MV USSCo – 4sale

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MV USSCo 4sale

The 45’ launch – M.V. Ussco was launched in 1936 as the Donald Sutherland, built for the first Labour Govt. as a tourist / passenger vessel. She was also previously known as Sea Hawk.

She has spent time as a fishing vessel, and other unconfirmed duties maybe as a lighthouse tender before use as a private cruiser.

Built from 4 skin kauri she has a beam of 12’ and draws 4’, a Gardner 6L2 provides the forward motion and like most southern woodys she is fully spec’ed.

Her owner Pete Worsnap has recently placed her on the market – as architects say “she has good bones” and while she requires a little work, she is priced accordly eg offers around $25k. And that woodys is a lot of boat for the money.

We are a little light on photos, but in the first instance interested parties to contact Pete direct either ussco1936@gmail.com or 021 998 159

Spec sheet downloadable below

ussco-1936-collings-and-bell-4sale-specs-1Download

Spindrift

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SPINDRIFT

The designer / builder of the 33’ launch Spindrift is unknown, but the date is c.1954. Built from Canadian ply (what ever that is) her cabin tops has been glassed.

Forward motion is via a 1980 110HP Ford diesel, that gives her top speed of 10 knots.

Current home is swing mooring at ‘The Grove’ ( head of Queen Charlotte Sound). Prior to this she spent some years in Motueka.

Purchased by her current family in 1996 she made a trip down the coast to Akaroa and underwent an extensive but sensitively crafted refit in 1997. Then returned to Queen Charlotte Sound where she has spent her years exploring both Marlborough and Pelorus Sounds.

Today we get a look aboard thanks to Ian McDonald spot her on tme.

Athena – A Peek Down Below

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Athena – A Peek Down Below

Todays woody is the 1962, Des Donovan designed / built motor sailer – Athena. She last appeared on WW back in Feb 2019 – link below to that very informative story. Lots of photos, history and comments there.

Thanks to a tme listing we get a look down below. A snap shot – specs – 48’/12’11”/5’5” and powered by a Gardner 127hp diesel.                                                                                          

Her listing fails to mention that she is member of the ‘Submariners Club’ i.e. she has spent time below the waves. She also spent time in the ownership of one Alan Johnson, one of very few people 100% banned from the WW site, but that is another story…..

(photos ex M. Skinner ex trademe)

WW 2019 Story  https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/02/03/athena/

MYSTERY LAUNCH 11-04-2023 + Win A WW Cap – SEVERN

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MYSTERY LAUNCH 11-04-2023 + Win A WW Cap – SEVERN

Todays woody photo comes to us ex the Tauranga City library collection, via Nathan Herbert. She has appeared on WW before but today we are throwing it out there to see how many of the WW brains trust can ID her. Rather a fine looking woody.

All correct entries go into the draw for a WW cap – entries via email ONLY to waitematawoodys@gmail.com

The winner of the quiz was Paul Drake. The launch is the 1910 Logan built SEVERN, which these days resides in Taupo (Motuoapa Marina). Photo below sent in by Jason Prew, taken over Easter.

NGAHI – Gets A Makeover

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NGAHI – Gets A Makeover

Back in July 2016 the launch Ngahi made a brief appearance on WW – link below, at the time there was some good chat in the comments section but we never did establish her design / build date. https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/07/14/ngahi/

Fast forward to early March 2023 and Ngahi had just emerged from Glen Burnnand’s shed after some serious TLC that included –  redoing the exterior with all new teak cabin sides, new glass, rebuilt swim platform, new teak sliding windows and detailing. Owner Ash Weeks is very cock-a-hoop with the work.Ngahi was whisked off to Ash’s factory for a completely new interior – Ash’s trade is high end commercial interior cutouts so we expect to see a wow interior.

We look forward to seeing the finished work.
In the mean time – anyone know anything about her provenance.

Captaur – A Peek Down Below

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CAPTAUR – A Peek Down Below

The 30’ launch – Captor previously made a brief appearance on WW back in January 2016,  at the time we learnt from her then owner that she was built in Taupo in 1967. Planked cedar with glass top sides. Link to that WW story here https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/01/09/captaur/

Now thanks to the eagle eye of Ian McDonald we get a look down below from her recent tme listing.

Captor is 30’ in length and has a beam of 10’ and draws 3’.  Forward motion is via a 110hp Nissan SD33T that sees her topping out at 8 knots.

As you can see from the photos she is well fitted out and with 450L fuel and water tanks able to do some serious cruising.

Can we ID her designer and uncover some of her past.

10-04-2023 INPUT ex PAUL DRAKE – “When at Taupo, CAPTAUR was on a mooring just outside SIR FRANCIS’s boat shed. She had no visible name so we called her THIRTY FOOTER. We must have been told that she was thirty feet long. I believe that we thought she had been amateur built by her doctor owner.

She appeared well before 1967 (the supposed build date) as evidenced by the boat sheds which were removed in 1963.

The first photo below, which I took, has appeared before on ww and is dated May 1963 or 64 (boat sheds recently gone).

The second photo shows her with a bit of bright work which enhances her in my view. The date on this photo is pre ’63 . SIR FRANCIS’s boat shed far left.

So CAPTAUR is 60 plus years old and has been well looked after.  As you would say – ‘we like that’.”

Mystery Launch On The Wade River

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Mystery Launch On The Wade River

Small photo, short story today – its Good Friday.

The launch pictured above moored in the Wade River, Silverdale, Auckland that comes to us from an album that belonged to Brian Peet’s ‘non-boating’ side of his family. Brian’s assumption is that the launch is one that his landlubber ancestors saw from a shoreline or wharf.

Can we put a name to the boat – those portholes look vaguely familiar

Versaiiles – SOS

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VERSAIILES – SOS

Todays woody was built c.1960, carvel planked, 24’ in length and powered by a Lister 50hp diesel engine. And that folks is the some total of what we know about her.

She is up for sale on tme by the Seaview Marina, Wellington, to recoup unpaid costs.

The interior doesn’t quite match the exterior in terms of presentation but could be a low cost buy for someone. Last time I looked the highest bid was around $1k. Closes Tuesday late afternoon.

Anyone know more about the launch – almost differently had a name change since 1960.

1926 Collings & Bell Launch

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1926 Collings & Bell Launch – MANAAKI

If the tme story supporting todays woody is to be believed she must have had several realignments – supposedly built in 1926 by Collings and Bell and one of the half-a-dozen boats built for the Zane Grey big game fishing fleet.  36’ in length and carvel hulled. Forward motion is via a 75hp Ford (Lees) diesel engine.

Can not read the name on the stern – can we ID the boat and confirm the above details. Would be nice to know what she has been up to over the years. I was commented that she had recently relocated to Auckland from Northland.

INPUT EX GAVIN BRADLEY – Yes, that’s Manaaki looking very much worse for wear. She was moored briefly inside the entrance to Marsden Cove Marina either just before or after changing hands in 2021and was looking reasonably loved at the time. And just to clarify, there were 4 boats built for the Zane Grey Sporting Club – Otehei, Manaaki, Zane Grey and Lorna Doone. Lorna Doone was wrecked at Peach Island in Whangaroa Harbour many years ago (1970’s?). The other 3 are still afloat. The bill from Collings and Bell for the 4 boats was 2000 pounds! Total. Refer below copy of 1927 balance sheet for the Zane Grey Sporting Club.

A Perfect Woody Start To The Day

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A Perfect Woody Start To The Day

After a very average summer, we are enjoying a stunning autumn – none more so than Mark Lever the owner of the 1927, 39’ J Jukes built launch – Nereides. Early in the week Mark was mooching around Kawau Island and sent me a couple of videos of life aboard. The freshly caught snapper for breakfast had me salivating. View the two videos at the instagram links below.

When not afloat Mark designs and makes beautiful homewares, furniture and light fittings from his workshop in Matakana. The pan the snapper is cooking in is one of his.

Check out Mark and his work here www.syml.co.nz

See / read more on Nereides here https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/06/26/nereides-centenary-book/

Video links: (follow Mark on Instagram at thegoodshipnz

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cqlb7BSgIvP/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= https://www.instagram.com/reel/CqjTWMvg5Gm/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=