would have to be the pick of the bunch. They are built from sustainable wood from floor to ceiling and are one of the warmest motor homes you can find. It has all the home comforts – refrigerator, cooker, bathroom etc + the oiled timber finish as well as smelling nice, allows moisture out and prevents warping.


Still Looking For A Boat Story – 2pm today at Peter Brookes Boat Yard – details below


SPECIAL INVITATION –  A Peek Inside One of Your Best Wooden Boatbuilders Shed

You are invited to an open afternoon at Brookes Boatbuilders, to view the restoration of:

  1. Fife Yacht, Impala
  2. Refit of K class yacht, Katrina II
  3. Restoration of Launch, Amakura II
  4. The many other wooden boats at the yard – Matia, Ladye Wilma, Kotiri, Pilot Cutter, Kenya II (Peter’s own classic launch)

DATE: TODAY

TIME: 2pm-7pm

ADDRESS: 108 Woodhill Park Road, Waimauku, Auckland
These invites only happen every 3>4 years so woodys do not miss out, it will be an amazing afternoon.

Labour Weekend Woody Cruise

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Labour Weekend Woody Cruise
The last 3 days would have to be one of the best boating long weekends in a very long time, well thats if you own a motor-boat. The classic woody stick and rag boys racing in the Coastal Classic race to Russell in the Bay of Islands made very hard work of it – did any finish?, those I talked to pulled out on Saturday morning. A quick glance at the results show about 75% of the total fleet did not finish. 


The biggest decision of the weekend was whether to turn left or right at North Head, I went left and made the right call, as the reports from the bottom end of Waiheke and Coromandel was it was a zoo 🙂 On the other hand Rakino was perfect – great weather and not too crowded. Only saw 3 other woodys – Gay Dawn and Juanita in Woody Bay and Mahanui just out from West Bay (very early Monday morning) and passed Felicitare 


Highlight was a seriously up close encounter with some Orca while anchored in West Bay – they were rounding up a feed of stingray for lunch.
I see Trinidad is making a star appearance in the AWLWOOD (Uroxsys) advertisements 😉

Update – Arohanui mooching around the bottom end of Waiheke and Coromandel

Beaulieu River Wooden Boat Gathering

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Beaulieu River Wooden Boat Gathering
Today we join the crew over at classic yachtTV when they attended the Beaulieu River Wooden Boat Association get-together at Buckler’s Hard, UK.

It is a great read with stunning photos and words from the very talented Emily Harris. Clicking on most photos will enlarge them. Enjoy 🙂
Hopefully a lot of you will be afloat today enjoying the public holiday.

LINK TO STORY HERE http://www.classicyacht.tv/journal/an-invitation-to-beaulieu?fbclid=IwAR0t3bb2r60BESnqE44izKexo6HXSu5mVDSIROjHFPGvmCAd59Q5J7DyZyU

Maroro + Special Boat Shed Invite

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MARORO + SPECIAL INVITE TO VISIT BOAT BUILDER – PETER BROOKES SHED
Thames woody – Brian Thomas, sent me the above photo of his launch Maroro, that he and his son have spent the last 8 years rebuilding at Kopu. Since her recent relaunch she now resides at Thames Marina. The above photo was taken of her from the Thames Wharf Cafe. In his note Brian mentioned a blog that featured the rebuild but I have been unable to trace it or get more intel from Brian, so today’s story is a bit of a ’name & shame’ i.e. hopefully Brian will see this and be in touch 🙂

From the photo it appears to have been a very smart restoration.


SPECIAL INVITATION –  A Peek Inside One of Your Best Wooden Boatbuilders Shed

You are invited to an open afternoon at Brookes Boatbuilders, to view the restoration of:

  1. Fife Yacht, Impala
  2. Refit of K class yacht, Katrina II
  3. Restoration of Launch, Amakura II
  4. The many other wooden boats at the yard – Matia, Ladye Wilma, Kotiri, Pilot Cutter, Kenya II (Peter’s own classic launch)

DATE: Sunday 1st November

TIME: 2pm-7pm

ADDRESS: 108 Woodhill Park Road, Waimauku, Auckland
These invites only happen every 3>4 years so woodys do not miss out, it will be an amazing afternoon.

Amakura II

Can We Name These Classic Wooden Boats

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Can We Name These Classic Wooden Boats
I have been contacted by Evelyn Whitell regarding the above photos from the South Island, probably the Abel Tasman area. Evelyn’s father Sid Giberston is pictured in the first photo on the left of in the dark suit, the large (Evelyn’s words) lady on right is his mother and his father Alex (Alexander Gilbertson – also known as Deacon) is beside her. Alex was a boat builder among other things and was the youngest son of Captain David Gilbertson, a pioneer in Nelson. Capt. David was a shipwright and builder of several trading schooners and ketches, including one of the first steam boats in Nelson. They ran from Nelson down the West Coast, up North and around the South to Lyttelton. Sadly most were shipwrecked eventually. 


Evelyn’s dad, Sid, used to take groups of people down the bay for picnics in the Abel Tasman area.
Evelyn commented that the steamship mentioned above was discovered around 1997 under a ton of sand near Wanganui and was going to be taken to a museum somewhere. 
Any Southern woodys able to ID any of these boats ?

MARIAN – Ex Work Boat Conversion Project

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MARIAN – Ex Work Boat Conversion Project

Marian was built by Alf Saunders, is 50’ in length and powered by a 6LX 110hp Gardner. Her present owner has started the conversion to pleasure craft and now reluctantly offers her for sale.

Sadly no interior photo on her tme listing (thanks Ian McDonald). Currently berthed in Lyttleton, South Island. The listing states that she is ‘an amazing and well respected sea boat – the photo below would call for an underpants change for most of us Waitemata harbour woodys:-)


WW – SLIPWAY MILFORD BOAT BOOT SALE – Important Info
1. Sellers arrive at 9.30am – a tip – if you can, bring a table for you items + cash ‘change’ for buyers

2. Doors open at 10am for buyers

3. Cash only

4. Gold coin sausage sizzle BBQ

5. Its all over at 11.30am so don’t be late

ANY ONE RECOGNIZE THIS NAME BOARD – ATATU

A WW reader, Brent Farquhar,  sent in the 2 photos below of a name board his daughter found washed up high and dry on Waiheke Island. It appeared that it had been there for a considerable period. It measures approx. 410mm x 100mm. I have asked the Brooke brothers (Robert & Don) for comment, given the ‘Built by J Brooke – Devonport’ reference, but the name Atatu does not appear in any of the records that they have. So woodys – can anyone shed some light on the origin of the board?

Harold Kidd Input – Interesting! It’s not a launch and it’s not a Frostbite; I wonder if it’s a Wakatere canoe that Jack built or someone bought from him. It looks like pokerwork or chipwork and could easily be the backboard of a canoe which will go back to the late 1920s.

Waipa + Boat Boot Sale

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WAIPA + BOAT BOOT SALE 
Baden Pascoe recently sent in the above photo of the workboat – Waipa and commented that she was owned by Ray Bronlunds and if his memory is correct, Logan built. Wait brings back many memories for Baden, having helped his father, Howard, and Ray cut the box shed off her. This would have been back in the days Baden wore short pants i.e before school days and he was helping them do odds and ends. Then Howard Pascoe built the configuration as in the above photo. Back then s.he had a Perkins P4 and went like stink. With in a year Ray and Waipa were no 1 cray boat in the Bay taking the crown off Ronomor and Norma. Do we know what became of Waipa?

Left, A young Ray Brondlund and Don Ross on
board coaster Lady Jocelyn . Without any question two cornerstones of
Whitianga commercial boating and absolute gentlemen. Just to add Ray is a
former owner of the lovely Waione.


BOAT BOOT SALE NEXT SUNDAY (18TH) – ARE YOU ATTENDING? If so, make life easier for everyone and drop us an email so we know how many sausages to buy 🙂

MORE DETAILS BELOW
Lets be honest, we all collect / hoard boat bits. Could be a good time to gain some more space and earn a few dollars.Waitematawoodys and The Slipway, Milford are hosting a boat boot sale on Sunday 18th October at their boat yard in Milford, Auckland. Details below.So woodys, be brave and get together anything boat related that you think needs a new home and bring it along on Sunday 18th (10.00>11.30am) – to stop some ponker turning up with an alloy mast – there is only one rule – items must fit in a car boot 🙂 But we will make an exception for grandad’s kauri clinker dinghy.Its a big shed but space will be limited so drop me an email to reserve some space  waitematawoodys@gmail.com
As its the day after the General Election – I’ll either be in a good mood or very grumpy. AND IT IS CASH ONLY.