Johnny Wray’s Essentials Cruising List

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Johnny Wray’s Essentials Cruising List

I’m sure all of you are aware of Johnny Wray’s book – ’South Sea Vagabonds’ , if you aren’t – where have you been 🙂

In the December 1949 issue of Seaspray magazine there was an article on Johnny’s 2nd boat – the 1946 launched – 44’ Waihape. As part of the story Johnny lists his 6 key essentials for extended cruising.

Link below for more details on Waihape ex previous WW story https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/12/15/waihape-johnny-wray/

Rangiora Sinks Off Waiheke 21-09-1973

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Rangiora Sinks Off Waiheke 21-09-1973

The McGeady designed, 1964 built by Ben Hipkins, Gary Wheeler and 1st owner Gordon Collie launch – Rangiora struck the Ahaaha Rocks north of Waiheke Island on the night of 21-09-1973. A combined rescue effort of the police launch Deodar, Coastguard and 2 commercial vessels managed to save her before see went under. More details in the press clippings above from the NZ Herald.

These days she calls Wellington home, photo below. You can read and view more on her here https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/03/26/rangiora-2/

Paterangi Sinks In Shoal Bay – April 1973

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INPUT EX ALAN DEMPSEY “Oh God.. this article tears at my heartstrings.. MV Paterangi was my parents’ launch.. and summers were wondrous upon her. That partial sinking was a failed skin-fitting,but strangely there was evidence of out outside impact in it ( suspected tanalised pine pole that was found washed up on shore later). We spent that following winter on Okahu Bay hardstand getting her back seaworthy, and finely dressed. Huge respect to Keith Wyllie ( the ultimate Hauraki Gulf Old Salt) for doing srtrip-down and rebuild of motor , in situ. That’s a Good Mate eh?.. I learned  a lot about Ford Ds , all of 16 years old as I was, just handing him tools and watching and listening.  Sadly in ’78 a cyclone hit that dropped a neighbouring yatch’s rig on to Paterangi’s fordeck  that smaskedout the bollar, and she was blown ashore onto the seawall and smashed to bits , the waves blowing the bits all across the Harbour Bridge toll plaza… I was living in Devonport and we had solid water hitting the house,100 yard away from the beach.  Riding my motorbike into Auckland at 8am was the biggest traffic jam ever, and when I got to the toll-plaza area, I was pondering my stupidity in attempting the Bridge in  those winds, when I saw the wreckage all over the road.. and recognised the bits . Saddest moment of my life to that point. That afternoon was the first time I’d ever seen my father cry. Vale BJD, and MV Paterangi… two stalwart Woodies of yore. Cheers.”

This Is A Loyal WW Follower – woody Michael Park (MV Lady Jan) is a recent recruit to the classic wooden boating movement – in the photo below Michael is sporting his recent tattoo – I assume copied from the WW site. Also in the photo I spy a WW t-shirt. Photo ex David Cooke.

Mason Clipper – Alibi

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Mason Clipper – Alibi

Just prior to Christmas the owners of Alibi, a rather elegant Mason Clipper, quietly slipped her into Greg Lees shed at Sandspit. I understand that she’s in for a minimum of 3 months for a ‘makeover’ – we have seen some stunning makeovers from the shed in recent times. – Trinidad, Mahanui, Arohanui – so we look forward to following with interest – nudge nudge Greg Lees, photos please 🙂

(Photos ex Mason Marine Clippers fb)

Photo below Oct 1979 – Sea Trial on the Waitemata Harbour ex fb via K Ricketts

INPUT EX ALAN SEXTON – Copy of original Sea Spray article below + more photos from her recent haul out at the Sandspit yard.

You will note the she still has her original engines twin straight 6 Chrysler Mitsubishis.

21-04-2023 UPDATE – A PEEK INSIDE THE WORKSHOP – lots of Awlwood (Uroxsys) being applied 🙂 photos ex Mason Marine Clipper fb

PACIFIC GETS A TICKLE UP

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PACIFIC GETS A TICKLE UP

Happy New – todays the first story for 2023 and Pacific is a very fitting woody to welcome in the new year with – during the winter of 2022 Pacific sent time on the hard having some delayed maintenance issues addressed and some creative comforts added. I’ll let owner Nathan Herbert tell the story:

“Bit of an update is due after Pacific’s most recent haul. In past attempts, the prop shaft wasn’t able to be drawn out more than 150mm so I had always been nervous about the situation up there. This time with the help of Seagar Marine and The Slipway Milford, we by brute force and a makeshift large slide hammer removed the shaft. It was found to be pitted, and then very badly pitted in one section where she ran in a highly noble bronze bush about tube centre. Three bearings were subsequently rammed out; one lignum vitae, one fibrous and one bronze. The Tube was found to be thin walled gunmetal and had almost completely de-zinced to mush. The mystery bitumen bath on the keelson was found to be a crude repair some decades old, hiding bad corrosion. A boring bar was made from the old 3.6m tail shaft extended to 5m and with unholy effort the remnants were removed and the hole gradually bored out to accept a fibreglass stern tube. This tube was epoxied in, with two Vesconite and one rubber  cutless bearing installed, topped off by a Chatfields  blue water dripless seal. 

Interior works included re-configuration of the saloon to cater for modern(or at least 1970s) needs and finished in kauri and honduras mahogany. A lightweight cradle was made for the RIB when in commission, and a Francis  searchlight fitted to the bridge deck.

There are always extras attended to along the way such as minor/insidious leaks but they fade in the memory compared with the newfound smoothness of a new, dry drivel ine”

2021 saw major updates to the zoom zoom – link here https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/01/27/pacific-the-105-year-old-woody-get-a-new-heart/ https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/02/03/pacific-sea-trial/

29-10-2024 INPUT ex JOHN DAWSON – JD sent in the photos ex fb below of PACIFIC’s new cockpit refit