Category Archives: Working Boats

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CLASSIC LAUNCH – GUNNER – A Peek Down Below

Back in Dec 2023 we ran a story on the  1940 Erine Lane built 43’ launch GUNNER, where we saw her dockside. Link here https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/12/28/mv-gunner-update/

Today we get a peek down below. She is a solid old girl, 1-1/4” kauri carvel planked and powered by a 6 cyl. 100hp Ford Lees D series that give her a cruise speed of 7 knots. As Ian McDonald commented “crying out for a Gardner” 🙂

GUNNER was originally intended for work and fishing in the Marlborough Sounds. However, she was requisitioned by the Crown during wartime and transported to the Devonport Naval Base in Auckland for final fitting out. After the war, Gunner was sold and began commercial fishing out of Leigh Harbour. During this time, she also operated a mail run to Great Barrier Island in the Hauraki Gulf. Around 1957, Gunner changed hands again and continued her commercial fishing career from Port Ohope. In 1973, she underwent a 3-year conversion from a working vessel into a pleasure craft. This transformation included extending the wheelhouse and adding an aft cabin.

Each to their own but she appeals to me, a very comfortable boat that could easily do laps on NZ.

CAN WE ID THIS1930’s SAILING CRAFT AGROUND AT SULPUR BEACH – The Portland

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CAN WE ID THIS1930’s SAILING CRAFT AGROUND AT SULPUR BEACH – The Portland

Today’s woody photo comes to us from Owen Aspden. All we know for certain is the location — Sulphur Beach, Northcote, Auckland — and the era, circa 1930s.

The yacht appears to be deliberately ‘on the hard’, likely for a bit of maintenance or perhaps loading or unloading stores. But what’s her name — and can anyone identify her?

A short and sweet post today — I’m busy doing a little boat maintenance of my own.

20-10-2025 INPUT ex TOM ROWLING – The vessel is ‘The Portland’. Tom did his boys time in her in 1959. She is now lying derelick in Owaka River South Otago.
The the first picture below is her entering Port Motueka 1959, and the second one is taken at Awanui probably about 1920. In the third photo we see the vessel as of recent times.

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – RARANGI

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – RARANGI

Today’s WW story has a nice twist – usually, we post old photos and hope that, if we’re lucky, a few more recent ones turn up later. This time, it’s the other way around.

The 39’ RARANGI, a 1951 Lane Motor Boat Co. build, first appeared on WW back in December 2021, when a tme listing gave us a rare peek below decks and a look at her on her marina berth. Link here https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/12/12/rarangi-a-peek-down-below/

Fast-forward to last week – woody John Dawson sent in the photos above, finally completing the circle. Always great when a classic like RARANGI resurfaces to remind us how enduring these classic launches really are.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE EX WORKBOAT SEAFURY

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WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE EX WORKBOAT SEAFURY

WW has recently been contacted by Reeces Monkeey regarding his ex workboat (fishing) – SEAFURY. 

Home port is Nelson and Reeces is keen to learn more about the vessel, so woodys anyone able to shed some light on SEAFURY.


Earlier in the week Murray Deeble sent me a link to a great article titled ‘As An Alternative to white plastic, wooden boatbuilders are witnessing an exciting time ‘ that ran in the UK trade newsletter – MARINE INDUSTRY NEWS – link below.  marineindustrynews.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c9215b9be10a68a687ecd8e6b&id=2931d36142&e=5c6f570446

Fingers crossed we see an upturn in the profession in NZ. The UK are facing the same challenges we are eg an ageing workforce resulting in the numbers of traditional boatbuilders declining, plus the people who haul boats, step masts and carry out seasonal servicing – the skilled hands who keep the yards working year-round – are becoming fewer, older and harder to replace.

Full weekend details in the downloadable PDF file below, which includes the entry (free) form for the sailing events. 

LABOUR WEEKEND SPRING SPLASH (2)Download

Mystery Northland Classic Wooden Launch – VALIENT

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Mystery Northland Classic Wooden Launch – VALIENT

Leaving the Whangārei Maritime Festival on Saturday, I made the rookie mistake of thinking, “I know a shortcut.” I didn’t.
Instead, I found myself deep in the industrial maze of Port Whangārei.

The upside? I stumbled across a couple of woodys hauled out at Oceania Marine — home to the biggest travel-lift I’ve ever laid eyes on.

Tucked away among a line-up of serious commercial tonnage was today’s mystery classic wooden launch. She’d clearly had some recent TLC and looked about ready to be splashed again.

I couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at the generous helping of zinc hanging off her stern gear… seems the message about no / over-zincing hasn’t quite made it this far north yet! 😅

So, woodys — what do we know about this mystery craft? Any sharp-eyed locals able to share her name and history?

15-10-2025 UPDATE ex owner – Launches name is VALIENT, once called PLAY-BOY, Possibly built by Bailey & Lowe. 32′ in length. Has spent several extend stints as a long-line fishing boat. Once owned by the RSA Fishing Club in Whangarei, they did the name change. In a previous life was moored in the Waitangi river. Currently powered by a Nissan diesel.Has undergone a rolling restoration with lots of structural work, which included over 800 new copper rivets.

WOODEN CLASSICS TAKE CENTRE STAGE AT THE 2025 WHANGAREI MARITIME FESTIVAL – 60+ photos & videos

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WOODEN CLASSICS TAKE CENTRE STAGE AT THE 2025 WHANGAREI MARITIME FESTIVAL

Early Saturday morning I pointed the car north and arrived in Whangārei just in time to catch the soft early light — perfect for photography and well before the dockside crowds arrived.

Whangārei’s Town Basin really is the ideal setting for a maritime festival — easy dock access, great viewing angles, and plenty of nearby cafés and attractions. Add in the buzz of the Saturday markets and you’ve got all the ingredients for a standout event.

Wooden boat numbers were a little down on last year, but a few visiting commercial vessels — including Customs, Pilot boats, fishing craft and a pair of Waka — helped round out the fleet. From a public point of view, it was still an impressive line-up. Given the number of classic boats that have migrated north in recent years, it would be great to see more of the region’s wooden heritage on display next time around.

It was great to catch up with so many familiar faces — clearly the new highway was busy with Aucklanders heading north for the weekend.

All up, a thoroughly enjoyable day. Hopefully today’s photo gallery will inspire a few more of you to make the trip in 2026.

And there is always a few foody pix – hands down the best two seafood fritters ever – one mussel and the star – one whitebait. And a free KOWHAI coffee because she liked my WW t-shirt.

FYI – when I’m at an event I point the camera at what catches my eye , sometimes I miss a few boats but I like to think the photos are more like someone strolling the docks rather than someone trying to capture the whole caboodle 🙂

WELL, THAT’S SORTED – TWO CLASSIC LAUNCHES NAMED MA CHERIE NOW IN AUCKLAND

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WELL, THAT’S SORTED – TWO CLASSIC LAUNCHES NAMED MA CHERIE NOW IN AUCKLAND

Yesterdays WW story (scroll down to view) certainly delivered the goods in terms of clarifying the questions around two launches named MA CHERIE.

Firstly Murray Deeble advised that yesterdays launch is berth in the Milford marina, Auckland.


Then Dave Forrest contact WW re the other Ma CHERIE , as seen above, mentioned in yesterdays story – I’ll hand over to Dave – “My name is DaveForrest and I am the new owner of the vessel called MA-CHERIE and I have owned her since May this year.   She is currently moored at Te Atatu , West Auckland. My MA CHERIE was built by Garth Lane in 1960/61  in Panmure , Aukland .  Her name when first built was ma- Cherie  then in 1999 her name was changed to ADI KUILA and went to Fiji as a charter boat. Then came back to NZ in  2001. Murray Sole from Whangamatā had her then. In 2002  a new owner was recored as S.C.R. Holdings Ltd in Te Atatu”

Dave also commented that he has an extensive documented history on the vessel. The WW link below from July 2014 has a great collection of older day photos , including her Fiji days. https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/08/22/adi-kuila/

28-03-2026 UPDATE ex owner DAVE FORREST – MA CHERIE seen below relaunching after some TLC.

LOOKING FOR INTEL ON THE CLASSIC LAUNCH GRAHAM JOHN > WLLIAM STEER > HIPPOCAMPUS

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As Launched – 36′
Possibly 2022
Possibly post 2022 and named Hippocampus

LOOKING FOR INTEL ON THE CLASSIC LAUNCH GRAHAM JOHN > WLLIAM STEER > HIPPOCAMPUS

Back in Nov 2022 we ran a story on the the launch – WILLIAM STEER, via the WW comments section and numerous fb  pages we have learnt that she was built by Don Clarke in the late 1950’s in Motueka and launched in c.1961. As launched she was 36’ in lengthened powered by a Ford 6 cyl. diesel engine. Shortly afterwards she was acquired by the Drummond family in Golden Bay, who changed her name to GRAHAM JOHN. The Drummonds extended her (6’) and repowered her. She ‘worked’ as a scallop boat. 

Unsure of the dates but ownership changed to the McFedries family, father Don and son Brett had we in the Tasman Bay / Marlbourgh Sounds region.

In 2022 we learnt that the boat was owned by Hagar Parvin (purchased off Don McFedries)who had renamed her HIPPOCAMPUS and was  undertaking refit.

Colin Starines (nephew of Don C) once commented that he has no record of the boating being named WILLIAM STEER, would be nice to clarify that.

Can anyone update WW on where the launch is now  – Napier?

INPUT ex MIKE O’DWYER – Hippocampus is now owned by Mark Parvin, who, with the help of his father Peter, resheathed the hull in ply/glass. The rest of the boat was brought up to a weather-tight condition as well. The boat is currently moored on the piles by the Napier Sailing Club.

And FYI the ex- Greymouth Pilot boat William Steer was moored here in Napier a while back. The owner at the time was converting to live aboard. Up North somewhere last I heard.

WATERFRONT HAPPENINGS 

News this week that the Auckland wooden boat festival is returning in 2026 to the viaduct. Dates are March 13 >15th. More details at the event web site  https://www.aucklandwoodenboatfestival.co.nz/

Organisers are looking for suitable classic wooden craft for inclusion, application process / form on the website.

Links below to WW coverage of the 2024 event https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/03/04/77770/

https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/03/05/auckland-wooden-boat-festival-off-the-water-gallery/

REFLECTIONS ON THE 2025 PORT TOWNSEND WOODEN BOAT FESTIVAL – 80+ Photos / Videos

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REFLECTIONS ON THE 2025 PORT TOWNSEND WOODEN BOAT FESTIVAL – 80+ Photos / Videos

One of the bucket list classic wooden boating events is the annual Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival. From all reports the 2025 event was outstanding. While its easy to go on-line and find a link to a professional overview, in my eye there is something special about viewing a festival attendees collection of boats – sure the light or camera angle isn’t alway perfect but you get a raw edge, which appeals.

Today thanks to kiwi John Oates we get to share what appealed to John’s eye.

One of the festival features that sets it apart from a lot of events is the ability to go aboard the boats and talk to the owners. There is something for everyone – food & drink, live music, kids activities, movie screening and lots of opportunities to get on the water.

One of this years ket themes was tagged –  ‘A Gathering of Maritime Legends: Celebrating Shipwrights’. The festival brought together shipwrights from some of the world’s most iconic maritime institutions—craftspeople who keep the art of wooden boatbuilding alive with skill, heart, and tradition.Via  a mix of talks, presentations and hands on gatherings where the public were able to rub up against the legends.

Enjoy the gallery – I did. As always click on photos to enlarge ;-

Ps John has promised another photo report featuring more classic sail boats ✔️

Pps where did that Morris Minor Ute come from ?

A NEW CHAPTER FOR COMPACT TRAWLER BESSIE FLORENCE 

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A NEW CHAPTER FOR COMPACT TRAWLER BESSIE FLORENCE 

As I have mooched around the bottom end of Waiheke Island over the years, ono of the craft I have spotted most frequently is the 26’ BESSIE FLORENCE, link here to a Jan 2016 WW story. https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/01/16/bessie-florence/

BESSIE FLORENCE  is a ‘mini’ trawler designed by Jay Benford and built in 2006 by Paul Jessop of Waikawa, Picton for Cook Strait fishing and Sounds use. With her build year and construction method (glassed ply) she sits outside of what we would label a classic wooden boat , but probably slides into the spirit of tradition family.

Forward motion is via a 30hp Yanmar 3GM30 diesel engine that which averages approx. 3 litres per hour when cruising at 5-6 knots.

Recently her owner made the call to move the craft on and I can report that her new owner will be relocated BESSIE FLORENCE to the Coromandel area and changing her name to TOBY.