Category Archives: Working Boats

Petrel

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PETREL
The posts last week on the Philip Lange built vessel Faith have resulted in Sharon Lange (Sharon, married Philip & Bev’s son, Ian Lange) sending in the above photos of ‘Petrel’, the last boat built by Philip. Petrel was build under Philip and Bev’s Mill Bay house in Mangonui and launched in 1991.

Petrel was build for Philips son Stev and is used as a commercial longline boat out of Mangonui to present day.

The photos, from the top, are tagged:
1: The Petrel on the cradle front lawn of Philips house
2: close up
3: Getting ready to go down the drive to Mill bay for launching
4: Philip lange on the Petrel during launching , Stev Lange on the ramp , Bev at the front and Ian lange ready to help and Phils grand daughter watching the action
5: Philip Lange and the Petrel
6: Bev Lange & the Petrel
7: the Petrel
8: speaks for its self

The New Zealand Clinker
In support of last weekends Classic Yacht & Launch Exhibition, the Tino Rawa Trust have produced a 36 page booklet titled ‘ The New Zealand Clinker, its a great collection of stories on & around clinker boats. I enjoyed the read & learnt a lot.
You can grab a copy for $20 from BoatBooks in Westhaven or try your luck with answering the question below, all correct entries, emailed to waitematawoodys@gmail.com before 6pm 10-10-2017, go into the draw for a copy.

Q: Where does the word ‘clinker’ originate from?

Clinker Cover

Clinker Spread

Input from Russell Ward

A glossary in the pre WW2 book Motor Cruising by Irvine and others confirms that “Clinker (clincher, clencher) is a method of building in which each side plank overlaps the one below.”
Now, shipmates, we gotta drill a bit deeper into this one, maybe. Clenching or clench nailing is the merry art of holding an iron or hammer just right and picking up the sharp end of your nail as she emerges through the other side and turning it over and back into the wood (provided the wood is soft enough). Quick and easy and, if done neatly looks a lot better than it sounds. I sent a picture via Wifi to AH just now -qv. Iona had a lot of old epaired timbers clinched and it looked good.
The Yanks of course call “clinker” by the more descriptive term “lapstrake”. So Robin Seaward in ‘Boatbuilding’ 2ed says “Lapstrake -sometimes called clinker planking.”
However, I find this appealing “Late 17th century (denoting a person or thing that clinks): from clink + -er. clinker”. Do you reckon that the wisened old man crouched over the wee boat in the corner of the shed was clinking away at his craft?
(Personally I like the old-fashioned slang use for a bum note played on a musical instrument -a clinker! Or in my favourite town Galway, a clinker is a wee lass worthy of a very close inspection. Or modern slang says a clinker is a dingle berry. Nothing to do with our boats though.) Better watch where you use the term.
Take yer pick, fellow anorak wearers…..

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Wairuru – Auckland to Suva, 1947

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Waruru Cover

Wairuru – Auckland to Suva, 1947

I was recently contacted by Steph Mellors who advised she had a short diary written aboard the 1937, Charles Bailey & Sons built motorsailer Wairuru, during a passage from Auckland to Apia, Samoa in  June 1947.

On the cover (see above) is written in pencil Capt. Robt. Patterson, given the content of the diary, Steph does not think he wrote it. (I agree)

The NZ Maritime Index, records that Wairuru, owned by A G Bertram was sold in 1947 to O. F. Nelson & Co. Ltd., Apia, Western Samoa – who renamed her – Gaualofa. The records also sadly record that she was wrecked on 22 November 1953, on the South coast of Savai’i Island, near Sala’ihua.

Steph is unsure how she acquired the diary, thinks “probably rescued it from someone’s wastepaper basket in a fit of – it could be of interest to someone”.

Thankfully she saved it & now over 70 years later we get to share it. Enjoy the read, I did.

Any guesses as to who the author was?

Wairuru 1

Wairuru 2>3

Wairuru 4>5

Wairuru 6>7

Wairuru 8>9

Wairuru 10>11

Wairuru 12

I couldn’t do a WW post without a boat photo – my clinker dinghy Peg at Patio Bay. Which is a good excuse to remind you that today is the last day of the Classic Launch & Yacht – Clinker Boats Exhibition – details below – AND ITS FREE TO GET IN.

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Clinker Event Ad

FAITH – Flash Back Friday

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FAITH – Flash Back Friday

Last week I posted some ‘recent-ish’ photos of the Philip Lange built launch – Faith, now owned by Neal & Nicki Harding in the Marlborough Sounds. Yesterday I was contacted by Sharon Lange with the above photos from the launching & older days up north.

Sharon confirmed that Faith was built by Philip Lange in 1967 and launched in 1968 at Whangaparoa at Matakatia Bay. Philip installed a Kelvin motor in the Faith.

Philip worked the Faith as a commercial fishing boat out of Whangaparoa for a little while then left Whangaparoa, driving the Faith up with one of his young sons – Graham Lange , north to Mangonui , Doubtless Bay. From there he continued to fish for cray fish and longline on the Faith. Philip and his wife Bev and six sons moved to Mangonui where he continued to build other boats.

The Faith was sold to Philips brother Douglas then to Murray Hamilton (both deceased). Then sold to Vick Spaights, after that Sharon does not know any further history apart from the Hardings owning her now .

There are 4 of Philips boats moored permanently in Mill Bay Mangonui, they are: – 1. The Michele, 2. Kaipara, 3. Tui, 4. Petrel. The Petrel was the last boat built in 1991.

# The top photo was taken at the launching of the Faith with 4 of Philips young sons and one neighbor’s boy at Matakatia Bay on the Whangaparoa Peninsula.

# The middle photo was taken in Mangonui Harbour by the wharf heading toward Mill Bay mooring.

# The bottom photo shows Faith heading towards the Mangonui wharf.

Christopher Grey

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CHRISTOPHER GREY

CHRISTOPHER GREY

Today’s photo should please the Work Boat woodys out there. It was taken by Nathan Herbert on a recent trip south to Dunedin & shows the Christopher Grey.

Keen to learn more about her past & when she came out of the closet & became a pleasure craft 😉

Update – photo below ex Russell Ward

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Need To Tidy / Clean Out The Shed?

I have been contacted by Warner Bros NZ with an interseting request – read below J

DESIGN JUNKIES – OPPORTUNITY FOR UPCYCLING

Design Junkies is an exciting, upcoming, prime time television show that takes 6 Industrial Designers and challenges them to create usable household objects and breath-taking art installations from discarded materials. We are on the hunt for old marine salvage whether it’s wood, metal, rudders, masts or even an old clinker!  If you or someone you know, has a shed full of marine rubble that’s going to waste, we could be very interested in taking it off your hands. For any queries or expressions of interest, please contact Beth Eldercable on 027 8287 555.

 

 

 

Sou’ East

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SOU’ EAST
The 39′ 1947 Lanes built Sou’East is seen above weighing in a thresher shark at Paihia in 1984. Photos ex Dean Wrights collection.
Sou’East has appeared on WW before, but not as above – to view as launched photos & current day, click the link below.

Sou’East

I have include below another of Dean’s photos, this one of the very ‘salty looking’ commercial fishing boat – Lady Karen – photo dated 1984, when owned by Frank Goodhue.

lady-karen

 

Caroline

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Coroline

CAROLINE
Caroline was built by Roger Carey for Gilbert Rivas of Whitianga in 1951. She still has her original 3LW Gardner & measures 36’L x 10’B x 4′ 6″D. She still has her original 3LW Gardner. She was maintained by Howard Pascoe.

The photo above shows her berthed at Whitanga, Baden commented that it was nice to see an old girl return to her home port.

Do we know anything about her past life?

UPDATE 07-10-2019 Movie below, ex Allen Heatlie,  showing Caroline underway after painting inside and out.

 

Ever Wondered How They Used To Make Rope? Click the link below (ex The Mariners Magazine)

https://www.facebook.com/themarinersmagazine/videos/1910327765888740/

 

 

 

Joanne

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JOANNE

Another photo from Dean Wright’s recently scanned collection – this one shows the charter boat Joanne steaming down the Whangaroa Harbour. Dean recalls skippered by Laurie Ross.

Any of the woodys able to shed some more light on her design / builder & where she is today?

Update 17-01-2023 – photo below ex Eric Sanderson, date unknown

20-09-2023 UPDATE ex Barry Ogilvie –  I bought Joanne from Gene Jacobson back in 1999. Despite the considerable deterioration in timber that was found post purchase and the subsequent cost to bring her back to a safe working standard it has been a pleasure to be her custodian for the last 24 years.

Port Townsend Classic Wooden Boat Festival 2017 – 80+ photos

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Port Townsend Classic Wooden Boat Festival 2017 – 80+ photos
Kiwi woodys Jenny and Malcolm McNicol sent me the below photo essay from the Port Townsend 41st Classic Wooden Boat Festival from The Puget Sounds in Washington State USA. They were holidaying in the Sounds and got to enjoy the festival.
The McNico’s are members of The Rotoiti Wooden Boat Association and are the proud owners of Tauraka, which has featured on WW.

Enjoy the collection – sorry if I have ruined your day ……… 🙂

Remember to click on photos to enlarge 😉

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Waimarie II

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WAIMARIE II

Waimarie II was built by Oliver & Gilpin. The photo above was taken in 1984 & comes from Dean Wright’s recently digitized collection.

Dean commented that she was bought by Gerard Fitzgerald in 1986 and run as a charter boat in the Bay of Islands for two years, then someone bought her changed her name to Kiwi Cruiser and ran her for many years. Sadly Waimarie II hit Tapeka Point (B.O.I.) one night and was a total loss.

Do we know any more about her?

 

Sea Reaper

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SEA REAPER

Today’s story originated from woody John Wicks – John advised that the West Harbour Marina (now renamed Hobsonville Marina) were having a clear-out of what the locals call “Death Row”, the part of the hardstand where abandoned boats go to die. Either their marina fees haven’t been paid and they were at some point lifted out and impounded, or in the case of Sea Reaper, were already there and the owner has disappeared or just failed to keep up hardstand fees.

John believes that Sea Reaper is a Lidgard built fishing boat, made out of some fair sized chunks of tree-wood. She had been laid up at the marina for several years, and was moved to “Death Row” a few months ago. The hardstand crew had begun to partly dismantle her (removed the superstructure) preparatory to taking to her with a chain saw. Luckily, just a couple of days before the saw began buzzing, someone (a masochist??) bought her for a nominal sum. She’s to be razeed to deck level (the Gardner removed and trucked separately) to get her size and weight down and trucked to – somewhere – where she’ll hopefully be restored.

 

So woodys – anyone know where she went & what the plans are?

Input from G R Lidgard

Built Lidgards Bayswater 1963/4 to design by Athol Burns for East Coast Fisheries, home port Gisborne. Was heavily specc’d Kauri (I think) on Australian hanrdwoods and was fastened with copper bolts and into grounds with a variety of large cast dumps, it surprises me that such a well built and in survey boat was let go to such an extent. I remember their was little income in this type construction which was quite dated even then.

Input (photo below) from  Cameron Pollard

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And more photos from Cameron P.

Engine Removal

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The stick comes out

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Max height & max load for a 3am move 😉

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11-09-2017 – Ian McDonald asks a question – could she be a Saunders build ? see below

National Library of New Zealand – Archives

Interview with Alfred Saunders

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

Date: 14 Dec 1994 By: Saunders, Alfred Carr, 1911-2010

Ref: OHInt-0444-06

Alfred Saunders born at Point Halswell, Wellington 1911. Recalls his father was an artilleryman in the army, stationed at the Point to look after the large gun there. Talks about growing up on the Miramar Peninsula, Fort Ballance and other forts around the harbour. Also talks about period when father left the army and they moved to Whangaroa where his father took up crayfishing.

Recalls leaving school at the age of 15 years and commencing an apprenticeship as a shipwright with B J L Jukes Ltd, a boatbuilder in Balena Bay, Wellington. Describes his duties as an apprentice and explains that many of the boats worked on at the yard belonged to Island Bay and Eastbourne fishermen. Mentions living at Paraparaumu where he built a 40 foot fishing vessel called `May’ for a Mr Buckland at Plimmerton during the Great Depression. Refers to his work during World War II, describing some of the vessels he worked on which were commandeered by the navy. After the war went fishing from Paremata and details type of fishing and fish caught. Describes location of his boat yard at Paremata foreshore where he built a number of fishing and pleasure craft. Talks about the Sea Reaper, a vessel of 50 feet in length that he built and operated with his sons during the 1960s. Talks about the crayfish boom at the Chathams and the big demand for vessels. Mentions some of the problems encountered with the Marine Department surveyors and the modern fishing regulations. Talks about son, Harold, who has a boatbuilding business in Tory Channel in the Marlborough Sounds.