Todays woody photo was sent in by Nathan Herbert and comes to us from Lance Lange, grandson of boatbuilder Phil Lang, so there’s your 1st clue 😉 Rather a smart looking woody – can we put a name to her?
UPDATE – as advised by everyone and confirmed by Nathan Herbert – the launch is – Waipeke. Photo below ex Ken Ricketts
Wooden Boat Folk Series – today we also get to view latest release from the crew at the Australian Wooden Boat Festival, the video showcases the 1892 yacht – Clara. Launched in 1892 by Thomas Williams at the Domain Slipway in Hobart.
Clara is possibly the 2nd oldest wooden craft in Tasmania still afloat. Enjoy !
Recently I was contacted by Darren and Toni Anger, the owners of the ex workboat – MV Tauranga – below is Darren’s note to WW
“We have owned Tauranga for a couple of years now and we would love to hear any stories out there about her. The above photos of her show the different cabin configurations from her original to now.
Tauranga was built 1957 by Miller and Tunnage, Timaru for the Tauranga Harbour Boards pilot vessel. During her time in April 1982 she was stolen and run aground at Matakana Island, Tauranga Harbour Board completed a major refit and refastening of the hull, she continued her pilot duties until around 1990.
When sold to private ownership she was sailed to Havelock Marlborough Sounds for her pleasure vessel refit which was completed approximately 2004, this is when we first saw her in Havelock Marina at the start of our own world circumnavigation.
2020 we returned to Havelock to settle and saw Tauranga for sale, she now spends her days cruising the Sounds or on her mooring in Kaiuma Bay.
Tauranga is still powered by her original 8 cylinder Gardner.”
So woodys, can we help out with any tales from the workboat days and then the period starting 2004 > 2020 when Darren and Toni bought her.
INPUT EX NIGEL DRAKE –
“When I joined the Bay of Plenty Harbour Board as harbour pilot in 1982, Tauranga was in the middle of her major refit at the port slipway at Sulphur Point. She was outside but under a temporary cover while the 8 cylinder Gardiner was in one corner of the adjacent shed and the wheelhouse in the other corner. The relief pilot boat in use was the chartered Whitianga based fishing boat Defender. When Defender had to be returned to her owner after Tauranga’s refurbishment was prolonged the Mount Maunganui based fishing boat Sea Bee was chartered and used until Tauranga was ready for service again.
When built in 1959 by Doug Robb in Timaru Tauranga was fitted with a towing hook just aft of the forward mounted wheelhouse. The port did not own a tug at that time so some towing and ship assist duties would have been necessary in her early days. The arrival of the ports first tug Mount Maunganui in 1960 would have alleviated this requirement somewhat.
The refurbishment in 1982 followed the theft from her berth and subsequent beaching on the sea side of Matakana Island in 1979, I don’t think they had turned on the fuel. This second refurbishment following the incident gave the opportunity to move the wheelhouse from forward to aft now that towing requirements had long gone. This was a great success resulting in a large clear area of deck for the pilot and deck hand to operate in when alongside a ship always under the watchful eye of the launch master. The decision was also made to paint the hull and wheelhouse top rescue orange to aid in the easier identification of the boat by ships masters. This was a little controversial and non traditional but proved very successful and it is now normal for pilot boats world wide to have strong colour recognition.
The growing port saw the 9 knot displacement speed of Tauranga to be somewhat of a disadvantage and in 1985 the 18 knot Tauranga 11 arrived. An alloy Striker design built by the then Wanganui Engineering, now QWest, she relogated Tauranga to standby pilot boat. She enjoyed a somewhat sedate life in this role until being replaced in 1999 by a newly built 12m Naiad hydrographic survey launch which was also set up for piloting duties. Tauranga was put up for sale and departed under new ownership for Doves Bay in Kerikeri, Bay of Islands. This ended 40 years of very successful service at the port in Tauranga.”
12-04-2023 Updated photos
UPDATE 12-07-2023 Tauranga hauled out at …….. Tauranga. hotos ex Alan Craig
WOODY BOAT – BOOT SALE – THE SLIPWAY MILFORD Two years ago we ran one of our most popular woody events – a classic woody ‘BOOT SALE”, hosted by the Slipway Milford. Well folks its on again, circle Saturday 26th November in the diary. Lets be honest, we all collect / hoard boat bits. Could be a good time to gain some more space and earn a few dollars. Waitematawoodys and The Slipway Milford are hosting the sale at their boat yard in Milford, Auckland. Details below. So woodys, be brave and get together anything boat related that you think needs a new home and bring it along – there is only one rule – items must fit in a car boot 🙂 But we will make an exception for grandad’s kauri clinker dinghy. Most of the items will be displayed outdoors and space will be limited so drop me an email to reserve some space waitematawoodys@gmail.com AND IT IS CASH ONLY.
CLASSIC YACHT BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS
7.00PM THURSDAY 10 NOVEMBER at the Royal NZ Yacht Squadron. The Classic Yacht Charitable Trust would like to invite you, your family and your friends, to celebrate the 125th birthday of Thelma, the 1897 Logan gaff-rigged cutter, and the 130th birthday of Gloriana, also a Logan built gaffer. Our special guest will be David Barker, the world-renowned maritime artist, who has extremely generously created a new painting, which features our classic fleet and entitled “Start”, to assist in our fundraising effort. Come and meet David and find out how you can take home this fabulous artwork. This fun evening, with like-minded classic boating enthusiasts, will also be a crucial fundraising event for all seven of the boats in the trust – Thelma, Gloriana, Waitangi, Ida, Frances, Ethel and Rainbow II. So, please support this event and we know you will have a fun evening.Tickets: $30pp Order your tickets here
The above photo recently popped up on Maurice Sharp’s fb and generated some speculation as to the identity of the launch. The photo is dated 1976.
Several suggested Lady Doreen but the LD that I’m aware of didn’t have any forward portholes and the ones on this boat are very distinctive being a combination of oblong and circular.
Brian Worthington suggested Noelani (Oliver & Gilpin) but nothing like the 2015 photo of Noelani that has appeared before on WW (refer below) unless there has been some major work done to her or maybe there were more than one sharing the name?
Can anyone correctly ID the launch?
UPDATE – Quite a bit of chat in the comments section, it would appear that the launch above is the Oliver & Gilpin designed and built – Noelani (not the one below). Thanks to Greg Philpott for sending in this link that tells the back story of the Oliver & Gilpin boat building dynasty https://sunlive.co.nz/news/10869-days-when-boats-were-wood.html
(The launch above was launched as Lady Rosaland designed by Owen Woolley and built by Oliver and Gilpin – input ex Brian Worthington)
Mahanui is almost as new condition and presents as a hop board and go boating vessel – a snapshot of her package includes – dinghy, outboard, cockpit table and chairs, fenders, cutlery, pots, pans, glassware, tools (particular to the vessel), almost a spare of everything, cushions etc etc.
In the last two years of ownership the new owners have – upgraded the galley water system, new remote set-up for electric dinghy davit, new tender and outboard, undertaken a refurbishment of the interior (new – upholstery, carpet, blinds and refreshed bright work) and a full engine service. So woodys why am I telling you all this – because due to a change of circumstances – her owners have made the hard decision to pass Mahanui onto the next owner. So Mahanui is Offered For Sale.
Mahanui presents in suburb condition and while retaining her distinctive appearance her most recent owners have carefully integrated modern systems and technology to ensure the very latest in comfort and safety. One of the most livable classics on the Waitemata Harbour, she offers an immediate cruising solution – grab your togs and toothbrush and you and the family (>8 berths) are boating. t
Following on from last Sundays story on the launch Sobrine at Mansion House Bay, Kawau Island – today we have another woody photo from the same bay. Again from the Parsonson family collection via Mitchell Hutchings fb.
In the background we see the ‘CeeBee Air’ Grumman Widgeon, most likely piloted by Fred Ladd taxiing into the bay – a common sight back then.
So woodys – can we put a name on the launch?
REFRIGERATION ON BOATS
A blatant commercial plug today – I recently had the frig/freezer serviced on Raindance, the difference is staggering – ice cold beer and I was in the dog box for freezing the wine….
I use Extremely Cool – run by Darrin Kennedy, all frig work but a whiz on compressor driven set ups. Not long to Xmas so book a service asap at Darrin.excool@xtra.co.nz
And a blonde question – why do Heineken bottles freeze much faster than Corona bottles? I asked that question at KBC on Saturday night and was told that it was due to what the Mexican brewers do in the tanks before being exporting to the USA …. Hopefully an urban legend 🙂
NEW WOODY EVENT – THE WOODY BOOT SALE IS BACK ON AGAIN – SATURDAY 26TH NOVEMBER – VENUE = THE SLIPWAY MILFORD – FULL DETAILS THIS SUNDAY ON WW
Todays photos come to us via Len Redwood and Paul Hansen ‘s fb – in the top photo from L>R we have the Earnslaw (obscured), Mountaineer , then Ben Lomond and finally Muratai.
In the second photo we see the bow of Mountaineer tied up at the Kingston Wharf, Lake Wakatipu.
While the Earnslaw is well known to most of us, keen to learn more about Mountaineer and Ben Lomond. There is a brief mention of both vessels in this WW story https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/03/18/thelma-vera/
30-10-2022 Input ex Greg Philpott – Mountaineer featured on a New Zealand stamp – see below. Greg also uncovered a ‘glass lantern slide’ for sale on ebay that is tagged ‘P S Mountaineer Lake Wakatipo’.
The poster below for the NZ Antique & Classic Boat Show (Lake Rotoiti – Nelson Lakes) is a stunning piece of nautical art – each year they step it up a level. I’ve been – it is always a goody so circle 4th>5th March 2023 in your calendar.
Sunset – Smelting House Bay, Bon Accord Harbour, Kawau Island
Sunrise – Smelting House Bay, Bon Accord Harbour, Kawau Island
Lady Adelaide
Vivian Bay, Kawau Island
Ngaio
Meola & Whio
Classic Woody Boating Cruise
For all the wrong reasons I didn’t do a lot of boating (on my boat) this past winter, so the looming long Labour weekend was always going to see me leaving the dock even if the weather was ‘inclement’. Luckily it wasn’t and I slid away early Friday afternoon with the ultimate destination being Kawau Island. The boredom of mostly straight line motoring was broken up by Team NZ cutting up the gulf in their AC40, so so quick.
Decided to spend Friday night anchored at Moturekareka Island, the resting place of the wreck REWA (unsuccessfully scuttled as a breakwater) , not the most settled of spots but the sunset and the bird song made up for it.
Moved on earlier Saturday to Smelting House Bay and picked up a pre-booked mooring, now before you all call me a softy, we had the new dog onboard for its 1st trip and wanted to be close to shore – didn’t want an oops on board. I can report she was an angel – woke me at 5.30am for a row ashore. Sadly she also seems to think the #1 bunk is hers 🙂 The bonus of the dog pee row ashore is catching the sunrise, almost as fine as the sunset.
Mostly just relaxed mooching around, had a drink and dinner catch up with the crews off Meloa, Ngaio, Lady Adelaide and Golandrina at the Kawau Boating Club, which had just taken the shutters down after the annual winter hibernation. Food and service was first rate – if you are not a member – join, they need good support to keep doing what they do so well. The next day we dropped the pick in Vivian Bay – very quiet and later in the day several woodys arrived – seems to be the go-to destination for the Sandspit marina crowd.
I spied a stunning villa on the waterfront in Vivian Bay – photos below, will need to keep buying Lotto 🙂
Trip home on Monday was just about perfect for a straight stemmer e.g. wind and tide on the nose – 3 hours 45 min from KBC > Bayswater, that’s a good clip for my 94 year old girl.
UPDATE 03-11-2022 – Photo below of Rewa as scuttled (incorrectly). Comes to us from Auckland War Memorial Museum libray via Maurice Sharp fb.
SUNDAYS MYSTERY LAUNCH QUIZ WINNER
Well done Ken Ricketts, the winner from the many woodys that correctly ID’ed the launch as Sobrine. The pool was reduced significantly by a large number spelling the boats name – Sabrine. Link to a previous WW Sobrine story below https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/05/31/sobrine/
The photo above of the launch – Tamure comes to us via Mitchell Hutchings family boating album. The photo was tagged 30-01-1978, and that woodys is all we know about her. Safe to assume its ex Navy, but I’m often wrong.
Do we know more about her and what became of Tamure?
Hopefully lots of boating photos tomorrow from my Labour weekend sortie in / a around Kawau Island.
Hopefully todays photo will slightly resemble my view this morning, the Labour weekend cruise had a target of Kawau Island, weather permitting.
The photo above comes to us from Mitchell Hutchings fb ex the wonderful Parsonson Family collection. Thank you Mitchell for sharing.
WIN A WW T-SHIRT
All correct answers to naming the launch bottom left in the photo will go into the draw for a WW t-shirt, fresh off the screen printing press. Close off will be Monday 24th Oct at 5pm. Email your answer to waitematawoodys@waitematawoodys
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