LAKE ROTOITI 2025 CLASSIC & WOODEN BOAT PARADE – PART #2 THE PICNIC

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LAKE ROTOITI 2025 CLASSIC & WOODEN BOAT PARADE – PART #2 THE PICNIC

Today again thanks to Scott Johnson we experience the post Parade picnic at Wairau Bay. Where after the formalities of the Parade, the skippers and crew get to relaxed and have a waterside party. 

The venue being a lake (no tide) means that the craft can all nudge into the bank and everyone gets to meet, chat and swap boating stories.

Enjoy the gallery of photos – if you missed Mondays story where we featured the Parade – link here https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/02/24/lake-rotoiti-2025-classic-wooden-boat-parade-part-1-the-parade/

WOODY WEEKEND AT WAIHEKE ISLAND

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CAPLIN
MANAPOURI
JUANITA
ONEROA BEACH

WOODY WEEKEND AT WAIHEKE ISLAND 

Seems life the weekend just gone was the best time this season for classic boating. 

Geoff Fiebig sent in the above photos from Oneroa Bay, Waiheke Island on Saturday late afternoon.

Nice to see MANAPOURI out and about after her extensive re-fit. And the sedan launch – JUANITA looking immaculate, as always.

The yacht CAPLIN is a very salty woody with a huge back story – read here https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/11/15/caplin-a-once-in-a-lifetime-opportunity/

Can any one put a name to the rather large ex workboat – can not make out the name – maybe SEA XXXX? 

REMEMBER TO CHECK IN TOMORROW FOR PART #2 OF THE LAKE ROTOITI CLASSIC & WOODEN BOAT WEEKEND.

LAKE ROTOITI 2025 CLASSIC & WOODEN BOAT PARADE – PART #1 THE PARADE

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LAKE ROTOITI 2025 CLASSIC & WOODEN BOAT PARADE – PART #1 THE PARADE

Today thanks to Scott Johnson we get a look at the 2025 Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade — stunning, weather and photos that matched the wooden craft.

The day began with the traditional three cannon blasts, signaling the start of a flotilla of 80 classic and wooden boats gliding across the lake – lead out by Teheka Whaka.

Spectators gathered along the Okere arm shore, enjoying a live commentary from the commodore, who shared insights into the history and craftsmanship of these beautiful vessels. The weather was perfect, making for a truly memorable day on the water.

The parade concluded with a picnic and games at Wairau Bay, where the skippers and crew relaxed and celebrated another fantastic year of this cherished tradition.

Enjoy the gallery of photos & remember – click on photos to enlarge ;-)- On Wednesday we will have part two – the lake side picnic.

CLASSIC YACHT  – NIOBE – Sailing Sunday

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CLASSIC YACHT  – NIOBE – Sailing Sunday

Back in Jan 2022 we ran a mystery vessel story using sa photo sent in by Travers Reynolds, the photo was taken by a FG Radcliffe from the early 1900’s and the location was near the Whangarei Heads.

Thanks HAROLD KIDD and Janet Watkins we learnt the yachts name was NIOBE and the photo was taken near Manganese Point when owned by Janet’s grandfather – A R Pickmere, who sold her in 1906.

Fast forward to the xmas/ny break and Lew Redwood posted two wonderful photos of NIOBE on fb. The photos are tagged c.1904, so during the Pickmere ownership period.

BUMPER WW STORY TOMORROW (Monday) – TRIP REPORT / PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE 2025 LAKE ROTOITI CLASSIC & WOODEN BOAT PARADE

CLASSIC Ex WORKBOAT – MYSTERY GIRL 

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CLASSIC Ex WORKBOAT – MYSTERY GIRL 

The 20’ c.100 yrs old ex workboat – MYSTERY GIRL last popped up on WW back in 2015, link below, since then she has had a wheelhouse added and is now back on the market. Thanks Ian McDonald for the tme heads up. Lots of intel and chat here – check out the comments section https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/06/06/mystery-girl/

You have to love the sellers comments, so upfront and honest, “ window framing in topside has rot and falling apart, needs attention. Old 4 cylinder Ford diesel is not running. Unknown hours and details” 🙂

With some TLC she has the makings of a cool little woody.

CLASSIC WOODEN EX WORKBOAT – HINEMOA

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CLASSIC WOODEN EX WORKBOAT – HINEMOA

Todays woody made a brief appearance on tme (thanks Ian McDonald) and disappeared before I could record the details. So either sold in a flash or seller got cold feet.

So other than being located somewhere in the South Island and having a canoe-stern WW knows little about her, so keen to learn more.

KELVIN R4 75hp Engine – Needs A Home – Message below from Russell Ward
“It is time to place the R4 Kelvin with you to find a new owner.
It is 75 hp at 1500 rpm. I bought it from Sanfords -had been briefly the generator on Sea Harvester. Low hours. 

So I’ve had it in the mancave for most of my life awaiting a boat. I got Athol Burns to design me a 40′ MS for it – his last design ever. It was great fun but I knew I could never afford to build new. But I wanted Athol’s last design and it was well worth the effort just to have the exchange of letters. I will always treasure his sage advice. “No hysterics with old time practices” was his best.

Conrad Bergius who was related to the Kelvin makers Bergius had a similar dream and I gave it to him when we left Bayswater. He took it apart and got many new parts for it from the company.

When I took over St Antonio, I bought it from him – it had been on display in Moon Engines foyer.  I got a Niigata gearbox with a 3:1 reduction. I had it professionally fitted by Watts Engineering. 

It went briefly in the river at Warkworth and has been rebuilt since. When I sold St Antonio, the new owner had an Isuzu in preference to the Kelvin so I kept it.

Very easy engine to live with and will see any of us out. I have a vid of the last time it ran. Interested buyer contact Russell” mrward@steam.co.nz

MYSTERY NORTH AUCKLAND WOODEN BOAT

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MYSTERY NORTH AUCKLAND WOODEN BOAT

Todays photo comes to us from the ‘Old North Auckland – Northland Photos & Stories fb via Lew Redwood.

The photo was captioned “Steve Bignall and his crane truck, an American war surplus Diamont T putting a launch back into the water, Whangarei, 1940-50’. The location is where the swimming pool car park is now.

Any one with a good memory able to put a name to the launch. 

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH AWARIKI GETS A TOP CHOP

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH AWARIKI GETS A TOP CHOP

Stories like todays make me very happy – its no surprise to regular readers that I’m not a fan of fly-bridges on classic wooden craft, particularly ones that have been added post the original launch date.

Last year when the Wooden Boat Bureau sold the 1967 Owen Wooley designed and built 32’ launch – AWARIKI there was a discussion with the new owners re the fly-bridge and I gave my standard line – “take it off now, otherwise you will get used to it and it will stay” 🙂

Fast forward to Monday night when I get an email asking about my thoughts on removing it. The launch was hauled out at the Slipway Milford and the crew there had been not so subtly suggesting to the owners to give the green light on removing it.  The hardest working crew member at the yard – Maddie Malcom did some photo-shopping to a photo I took of AWARIKI in Chamberlain Bay (2nd one above) and the owners were sold 🙂

So flybridge gone, bow rail removed, coamings to be returned to vanish, new upholstery and some differed maintenance righted and she will be a ’new’ boat.

The photos above show Jason Prew in his happy place – top-chop is his middle name.

More to come as work continues ……. 🙂

INPUT ex KERRY LILLEY – previous owner and also worked on the build of the launch whilst doing his apprenticeship at Owen Wooley’s yard. The photos below were given to Kerry by previous owners.. She originally had a mast (mast step still there). Kerry commented  ‘Nothing stays the same I built and installed that flybridge  30 plus years ago’ 

UPDATE 21-02-2025 – Work continues

PRETTY SAFE TO ASSUME TODAYS WOODY WONT BE ON THE START LINE AT THIS WEEKS CLASSIC SAILING REGATTA …….

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PRETTY SAFE TO ASSUME TODAYS WOODY WONT BE ON THE START LINE AT THIS WEEKS CLASSIC SAILING REGATTA……. 

One of the WW crew was recently doing a dock-side mooch at Westhaven marina and spotted the K-Class yacht HELEN looking very sad and neglected. Check out the size of the oysters. Other than health issues there is no excuse for a craft like HELEN to be in this condition – Bob Stewart would not be impressed.

A Busy Time On The Wooden Boating Event Calendar – five events both local and overseas – circle the calendar. 

1. OFF CENTER HARBOR – Worldwide Classic Boat Show – live on-line now, until March 2nd – WW readers have free access via this link  https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/02/06/worldwide-classic-boat-show-free-access-ticket/

2. Classic Yacht Sailing Regatta – Fri March 21st  > Sun 23rd on the Waitemata Harbour

3. Lake Rotoiti (Nelson Lakes) – Antique & Classic Boat Show – March 1>2 – Details here https://www.nzclassicboats.com

4. Auckland Wooden Boat Festival – Mar 1>2 – a  2 day speaker series featuring topics such as the building of waka, navigation, women at sea, history, environmental and sustainability topics, and boat building. Venue – Auckland Maritime Museum. https://www.maritimemuseum.co.nz/events/auckland-wooden-boat-festival

5. Auckland on The Water Boat Show – March 6th > 9th – Venue is Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour. 

RESTORATION OF CLASSIC LAUNCH – TAINUI – UPDATES – RELAUNCHED

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RESTORATION OF CLASSIC LAUNCH – TAINUI – UPDATES – RELAUNCHED

Very pleased to be able to report that the restoration of the 38′ classic wooden launch – TAINUI , built c.1967 is progressing well – recently Blair Boats provided via fb the above images. TAINUI is kauri carvel planked and has a beam of 9’3″.

TAINUI was originally named KAIPARA and was a pilot vessel on the Kaipara Harbour. From that role she was converted to a commercial fishing vessel and then went off to Great Barrier Island, GBI more often than not ends up a grave yard for wooden boats but she was saved by John Sloane who and bought back to the main land. After 8+ years at the boat shed at Whangateau TAINU was moved to Blair Boats for fitting out and re-powering prior to launching.

Recent work has seen the ‘new’ Gardner engine fitted and aligned on reenforced engine beds. The photos show that the head and anchor locker work is almost complete. 

As is becoming the normal these days a jet bow thruster is also being installed 🙂

Read more on TAINUI here https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/08/27/the-classic-wooden-launch-tainui-relocates-north/

11-04-2025 UPDATE ex Blair Boats – new floorboard have been fitted and varnished

24-08-2025 UPDATE ex Blair Boats – the work continues – teak hand rails and anchor roller, engine box undercoated.

10-09-2025 UPDATE – First coat of varnish on the hand rails and teak capping going on the toenail. 

22-09-2025 UPDATE – work continues with bonding and screwing on the laminated teak capping on the toe rail.

01-10-2025 UPDATE – Varnish going on the trim and toe rail

07-10-2025 UPDATE

UPDATE 10-10-2025 – Tainui was moved the outside shelter to free up some space in the shed. Latest work includes – installing custom built bifold doors, bronze potholes and engine vent.

01-11-2025 UPDATE – Bow rails receiving final coat + installed.

UPDATE 30-11-2025

SPLASH DAY HAS ARRIVED