Classic Wooden Launch Project

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Classic Wooden Launch Project
Last week I was contacted by Bruce Deeming about the above woody launch that had been brought to his attention. Bruce advised that he had been approached to take over the project due to changing circumstances of the present owner. Unfortunately its not on Bruce’s radar so the search is on for a passionate woody looking for a restoration project. 

There is no name on her and the design / build is also a mystery, but Bruce suspects maybe a Cauldry, length is approx. 30>31’. Was sitting in Kaiaua mud berths opposite the Kaiaua fish & chip shop for a number of years. Bruce commented that it requires some plank work and the window surrounds in main cabin are not good, but it has good bones. It has been in the water up until 4 odd months ago. Decks & cabin appear to be very sound, with exception to those main cabin window areas.

Bruce has the original motor, an air cooled Lister or similar, not going. The owner is happy to look at any offer & discuss options.

Anyone able to ID the launch for us?

UPDATE – 03-03-2021 Bruce Ryrie has taken over this project and thus far has scraped and red leaded below the waterline and gutted the interior and set up a soaker system inside to stop her drying out. Some process photos below. Well done Bruce 🙂

Big Wooden Launch Gets A Face Lift

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Big Woody Gets A Face Lift

The 1965 Salthouse built woody – Trinidad is currently tucked up in the Greg Lees Boatbuilder shed at Sandspit getting some botox i.e touch-up coats to the coamings and wheelhouse and a re-paint of the topsides.

Yesterday, the brains trust from the yard + Akzo Nobel (AWLWOOD MA & International Paints) + AWLWOOD MA Guru (Uroxsys founder) David Waddingham met to discuss the upcoming work on Trinidad, she is a bit like their in-house model. It was interesting to be a fly-on-the-wall and hear about the latest thinking on application / thinning / primer techniques and their newish line extensions eg the Multi-climate gloss finish. The product has come a very long way in the last few years.
You can see from the last two photos that the GL’s boys only just manage to get the doors closed when Trinidad visits, very cozy.

While there, foreman Dale Collins, flipped the covers on his recently completed clinker dinghy (photos below) – stunning and woodys its 4sale 🙂

WOODYS LUNCH CRUISE TO RIVERHEAD TAVERN – TIME TO RSVP

If you are planning on joining the fleet for the cruise up the Riverhead river to join fellow woodys for launch on Sunday November 8th – drop me a quick email with boat name and approx crew numbers waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Sgag

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SGAG
The above photo was sent in by Andrew Mikkelsen during lock-down, I know nothing about her but with a name like Sgag someone must recall the boat.Will be interesting to see what details come to the surface.


Woody Boat Boat Sale at The Slipway Milford – This Sunday

Great response to the sale – thanks to all those that RSVP’ed. 

Mystery Wooden Boats – Lake Manapouri

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Mystery Wooden Boats – Lake Manapouri
The above photo, ex Lew Redwood, of Pearl Harbour, Lake Manapouri could almost be a painting. Its rather stunning and features two very smart woodys. Can anyone help ID either or both of these boats? Sadly there is no date accompanying the photo.


Booked Your Woody In For Its Annual TLC?
Talking last week to a couple of yard managers + marine engineers and given the knock-on effect of the CV-19 lock-downs the work diaries are VERY full, in fact depending on what you want done, there is a strong chance you will miss out. So get on the phone today – or you might end up like this guys stern drive………..

Lady Gay Australian Holiday

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LADY GAY – Australian Holiday Postcard
Almost a year to the day we reported that the 1935, Colin Wilde designed and built launch – Lady Gay was holidaying in Australia. Recently LG’s current custodian (their words) Graeme Wilson, wrote in and advised that LG was tucked up safely at marina in Sydney. Graeme commented that she has seen a constant stream of onlookers since she arrived in Sydney with many intrigued to hear of her history and how she has come to be in Sydney, and that she is holding her own when alongside woodys in Australia. 

Graeme has been cruising her mainly in Port Jackson waters with COVID and politics having thwarted plans to head to Queensland for the foreseeable future.  Sadly with the Wooden boat show in Tasmania cancelled for 2021, for the same reasons, he is hopeful of taking LG south for the show in 2023.  

Graeme wrote that Lady Gay is particularly well suited to the upper reaches of Port Jackson, Pittwater and the Hawkesbury.  Two weeks ago they enjoyed a lovely spring cruise up in the Hawkesbury and Smiths Creek and plan to return in a few weeks to explore further upstream to Wisemans Ferry and Berowra Waters.

Waipa + Boat Boot Sale

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WAIPA + BOAT BOOT SALE 
Baden Pascoe recently sent in the above photo of the workboat – Waipa and commented that she was owned by Ray Bronlunds and if his memory is correct, Logan built. Wait brings back many memories for Baden, having helped his father, Howard, and Ray cut the box shed off her. This would have been back in the days Baden wore short pants i.e before school days and he was helping them do odds and ends. Then Howard Pascoe built the configuration as in the above photo. Back then s.he had a Perkins P4 and went like stink. With in a year Ray and Waipa were no 1 cray boat in the Bay taking the crown off Ronomor and Norma. Do we know what became of Waipa?

Left, A young Ray Brondlund and Don Ross on
board coaster Lady Jocelyn . Without any question two cornerstones of
Whitianga commercial boating and absolute gentlemen. Just to add Ray is a
former owner of the lovely Waione.


BOAT BOOT SALE NEXT SUNDAY (18TH) – ARE YOU ATTENDING? If so, make life easier for everyone and drop us an email so we know how many sausages to buy 🙂

MORE DETAILS BELOW
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 a boat boot sale on Sunday 18th October 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 on Sunday 18th (10.00>11.30am) – to stop some ponker turning up with an alloy mast – there is only one rule – items must fit in a car boot 🙂 But we will make an exception for grandad’s kauri clinker dinghy.Its a big shed but space will be limited so drop me an email to reserve some space  waitematawoodys@gmail.com
As its the day after the General Election – I’ll either be in a good mood or very grumpy. AND IT IS CASH ONLY.

Mystery Launch 09-10-2020 (White Cloud)

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MYSTERY LAUNCH – 1968 Sam McGreedy
The above 39’ carvel planked, 1968 launch popped up on trademe, light on photos, the tme ones are very average. The stated builder is Sam McGreedy, thats a new one to me.Power is from a 130hp Ford diesel. Appears to be well fitted out.

From the photos I suspect it a Panmure boat – can on of the river rats enlighten us more on the boat?

That was easy, thanks Ken R – its White Cloud see more here 

https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/11/18/white-cloud/

Also video of launch day

https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/06/10/white-cloud-movie-leaving-the-shed-launch-day/

HOST VENUE: NZ Traditional Boatbuilding School 17 Totara Rd, Te Atatu Peninsula, Auckland – Saturday 17 October 2020 – Sunday 18 October 2020

This is a two day course introducing you to the use of hand tools. Over the two days you will build a small tool box and a bench stop incorporating a number of woodworking joints and skills including cutting a simple scarf joint and then using copper nails and rivets to turn that piece into a handy Bench stop. Marking and cutting pieces for the tool box, preparing the timber with planes and a cabinet scraper, marking and cutting a dovetail joint, marking and drilling dowel joints, turning a square piece of wood into a round handle, final assembly and clean up.

This is a great course for someone wanting to learn how to cut accurately and use chisels and planes and other hand tools in a practical manner. Students will leave with a completed toolbox and bench stop and an introduction to many new skills. The tutors for this course are Olaf Wiig and Allan Hooper.

NOTE: Min of three students required, max of six students- COST $290 – includes materials for toolbox.

Click link for more details on NZTBS + space bookings http://nztbs.org.nz/course/an-introduction-to-fine-woodworking/

Arcturus- New Owner Update

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ARCTURUS – An Update
Recently WW was contacted by Annie Bryce who along with her partner bought the 33’, 1952 McGeady launch – Arcturus a couple of months ago. Annie advised that they have put her on the hard and sanded her hull back which was in good condition, re-painted and anti-fouled Her topsides have been painted and they are addressing a few window issues. The engine has had a few minor repairs and the next stage is a full interior re-do.  Annie commenced that Arcturus is a lovely launch and they are keeping her in the Sounds at Waikawa marina.


Annie would appreciate any information the WW readers may have on Arcturus, its a mystery how an Auckland boat ended up so far south.


You can see and read more here from a 2019 WW story https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/03/18/a-mystery-launch-3/

A Peek Inside Six Boathouses + Next On-The-Water Woody Event

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A Peek Inside Six Boathouses + Next On-The-Water Woody Event
Every year The New Hampshire Boat Museum, runs a fundraising event in the form of a ‘guided’ tour of boathouses on their local lakes – this year due to CV-19 rather than cancel the event, they want with a virtual concept. I think its very cool, the use of a drone to film the approach to the locations  and meet the owner interviews is a winner.

Sadly you can not fast forward, you have to watch the whole tour but you can halt it and start again where you left off.At the end of the video is a link to donate if your were feeling that way inclined 🙂 Enjoy.

https://www.nhbm.org/boathouse-tour/?fbclid=IwAR17F_3IrukhQVSaxpJnYhLlMhN04qzEwXERLjOuvHGVuvVbNrPf01JHfhs
Click on blue text above and then scroll down and click to play


WOODY CLASSICS RIVERHEAD LAUNCH CRUISE – SUNDAY 8 NOVEMBER – RSVP NOW

RVSP To waitematawoodys@gmail.com  Boat name and est. number of crew

RSVP – boat name & est number of crew to waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Rehutai + Woody Boat Yard Boot Sale

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REHUTAI + Woody Boat Yard Boot  Sale

Sunday night I was scratching the head thinking what Tuesday’s WW story would be and ping – I get an email from Sally Verbiest inquiring about her grandfather’s, Roy Barton, Sam Ford built launch – Rehutai. Roy lived in the Wairarapa when he owned the boat, unfortunately Sally doesn’t know the dates, but Roy dies in 1968, in his early eighties. 

The photo above is from an old family album and Sally thinks it was taken in Queen Charlotte Sound. The rather lovely cartoon, was drawn by a friend of Sally’s father – a depiction of Roy, whose main retirement hobbies were boating and polo. He must have been a great guy 🙂


Sally has asked that if current owner Tony Whyman? or anyone that knows him, could contact WW (via the comments section) as Sally would like to see these items reunited with the the boat.
You can see and read a lot more on Rehutai here   https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/04/12/the-restoration-of-rehutai/


WOODY BOAT YARD BOOT SALE

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 a boat boot sale on Sunday 18th October 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 on Sunday 18th (10.00>11.30am) – to stop some ponker turning up with an alloy mast – there is only one rule – items must fit in a car boot 🙂 But we will make an exception for grandad’s kauri clinker dinghy.

Its a big shed but space will be limited so drop me an email to reserve some space  waitematawoodys@gmail.com
As its the day after the General Election – I’ll either be in a good mood or very grumpy. AND IT IS CASH ONLY.

RSVP TO BOOK SPACE TO waitematawoodys@gmail.com