Category Archives: Yachts

OLLIE IRENE

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OLLIE IRENE- with covers removed, catches her breath in Port Macquarie for a couple of years
Splined hull and repaired bow …and installed 5 new laminated ring frames to secure shape
Repaired garboard and glassed under waterline rolling the glass into a rebate and glued a “spline” into it secure the transition at water line.
Installed self draining front cocktail cockpit through front hatch carlings, including provision for  ice bucket to chill the “ bubbles Also allowing safer working space for anchoring. Storage for 3 piece hard deck cover when cockpit not in use and spare anchor in locker under seat…
Fabricate and fit keel extension for rudder and install new prop shaft tube
New rudder
After removal of a number of previous era bearers New engine bearers install to take 80HP Vetus, new prop shaft and drip less seal 
The tank!…..out, modified to fit and be removable in future increased baffling, water sump and inspection plate which now sits below the cockpit engine hatch…Cockpit sole and structure remained  in tact
Engine pan fabricated and installed
Engine in position for installation
Front engine cover/ companion way with storage bins in each step for oils , spare belts, filters etc 
About this time I decided to put Ollie out in my back paddock

OLLIE IRENE

Over the past couple of weeks I have been chatting online with woody from over the ditch – Keith Glover is well known to some of us in the classic wooden boat community having competed in several Auckland classic yachting regattas as crew on Auckland classics. Unlike most Keith has even gone as far as to sail his 1949/50 Alden ketch ‘WRAITH OF ODIN’ (photo below) from Brisbane to Auckland to compete in the 2010/11 regatta.

Todays WW story is based on Keith’s launch – OLLIE IRENE, that Keith has been restoring/rebuilding//recommissioning/rebirthing (multi-choice) for the last few years as he says “out in the back paddock’Probably best if I let Keith tell us about OLLIE IRENE:

* LOA 32’x Beam 9.3″‘x Draft est 3’ x Displacement est 5.5 Ton

* Original Iron bark keel, Spotted gum frames and hull planking, new sheathed ply deck, house, and laid teak cockpit sole

* Little is known of history or providence (long story of how it finished in my hands) other than to say it was a completely stripped-out mildly hogged hull, with a rebuilt deck, and bare house structure. No engine, gearbox, drive train, prop or rudder, although you could see from remaining engine beds it would appear at least 3 different power plants had made an appearance over time!  However there was a fuel tank of unknown age or condition totally built-in positioned aft between floor plates and captured by custom deck beams prior to the teak cockpit sole being laid  BONUS!!….it was sport but suffice to say it turned out to be new SS which now has better baffles, removable and the cockpit structure remains intact!

* De hogged (adjustable steel cradle)  and Splined hull, installed a 80HP  motor with hydraulic box ,bow thruster pressure hot water, head etc etc etc

*The complete fit-out has been built, dry fitted, finish coated  including upholstery ,basic electrical systems and switchboard etc etc and are in storage awaiting installation whilst we finish painting stuff.

* Limited research suggests Ollie was built in Brisbane during the 1920s as a spec (launched as Irene) built by a yard long since gone and appears to have a close design reference to Blanchard Lake Union Dream Boats of the 1920s from the NW coast USA.

Along the way, I have managed to repurpose many orphan genuine classic bronze bibs and bobs boat bits including some from my original restoration of Wraith of Odin, and targeting a Wooden Boat show in Pittwater November this year.

The purpose of Ollie is to explore some Australian East Coast river systems for which Wraith is unsuitable.

WRAITH of ODIN

HELP NEEDED IDENTIFYING THESE WOODEN BOATS – Lady Eileen

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HELP NEEDED IDENTIFYING THESE WOODEN BOATS – Lady Eileen
As mentioned on Tuesday WW has been contacted by Ted Armitage in regard to a collection of glass plate negatives he inherited. Ted had the photos digitised and has sent them thru to WW in the hope that we can identify the location / boats. Today we have two woodys alongside a wharf, the launch looks familiar, if my life depended on it, I would say it is VALSAN, the 46’ Bridgedecker built in 1948 by Lidgard.                                          

As to the sail boat behind – that is too hard for me, may be an early scow.  So woodys can we put names and a location to the boats in the photo.

UPDATE ex RUSSELL WARD – No question of it, its Lady Eileen (confirmed also by Nath Herbert). Look at the launching pic (below) – even got the drop down canvas cover side of the aft dodger.
Question of the day – How is Hylton getting on with her restoration?

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CAN YOU HAVE A LOOK IN YOUR TREASURE BOX
As mentioned in a story on June 2nd, the launch – LADY CAROLE has just started a refit. I’ll cover stage one on Friday.The owner has a big favour to ask WW readers – they are looking for the following – so check the ‘maybe one day’ box.
MUSHROOM VENTS – x2 – vents are 6cm from the top of the deck to the top of the mushroom when closed. Diameter of the outer flange is 115cm


COWL 1/2 VENTS x4 – (2 portside / 2 starboard) ideally between 200 and 300 high. (photos below reference example only)

Drop WW an email if you can help out  waitematawoodys@gmail.com

NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH – New Owners – She IS Coming Back To Auckland

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NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH New Owners – She IS Coming Back To Auckland

That might be the case but there are free boats.

Today we showcase the classic yacht – JANET, designed and built by Chas Bailey Jnr and launched in 1902

Back in 2013 the yacht was purchased by a Hawkes Bay syndicate and transported to Napier where a restoration was undertaken by co-owner Michael O’Dwyer. 

JANET was relaunched in 2015 and as you can see from the above photos has been very well maintained.

Lots of details and photos here  https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/08/23/janet-sailing-sunday/

Her owners are just not using the boat so have made the decision to pass her onto a new owner – BUT not any old owner, you will need to have a good % of kauri sawdust in your veins to be selected.

So woodys for the cost transporting her to her new home – this iconic classic vessel could be tours.

Initial enquires to Michael O’Dyer c/o  modwyer@nghs.school.nz

14-06-2024 UPDATE – New Auckland owners , all classic launch owners (ex yachties) dipping their toes into a wee bit of rag and stick boating 🙂 Well done. And all Ex Classic yacht Association members 😉

MATARIKI – N10

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MATARIKI – N10

During the week WW was contacted Kevin Uptown regard to the Mullet Boat MATARIKI N10.Kevin’s brother John had discovered reference to the boat in a Oct 2020 WW story (linked here) https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/10/02/classic-wooden-boats-bin-diving/ The yacht featured in a NZ Herald photo from Dec 1931, the photo is below.

I’ll let Kevin tell the story:
“My brother John Upton recently sent me a link to this web site  and I noticed the Mullet Boat Matariki. (NZ Herald 1931)
Our Dad Murray Upton bought Matariki in Tauranga in the early 60’s and sailed her to Gisborne I think in about 1963/64.
At that time the Harbour basin was being dredged so Dad had no mooring. Being the type of boat she was, it had to stay in the water.
Anyway long story, short we striped her down an took her Lake Waikaremoana and used her as a house boat for many years.
Matariki is still on the lake at Waikaremoana I must say she is looking a bit tired.
I have attached some photos which may be of interest to you.”

Bay of Islands Woody Long Weekend

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Bay of Islands Woody Long Weekend

Being a professional photographer, BOI woody Dean Wright is seldom without a camera near by, which is a bonus for us. Over last weekend (Kings Birthday) Dean was out enjoying the bay on his classic woody – ARETHUSA and took the above photos.

First up is a stunning open day boat that Mike mentioned that he had seen out a few times on the Kerikeri River and at last got close enough to take a photo.

The Gladden yacht – is WINTERLUDE, owned by Bram Cone. I’m told she is as impressive down below as what we see in the photo.

Next we have the 35’ launch – LOURENA  built in 1965 by Watson Brothers in Wellington to a Athol Burns design. More on her here https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/11/14/lourena-a-peek-down-below/

Lastly the very smart Salthouse launch – TAPUI, owned by Mike and Robi Quilter. Mike is a life member of my good bastards woody club, having taken a chainsaw to the flying bridge that was on TAPUI when purchased . See and read more here https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/09/04/tapui/

MULLET BOAT ON THE WAITEMATA – SPINDRIFT

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MULLET BOAT ON THE WAITEMATA – SPINDRIFT
Recently I discovered (thanks to Lew Redwood) a reference source that wasn’t on my radar – the Auckland Research Centre, which appears to be part of the Auckland Libraries offering. Most of the content will put you to sleep but an article this week on MULLET boats I think is worthy of reproducing. Reproduced below.
The photo above shows an open cockpit mullet boat, commercial fishing boat # AK89, off North Head, Auckland. Can we match a name to the commercial number?The image comes to us via Auckland Libraries Heritage collection 37-173 and may possibly have been taken by Henry Winkelmann.

It started off as a fishing boat for the working class man that became a cult classic – the mullet boat (aka the mullety). The mullet boat was developed in the 1860s for fishermen unused to the estuaries and tides of the Manukau and the Waitematā Harbours, to get their haul of fresh mullet, snapper or tarakihi back to Queens Wharf or Devonport as soon as possible. Included was a covered but cramped foredeck if the fishermen needed to spend a night out on the water. 

By the early 1900s, the days of fishing for mullet on sailboat were coming to an end as steam powered boats took over, but sailing the mulleties as a pastime was booming. They competed for the Lipton Cup which was donated to the Ponsonby Cruising Club by Sir Thomas Lipton, who had raced in the America’s Cup five times but never won. In fact, the trophy itself was made by the same silversmith who made the America’s Cup, is New Zealand’s oldest yachting trophy, and is still raced today.  

HAROLD KIDD INPUT – This is the 26ft mullet boat SPINDRIFT owned by H. Parker of Devonport in 1908. She was built at Devonport in 1904 by R.O. Farquhar. Later went north (Whangaruru, Whisk Martinengo thought) and wrecked.

The Best Sub 35’ Owen Woolley – AWARIKI – Now Offered 4sale At Reduced Price One of the best presented woodys 4sale with the Wooden Boat Bureau is the 32’ Owen Woolley built launch – AWARIKI Link below to more details and photos/

WBB has been advised that her owner wants her sold asap and has agreed to a significant price reduction – NOW $48,000 ono

DETAILS:  https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/11/06/awariki-on-the-market/

CONTACT: waitematawoodys@gmail.com

The Adoration Of Wooden Boats

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AWBF – HOBART 2023

The Adoration Of Wooden Boats

One of the many wooden bating channels that I follow is {the} Southern Woodenboat Sailing news-blog out of Australian, their tag line is ‘The News, Culture and Practice of Sailing Woodenboats in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific’ . Its very good check it out and subscribe. In this weeks communiqué one of the stories was a link to a 45min interview on the ABC Radio Sydney’s nightlife program, hosted by Philip Clark – the stations intro blurb was – ‘We are a land bound by sea, and boats are an integral part of Australia’s history. Wooden boats especially have something magical about them. They flex, they groan, they creak. They each have unique characters. Philip Clark on Nightlife is joined by a panel of wooden boat specialists. Steve Robson, a self-confessed timber tragic from Sydney. Peter Higgs, President of the Wooden Boat Guild of Tasmania and Greg Blunt, a shipwright and fifth generation boat builder from Williamstown, each with wooden boats in their veins.‘

Click the link below to listen to the interview – so many similarities to the NZ scene, a lot of the discussion focussed on the dwindling wooden boat building timber stocks, being Australia its Huon Pine, they do make reference to out mighty Kauri.

Three comments that made my ears prick up: 1. The key tip for looking after these old girls is – usage and maintenance was use it and often e.g. one > two weeks

2. In Australia fractional ownership eg a group of people forming a syndicate to buy, maintain and use  vessel is well established. In NZ I only know of 2>3 successful ownership syndicates. While there are numerous ‘charitable’ (I use the word loosely) trusts that own and maintenance classic yachts, seems NZ is slow out of the gates with fractional ownership groups – food for thought.

3. One of the panel was asked to give an estimate to build a clinker dinghy out of Huon Pine – answer for a 10’ one AUS$30>40,000………..CLICK LINK BELOW TO ABC RADIO 

https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/nightlife/the-adoration-of-wooden-boats/103743090?utm_campaign=abc_listen&utm_content=link&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_listen

MATUA

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MATUA

Mooching around Milford Marina yesterday waiting to meet someone and I spotted a woody that is new to my eyes – MATUA. Enlarging the photo I can read her home port as ‘Whangaparapara, Great Barrier Island’

What do we know about MATUA.

INPUT ex John Wicks – She’s a converted lifeboat, and a nice example of the type. In her previous incarnation she was one of the old island liner “Matua’s” lifeboats, hence the name. For several years she was here at Hobsonville Marina, in the ownership of the Redwood family. I don’t know who has her now.

INPUT ex GRAEME SAPWELL – a mate of mine Dave Cox bought her from marine haulage’s yard at Hillside Road, Glenfield back in the late 70s . It was then just an abandoned open life boat. He repaired the hull and built the cabin on it and fitted an old 2 cyl Dorman engine. It also was kept at Milford marina at the time.

Speaking of Milford Marina – there is a major make-over happening there – the days of the loose planked board walks that you had to climb ladders to access your boat at low tide are numbered. Totally new design that is up there with any of Aucklands other marinas, sadly I suspect the berthing rates will be going up, which could be the end of some of the tired old woodys currently residing there.

CICELY II

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Melody

CICELY II

Todays woody photo popped up on Lew Redwood’s fb earlier in the week and Harold Kidd commented that she was correctly named CICELY II and was built / launched in 1949 for the Methodist Mission in the Solomon Islands. 

We can assume she never made it back to NZ, hopefully still afloat but most craft that headed to the islands came to a sticky end. Do we known her status.

What caught my eye was the hull profile so close to the 1/2 model built by Graeme Lidgard and his son Andrew that featured in Thursdays WW story on the Lidgard launch – MELODY.

Mystery Lyttelton Launch

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Mystery Lyttelton Launch
Again only a mystery because her owner didn’t include a name on tme (thanks Ian McDonald). If we believe the tme story she is a Logan, built in1908, 36’ in length. Powered by a 1970, 65hp Rustin Rover (???) 

And that woodys is all me know – any southern readers able to enlighten us more on the launch.

BUY OF THE YEAR – HEAO – LOGAN 33 – A Sailors Motor Boat – Reduced Price – Low $80’ks – Click link below for details. https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/02/29/heao-a-peek-down-below-4sale/