RANUI

Posted on by
Reply

Anniv regatta

RANUI – ID This Woody & Win A WW T-Shirt

The only hint is the photo was taken at an Auckland Anniversary Regatta in the 1950’s.
All entries via email only – to waitematawoodys@gmail.com. Entries close at 8pm 31-10-2019. The 1st correct entry drawn wins the prize.
Current owner excluded, that’s assuming they can recognise her ;-
Broad shouldered woodys are encouraged to enter – the WW warehouse has disproportionate stocks to fit strapping gents 🙂
FYI – I will be doing a t-shirt offer before xmas and most likely caps.
The winner of the draw was Mark McLaughlin – with the correct answer of Ranui. Had some very out-there guesses.

Thanks to everyone for entering.
Thanks also to Nathan Herbert for the photo 🙂
Alan Houghton 
IMG_1627

Doreena / Dorina

Posted on by
Reply

IMG_3643 (3)

DOREENA / DORINA
Taupo woody Paul Drake was recently in Tauranga helping his brother Nigel give his boat – Freelance, some TLC. They spent some time reviewing Nigel’s colour slide collection from the 1970’s with a projector and screen.
One of the woodys in the collection was Doreena (not sure on the spelling could be Dorina), previously named – Argument and Doreen, when owned by the Pointon family. They bought her in a dilapidated condition. She was built in 1928, and sold to Auckland in 1978. Paul understands she slipped off the truck on her way north and ‘broke her back’, but was fitted with a magnificent new laminated douglas fir keel.
Both Paul and I would love to know what became of her?
Woodys Trip To Clevedon Cruising Club 16>17th November Update
On Saturday morning Barbara and David Cooke  and myself drove to Clevedon to check-out the location for next months Woody Classics Weekend cruise up the Wairoa River to the Clevedon Cruising Club.
The photos below give you a peek at the set-up, its perfect – big wharf, waterfront clubrooms with huge BBQ and ‘party’ area. The club is BYO, so pack that favourite bottle/s of Pinot. And yes Rosanne, its dog friendly 🙂
Given distance and tides, this is an overnight event. The location and clubrooms fit the bill of the perfect classic kiwi boating club – it will be a great night.
Thank you everyone that has RSVP’ed – great numbers, but if you haven’t replied yet – do it now. I do not want to scare you, but due to available space we may have to put a limit on the number of boats doing the trip – so now there’s an incentive to pull finger 🙂 We are working with the club to ensure we can fit everyone in.
RSVP to waitematawoodys@gmail.com   Just need you and your boats name.
REMEMBER WOODY CLASSICS WEEKEND EVENTS ARE NOT RUN BY OF THE CLASSIC YACHT ASSOCIATION – SO ATTENDANCE IS OPEN TO ALL NICE CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT OWNERS
IMG_2745
IMG_2747

NIGHTINGALE + waitematawoodys hits 5,000,000 Views

Posted on by
7

Screen Shot 2019-10-28 at 5.08.00 PM

Screen Shot 2019-10-28 at 5.09.22 PM

Screen Shot 2019-10-28 at 5.08.59 PM

Screen Shot 2019-10-28 at 5.07.17 PM

NIGHTINGALE + waitematawoodys hits 5,000,000 Views
The 55’ trawler cruiser started life in 1925, in Invercargill as a sailing ship, Later owned by the Leask family (Stewart Island) who strengthened and converted her to a trawler ‘ fright ship in the area for many years. In 1987 she was taken to Nelson and converted to a pleasure cruiser. In recent years (last 10) she has seen timber replacements and modernising too systems.
Her trademe listing (thanks Ian MacDonald) describes her as a floating bach and that is a good description of the life she has had in the Marlborough Sounds. Sleeping for 8 people and all the home comforts aboard (42” TV) would make for enjoyable Sounds cruising.
.
Her beam is 11’5” and she draws 5’5”. Power is via a Detroit 671, that has her cruising at 7 knots.
Any one able to tell us the designer / builder?
Waitematawoodys Gets 5 Million Views
Screen Shot 2019-10-28 at 5.52.14 PM
At some stage last night or early this morning the waitematawoodys.com site clock clicked over the 5 million views mark – I got the biggest buzz when it hit 5,000 and then 1,000,000 – these days its a freight train – just keeps on rolling 24/7.
Why do I do it? – the #1 reason is to motivate people to use their wooden boats more and to enjoy the classic wooden boating lifestyle.
Some of you have been around since day one and stayed the distance, some are what I call ‘flirters’ you come and go and that’s all good.
The back library is very impressive – over 1/2 the daily views these days are people using the site as a reference tool eg searching for details on a particular boat. Sometimes the odd story  might be a bit lame but it gets into the WW system and over time can grow e.g. someone searches the boats name and next thing we have a new (better) story on the same boat and it kick starts the old story.
It is always try to be to be entertaining and informative. I also try very hard to be factual but if we get it wrong – tell us and if you are in fact right, we will correct it.
I never started out to create an encyclopaedia of classic wooden boats – the idea was to create some good chat around what’s happening in the classic wooden boating community.
I also never intended for the stories to be daily, but the appetite was there and I soon discovered there was no shortage of content out there.
Sometimes, not often, after some moron has sent me a nasty email, I question why I do it, but then I have some chat (on-line) with cool people that make it worthwhile e.g there are a lot of blokes that have spent their life in and around wooden boats and these days reading WW is a highpoint in their day. I like that 🙂
I encourage you to use the comments section.
To those of you working on woody projects – send us updates / photos, we love projects. Send to waitematawoodys@gmail.com
Thank you for your support ‘flying the WW flag’ via wearing the WW t-shirts – they pop up all over the world.
Best Regards
alan houghton – waitematawoodys founder
Screen Shot 2019-10-24 at 9.23.06 PM

Waipawa – A Peek Down Below

Posted on by
1

IMG_2071

IMG_2078

 

IMG_2091

WAIPAWA AK83 – A Peek Down Below
 

The ex work boat (Waitemata Fisheries) Waipawa has made a brief appearance on WW back in 2016 (WW link below) Now thanks to Ian McDonald’s road trip in the Far North we get to have a look down below.

The photos above show her on the hard at Opua, in mid October.  The 50’ Waipawa was built by Percy Vos and her owner Pete McIntyre, understands she was launched in 1940).

She gets around, having recently been up to Fiji & Tonga, And to Fiordland / Stewart Island.
 

Somethings Not Right Here + Woodys On Tour

Posted on by
3

IMG_2684

Somethings Not Right Here + Woodys On Tour
 
I was sent the above photo by Bruce Yarnton, it had both Bruce and I confused for way too long…………
Interesting mix of vessels – anyone able to tell us what was happening?
 
Woodys On Tour
The WW t-shirts crop up all over the world – in the first photo below we see Allan & Pamela Hooper on board the 1922 schooner – Ladona, they spent a week sailing on her from Rockland in Penobscot Bay, USA.  The other photos see Allan out and about in Maine.

Sailing on Ladona Rockland

Woody yachty Steve Horsley has been in South Africa shooting Lions (only joking) it was a family wedding and Steve was flying the WW flag in Simonds Town where the Naval base is situated. Rumour has it he bought the Captain Pugwash boat (the Black Pig) to replace Ngatira 🙂
IMG_2759

Thames River Rats

Posted on by
2

P1060464

P1060493

P1060513

P1060512

Thames River Rats

Last month I did a quick trip to Thames and called into the ‘marina’. The tide was out in the estuary so you get to see the marina looking it finest.
Lots of old girls there, resting up, contemplating life.
If you’re down that way The Wharf bar and Thames Wholesale Fisheries shop are ace. Same owners, so they deliver your newspaper wrapped dinner to the bar – we like that.  Worth a visit just for a cold one & the snapper & chips.

Off to check out another river today – the Wairau River, Clevedon – David Cooke and myself are doing a recky for the upcoming Woody Classics Weekend BBQ cruise (Nov 16>17th). Via car 🙂

Screen Shot 2019-10-24 at 9.23.06 PM

RSVP   waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Andiamo

Posted on by
Reply

Screen Shot 2019-10-23 at 12.14.07 PM

Screen Shot 2019-10-23 at 12.12.17 PM

Screen Shot 2019-10-23 at 12.12.41 PM

ANDIAMO

The 20′ Andiamo was originally  known as the  ‘Yellow Boat’ on Lake Rotoiti near Rotorua. She was built by a farmer from Gisborne in 1949 and was reputedly the fastest boat on Rotoiti back then.

She came to her current owners 10 years ago, who undertook a 4 year restoration project to bring her back to her former glory. The work included partial hull replacement, structural framework enhancement and strengthening using marine grade ply, kauri and stainless steel fixings. All timber used was locally milled kauri in keeping with the original construction, and came from a single tree thus the beautiful consistency in the decking – handcrafted piece by piece using kauri with a kahikitea accent and mahogany surround.

The original Dodge 6 was replaced with a 275ci alloy V8 producing 280hp, running through a Borg Warner gearbox to the bespoke brass prop. The engine is computer controlled, inter-cooled and muffled, providing amazingly smooth, quiet and reliable power.

Andiamo is an iconic piece of New Zealand maritime history that has been preserved and is now offered for sale. Her owners  want her to go on to her next adventure with a new family – and are selling well below value. to make that happen.

Andiamo will be available for viewing at Lake Tarawera over Labour Weekend.

(thanks to Rod Prosser for the trademe heads up)

Screen Shot 2019-10-24 at 9.23.06 PM

RSVP   waitematawoodys@gmail.com

 

 

 

Kiwiannah

Posted on by
1

Screen Shot 2019-10-23 at 11.46.37 AM

Screen Shot 2019-10-23 at 11.46.27 AM

Kiwiannah
Todays boat is a rather big work-in-progress, but the owner is realistic about its worth – the leading bid on trade is $415 and the reserve has been met (thanks Ian McDonald for the heads up).
Under all that plywood is a pretty hull, deep pockets needed, but some one will get a bargain.
What we know – kauri hull, 40’ long, powered by a 120hp Ford diesel (seized). Been sitting on a pile mooring at Waipuna for the last 4 years, owner lacks the time and skills to complete the project.
So Woodys, if you have somewhere to haul her out and cheap storage, this could be a good project.
Anyone able to give us a name and provenance for the vessel?
Update – Mark McLaughlin has advised the launch is named – Kiwiannah
IMPORTANT NEWS – NEXT WOODY CLASSICS WEEKEND EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT
Woody Classics Weekend - Clevedon

Komutu + What To Do On The Long Weekend

Posted on by
6

IMG_2068

IMG_2065

IMG_2066

KOMUTU

Woody Ian McDonald has been on a wee road trip up north. Ian sent in the above photos of Komutu hauled out at Whangarei. All we know is she was built in 1950 by Curnow & Wilson in Motueka.

Komutu is 44’ in length , single skin and powered by a GM 6/71 diesel engine.

Can anyone tell us what she has been up to in the last 69 years ?

Input from Brian Kidson – Komutu was designed by Cliff Nalder for himself and built by Curnow and Wilton of Port Nelson. Cliff was the Nalder of the Nalder and Biddle, marine engineers with Curnow and Wilton, next door on the same 200ton sidways slip way. Komutu was launched in the December 1952 at 42ft x 12ft x 3ft 6inches. Komutu hull was seam batten carvel planked white pine from Golden Bay over rata frames with hollow sections frd running aft to a straight flat transom. Her original engine was a 165hp 6/71 GM said to have come out of a Sherman tank. Cliff used her between Nelson and the Marlborough Sounds where he had a bach, until he sold her about 1967 to a Keith Robson. Has had five or six of owners since then.

Further Input from Brian Kidson – Brian sent in the photos below (ex Bill Nalder & Phil Robson) The shows her under construction, then post launching and lastly c.1960’s.

Input from Mark McLaughlin – The new cabin was built by Blenheim boatbuilder Arthur Watson in the late 1980’s. Arthur showed us over her when he had nearly finished the cabin while she was on the hard in Havelock for the refit.

Komutu002(Bill Nalder)

Komutu018(Bill Nalder) 001

Komutu(Phil Robson) 1

 

BUSY WEEKEND ON & OFF THE WATER THIS LONG WEEKEND

  1. Friday – sees the start of the annual Coastal Classic Yacht Race to Russell in the Bay of Islands. The start is always a great spectacle, best viewing spot being up North Head, Devonport. Follow the race on-line, details here  https://www.coastalclassic.co.nz/watch

2. Saturday > Monday  – the Tino Rawa Trust are again hosting the classic yacht and launch exhibition at Te Wero Island down at Auckland’s Viaduct. This year the event celebrates the contribution immigrant boat builders had on Auckland’s maritime history. Particular focus will be on the Logan and Bailey boat building dynasties. Event open each day 10am > 4pm – Entry is free. Read more on the event here https://tinorawatrust.co.nz/events

3. Its Labour Day long weekend – time to load the boat up and get out there 🙂

P1260210 copy

 

CENTAURUS – A PEEK DOWN BELOW – Before she is sold

Posted on by
Reply

image001

Screen Shot 2019-03-14 at 10.53.25 AM

DSCF6080

DSCF6065

DSCF6083

Flash Backs

image002

image003

CENTAURUS – A PEEK DOWN BELOW – Before she is sold
Recently we featured on WW the magnificent motorboat Turongo and she will be bought by someone looking for the pinnacle of classic wooden boating, one of only 5 vessels of her size and grace – but at  56’ she is a ship and not everyone wants a woody that big. So today we featured  what I believe is the best sub 45’ classic motorboat available for purchase – the 1968 Bailey & Sons built CENTAURUS.
There are lots of boats supposedly ‘on the market’ but none in the condition of Centaurus or with a realistic, motivated vendor. Centaurus is a genuine turn-key vessel, just add food and water and you will be boating this summer.
Centaurus is what I call a lucky boat – her first owner had her for 45 years and since then there has only been 3 custodians, each passing her on in better condition than when purchased. I have been on most classics and with out a doubt Centaurus has the largest main cabin – seating for 12. She spent a long period in the South Island so has been ‘off-the scene’ in Auckland until returned home to the Waitemata a few years ago.
PLUS – in todays tight marina market – Centaurus has the bonus of a 14m Westhaven marina.
I would encourage anyone looking for a iconic classic motorboat to contact waitematawoodys immediately, Centaurus will be snapped up before the start of the summer season. Expressions of interest, initially to  waitematawoodys@gmail.com
Snapshot
• 42’ x 13’3” x 4’
• 1.25” heart kauri carvel planked
• Cummins 215hp V6
• 6 berths
• 800L Fuel / 800L water
• Webesco cabin heater
• Uroxsys varnished
WW Links