Camp Cruising the Maine Coast

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Camp Cruising the Maine Coast

Some of you will be aware of the name Steve Stone – Steve is one of the founders of the uber cool weblog – Off Center Harbor that I regularly plug on WW, OCH is a subscription driven weblog that just about answers every question you would ever want an answer to concerning wooden boats and enjoying life afloat. 

The team at OCH have been suffering bad from cabin fever as the USA has been savaged by Covid, so as things have eased up in terms of getting out and about – there is some serious on-the-water catch-up happening.

Steve has just started a cruise of the entire Maine Coast (refer chart below) in a 19’ open Caledonia Yawl named Howdy.  Each day Steve is posting images and short video clips of the cruise on Instagram that you can follow on the bottom of the members’ home page (signed in) on Off Center Harbor. You don’t need an Instagram account to follow all that on the members home page of Off Center Harbor. And for those that aren’t OCH subscribers – you can also follow on OCH’s Instagram page directly as well, link below – 

OCH’s Instagram.      https://www.instagram.com/offcenterharbor/

I spotted Steve wearing a waitematawoodys t-shirt, so thought I had better give his trip a plug, so far there is some very cool scenery and boat footage – so woodys check in each day and see how the 260+ mile journey is unfolding 🙂

Check out the OCH weblog here offcenterharbor.com

RAINDANCE UPDATE: Following on from the TLC that RD received at the Slipway Milford, I have had Moon Engines upgrading and servicing all the bits that are bolted on – then a quick polish with WD40 – I know, no one sees it, but I know 🙂

Kotare – The Restoration – 4sale

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KOTARE – The Restoration

Enter the name – Kotare (Kingfisher the bird)  into the WW search box and a lot of boats will come up, seems back in the day it was a very popular name for boats.

The 25’ woody above has a genuine claim to the name as she was built by Kingfisher Boats in 1951. Fast forward to 2015 and she underwent a full refit – work included new wiring, new galley, new fuel tanks motor, new head and her engine a Nissan AL20 – 60hp diesel was rebuilt and has only done 620 hours since. Also undertaken was fully glassing her kauri hull, that included 5 coats of resin on the inside, this may get a few frowns from some quarters but you can see from the photos it saved Kotare from a beehive restoration.

At 25’ LOA, the 60hp engine gives Kotare a top speed of 13 knots (cruising at 8). I can vouch for her being a very good sea boat because her owner does the miles in her – frequently over at Great Barrier Island. With a beam of just under 6’, putting her on a trailer is an option.

I spotted Kotare recently hauled out at the Slipway Milford getting some TLC and discovered that her owner was looking for a new owner – so woodys, if you are after a very cute, easily managed and maintained boat – Kotare could be yours for +/- $25k. I know I sound like a broken record, but……….. lake boat?  For more details – email waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Bay of Islands Big Game Fishing Boats

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c.1960
2016
c.1960
2016

Bay of Islands Big Game Fishing Boats
Today’s great photos from the 1960’s, come to us from Hylton Edmonds and show Miss Helen (1930 Colin Wild) and Leilani at ‘work’ in the BOI.

Hylton commented that Leilani was owned at the time by George Wooler of Waihi Akrad Radio fame – later PYE Radio (NZ) and had the legendary skipper Jimmy Whitelaw at the wheel. Leilani was later sold to Bill Hall. Miss Helen was predominantly skippered at the time by Neville Fuller – Norman’s brother. 

In the background of the Leilani photo, Hylton thinks the launch could be George Warne’s – Rosemary.

 Leilani in 2016  https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/04/06/leilani/

Miss Helen in 2016  https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/02/22/miss-helen-2/

Yesterdays Quiz Winner was Trudi Gosden. The correct answers were – scow Jane Gifford, Wairau/Milford Creek, marina construction, c.1970’s

A Woody Quiz – Win a OCH cap

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A Woody Quiz 
Name the vessel, location, what’s happening in the photo and if you are really good – the decade the photo was taken.

All correct entries go into the draw to win an Off Center Harbor cap (made in the USA). Competition closes at 8pm 27 July, 2021 – Entry via email only to waitematawoodys@gmail.com

offcenterharbor.com

Canadian Classic Yacht Association Fleet Cruise

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Canadian Classic Yacht Association Fleet 2021Cruise
Today’s wooden boat eye candy comes to us from the recent Canadian CYA Launch Fleet cruise to Desolation Sound.

 I have a connection to the fleet as several years ago I hosted Mike O’Brien (MV Euphemia) and his family for a day, while their cruise ship was berthed in Auckland – it was a trip around the marinas to view some of our own classic wooden boats. From memory 10 skippers made the time to open their boats up for the tourists. 

Enjoy the gallery of stunning wooden classics. As always click on photos to enlarge 😉

To see more of the cruise ,check out the drone video below from Pedell Sound, taken by Maurizio Hublitz

McCullum’s Bay Woodys At Anchor

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McCullum’s Bay Woodys At Anchor

Today’s photo comes to us via Mitchell Hutchings fb and originated from his late uncles slide collection (PG Parsonson collection). The date is unknown but the collection is from the 1950’s > 1970’s period. Looking at the boats I would be picking the late 1950’s.

Interested on others opinion and can we ID a few to the boats?

Flossie

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FLOSsIE

Today’s woody is named Flossie and the photo comes to us via Paul Drake. Paul commented he uncovered the photo recently and that Flossie was at Lake Taupo in the 1950’s. He recalls that she was noted especially for her narrow beam and that one day the young Drake brothers observed her ram the breastwork as she failed to go astern whilst berthing. In the photo the repaired stem is clear to see. 

Paul last saw Flossie berthed at Westhaven Marina after she disappeared from Taupo. There is an ‘old’ hull there semi-hiding under several sheets to what looks like plywood 🙂


Can we uncover what happened to Flossie post Taupo and any other details on her.

Ngarunui – A Peek Down Below

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NGARUNUI – A Peek Down Below
Following on from yesterdays story on the start of the Whangarei to Nouema yacht race, we successfully Id’ed the mid 1950’s Jim Young designed and built launch – Ngarunui. And now thanks to the camera of Ken Ricketts back in December 2015 we get to have a look down below.You will also find a lot of backland of the boat at the WW links below, she had a very challenging start to her life afloat.

https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/08/22/the-building-of-ngarunui/
https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/06/03/mystery-boat-03-06-2015/

23-07-2021 Input from Kerin Owen – The photo below is of one of the two dories built by Jim Young in 1957 as fishing dories to accompany Ngarunui. This one is Nancy Barbara, owned for many years by Len Hayman at Great Barrier Island, now by me. Am not certain what timbers were used but she is still very sound, being 16′,with a planked bottom and lapstrake sides. She will plane, lightly loaded, with an 8hp outboard, and is still fulfilling her original purpose of a very handy fishing dory.


Lady Janet (Poco Lento) Fixed Price Sale – $48,000

The Wooden Boat Bureau has been instructed to sell this amazingly well appointed woody – so if you or anyone you know is looking for a bargain Roy Parris launch, check her out. But be quick, at sub $50k its a great buy. More details below https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/08/07/poco-lento-lady-janet/  Contact waitematawoodys@gmail.com to view

Ngarunui – 1967 Whangarei > Noumea Yacht Race Start

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Ngarunui – 1967 Whangarei > Noumea Yacht Race Start
The above launch appeared in a series of photos the Lew Redwood had on his fb, all taken in the days leading up to and including the 1967 Whangarei to Noumea yacht race.The boat looks very familiar to me, but before I make a fool of myself (again) I’ll call for input from the WW readers as to its identity.

As correctly ID’ed by several eagle eyed woodys – the boat is Ngarunui – WW links below for lots of photos and details 🙂
https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/08/22/the-building-of-ngarunui/
https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/06/03/mystery-boat-03-06-2015/

The other day, Bay of Islands woody – Hylton Edmonds draw my attention to the May 2021 issue of the UK magazine Classic Boating and the editors (Stefan Meyric-Hughes) page 5 editorial column. Which I have reproduced below. I’m sure you will all agree with Hylton’s comment to me – “It’s  succinct, brilliant, and a poignant reminder for all wooden boat “nutters“ around the world not least us in NZ who persevere under, at times seemingly,  never ending odds,  to final success and that long dream of re-launch day…“

Eastern Star Double Oops

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EASTERN STAR DOUBLE OOPS
The photos above, dated 1961, from the Nelson Photo News (via Lew Redwood) show the Nelson based launch Eastern Star after she was re-floated following a double collision with a rock off Harding Point. The vessel, owned by V. McAuley at the time, hit the rock and was holed. The crew managed to beach the boat but during the salvage operations, she hit again and sank – remember folks this was in the days before GPS, but still – twice!

Sitting in 30’ of water a team of divers assisted in bringing her to the surface where a temporary patch was done to the bow. Eastern Star was then towed back to Nelson where she was slipped for what was described a ‘extensive repairs. The photos were taken by Mrs. McAuley.


Do we know what became of the vessel and any details on her?