The 32’ launch Ana Maree has appeared on WW several times (links below). Thanks to Harold Kidd back in November 2013 we established her start in life and some of her history – all in the links.
Built in 1965 by Oliver & Gilpin for Sir William Stevenson, over the years she has under gone several visits to the orthopaedic surgeons – we last saw her in Jan 2020 when she was part way thru a refit at Pine Harbour. At the time she lost her flying bridge so I was very happy. I understand there is still a few items to tick of the list but all of the major work is completed.
Forward motion is from a 120hp Lees Ford engine
Thanks to her tme listing (ex Ian McDonald) we get to have a gander down below.
After an extended period of one family ownership the 1968 Arnold Couldrey designed, Salthouse built, 28’ launch – Pirimanu changed hands several times.
Happy to report that her current owner has engaged Blair Boats in the far north to undertake some deferred maintenance. The previous (sub 12 mths) owner bought Pirimanu gave her a lick of paint and some new cushion covers and put her back on the market at almost double the purchase price. As most WW readers know, old wooden craft aren’t like villas in Auckland’s Herne Bay in terms of return on funds spent 🙂
Eventually the price came back to realistic and she sold – now she is getting some TLC. Hopefully she will return to the Waitemata but I suspect she will join the growing fleet of Bay of Islands woodys.
Current work underway is replacing the windows and a back to bare wood varnish job. I had heard a re-power might be on the ’To Do’ list. Current zoom zoom is via a 3 cylinder Bukh engine that has had its hp ‘tricked’ to upwards of 60hp.
The headline above comes from a t-shirt that the boys at Off Center Harbor gave me and it fits todays story perfectly. Some photos that drop into my inbox go straight to the ‘WoW Keeper’ file – todays is one of those, it comes to us ex Tauranga Library archives via Dean Wright.
The chap in the deck chair doesn’t look like he has been on the end of a paint brush, maybe an owner supervising the work, or maybe just taking in the vista. What ever he is doing I think we all need to do more of it 🙂
The photo is tagged ;ady-Julie Nov 1960, I suspect that is a typo and it should read – Lady-Julie, so woodys are we able to ID launch in the background?
Recently on the subscription only weblog – Off Center Harbor there was an amazing short film titled ‘Conversations with The Lobster Lady’. The lady is Virginia Oliver and when the film was made in 2019 Virginia was aged 100, and woodys today Virginia is103 and still working the pots.
Angus Rogers came across the film on YouTube so we all get to view it – you’ll enjoy it – she is a hoot 🙂
Todays very impressive photo comes from the Tauranga Museum archives via Dean Wright and show the launching of the launch – Sapphire, also centre stage is Lady Lynn. Photo dated Dec 1969
Lady Lynn – 48’ built by Oliver & Gilpin – later named changed to Lady Sophia and currently Tide Song. Read and view more about her here https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/09/06/lady-lynn-lady-sophia-tide-song/
Sapphire – Don’t know anything about Sapphire but In May 2016 Dean Wright snapped the 1st photo below of Sapphire in a berth at Whangaroa Marina. And again in Jan 2017 she popped up again in a gallery of photos that Dean sent in from the Far North, 2nd photo below.
Only last week the 32’ Kairanga popped up on tme, and already appears to have sold, or maybe the owner realised it was too cheap and pulled the listing. In my eyes Kairanga is a real looker and always kept in top condition.
Kairanga’s past is a little cloudy in terms of builder and year – but its been commented on WW before that she is possibly a Baileys and built c.1912.
At one stage in her life she was a work-boat servicing lighthouses and marine construction in the Hauraki Gulf. The work-boat link is supported by the fact that she is built like a brick outhouse eg triple skin kauri – 2 diagonal planks and one horizontal
Forward motion these days is via a Ford 90hp diesel.
Current home is the far north – would be nice to see her back on the Waitemata. Photo below dated 2018.
Photo below ex K Ricketts
27-09-2024 INPUT ex CHRIS KOOGER – The photos and the listing on trade me was when we owned the good ship Kairanga. We had her for 30 years. Loved the boat and was hard to let it go but she is now loved by James and Ann-Marie. I bought the boat I 1992 from Derek Tanner and she was in a very sad state. We hauled her out and trailered her to Bucklands beach where she got a major makeover with the help from Harry Mieyer a boat builder who taught me a lot about boat building and repairs. I was told by Derek that she is a Bailey built boat, 32 foot. Double diagonal and planked for and aft. About 40 mm thick. Super solid boat that handles the rough seas with no problems. She weighs about 7.5 tons.
It had a BMC engine in it when we got it but that was no good and we put the Ford 90hp engine in it. Changed the gearbox 3 times and fitted a hydraulic gearbox in it which was great. New Shaft and driveshaft fitted at the same time. I built the cockpit cover in the later years of our ownership.
While out in her we met a chap who said that his family owned her in the sixties and another time out we met a fellow who bought her in 1956. Fantastic boat that I always felt safe in. My children and many friends have had great times with her and I think about her a lot. Great memories. Great to see that she is still being loved and getting the regular attention that any boat needs.
Recently woody Simon Smith commented that all the mystery launches were a struggle for the stick & rag brigade that follow WW. Simon sent in the above photo , so today can we ID the yacht and possibly the design.
INPUT ex Jim Lott – Hull looks like an early Bert Woollacott. Could well be Vectis, but only if she was later rerigged. When I had Vectis in 1972-6 she had two sets of spreaders and the boom was a bit shorter.
INPUT ex Robin Elliott – Although the boat is Vectis, that “23/7/23” date is a bit dodgy. Vectis was not launched until 1930. NZ Herald 15/11/30: Mr. Wollacott’s new cruiser Vectis, which, is ready for launching at Devonport during this week-end was registered in the C class, although her waterline length of 27 feet would qualify her for the B class if length alone was the deciding factor. Vectis is 31ft overall and a wholesome type of cruiser.
I can’t just leave you with one photo of a yacht so check out the short film below of Auckland’s North Shore in the 1920’s. It was filmed an advertisement for the Devonport Ferry Company showcasing what the shore offered.
For the time poor just fast forward to the 4:14 mark – some great footage of the Devonport waterfront and craft hauled out at the Devonport Yacht Club + Bayswater in its heyday , how did we ever let that gem of a location slide into the condition it is today?.
Further on there is some excellent sailing footage and I love the pond yachts. ENJOY (ex Ngatira Tronga Sound & Vision) – CLICK LINK BELOW TO VIEW
Todays woody – King Fisher if you believe her tme listing (thanks Ian McDonald) states she is a Shipbuilders design and built in 1998. Someone more worldly than me can advise if that possible.
What I can confirm is that King Fsher is 36’ in length with a beam of 11’5” and draws 3’3”. Built from kauri with f/glass to the waterline.
Forward motion is via twin 160 hp. Chev 4stroke V8 diesels, the engines are said to be ex military.
Some very tidy interior wood work, but the listing mentions she requires some TLC. Currently located in Helenville.
Todays woody is another ex the Tauranga Museum archives and comes to us vis Dean Wright, its tagged Westwind and dated January 1962.
And that woodys is all we know – so reaching out for more details on her design / builder and what became of her.
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
While Bay of Islands woody, Dean Wright was working on his own launch – Arethusa at Opua Marina, he spotted the 1956 Percy Vos built 28’ launch – Nga Kiwa being relaunched after what appears to be so annual maintenance e.g. a bum clean and new anti-fouling.
The video is ex DW and the still photos are screen grabs from the video.
Nga Kiwa is new to me so would love to learn more about her.
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