Todays photo was sent in by John Dawson and is dated January 1976. Times have sure changed.
Can we ID the launch alongside the dock. I sprinkled some magic dust on the photo – see below, might help with the ID.
06-11-2026 – INPUT EX KERRY LILLEY -The Tutukaka game fishing boats on the other side of the finger backed up is Freelance with half brown half white coamings Every year during winter 1965-70 Ken Williams brought her up from her mooring in the clean river to Owen Woolleys yard where she was built we pulled her up on the slipway it was my job to clean off her bottom n antifoul with the best Singapore antifoul paint with our special additive We used to go up to the local chemist and we could buy a vial of arsenic stir it into the paint n roll it on not much grew on the hull then Kerry Lilley Owen’s apprentice 1964>1970 .
100 YEARS AGO – CLASSIC WOODEN CRAFT AT DEVONPORT YACHT CLUB
Todays classic woody photo popped up on ’Timespanner’ fb , we see the Devonport Yacht Club, Auckland and a mix of yachts and launches hauled out on King Edward Parade yard in front of the clubrooms. The photo originated from Auckland Libraries heritage collection and has been tagged 1930 > 1940.
At first I thought we had seen the image on WW before but a search slowed no match.The motor vehicles should help with the appox. date.
Keen to put names to some of the motor boats. Have enlarged that section below.
INPUT EX RUSSELL WARD – The big workboat with the oveized funnel and wheelhouse morphed into the ketch Waihau under the guidance of Raph Sewell and long-suffering wife Allison in the ’50s. I have a pic of her in 1972 below). She was taken for work at one of the Speedy family’s places in Stanley Point, Last heard of 10 years back rotting away on a farm at Puhoi.
THE NEXT BIG CLASSIC WOODYS EVENT – Clevedon River Overnight BBQ Cruise Nov 14>15
RSVP NOW – BOAT NAME AND APPX CREW #’s – Note dock space is limited
KAWAU SPRING SPLASH CLASSIC PARADE – 25 WOODYS + A BAY FULL OF BOATS
If you were thinking about buying a classic wooden boat but weren’t quite sure which style floated your boat, a visit to the 2026 Kawau Boating Club Spring Splash over Labour Weekend would have gone a long way towards answering that question!
Over the last two days, I’ve shared a series of semi-random Waitemata Woodys posts to give you a taste of the action, both ashore at the KBC and out on the water.
Aside from New Year’s Eve, I can’t recall seeing so many boats anchored in Bon Accord Harbour. Now, I know that’s not everyone’s scene – some skippers will do a U-turn if they’re not the only boat in the bay! But for most, the fleet, the atmosphere and the chance to catch up with fellow boating enthusiasts are all part of the magic.
There were a few new systems to navigate and the inevitable operational speed bumps, but none of that stopped the good times rolling. Each evening, the dining and partying got underway, with music perfectly matched to the crowd. The food gets an 8/10 from me, which is high praise indeed!
So, a big tick to the team behind the weekend. If you enjoyed this year’s gathering, do yourself a favour and circle Labour Weekend 2027 in your diary now.
Today, I’m sharing a photo gallery focusing on Sunday’s WaitemataWoodys Classic Wooden Boat Parade. We had a fantastic turnout, with 25 classic craft joining the parade. I have include a few photos that show the ambience of the KBC (thanks to Beth Houlbrook from KBC for her photos). When I cover these big events, my objective is to try and give the WW readers a taste / feel for what it was like, so enjoy the gallery and remember if you click on a photo it enlarges.
And it wasn’t just the parade. I’ve never seen so many classic wooden motorboats out on the water at one time, the bay was absolutely teeming with woodys, my count was 41 classic craft.
Enjoy the gallery, and remember, clicking on any photo will enlarge it. Scroll down to view the two previous weekend posts.
P.S. If you were there and we missed your boat, apologies. With so many classics on the water, keeping track of everyone was always going to be a challenge.
Spotted the 33’ Roy Parris designed and built (1978) classic launch – WAIKARO at the Slipway Milford earlier in the week , poked my head / camera into the cabin and got a surprise – it looked a little like a tip 🙂 Normally she is immaculately presented (last photo), closer inspection revealed a large hole midships and the absence of her Ford 2715 diesel engine.
Turns out she is getting a heart transplant – out with the Ford and in with a new Yanmar. Will be interesting to see the performance comparison – the Ford was 6cly. 120hp and gave her a top speed of 14 knots, The Yanmar is 4cyl. 110hp and turbo. Yanmar is higher reving and probably 1/2 the weight. Her semi displacement hull helps with the speed.
Being keen fishermen her owners like to fish where the big ones are eg Great Barrier Island , so reliability would have also been key factor in the decision to re-power.
Looking forward to feed back on the performance of the new Yanmar.
And for those that can’t be bothereddoing either – sit back and have a coffee
THERE ALWAYS HAS TO BE A WOODY PHOTO – From memory I think Nathan Herbert took this one of RAINDANCE on route to the Riverhead Tavern. But Jason Prew commented I must be wrong as NH would never be out in those conditions 🙂
CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH KALAMERE – UNCOVERING HER STORY
Todays woody story started from 2025 note from Denis O’Callahan via the November 1958 edition of Sea Spray magazine. One of the craft featured was the 34’ motor launch KALAMERA, built c.1958 by Alan (Snow) Water in Takapuna, Auckland. She was built for a gent named Jack Bennent of Paeroa. Her intended home port/s was listed as Coromandel /Whangamata, where she was to be used primarily for sport fishing. The woody question that day was did she ever make it to Coromandel and what became of her. Link to that story https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/09/14/in-search-of-the-classic-wooden-launch-kalamera/
Well woodys fast forward to earlier this week and jackpot – WW received an email from John Clynes who describes himself as the first mate on KALAMERE, John thought WW may like an update on her history and some latest photos. John is a retired boatbuilder who also I worked for Jack Stone in Takapuna and built real wooden boats. John lost contact when Jack moved up the Wade river no build a 50’+ Fijian Kauri commercial fishing boat that John lofted out the frames for.
John wondered if we have any info on Jacks boats.
I’ll hand over to John to tell the story –
“ Jack Bennet, a war veteran, saw wartime service in the Mediterranean as a truck driver in World War II. On return, he married Doreen and they were both keen fishos on the Thames coast. In the early fifties they bought a boat named Noni in Whangarei as advertised in the NZ Herald for 1450 Pounds. With the help of Allan (Snow) Waters, a Takapuna boatbuilder who surveyed her, they all took delivery and sailed her down to moor in Tapu on the Thames coast. Sadly, they lost Noni in heavy seas eight months later and she washed ashore on the rocks by the roadside in the next bay. Noni was trucked to Auckland for assessment and was deemed a write off. Jack managed to retrieve the four-cylinder diesel, prop and shaft for his next boat, determined to make another boat bigger and better.
Jack engaged the services of Snow again as he was renowned for building seaworthy hulls that would sail and motor comfortably in any weather to handle coastal New Zealand conditions and so KALAMERA was born inspired by Jack’s wartime service in Greece. Kalamera means good morning.
Mr. Lou Wenzlick had a permit to take standing dead Kauri out of the bush on top of the Wias track above Hikutaia. Jack bought a log 37-foot-long log and took it on his own transporter up to Helensville Sawmill which was the only mill capable of milling that length. He then loaded the milled timber on his transporter and delivered it to Snow Water’s boat shed in Takapuna. Kalamera’s ribs needed Tanekaha or Mangeao timber, so Jack harvested a tree of each from his own back bush property in Komata and got Harvey Evans in Paeroa to mill them.
Otie Miller an older gentleman, and a qualified ship’s furnisher, employed by Snow, fitted out the interior. Fred Pole was a mate of Jacks who lost an arm in the desert and came home on an hospital ship with Jack and was rehabilitated to become a French polisher. Fred very kindly polished all the interior mahogany joinery. Snow made all the templates for the bronze stem, bollards and cleats and got them cast at the Thames Foundry. 12 months later a thing of beauty was born, 34 foot in length, 10’6” beam, draught 3’9” initially powered by the motor from Noni and replaced five years later with a 100hp 6-cylinder diesel capable of nine knots
The 8th of September 1958 on a crane at Devonport wharf, she was christened Kalamera and cruised the upper North Island for many years from her home port in Whangamata staying in the family with Jack’s three children Ron, John and Eileen until June of 2004 when Neville Foster, Eileen’s son and grandson to Jack took ownership of Kalamera, privileged to keep the boat in the family and brought her over to her new mooring in Puhi Rare Bay Coromandel.
3 years later in 2007 Kalamera chafed through her 40mm polyester braided mooring rope and decided to take herself on a journey in a storm and vanished out the harbour entrance. The following morning, Neville got a call from the harbour master Dick Williams who saw her come back into Woolshed Bay Coromandel with minor damage. She came back into the harbour by herself just to say “Kalamera! Good Morning!”
Neville and family made a work move to Australia and sold Kalamera to Norm and Pam Gray of Waiomu (Thames Coast) in 2009. They enjoyed her for eight years when Neville bought her back in 2017 while still living in Australia. Covid made travel difficult, so it was time to give her up again for the last time.
Bruce Pemberton the current owner bought her in 2023 and has her up in Fureys Creek, Coromandel on a mud berth for restoring as finance allows. Bruce had a trucking career and is a diesel mechanic by trade, so it is rather fitting as Jack Bennet was also a truck driver and mechanic which puts Kalamera in good hands. In 2026, Bruce did a complete 2026 overhaul pistons and liners on her 1963 diesel engine and now burns a clean stack and she purrs like a kitten is easily giving her hull speed of 9 knots. Painting, painting and painting over 2026/27 will bring Kalamera back to her former glory which is testament to real wooden carvel plank, kauri boats, a pedigree of nearly seventy years always lovingly maintained.“
CLASSIC WOODYS ABROAD – COLOURFUL CRAFT ON THE CÔTE D’AZUR
For the last few months, Kiwi woody Shane Anderson and partner Azra have been exploring Europe the hard way — by bicycle and on foot. And we’re not talking about battery-assisted cycling or gentle strolls! These two have been tackling the big stuff, including the mighty Mont Blanc.
This week, they’ve been hiking the spectacular French Riviera, using the beautiful coastal town of Villefranche-sur-Mer as their base.
Naturally, Shane couldn’t resist checking out the local boating scene, and today’s woody photos come from the marina at Villefranche.
Shane reports that much of the local wooden fleet consists of smaller 15–22ft fishing boats, most powered by small diesel engines, with a few sailing craft thrown into the mix.
What really catches the eye is the wonderful use of colour. These working little wooden boats have plenty of character, and sitting together in the marina, they make for a colourful slice of traditional Mediterranean boating life.
The photo above has appeared on WW before, capturing and promoting the X-factor that makes Kawau Island such a special destination for classic boaters. Its sheltered anchorages, rich maritime heritage and relaxed cruising atmosphere make it hard to beat for a Labour Weekend escape.
Over the past few years, the Kawau Boating Club, Ponsonby Cruising Club and WaitemataWoodys — three staunch supporters of classic boating and the cruising lifestyle — have been working together to develop and promote a gathering of traditional craft in and around Kawau Island.Brought together under the banner of Labour Weekend Spring Splash.
The event is becoming a wonderful opportunity for owners and crews to get out on the water, catch up with fellow enthusiasts and celebrate everything that makes classic wooden boating so special.It’s all about good boats, good company and the timeless pleasure of cruising in one of the Hauraki Gulf’s most treasured destinations.
• SATURDAY – Matakana Markets River Cruise & Round the Island Yacht Race
• SUNDAY – Waitematawoodys Classic Parade & Short Course Yacht Race + Race Giving ar KBC
• MONDAY – Breakfast at KBC
Each day the KBC clubrooms will be open to all boaties + we have new managers and menu. Check on-line for opening hours. https://kawauboatingclub.nz
f you are not racing there is no requirement to enter, just turn up and enjoy the weekend and the sociability of the KBC. Hey you my enjoy it and consider becoming a member 😉
PS – I emailed details out to the WW data base earlier in the week, but not surprisingly not everyone is on the database. If you want to be kept updated on classic events and gatherings – just drop an email to waitematawoodys@gmail.com with your name, boat name (if you have one) and mobile number. We do not spam you, it is a very tight list.
Further to Sundays storyon Astrid, there was an Athol Burns thread on Boatdesign.net about 14 years ago where the topic of Astrid came up. An ex-owner (now residing in the USA) came forward and provided some colour photos from his ownership and he made the following comments:
I was partnered with a friend we owned ASTRID in Auckland for a few years. I too was wondering what became of her and stumbled onto this forum. I have included some photos.
She had a single banger gas engine with a huge flywheel crank start. The name eludes me. It was kind of cool in it’s annoying way. Cranking made for some funny times.
She sailed quite well with a bit of a struggle pointing as you can imagine. We decked her out with some Lidgard sails including a full radial reaching chute. From memory she was built in Kawhia. I had a copy of the Seaspray article but it has since disappeared.
