CLASSIC LAUNCH – KARINA – FLASHBACK
Back in Dec 2023 thanks to a tme listing we got to have gander down below on the 1959 Brin Wilson built launch – KARINA. Link to that story here – https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/12/11/karina-a-peek-down-below/
Today thanks to Ken Ricketts and Sea Spray magazine (June 1959) we get to see her as launched.
THE WINNER OF THE XMAS DAY CALENDAR QUIZ WAS DARRYLL HART – correct answer being Sir Frank Mappln
CLASSIC WOODEN DAY BOAT – RURU
I have photographed the very beautiful classic wooden launch RURU many times at the Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade.
One of the woody gang spotted her recently on a trailer at the Outboard Boating Club hardstand in Tamaki Drive, Auckland.
They commented that she’s obviously very well looked after and appears to have had recent work to bring her to mint condition.
Well done to all involved in maintaining her to such high standards.
And speaking of the Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade, there is a LRC&WBP 2026 calendar to the first person that can correctly name her first owner. Clues – they were a knight (Sir). Entries via email ONLY to waitematawoodys@gmail.com
Merry Christmas from Waitematawoodys to all the crew who follow along each day.
It’s been a monster year for WW, with more than one million extra views over last year – still hard to get my head around that, and I’m hugely grateful.
A special shout-out to all the helpers who send in stories, photos, and snippets of history. You know who you are, and you make my job a whole lot easier (and far less stressful).
I hope everyone gets the break they deserve and need. If you’re afloat over the holidays, enjoy it – and safe boating to all.
Now… if there’s no story tomorrow, it will be because the co-owner of Raindance didn’t see the humour in the “gift” (the book below ) I picked up in a second-hand bookshop
And finally – if you’re out and about over the Christmas / New Year period and you spot a woody, could be yours ;-), take a photo and email it in to
waitematawoodys@gmail.com
Thanks again for the support.
THE WOODY SANTA (Bill Rimmer / Poco Lento ) WAS SEEN ARRIVING AT DEVONPORT.
CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – NAUTILUS
Todays woody story is based on a note received from Stuart Junge, an ex classic yachtie who previously owned the 26’ Bailey Jnr. built classic yacht – LEXIA.
These days Stuart is a volunteer at Auckland maritime museum and along with several others skippers the 1913 classic launch – NAUTILUS that operates out of the museum.
Stuart has some concerns about the (his words) ’tales told of the vessel’.
Now NAUTILUS has made many appearances and WW generated debate around her history. I have included below a past comment from marine historian Harold Kidd, who is the fountain of knowledge in your wooden boating community. My rule is unless there is rock solid proof of an opposing view – HDK is the single source of truth 🙂
I have published Stuarts questions below – can we shed some light on her past and let Stuart sleep easier at night.
CLASSIC OLIVER & GILPIN LAUNCH – JOANNE
WW follower John Dawson sent in todays photos of the Oliver & Gilpin built big game launch – JOANNE on what we assume is launching day.
Back in Sept 2017 Dean Wright sent in an ‘old’ photo of her in Whangaroa Harbour. This story created a lot of reader input and photos, which were added to the 2017 story – link here https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/09/20/joanne/
The 3rd & 4th photo above show that there have been a fair degree of ‘updates’.
ATTENTION CLASSIC LAUNCH OWNERS – IF YOU ARE ON OR AROUND THE WAITEMATA HARBOUR THIS ANNIVERSARY DAY (Jan 26th) AND LOOKING FOR AN EXCUSE TO USE THE BOAT – SEE BELOW
The inner harbour classic motorboat drag race is always a lot of fun and the handicappers are very fair so all entrants have a chance of winning on handicap. The honour of first across the line is tightly contested but you’ll have to be capable of 20+ knots to win that prize 😉
ENTRY DETAILS HERE https://regatta.org.nz/regatta-participants/how-to-enter-the-regatta/entry-form/
CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH MARLINE RELAUNCHED
Over winter the classic wooden launch – MARLINE has been hibernating in the CMC Design boat yard in Opua, Northland.
MARLINE’s custodian these days is Kennedy Warne , who worked on the refit alongside the CMC Design team .
The launch has a very special history – prior to Kennedy, it was owned by his father Ken and originally built by Ken’s father Leon Warne in 1949/50.
Upgrades to MARLINE included –
• A new walk through transom
• Hand built wooden skylights with etched glass created in the original glass design.
• Reconfiguration of cabinetry and storage in the galley and head.
• Upgrading all water and diesel tanks.
• New elements, anchor winch, solar, electrical boards, refrigeration and oven.
• New Kauri cockpit flooring.
• New duckboard.
Check out the Oct 2025 WW story here for a look at the work-in-progress https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/10/27/classic-wooden-bay-of-islands-launch-marline-gets-a-refresh/
Much of the timber used in the project was from Kennedy’s personal collection, including some kauri timber leftover from the original build. Lovely Rewarewa with beautiful grain, repurposing Kennedy’s aunts dresser top for the head vanity top. Kauri slab from Kennedy’s good friend for the kitchen bench and oven surround.
The yard incorporated and repurposed as much timber as possible, the new handrails, plate holders, new door to the head and new skylight and many small detail elements.
A special touch was a picture of Leon etched onto a Kauri board (see below) as a gift for Kennedy from the yard.
HAULED OUT @ DYC
THE WORK BEGINS
CLASSIC WOOLLACOTT YACHT JANICE ANNE NEEDS A HELPING HAND
During the week WW was contacted by the Woollacott Association regarding the yacht – JANICE ANNE that had been recently gifted to the association.
The association have a simple objective – save her from the scrape heap.
Some background – JANICE ANNE has been neglected for a few years and is in a need of antifouling and a bit of paint, along with some other work.
The Woollacott Association has hauled her out at the Devonport Yacht Club for approx. two weeks, as you’ll see in the photos the first step was to scrap the weed off and give it a good water blast. Then its onto sanding ready for anti-fouling. Then if possible i.e. spare hands and time permitting, it would be great to get the topside’s sanded and painted at the same time, along with working through getting the motor running.
So woodys I know its a crazy time of the year but if anyone has some spare time, any support and assistance would be most appreciated, or donations would be of great assistance to cover required materials and hauling/mooring fees. Bank Account Details: Account owner name: WOOLLACOTT ASSOCIATION Account Number: 02-0136-0030719-000
If you can help out with labour – contact Chris Leech dds@kcbbs.gen.nz
READ / VIEW MORE ABOUT THE WOOLLACOTT ASSOCIATION HERE https://woollacott.org.nz
LAKE ROTOITI CLASSIC & WOODEN BOAT 2026 CALENDAR
The perfect Santa stocking stuffer – great design and quality printing and only $15 To order a copy – click on this link https://form.jotform.com/253367514763867
BEST NZ CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT OF THE YEAR – NGAIO
Hands down the winner of the best woody to make an appearance on WW in 2025 is Jan Barraclough’s , 1921 36’ Arch Logan built – NGAIO.
Yesterday she slipped back into the water at Milford Creek, Auckland after a 4+ month refit at the hands of master boat builder Paul Tingey .
Read / view the work-in-progress at these links.https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/11/15/classic-logan-launch-ngaio-heritage-refit-boat-yard-visit/ https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/10/08/heritage-refit-for-1921-logan-launch-ngaio/
Sadly her owner wasn’t there to see the event, but she will be reading WW today while sipping an Aperol Spritz on the other side of the world 🙂
09-01-2026 UPDATE – It’s the little details that make all the difference. NGAIO’s wheel was just a tad too big, the boys at the Slipway Milford, dived into the treasure chest of old / good boating bits and refurbished a ‘new’ wheel – perfect ✓
It was a very busy morning at the Milford slipway – a total of 4 launches were re launched after getting some pre-xmas cruising TLC
The magnificent 48’ 1965 Lane Motor Boat Co. built – AROHANUI
The L33 (Logan replica) – SEMELE
And even a Pelin sneaks onto WW today – well it is xmas 😉
CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – SUNBEAM FINDS A NEW HOME & THE WORK BEGINS
Back in June 2025 we draw WW readers attention to the 32’ classic wooden launch – SUNBEAM, built by Bailey & Lowe in 1901 and advised her then owner was seeking to find her next custodian. WW link to that story https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/06/15/classic-bailey-lowe-launch-needs-a-new-home/
Fast forward to earlier this week and WW was contacted by Garry Quayle who advised he had taken over custodianship on Sunbeam (3/10/2025). Garry sent in todays photos of the progress thus far. And even the tender is getting some TLC.
Garry commented that she is now moored in Portage and is much welcomed with interest by locals, Garry has also upgraded the solar system along with some overdue maintenance.
We understand she is a magnificent sea boat, Garry and crew got caught out in big swells on Big Bay when moving to Kenapuru Sound . There was white water across the bay but she handled it easy much better than her crew did 🙂
OMG – see below, sent in by one of the WW Hauraki Gulf spotters – how can his happen, who designs something like this and more importantly who buys it ………….
CLASSIC WOODEN RUN-ABOUTS
I rotate my laptop screen saver image most days but for the last week one photo has remained there – its the classic wooden run-about – LADY KAY, pictured above.
Recently WW was contacted by Jeff Norris who sent some photos of his grandfathers boat – LADY KAY. Jeff’s GF bought the boat about 1953 off a gent named Eric Such. During this time the family had a bach at Kawa Kawa Bay and it was moored there , the bach was sold around 1970 and the boat was sold about 1971 to a man in Mt Albert, Auckland.
LADY KAY, named after Jeff’s grandmother, started life as a speedboat (photos 2,3,4) which Jeff’s GF turned into a cabin cruiser (top photo), powered by a Willys engine. In my opinion the conversion to cabin cruiser was very well done, very hard to get the proportions right and still look good.
Back then it was kept at KawaKawa Bay. Jeff commented that he spent his holidays fishing with his GF.
Jeff also sent in the photo of the boat below that was owned by a good friend of his grandfathers, Jack Bradstreat, a farmer from Pukekohe he also had a batch there, The boat was powered by a Ford Consul engine.
Any woodys know what became of these craft.
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