WW has been following the restoration of the 38’ 1967 built classic launch – TAINUI for several years and as we can see from todays photos from Blair Boats, the big day is not too far off. Wonderful work being done and owner John Sloane must be over the moon.
Lots of previous WW stories covering her past, but looking at todays photos its hard to believe she was once a Harbour Board workboat.
Todays woody photo comes to us from Ross Dawson and is dated c.1957 and the location is Coromandel. The image is from a postcard and that woodys is all we know – so we throw this open for input – can we ID the wooden craft – L>R.
I’m not too sure about the aqua section on the workboat looking vessel, an unusual colour for 1957 and also doesn’t quite look kosher eg added to the photo at a later date.
INPUT ex MURRAY McGEHAN – The boat in the right hand side of the postcard picture is LADY WYN LADY WINN designed built and owned by the strongman family, moored outside their workshop. I last saw Lady Wyn in the Havelock marina about 1974.
INPUT ex JACKIE CAREY – The vessel is named the Lady Winn was built by my Uncle Sam Strongman and my father Harold Carey in the Strongman boat building sheds in Coromandel owned by Sam Strongman, my father’s brother in law. She was built as a family launch and we had many lovely adventures on her going to great barrier, Port Charles and around the islands in the Hauraki Gulf. Including coming out of Port Charles straight into some huge waves that were crashing over the bow and my father kept going until we got back to coromandel harbour. My grandmother was praying in the cabin while us kids were enjoying the ride in the stern not having any idea of the seriousness of the situation. She did have a mast.
INPUT ex Dave Giddens – In the mod 1960’s she was the support vessel on one of the Auckland to Suva yacht races.
INPUT ex LEW REDWOOD – Could the front launch outside Strongman’s in the Coromandel be TWYLIGHT built by Strongmans – photos below.
Back in nearly July, Sven Wiig shared with WW some photos from the Ryland family album, that had been shared with him. (FYI – Bill Ryland owned Sven’s boat – ARIANA c.1950’s. He fished her out of Wanganui. Bill owned her until sold in 1974. At the time of Bill’s ownership the boat was named – TE KAWAU)
One of the photos was of the vessel – DALAMORE, seen in the above photo cruising on the Wanganui River. At the time it was owned by Ted Ryland.
From the photo it appears to be a family day out, with two couples visible on deck / at the helm. An unusual view of the boat, no drones back then :- my guess – she is about to pass under a bridge, on which is the photographer.
1910 >1920 – original Deeming homestead and boat shed at Tapu Point
1945 > mid-1950’s – Opua to Okiato vehicular ferry
1980’s
1990’s
SAD DEMISE OF CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – ILEX
WW has been contacted by Greg Philpott regarding the 1910 classic wooden launch – ILEX. Readers may recall Greg recently published a book titled ‘Boats of the Bay’ and he’s working on a sequel (‘First Boats of the Bay’). Greg commented that one of the craft to feature in the new book will be ILEX. I’ll hand over to Greg to tell the story ILEX.
“Ilex was the very first boat built by Scarlett Deeming at his boat shed at Tapu Point opposite the fledgling township of Opua. She was built in 1910 and was used by the Deeming family in a variety of ways – two of the key ones, firstly as the school ferry to take children to and from the Opua School and this operated from 1928 to 1939. Ilex was also the prime towing launch for the Okiato to Opua vehicular ferry which had been instigated by the military during World War Two and was then taken over by Jack and his son Selwyn Deeming from 1945 and continued to operate until A E Fuller and Sons took over around 1954 and Ilex was replaced by Miss Doris.
The history of Ilex then disappears until the mid / late 197o’s when brother Don and Max Lightband purchased the boat in Auckland and took her to Mangonui where they ran her as both a family boat as well as used for fishing charters. She appears to have been sold around the late 1970’s to the then owners of the Mangonui 4 Square (the shop over the water) – it is possible that Ilex was renamed Twilight at that time.
Ilex then suffered a mishap when during a storm one night (date unknown) she was forced under the Mangonui wharf and had her topside totally destroyed. She was hauled out and placed on a property at Mangonui and restoration started. It looks like ownership also changed around this time. Eventually Ilex was acquired by Ken Wright who took her to his property at Kaikohe when he set about rebuilding her deck and cabin top – in the process adding a low flying bridge. She was then used as a family pleasure boat with much fishing engaged in.
In 2010, Ilex was sold to Warwick Moore who had her transported to the Maritime Museum at Paeroa. She was being worked on there when sometime between 2016 and 2019 she was apparently accidently knocked off her cradle by a worker at the Museum. She was subsequent destroyed by the Museum. A key part of New Zealand’s maritime history, at that time over 100 years old, gone.”
Greg would like to learn more of ILEX’s history particularly between the mid-1950’s and mid-1970’s. And also her time in Mangonui and her demise at Paeroa.
So woodys can we help Greg with his search for more intel on the vessel.I’m also keen to get some photos of the final days at Paeroa.
CLASSIC BAY OF ISLNDS FERRY – BAY BELLE GETS A NEW LIFE
If you’re on fb I’m sure you would have seen the amazing project Kate Farrant has taken on board – refitting the old (1971>2011) Russell > Pahia ferry into a floating pizzeria. Kate and helpers has spent the past year restoring the 57’, built in 1960 by Deemings Bros – BAY BELLE and recently relaunched her. Link below to a Jan 2024 story from when she was 4sale, lots of photos https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/01/28/bay-belle-party-boat/
At this stage the plan is to base the pizzeria at Rakino Island this summer. And before you comment that there is already one ashore in Woody Bay, the superb pizzeria run by Alf Newton sadly closed permanently at the end of summer 2025. As I have mentioned on WW they were the best pizzas in Auckland. So its exciting news to learn of Kate’s enterprise – but, big shoes to fill to equal Alf’s creations 🙂
WW has been contacted by a friend of Kate’s Josh Chapman who is in the process of documenting (video) Kate and BAY BELLE’s story and is keen to learn more about the boat’s history. Josh has made a short video to give us a sneak peek at the project.
So woody if you have any information on BAY BELLE, or know of anyone who was involved in building her back in the early 1960s? leads to former crew, builders, or families connected to her history Josh would like to hear from you – joshchaps78@gmail.com
When Kate’s finished the fit out and up and running we will let you know. I can see a Classic Woodys Cruise to Rakino to celebrate the launch of summer 😉
CLASSIC WOODY FUEL TANKER + CLEVEDON RIVER BBQ CRUISE DETAILS
When I first saw todays photo I thought it was Jason Prew’s launch MY GIRL loaded up for a xmas cruise. The photo was sent in by Barrie Abel (MV Matira) who spotted it on the wall at the office of Morton Timber in Clevedon.
You would have to hope those fuel drums are empty, but sometimes (fumes) that makes them more dangerous.
CLASSIC WOODYS CLEVEDON RIVER BBQ CRUISE
And on the subject of Clevedon and the Wairoa River – todays the day we open the book for expressions of interest to come on the river cruise to the Clevedon Cruising Club for the annual waitematawoodys overnight dockside BBQ. This gig is one of the stand out events on the woodys calendar.
We are always driven by the tides so this year its an early start – heading up the river at daylight – 6.15am. So we suggest leaving Friday late avo and anchoring in the bay. Many have done this in the past, makes for (almost) a leisurely start.
Normal plan – piloted Indian file cruise up the river, docking on the wharf, boats open for CBC members to inspect, evening BBQ at thecubrooms, leave early Sunday . Dogs welcome, but on a leash please.
For now – let us know – boat name, boat length, est. crew numbers email to waitematawoodys@gmail.com
FATHERS DAY SORTED FOR ANYONE WITH SALT IN THEIR VEINS
Rarely these days do I pick up a book and can not put it down – well it happened recently. I received an advance copy of Davey Jones just published book – ‘Davey Jones of Wakatahuri’ and its both a cracker read and an amazing account of his boating life and his interaction with the Wakatahuri region. Now I’m sure some of you will be asking yourself ‘ where is that?’ – well its in the outer Pelorus Sound at the top of the South Island, the Marlborough District (refer chart below). The area has been many things to many people – a fish factory, a boatyard, a ship breaking base and a community hub.
Davey Jones arrived at Wakatahuri as a young fisherman in 1956 and still lives there today , on and off when he’s not lapping NZ in his boat.
It’s an additive read that with the help of over 200 photographs will have you hooked.
And as a bonus – included is a reprint of an equally wonderful read -’Sounds Wrecking Co.’ by Martin Burthold.
So woodys drop a hint to the family re what you want for Fathers Day (Sept 7th) or just order one for yourself – $60+ p&p – all enquiries to daveyjonesofwakatahuri@gmail.com
AND I HAVE A COPY TO GIVE AWAY – just answer correctly the name of the vessel Davey Jones has most recently been lapping NZ on. Enter ONLY via email to waitematawoodys@gmail.com all correct entries go in the draw. Closes 6pm 17-08-2023.
AND THERE ALWAYS HAS TO BE A BOAT PHOTO – this is from Davey’s book and shows the work boat MARLBOROUGH PN47, in Picton Harbour c.1929, built by E R Lane. In the background are VALMARIE, at left, and Ernie Lane’s boat shed, the Picton Rowing Club sheds at right. The vessel under repair at Lane’s yard is a lighter from Port Robinson (Gore Bay)
One of the many classic boating channels I follow is the very popular small dinghy cruising guru Roger Barnes, star of his own highly popular YouTube channel (link below). Roger recently visited the USA, primarily to promote small dinghy cruising at the recent wooden boat show at the Mystic Seaport Museum.
In the 20 minute video Roger gets to sail on numerous cruising dinghies, visits boatyards and mooches around many port towns . The journey started in Maryland, Washington DC. and finished in Maine.
Sit back and enjoy a tour of the wooden boating scene in North America, and woodys it’s not all about dinghies 🙂
WW has recently been contacted by Jeff Giddens concerning the Picton built 36′ ex whale chaser – SURPRISE.
Jeff owns a boat shed at Mana, Paremata, in Wellington and a fellow resident owns the whale chaser. Jeff commented that the craft has been out of the water for some years and is now for sale. These craft hold a special place in NZ’s Maritime history and any example needs to be saved. See old Sea Spray magazine artice on the history of these craft. Jeff mentioned that she probably needs some work in the hull, and the project is best suited a retired boatbuilder or the like. There is an engine sitting in place, could possibly be a TS3 Commer, condition unknown.
Any woodys interested in taking on the project can contact Jeff at j.giddens@xtra.co.nz
SUNDAYS CLASSIC WOODY BOAT QUIZ- WINNER/S
This got a little complicated – the plaque on the front – see below, incorrectly ID’ed one of the boats. But this was my base and one woody – Noel Baker, entered with the answer that matched the plaque. Then Ken Ricketts entered with a massive (as he does) entry where he supplied intel that differed from the plaque. Consulted Nathan Herbert re the boat names and the boat names matched KR entry.
So decided that in fairness to both – I’d split the prize – NB gets the OCH cap and KR the WW T-shirt. In regard the split it was based on the physical size of these two gents 🙂
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