HERCULES 

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HERCULES 

Back in Sept 2021 John Newsham sent in the top photo above of the ex tug – Hercules that John photographed in the xmas 1987 period.

The second photo was sent in by John Dawson last week.

All we know about Hercules is that she is 50’ in length and was built by Howard Greenwood at his Whangateau boat shed.

Can anyone tell us more and whether Hercules is still afloat and where.

INPUT ex Mitchell Hutchings –  Hercules was never a tug. She was designed by Denis Ganley for the late Joe MacArthur to be a cruising version of  the Hudson River N.Y. tugs he loved. Hull built in steel by Howard Greenwood and finished with a beautiful wooden interior (some from the old Bean Rock lighthouse legs) by three boatbuilder mates at Joe’s property up the Paremoremo Creek. After many years of family cruising she was sold to a new owner who I believe took her to New Guinea. Engine is a lovely Gardner.

11am TODAY – BOAT BOOT SALE @ THE MILFORD SLIPWAY YARD – 5 OMANA RD, MILFORD – CASH ONLY

There will be limited stock of WW merchandise offered for purchase to pre approved woodys 😉

VICTORIA CLASSIC BOAT FESTIVAL – Vancouver – Dockside Tour 

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VICTORIA CLASSIC BOAT FESTIVAL – Vancouver – Dockside Tour 

Last week we had a story about Peter Knowles and his travel to the Victoria Wooden Boat Festival vis his v-blog ‘Boat Life – Travels With Geordie’. Peter very briefly showed us some of the craft arriving – today we get a dock-side wander, complete with captions for the classic woodys.

I hope the people at Auckland’s maritime museum see this video – re their upcoming Auckland wooden boat festival next year. The stand out observation is the mix of yachts + launches + work boats + small craft – it is all mixed in together and thats what works all around the world – not rocket science……………..

INPUT ex Neil Chalmers – Great video , at 2 56 there is the NZ yacht ‘Two Sisters’ (was sail no. F3) . Has a Woollacott look about her. I often wondered where she got to .

A picture of her at Bon Accord Kawau appears in the ‘Cruising in NZ Waters’  by GR Paul (below). This was the go to book in the 1960’s before to the RAYC Cruising Guide was published.

REMEMBER BOAT BOAT SALE 11am SATURDAY @ MILFORD SLIPWAY – 5 OMANA ROAD, MILFORD $BRING CASH$ WW MERCHANDISE FOR SALE

WEKA  – Anyone Know More About The Boat

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WEKA  – Anyone Know More About The Boat

Recently contacted by Trish James who has just purchased classic 13’ motor boat – Weka. Trish commented that Weka’s previous owners used her around the river estuaries south of Dunedin for awhile but she hasn’t been used for the last five years, but she was kept under cover. The only intel on her past life is that her she was built in Taupo around the 1950’s.

Trish is hoping one of the WW readers can shed some light on Weka’s past, possibly a name change at some stage.
When in the water her forward motion is via a Vire 7 hp engine, helped out by a small outboard motor. Her new home is at Trish’s Roxburgh home in Central Otago.

REMEMBER SATURDAYS BOAT BOOT SALE – Even if your not a buyer, pop down for a catch-up/chat. Kicks off at 11am. And if you are a buyer – bring cash $$$

LADY ADELAIDE – Changes Her Lipstick

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New Look
Old Look

LADY ADELAIDE – Changes Her Lipstick

Woody John Dawson sent in the top photo above of the 1922 Dick Lang built 36’ launch – Lady Adelaide. Seems her newish owner has been consulting the paint charts and decided a refresh was called for. Colour is a very personal thing and what colour your chose to paint your boat is your call, and at the end of the day its only paint so easily changed 🙂

Bottom photo was as purchased – lets do something different today and run a poll on what we think is the preferred look 🙂

CLICK ON THUMBS UP IF YOU LIKE THE NEW BLUE – THUMBS DOWN IF YOU PREFERRED THE MUSTARD COLOUR

NORSEMAN Launch Day

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NORSEMAN Launch Day

Todays photo is dated Feb 1965 and comes to us from Dean Wright ex the Tauranga Library collection. No mention of the location or builder.

Back in Sept 2022 Dean commented on WW that Norseman was run as a charter boat out of Tutukaka by Phil Bendle for an extend period, these days home is a mooring at Rangitane, up the Kerikeri River.

Photo below taken by Dean in Sept 2022 in the Bay of Islands.

It’s A Tough Job But Someone Has To Do It

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Cabin heater fogging up windows 🙂
West Bay, Rakino Island
Drone filming crew
There is always food
Beer O’Clock
Photo ex Mark Smith

21-09-2023 UPDATE – Can now show what the day was all about. A fashion shoot for the new WORKING STYLE summer range – click this link to view video from the day https://www.workingstyle.co.nz/

Also below more images from the day (click to enlarge)

It’s A Tough Job But Someone Has To Do It

All week we were scanning all the weather apps looking for that ‘magic’ day to schedule a fashion photo shoot afloat. The 1947 Colin Wild built motor launch – Lady Crossley was on stand-by, all buffed up from her recent round of TLC in Opua in the far north. The model was flying in from the UK so come Tuesday the call was made for Friday, and what a call – best day of the year – blue sky, flat seas, norther boats in the bay and the prefect light for photography.

Come 6am skipper Jamie Hudson and myself were drying LC off and at 7am we were heading to West Bay at Rakino Island. 

I’ll let the photos tell the story but Lady Crossley was the perfect catwalk for the shoot. 

More on LC here https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/01/14/a-woody-trip-up-the-coast/

ENJOY 🙂

Stormbird + Boat Boot Sale

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STORMBIRD + Boat Boot Sale

The 26′ Roy Paris c.1960 clinker built launch – Stormbird recently popped up on tme , thanks Ian McDonald, and to a brave buyer could be a great gulf cruiser. By brave I mean having the courage to get out the tungsten tipped chainsaw and dropping the cockpit top down some, if you want full headroom and good looks , there is only one solution – buy bigger 🙂

Stormbird is powered by a 60hp Isuzu desel engine that gets her along at 5 knots.                 

Home is the inner estuary at Sandspit and she comes with a swing mooring, which probably justifies the buy price of $12k alone.

Anyone know more about her past.

NEXT SATURDAYS BOAT BOOT SALE AT THE SLIPWAY MILFORD – so we can ensure there are enough bangers on the BBQ, if you are intending coming – seller or buyer – can you give us a heads up email waitematawoodys@gmail.com

AND I WILL BRING ALONG SOME WW CAPS AND BURGEES FOR SALE – SAVE ON POSTAGE. If you are an out-of-towner – shop on line https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/11/11/58095/

Can We Put A Name To This Launch – KIA KOA

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Can We Put A Name To This Launch – KIA KOA

Todays woody photo via Lew Redwood’s fb and its thought that its anchored in either One Tree Point or Marsden Bay, with Mt Manaia, Whangarei Heads in the background. If you look carefully there is actually two craft in the photo, the second is just visible over the cabin top of the ‘hero’ launch.

Others commented that it was actually Urquhart’s Bay with Calliope Island in the mid background. Also a suggestion that the boat was named Moerangi, an ex Mail Boat owned by Leonard Harnetts.

Would be nice to confirm her ID.

UPDATE 20-08-2024 ex HAROLD KIDD – The launch in front is KIA KOA, built by Bailey & Lowe in 1906 for A.R. Pickmere. Still thinking about the tuck stern launch behind.

Reply

1da day ago

If there is no WW story tomorrow it will be because the latest book ex the library wasn’t well received by the recipient………….

TARANUI Approaching The Ton 

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TARANUI Approaching The Ton 

Having just found a new owner for the John Gladden built motor-salier – Taranui (heading south), I uncovered another yacht of the same name deep in the WW files.

The Taranui featured above was photographed in Oct 2022 by Dean Wright at the Havelock marina. 

At the time we learned that this Taranui was owned by Evan Walker and she this year is about to celebrate her 97th birthday.

Built in Pigeon Bay Banks Peninsula by Edwin Bailey.  Has had only 4 family owners since 1926.  Robin Kidd did a piece on her in Boating NZ in November 2000 not long after we took her over from my father. 

09-0902023 UPDATE EX OWNER EVAN WALKER – Her exact launch date is not recorded, but the log of her building in Pigeon Bay kept by the first owner Campbell Hay, has Edwin Bailey and Joe Wheeler leaving in December 1926. So we assume that she was launched about then. Surprising really as the log is meticulous and lists all the work as it was done, the hours worked, and includes a full list of materials.

Weather permitting I’m boating today – aboard a grand old Lady, if it happens, photos to follow 😉

VICTORIA CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT FESTIVAL – Video

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VICTORIA CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT FESTIVAL – Video

For several years I have been ‘following’ on-line a YouTube weblog named ‘Boat Life – Travels With Geordie’. The Chanel is hosted by a gent named Peter Knowles and Peter has been recording the restoration of 3 classic wooden cruisers, plus we get to go/see his annual cruises in and around the Vancouver, British Columba, Canada area. Amazing location.

Earlier in the week Mark McLaughlin posted on WW a link to Peter’s latest story that includes a visit to the 2023 Victoria Classic Boat Festival – see above. Well worth checking out, lots of boat porn to view + I would encourage you to check out the past episodes of – ‘Boat Life – Travels With Geordie’. Link to more details on the site here https://www.youtube.com/@TravelsWithGeordie/about  Warning it can get slightly addictive 🙂