CLASSIC IAN OUGHTRED WOODEN CLINKER DINGHY NEEDS A NEW HOME

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CLASSIC IAN OUGHTRED WOODEN CLINKER DINGHY NEEDS A NEW HOME

WW doesn’t normally do stories like this but the owner of this stunning clinker dinghy is a good friend and a long time passionate classic wooden boat owner. So here goes, in the owner words. 

“It’s an Auklet designed by Iain Oughtred (was one of the worlds leading small boat designers, now deceased).  7ft2in long. It was built in the South Island I think in Nelson. There is a builders plate, that says Walker boatbuilder. There is a boatbuilder Richard Walker at Brightwater just out of Nelson who has done some beautiful restoration work on Elray (see https://boatingnz.co.nz/2018/05/restoring-elray-iii/). I don’t know when it was built.  I bought it from a bloke in Blenheim who had too many boats and had to make room at home.  It had hardly been used.  I revarnished it with Altex Timbercoat. I’ve had it under cover for 3 or 4 years and used it for a sail when the urge took me and also for grandchildren.

Comes complete with all sailing gear, oars and US alloy beach tailer that comes apart for stowing.  Also the custom cradles for onboard deck mounting.

Selling as I’m getting older so with some regret I’m selling this bit of furniture”.

So woodys what ever the reason – embellishing your existing classic wooden vessel / rewarding the grand children or just treating yourself – this is the best opportunity to own what is probably NZ’s finest spirit of tradition clinker dinghy – and the price is a steal at $5,500

I dont like publishing personal contact details so if interested drop WW an email at waitematawoodys@gmail.com and I’ll join the dots.

CLASSIC WORKBOAT – L’AVENIR TO GET A 2ND LIFE

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As launched – photo coloured by Dean Wright
March 2025 Dove Bay
Conceptual Rendering ex Dean Wright

CLASSIC WORKBOAT – L’AVENIR TO GET A 2ND LIFE

Over the weekend I received a repot from Dean Wright (owner of MV ARETHUSA) that he had spotted the fishing boat – L’AVENIR moored in Doves Bay for a few days.

L”AVENIR was designed and built by Roger Carey and launched in 1958. Her spec’s are 50’ with a 14’ beam.

Dean had a quick chat to the new owner Dan, who advised they were on route to her new home port in Whangaroa. 

Dan has plans is to take the fishing gear off her. Now Dean Wright is a very clever chap so he did a before and after shot of what she might look like for Dan.

Dean also ‘coloured’ an old photo of her when she was new. 

Fingers crossed that Dan follows Dean’s suggestions and we end up with another stunning workboat conversion.

Anyone of the workboat group able to tell us more about L’AVENIR.

Observation – workboats are probably the most active sales category in the classic wooden boat movement at the moment – seems everyone wants something they can live aboard and have the ability to do laps of NZ.

TANDARRA – A Peek Down Below

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TANDARRA – A Peek Down Below

The Lidgard built 42’ launch – TANDARRA has made several appearance on WW , links below, lots of chat so be sure to read the comments sections.

Today thanks to Ian McDonald and Alan Sexton we get to have an updated look at her.

Quick overview – 42’ x 12’5”,  built from triple skin kauri (+f/glassed), currently powered by twin 300hp 6 cyl Ford Sabre engines. 

With a build date of 1976 and those varnished coaming she sneaks into the spirit of tradition category. Her original owners were the  Opperman brothers.

Sure to get a rise from the Lidgard fan club but its been commented that there is some Salthouse influence in her profile, she looks very similar to a Corsair 😉

WW Aug 2017 https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/08/30/tandarra/ WW Jan 2023  https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/01/19/tandarra-2/

ARTEMIS – A Peek Down Below

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ARTEMIS – A Peek Down Below

Todays woody is ARTEMIS, built by Orams in 1971 though some elements of her do look older than 1971 and some look newer than 1971.

Her specs ar 40’ x 11’3” x 2’11”, forward motion is via Perkins 120hp diesel engine.

Home has been Picton, Marlborough but the craft hs recently sold and will be heading north to the Bay of Islands, don’t they all these days 🙂

Keen to learn more about ARTEMIS’S past life and how and when she ended out a southern gal.

CLASSIC EX WORKBOAT – WAIRANGI – Then and Now

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CLASSIC EX WORKBOAT – WAIRANGI – Then and Now

The 1933 Miller & Tunnsge built ex workboat – WAIRANGI has made several appearances on WW, links below.

Now franks to a social media story by Rakiura Herzhoff we get to see her in her early configuration. We also learnt that when launched she had twin masts and was powered by a Thornycroft engine.This was replaced c.1948/9 with a Gardner 6L3, which she may still have.

WW October 2014 https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/10/01/1934-millar-tunnage/

WW March 2016 https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/03/05/wairangi-3/

WW April 2017 https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/04/18/wairangi-4/

CLASSIC WOODY WAIHEKE MOOCHING

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CLASSIC WOODY WAIHEKE MOOCHING

Last weekend I did three things – looked at the long range weather forecast, looked in Logbook to see how many days I’d used the boat since xmas and decided to head away for a week.

Solo trip – needed to clear the head and say hello to the boat.

Did a lap of Waiheke Island, including a trip to Rotoroa Island. In the end it was 6 days, as I ran out of LPG and I’m not a happy camper without several cups of coffee and a hot dinner 🙂

As always there was some serious food involved  – big ups to Man o War Vineyard , their midweek lunch was ✔️✔️.

 Spotted a few woodys but the bottom end of the island was very quiet , which was perfect. The run-about is owned by Tobias Forsyth (also owns MV CALLISTO) and from memory is powered by a 350 Chev V8, if your are into zoom zoom and I am – 50 mph ……..

I haven’t been to Lake Rotoroa in probably 10+ years , this trip was very different  – only person other tha myself was the ranger – slightly eerie, the cemetery particularly. But glad I visited – great set up and walks are easy.

MYSTERY CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – 193O’s Photos = LADY VI

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MYSTERY CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – 193O’s Photos – LADY VI

Earlier in the week thanks to Rosemary Wakeman we had the great story on the launch – ESME.

Rosemary also sent in several other photos from her uncles (Ernie Sisson) 1930’s photo album. 

Two of them show a bridge-decker alongside a docked Clipper flying boat, location most likely Auckland.

Can we ID the launch. My guess is TASMAN, but I’m sure Nathan Herbert will have the answer 🙂

INPUT EX KEN RICKETTS – the launch is LADY VI – more here https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/04/14/mystery-launch-1404/

08–3-2025VINPUT EX OLAF WIIF – The photos of the flying boat are so cool.  It is NC18602 (number 18) and named California Clipper,  the very last 314 flying boat to be retired from service at Pan Am.  One of only 12 made, it had clocked up over a million miles in service. It dates the photo as being taken between March 1939 when Pan Am took delivery of its first 314 and 1946 when California clipper retired. 

CLASSIC WOODEN EX WORKBOAT – OCEAN STAR

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CLASSIC WOODEN EX WORKBOAT – OCEAN STAR

Recently Graeme Shephard posted the above photo of OCEAN STAR on fb.  Graeme owned the boat in 2001 >2006. She was built in 1942 as a fishing vessel in New Zealand. 16.8 metres LOA.

In the late 1940’s the Government bought her for duties around Auckland and fitted the bigger deck house.

Her engine when Graeme owned her was a 4/71 GM.

Graeme commented that he placed 2 tonnes of lead ingots in the bilges which made her a lot stiffer and easier crossing Cook Strait etc.

Graeme circumnavigated the North Island of NZ in 2006 and then sold her.

Back in May 2023 OCEAN STAR appeared on WW (link below)  sporting a completely new house and residing in Tauranga, photo below. https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/05/10/ocean-star-a-floating-apartment/

She was 4sale at the time – did she sell?

PICTON AND CLASSIC BOAT CLUB 

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PICTON AND CLASSIC BOAT CLUB 

One of the highlights each month is getting a copy of ‘DEADWOOD’ the newsletter the Picton Clinker & Classic Boat Club, in my email inbox. Its edited / pulled together by Roysie, sorry I do not know the surname. Each issue is a reminder to me that classic wooden boating isn’t all about launch and yachts kept on marinas. There is as much or probably more fun messing around in small clinker craft. 
In the latest issue Roysie reports on the clubs recent ‘Ngakuta Run’ on Saturday 15th. February .  I’ll let Roysie tell the story – 

“The day dawned fine & clear with light winds and nine boats arrived at the Ngakuta ramp including Ruru recently repaired by Dick. Unfortunately she stopped again on the trip and had to accept a tow from Riff Raff, Roy’s new boat, but came right and finished the run under her own steam.

It was a good turnout with 17 members on the water in 9 boats. The fleet motored from Ngakuta across the Sound to Umugnata Bay and along the northern shore to Bottle Bay, Houhou Point then back across to Iwirua Point and westward in and out of the bays back to Ngakuta.

The boats were retrieved and the barbecue set up in the shade of an oak tree. The weather was glorious and the setting perfect, we needed that shade from the sun which we’ve not really seen enough of this summer. Several club members arrived for the sausage sizzle and a very pleasant social occasion was enjoyed by all. “

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – ESME

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – ESME

A recent email from Rosemary Wakeman is what WW is all about – connecting the dots. I have reproduced the email below (slight edit)

“Doing a major tidy-up of old family photos – that I presume my kids will  throw out upon my demise.

I have  photos (and letters ) of ESME, a launch my late Uncle Ernie Sisson owned ( part owned ? )  in the 1930’s.   She was moored in Tauranga ( on a swing mooring I guess) I presume he sold her before he went to war in late December 1940.  I think he managed the grocery store Self Help in Tauranga.  He was killed in 1943, navigator on a Lancaster Bomber shot down over Germany 08-11-1943.

Two thoughts ..  was Esme still afloat? – and would any museum or collector like the photos  and letters mentioning her? “

The name ESME has appeared numerous times on WW but todays launch at 22’ is too small for the others . Also keen to learn that engine was in her, based on the back of the post card – the claim of 12-13 knots is impressive.

So woodys can we help Rosemary out.

INPUT EX HAROLD KIDD

Esme was owned by A. Hunter in 1930 but she’s a lot older than that. My pick is about 1904/5 with that rakish bow and “torpedo stern”. Ernie Sisson owned her in October 1939 when he modified her cabin top. He did a very good job as you can see. I have a photo of her on Charlie Millett’s slip at the same time as the bottom photo above. Some of the old Tauranga hands should have more information on her?