Todays woody the 28’ Brin Wilson designed and built (1966) launch.
An absence of varnished timber equals a vessel that is easily maintained by the DIY boaty. When and if you got the urge to pimp her a little, some varnished trim e.g. grab rails, would really make Te Anau standout.
Built from kauri, a reconditioned Ford 100hp diesel gives Te Anau a comfortable cruising speed of 7.5 knots. An inspection showed her structure was sound but needed some refinishing inside and out.
14-09-2023 UPDATE – Te Anau is back in the water having had the following done work done – photos below
GLENMORE Back in November 2022 we featured several of Picton boat builder Bill Orchard’s boats . One of these was the ex charter boat – the 1958 Glenmore. We learnt from Mark McLaughlin that Glenmore was one of the Pelorus Sound mail boats throughout the 1980’s to mid 1990’s, operated by Ken and Dianne Gullery. She was sold to an Australian owner and moored at Pittwater up Sydney’s north coast. She did the Tasman Sea crossing under her own steam from Picton, which is no mean feat for that type of boat. Mark also sent in the link to her 4sale post.
In the photos below of Glenmore we see her in her orange hull livery during the mail boat years and a the photo of Glenmore on her mooring at Pittwater. Fast forward to today and the 44’ Glenmore is for sale – from the photos above – appears to be a bargain at sub $100k. Forward motion is via a Detroit GM671, 240hp Would be nice to bring her home 🙂
Back in March 2020 whilst mooching around the Whangarei Town Basin one of the craft I photographed was he ex work-boat – Souvenir (my photo below).
Early this week Ant Smit was also walking the docks and sent in the above photos of Souvenir.
Can we learn more about this vessel – when I ask the question “does it move” I know I leave myself open for a side-swipe but every time I’m at the basin she is there.
INPUT ex Dean Wright – Photo below ex Dean dated xmas 2021, location – Army Bay.
Dean also forward comments from John Gander – “Souvenir was designed by Roger Carey for Erskin Neame a Blenheim fisherman, built in 1954 by Curnow and Wilton Nelson Boatbuilders. And powered with a 6L3 Gardner. For a number of years after launching Erskin with his crew Frank Derbyshire trawled out from the Wairau bar. She was later to be seen fishing out of many South Island ports.”
Yesterday WW was contacted by Jan Berber who is trying to uncover what became of her father’s classic wooden launch. The launch was named Norwind, 36’ in length , made from kauri and slept six. Some intel that Jan has some recall on – she may have had outriggers originally and sailed out of Tutukaka. Her engine possibly a Fordson diesel that gave her a cruising speed of 8 knots. She was sold in the early to mid 1970’s. Jan’s father’s name was Max Greg and he owned Norwind in the 1960’s, during this time she was moored at Westhaven, Auckland. Jan recalls that when purchased she had painted coamings but Max stripped all the paint off and restored her back to the beautiful kauri.
So woodys – cast your mind back 50+ years – does anyone recall Norwind and can we learn what became of her. Jan would love to hear that she is still afloat.
The 30’ 1914 Lane Motor Boat Co.designed and built launch Mapu has just emerged from the Blair Boats yard in Oromahoe, Harare (Far North) after a some TLC.
Mapu is one of the lucky woodys, still in the family of the great grandfather that built her. Like most woodys from her era she has undergone several additions / configuration to her tramtop / doghouse but the hull is still the original solid carvel planked kauri.
While it appears from the photos that she has lost her varnished coamings – I can report they were never varnished – the finish was a very smart brown paint and made of ply.
Mapu has appeared numerous times on WW – lots of history and photos in the links below.
Has it stopped raining………. I’m too embarrassed to tell you how many nights I’ve spent on the boat this year, makes the return on investment look very sad. But thankfully most of us don’t measure life on that template.
So on the assumption that the current meteorological conditions will end , we have pulled together a calendar of woody gatherings for the 2023 spring > summer period. Later in the year we will publish the 2024 calendar.
So woodys circle these dates on the calendar, and we will talk to you closer to each event.
In the meantime, light the fire and open that bottle you have been saving for a special occasion.
The 36’ Fraulien Maree would probably just just slip into the CYA criteria as a classic, designed and built by Jim Ashby in 1967. Her tme listing states that she is a Mullet design, someone from the yotting fraternity will have to explain that. Built with kauri planks on Kowhai frames and matte decks. Rather a sexy stern.
Her interior is very salty with that classic Herreshoff look – white panels with varnished trim.
When the wind dies there is a 30hp Vetus diesel to push her along.
When I was sent the link below re a proposed maritime anchor watch rule I had to check the calendar to make sure it wasn’t April Fools Day.
Seriously – What is Maritime NZ on? Read below ex a Yachting NZ post on the story –
“Maritime New Zealand recently stated that all vessels (recreational and commercial) must maintain a continuous anchor watch (lookout by sight and hearing) under Maritime Rule Part 22.5. Maritime NZ has recently shared the interpretation as: “At all times – during the day, during the night, when travelling to and from fishing grounds, fishing, while at anchor, or drifting.” With this interpretation, you may be breaking the law by leaving your vessel at anchor to have a walk ashore or going to sleep while anchored in a typical pristine protected anchorage.“
There was a poll / survey by YNZ calling for feedback, sadly that has closed off. Hopefully enough people responded telling them to stop interviewing their typewriters and actually talk to the boaters out there.
UPDATE – It would seem that Yachting NZ have got themselves a tad mixed up and made news out of something that wasn’t news.I received the note below from Jim Lott – I’ll let Jim take us thru the situation –
“This is not a joke and it has always been the case. All vessels are technically required to keep a watch at anchor.I’ll wear my ex-hat as a nautical school tutor and examiner for a moment.You suggest there is a new interpretation about recreational vessels and keeping anchor watch.For the past several decades (last Coll Regs rewrite was in 1964) there has never been an exemption for recreational vessels from keeping watch at all times (which includes at anchor) in the rules. All MNZ has done is confirm existing legal requirements, even if many yachties are unaware of it.Indeed, all the sections in the Maritime Transport Act and Rules made under the Act, including “Coll Regs”, Navigation Safety rule, and also regional Bylaws apply to all vessels all the time.There is an additional requirement for any ‘hire and reward’ i.e. commercial vessels to be surveyed to meet a set standard, and the skipper/crew to have a formal qualification (ticket).All other requirements including any penalties or fines apply equally to recreational and commercial alike.So where does that leave us?Nothing has changed so I suggest carrying on as usual, but be aware of the legal requirements.If we all sleep at night, or all leave the vessel, the skipper is still responsible for what happens on board. If a watchkeeper on board could have prevented an incident such as dragging, sinking or fire, then the skipper may have committed an offence under the MTA for “endangering property”, but I have never heard of a fine or prosecution for failure to keep a lookout while at anchor.Should, or could, NZ exempt recreational vessels from the international law we signed up to? It would require the change to be put through cabinet and being an international agreement, it is highly unlikely.(Insurance companies state that boats at anchor must not be left unattended for over 24 hours.)Other information Re: anchoring, you may be interested to note that there is nothing in the Coll Regs to say that a vessel underway has to give way to an anchored vessel. However the ‘ordinary practice of seamen’ to do so has been confirmed in court cases, and the obvious practicalities apply.There is an anchoring section in the Navigation Safety Rule to say that when anchoring, a vessel must not put at risk another anchored vessel. It means that if you drag into another you are at fault, or anchor too close and bump someone you are responsible.”
WW Caps – low profile, 6 panel, canvas caps in the new camel colour topped with dark brown WW embroidered logo has a dash of understated style.
Just click the email link here and tell me your name, postal address and number of caps required. I’ll come back to you with payment details – $38 + $6 p&p. waitematawoodys@gmail.com
Todays woody was nearly one of those projects that got started then life and time got in the way – thankfully Simon Raikes discovered the hull and took on the project.
What we see above is the result of Simon’s very talented skills. Simon’s company Craftbuilt won the 2023 Supreme Award at the Master Joinery Awards.
The launch is 30’ in length, constructed of diagonal laminated kauri planks and powered by a 80hp Ford D series engine. Not a lot more is known about the launch, so if anyone recognizes her – let us know.
The launch Nana popped up on tme 4sale by boat yard as a ‘As-Is-Where-Is’ sale.
Someone needs to snap her up – she has blue blood – designed by C. Bailey Jnr. , and built in 1934 by Chas Bailey & Son . 35’ in length and a very pretty woody.
Nana has appeared on WW several times – back in Feb 2017 she had just been repaired after being t-boned on her mooring by a wayward vessel. Link to that story with lots of pictures here https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/02/01/nana-resuced-restored/
waitematawoodys.com #1 for classic wooden boat stories, info, advice & news - updated daily - 15+ million views 