CLASSIC SHIPBUILDERS WOODEN LAUNCH – MAJEIKA 

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CLASSIC SHIPBUILDERS WOODEN LAUNCH – MAJEIKA 

During the week I was visiting the OBC marine centre on Auckland’s Tamaki Drive scoping out an upcoming woody event and spotted the launch – MAJEIKA on a mooring in Whakatakata Bay. A quick WW search popped up that she appeared on WW back in May 2022, link below  https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/05/07/majeika/

As sometimes happens way to often at the same time Ian McDonald pointed out that she was also on tme.

So a quick summary of what we know – MAJEIKA is a 28’ Shipbuilders design, most likely a ‘kit’ boat, built c.1960, builder unknown. Triple skin kauri which will make for a very robust woody.

Forward motion is via a 100hp Nissan diesel engine. In the 2022 WW story the engine was said to be a LD28 rated at 88hp, and a top speed of 12 knots. Also the length was 26’ then – so it seems she has been eating a few pies.

With an asking price of $10k, we see another example of it being a buyers market at the moment.

PERCY VOS BUILT WOODEN LAUNCH – CLARE

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PERCY VOS BUILT WOODEN LAUNCH – CLARE

The launch CLARE fist appeared on WW back in May 2013, at the time we learnt nothing more about her, then in 2020 she popped up again and this time Baden Pascoe confirmed that she was built at the P Vos Ltd yard and still existed today (2020).

Sadly we still didn’t learn what had become of her so today we try again.

BOATS OF THE BAY – REVIEW 

Early in the week I was the recipient of a hot off the press copy of  Greg Philpott’s book – BOATS OF THE BAY. 

The cover tag line reads – ‘100 Years of The Ferries & Tourist Boats of the Bay of Islands’ and woodys that perfectly sums up the book. Roll in the odd game fishing boat and you have an encyclopaedia of craft that have plied the waters of the far north.

I loved the flyer that that said – ‘Literally A Nautical Encyclopaedia – Good For Settling Arguments (Or Starting them)’.

At 378 pages long it should come with a safety warning – it weighs approx. 1.5kg and reading when tired could result in injuries if dropped on your face 🙂

I have already used it twice to reference intel on a few woodys, so my copy will be a keeper – no loans 🙂

Greg has self published the book and retained the services of the hot shot classic boating art director – STEVE HORSLEY to produce the book so the visual presentation is right up there with the best.

The print run is limited and given its size, good value for the $75 price tag. (+P&P)

Secure a copy by contacting Greg direct at  gregphilpott@xtra.co.nz

CLASSIC CLINKER LAUNCH – WEST BAY @ RIWAKA INLET

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CLASSIC CLINKER LAUNCH – WEST BAY @ RIWAKA INLET

The ‘marina’ (I use the term loosely) at the Riwaka Wharf, located between Motueka & Kaiteriteri, Nelson is probably best called mud berths. Don’t get me wrong thats not a negative description – the area is very well maintained and visually engaging.

Back in March 2018 friend John Burland snaps some photos of the area, WW did a story and the lead photo was the wooden clinker launch – WEST BAY berthed next to ROYAL SAXON. 

Fast forward to yesterday which was a miserable wet day in Auckland and I was searching the WW files for a lost boating photo and I found a file tagged ‘Mud Berths – Riwaka Inlet’, it contained a collection of photos I had taken of the Riwaka Inlet on a trip down south.

Included were todays photos of WEST BAY ‘dried out’, she is a rather smart wee woody that must have a cool back story – so woodys can we learn more.

Results from Mondays poll on the hull colour of the launch – BONITA – blue the winner by a wide margin 🙂

CLASSIC WOODEN 1927 EX WORKBOAT – OWAKA 

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CLASSIC WOODEN 1927 EX WORKBOAT – OWAKA 

Todays photos come to us from John Dawson. We learnt more from an online search that popped up an old fb comment by Ray Morey where Ray told us OWAKA was built in 1927 by Collings & Bell in Auckland for service at Lyttelton. 

Ray also said that in the mid 1930’s she was re-powered with a Kelvin K9 engine. Then in the mid 1960’s she was re-powered agin with a D-Series Ford.

In another fb post Lew Redwood tagged the top photo above as being c.1950>69 and the location being Honeymoon Bay, Moturua, Bay of Islands (photographer – Ron Clark).

A July 2014 WW story featured a search by the son of an ex owner to learn more about his fathers boat. We uncovered an amazing amount of history and photos. Read/see at this link  https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/07/13/owaka-find-a-classic/

The last mention of her in the above post was in Jan 2019 when Nathan Herbert took the below photo from onboard his launch Pacific.

So woodys the question of the day is – what became of OWAKA post 2019.

CLASSIC 1923 DOUBLE END LAUNCH BONITA – GETS A BIRTHDAY

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CLASSIC 1923 DOUBLE END LAUNCH BONITA – GETS A BIRTHDAY

Over the last few weeks the 1923 Ernie Lane (Picton) built launch – BONITA has been getting some TLC at the Slipway Milford yard.

WW first spotted BONITA in Waikawa Bay, Marlborough Sounds in May 2022, at the time she was for sale, top photo below.

Fast forward to July 2024 and the launch was moored off the old Salthouse yard in the upper reaches of the Waitemata Harbour. Her new owner Chris Salthouse had transported her from the South Island to Auckland and given her a makeover which included a change of hull colour (blue) – as seen in the second photo below.

As part of the 2025 TLC the hull colour has changed again – this time a green sea mist colour. I like it but of the 3 ‘recent’ colours, the royal blue was my pick. I understand the dark blue was too harsh with the sun re seams opening up. TELL US YOUR PICK ON THE HULL COLOUR – VOTE BELOW

I understand that the next project is a new larger cabin.

There has been lots of chat on the correct spelling of her name – but it was BONITA when built and originally was working a Sounds passenger vessel.

Links below to past WW stories.

WW  May 2022 https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/07/07/borato/
WW July 2024 https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/07/02/spirit-of-tradition-classic-double-ender-wooden-launch/

CLASSIC 1926 WOODEN LAUNCH – LA ROSA – 4sale

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2014
2014
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CLASSIC 1926 WOODEN LAUNCH – LA ROSA

The question of the day – is LA ROSA the best priced classic wooden launch currently on the market, at $8k . Yeap that isn’t a typo -the asking price is $8,000 ono. Now I haven’t been on board in a long time but as the architects say the bones are there of a fine looking classic. It could either be used as is or brought back to finery that she has been in the past. At 40’ that a lot of boat for the money.

Built in 1926 by Ernie Harvey , and rebuilt totally in 1965 and had a overhauled Lister JP3 (electric start) installed approx 15 years ago.

Todays WW photos are a mix from her past and recent – the last one show casing her in her finest. Her tme listing (thanks Ian McDonald) states the sale is due to poor health and the price is for a quick sale – if your interested get on tme asap , it won’t last long at the price. BUT – spend the money on an out of water survey, it will be the best investment you make – you will either end up with a good To Do List for the future OR saved yourself from having to mortgage the home 🙂

RSVP FOR RIVERHEAD WOODYS LUNCH CRUISE 🔻

Email boat name and approx crew no’s to waitematawoodys@gmail.com

AFRICAN QUEEN – CLASSIC 1941 CLINKER RUN-ABOUT

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2015

AFRICAN QUEEN – CLASSIC 1941 CLINKER RUN-ABOUT

The 1941 built Seacraft clinker run-about AFRICAN QUUEN has made several cameo appearances on WW.

Starting back in March 2015 and then again at the 2017 waterfront clinker exhibition, link here to that event. https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/10/09/classic-yacht-launch-exhibition-2017-the-nz-clinker-boat-50-photos/

Recently she popped up on a fb page and her owner – Jeremy Longman commented she is built from Honduras mahogany and other hardwoods. 

Forward motion is via a 3 cyl. Sola (Spanish) diesel engine.

These days home is in Tauranga – the top two photos are of her over the 2024/25 summer.

CLASSIC EX WOODEN WORKBOAT – VEDETTE

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CLASSIC EX WORKBOAT – VEDETTE

Recently on one of the many boating channels I follow the launch VEDETTE popped up , a gent named Tony Howse was considering buying the boat and needed a builders name to obtain insurance to haul-out for an inspection.

Tony commented that the boat was built from double diagonal kauri planks.

Its believed that she was originally on the Kaipara Harbour  and then in the late 1960’s moved to Raglan as the harbour masters boat for a period of approx. 20 years.

Can we learn more about the launch.

01-06-2025 UPDATES

TONY HOWSE – I’ve owned her for 20 plus years.The best cray and fishing boat I’ve ever owned. My 4 kids have grown up learning to fish off her. I have just sold her and she’s hopefully back to the Bay of Islands.

REUBEN PARR – Our family used to own Vedette on the Kawhia Harbour in the late 1960s. She was powered by a Morris Vedette petrol engine.  My memory is that my father said she was a Logan and had been a pilot boat, but not sure how correct that was.

RSVP TO waitematawoodys@gmail.com

CLASSIC 1927 WOODEN LAUNCH – IRENE 

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CLASSIC 1927 WOODEN LAUNCH – IRENE 

Last week the newish owner, Karl Reynolds,  of the classic 31’ wooden launch – IRENE contacted WW to update us on the status of the vessel.

IRENE was built by Dick Lang c.Feb 1927. These days she resides at Pahi on the Kaipara Harbour.

IRENE made an appliance of WW back in April 2016 – link below  https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/04/27/irene-2/

Karl purchased IRENE in late Feb of this year. Karl commented that she was not in great shape but still has great bones.  When purchased she was powered by a 120hp Ford but unfortunately her sump rusted out and the engine dropped her oil into the bilge and she subsequently seized solid. So currently reviewing the options e.g. repair or replace. In recent times IRENE has been out the water for 15 days and Karl addressed some rot in the cabin.The work also included a good tidy up underneath including new keel straps, removal of her keel cooling pipes and removed rudder to be straightened. 
The plan is to have her finished for what Karl believe to be IRENE’s 100th birthday in Feb 2027.

SEA QUEEN + THE JOHN KENNEDY

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SEA QUEEN

Todays woody photo comes to us from John Dawson, John spotted the photo recently at the Te Ahu Centre in Kaitaia.

The photo is captioned – ‘Harry Slide and the SEA QUEEN’, the location is the Hokianga Harbour. And that woodys is all we know.

Can anyone tell us more about the vessel.

LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON THE JOHN KENNEDY

WW has been contacted by Lew Redwood who has been asked about the whereabouts of the vessel – THE JOHN KENNEDY.

Refer details below – can we help Colleen Small out.