Mystery Classics On The Waitemata
Steve Horsley recently sent me the above photo – it came from a collection of old albums that Steve has been loaned. The album photos cover – Auckland, Sydney & England.
The only one that Steve can shed any light on is the V-Class on the left (is the sail # 16 or possibly 36?). Her name is AVOO or AVDO?
Anyone able to ID the motorboats on the right?
MOATA & CAPRICE
Todays photos are from Bruno Redwood’s facebook page & show the 1937 Moata anchored in the Clevedon River c.1965, the river was ‘in flood’ at the time. The 2nd photo also shows the 34’ launch Caprice, built in 1916 by the Grandisin Bros.
The last photo, just of Caprice c.1966, again on the Clevedon.
You can view / read more on Caprice here https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/04/29/the-launch-caprice-silver-bay-waiheke-island/
And Moata here https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/04/04/moata/
Mystery Launch at Lake Rotomahana
The above launch is obviously a tourist / charter boat but the styling is very ‘out there’. Photo comes from Lew Redwood’s facebook page. Nathan Herbert has commented that she has a nice looking hull, the question is from whom & when did the top 1/2 arrive?
The caption states: Steaming Cliffs, Waimangu, Rotomahana.
Lake Rotomanhana, Rotorua, is the North Island’s deepest lake & increased it size x20, as a result of the 1886 Mt Tarawera eruption.
Any woodys able to shed some lift on her background > & what became of her?
Kawau Island Boats & Baches
Recently I had had enough of weekends in Auckland so with the wife out of town, I took the opportunity to escape & experience the 2nd to last stage that some of us go thru e.g. yacht > launch> motorhome > death.
An old neighbour & friend Chris Miller, owns a large motorhome, so we headed north to Sandspit – & booked into the camping ground for the weekend.
On Saturday we took the ferry to Kawau Island for what is known as the ‘Royal Mail Run’ – the boat mooches around the island dropping off / picking up passengers & freight for all the private jetties. While not a woody, the ferry trip is a must do, you get to visit most of the bays & can even enjoy a wine or two.
The photos above are a random gallery of the woodys I spotted on the trip & some of the waterfront holiday homes.
Work Boat Wednesday
Woody owner (Arethusa) & commercial photographer, Dean Wright, has just returned from two weeks cruising around the bottom of the South Island on board a 1970, 47’ Saunders motorboat. They made it down to Stewart Island (Port Pegasus) & then came up the East Coast of the South Island to Mana, Wellington.
Todays story showcases some of the work boats Dean spotted in Port Chalmers,
I love the southerners use of colour on their boats, maybe its for dual purposes – looks & safety e.g. to be seen.
Any southern woodys able to ID those without names?
WAITANGURU
Waitanguru was built by Allan Williams in 1953 & measures approx. 33’ & has a 9’10” beam.
She is kauri carvel planked, & powered by 39 hp Yanmar diesel. You’ll see from the trademe photos (thanks to Ian McDonald) that she is very well fitted out, & has been in survey.
Do we know anymore about her?
Input from Harold Kidd – WAITANGURU was built by Alan Williams for Petersen of Te Awamutu. She is 31′ x 11′ and had a 4cylinder Ford originally. She went first to Taupo then to Tauranga in 1966. Gerry Dawson of Caster Bay owned her in the 1970s and kept her at Milford. By 2001 she was owned back in Tauranga by Les and Pam Dawson and used for charter game fishing. A very able boat.
13-05-2018 Update from Ron Dawson
Waitanguru was built in 1949 I beleive on spec and bought by Frank Peterson of Piopio in the King Country. He finished the boat and kept in Milford. My father bought the boat in 1967. In 1968 dad raised the dodger and kept Waitanguru in Milford until he sold the boat in 1988. The boat originally had a Coventry diesel motor which was replaced with a 60hp Ford diesel in the early to mid 60s. Dad replaced that motor to a 72hp Ford diesel late 60s. Waitanguru went to Gulf Harbour for a couple of years and then to Taupo about 1990. I’m not to sure when the boat was moved to Tauranga. I do know Waitanguru had an outboard motor on the stern trolling for trout on Lake Taupo. The boat length was 28 feet plus boarding platform.
Waitanguru’s name comes from a place on the road from Piopio out to the coast at Marokopa in the King Country.
04-05-2022 UPDATE – additional photos ex May 2022 trademe listing
RELIANCE
The above photo of the motorboat Reliance came to me from Keith Humphrey’s collection of old Auckland photos.
The gent in the bow, looks ‘The Boss’ being delivered somewhere.
Does anyone know anything about the boat & what became of her?
Harold Kidd Input – This RELIANCE was built by Bailey & Lowe in June 1905 as a “commuter ferry”. She was 22′ x 5’9″ x 2’6″ and had a 2.5hp Hercules engine. Although this image is clearly on her trial trip in Auckland with, I think, Walter Bailey amidships, I’m sure she was built for A. Billing of Thames.
LORNA DOONE
The game fishing boat Lorna Doone has been mentioned in numerous WW stories but I have never had a photo – thanks to Lew Redwood we now do.
She is pictured above at the Black Rocks, Bay of Islands. The photo was taken by Tudor Collins.
Lorna Doone is a sister ship to Otehei, Alma G (the first of the Collings & Bell clones) & Manaaki. All were powered by Redwing engines & were capable of 16 knots.
For comparison below is a photo of Alma G, off Cape Brett.
Input from Martin Howson – In the late 50’s both Lorna Doone and Matareka 11 were moored in the Tamaki River at Bucklands Beach L D was owned and operated by a Des Shimanski and M was owned and operated by Rex Sly both vessels were long lining at that time, great to see that both remain both , Des’s son Brian went on produce Briski propellors .On one occasion Lorna Doone came ashore on Hooks Bay on Waiheke with a big easterly blowing and Bert Surbritski with Romo would not tow her home because he knew that he would lose her on the way home with her riding up on the tow and dropping back with a heavy shock load. It was always rumoured that LD had the end of a sword fish bill through her bottom planking beneath the cockpit sole, I never saw it myself.
Some Advice Sought
I have been approached by Graeme Finch the owner of Te Arahi looking for some advice on his name boards (see below). They have a paint effect that appears to have been done to look like a varnish finish. The name / letters are done in gold – which Graeme believes is gold leaf given how well they have weathered.
Graeme is intending to paint the edges white, and would like to find someone who understands the “brown paint that looks like varnish aspect” to touch up the front surface – it’s not too bad at present, but he wants to attend to it before it becomes a major.
So in summary he is trying to preserve the gold leaf lettering so hoping to leave the lettering in place and work around it touching up those small areas, which have started to deteriorate – rather than removing everything and starting again.
So woodys anyone know the paint/varnish effect & who might do a small job like this?
My initial thought was it might be aged Cetol? A horrible product.
CLASSIC STEAM LAUNCHES
Two Saturdays ago I mooched down to the Salthouse Yard (ex?) / Greenhithe Wharf to catch up with the crew from the Auckland Steam Engine Society gathering. Primary reason for attending was to see the new steam launch – Kotare, which unfortunately was a no show, rumour was he experienced a mechanical oops on-route (update – arrived later in the day, after my departure). The morning was still a winner with 4 steamers present. I have said it before, but I could own one of these, I’m a closet pyromaniac – so fire & classic boats, it’s a win / win.
We had – Tui, Janice Helen & Victoria present + one with one name.
Enjoy the photos – here is a WW link to some photos & details on SL Kotare https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/03/23/ss-kotare/
The Potae on the gent below, was always going to go for a swim – I lost count of the saves. It sank but floated below the surface long enough to be rescued 🙂
Southern Work Boats – at the Catlins
Fiona Driver & Rod Marler were recently down south, very down south – The Catlins (situated between Dunedin & Invercargill) & as you do, they dropped into the Kaka Point pub to re-hydrate. The photos above were taken from prints on the hotel wall, they tell the story of a proud past. Very wild section of our coast & I suspect as were the blokes that worked it.
I wonder if any of the boats are still around today?
The photo below from the same pub, caught Rod’s eye, shows a surf comp at Kaka Point beach mid 1960’s – none of the locals they asked could remember the exact date but the collection of cars gives it away.
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