Clinker Cabin Boat

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Clinker Cabin Boat

Keiran McCarten sent me the above photos of his 1938, 18′, kauri clinker cabin boat. It is in my eyes rather special, primarily because she is almost perfect in terms of proportion, not can easy thing to get right in an 18′ boat with a cabin.

If you were looking for a nice day boat or a lake boat, at $10k ono, including a galv. trailer its a great buy. If the sellers claim that its a Jack Logan built boat is genuine its even more of a steal (the boat has a Jack Logan builders plate).

She is currently powered by a 16hp Shubarra diesel. Her owner has the original Norman Marine motor & running gear so an enthusiast could easily refit this & return her to ‘as-original’ condition.

A bonus today – check out the July/August edition of the USA on-line magazine ‘Classic Yacht’ – link below.
The article on ‘Nero’ the spirit of tradition ‘super’ motor yacht built in China – at 300′ she is very impressive (pages 54>65).
The sobering article on Boating Accidents & Death (pages 30>31) shows some interesting stats – while boating accident related deaths has remained almost static between 1997 & 2014 – there has been a marked decrease in accidents & injuries.

http://www.myvirtualpaper.com/doc/ClassicYacht/classic-yacht-july-august-2016/2016070701/

 

Kauri Speed Boat Barn Find

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Kauri Speed Boat Barn Find

Gavin Bedggood has asked for help from ww to identify his recent barn find. The speed boat is 16′ 2″ & would have had the motor in the middle and the people at the back.  She way have been powered by a Dodge flat head 6 engine and then a flat head Ford V8 after that.
The distinctive V stern should be a give away to it’s history as it’s a little out of the normal. The bottom of the hull is double skinned with canvas between the layers and the sides are seam batten construction with very thin 7mm planks.  It looks to have been built by a talented amateur as their are few little signs that it was not professionally built.  It was blue at one stage then orange.
The previous owner had it stored inside for 27 years in the Waikato just out of Morrinsville. What Gavin acquired is just the ‘remains’ of the hull with none of the original fittings. Gavin plans to restore it with as many 1930’s period parts as he can, but power it with a late 1960’s 3.5 litre Rover V8.

Do any of the woodys recognize the boat & possibly be able to name her or any dates. Gavin feels it could have been built 10 years either side of 1930 based of the style.

More pictures & speculation can be found at this thread on the WoodenBoat magazine forum
http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthread.php?209069-Very-old-New-Zealand-built-Speedboat-Speedster-restoration

Strathallan

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STRATHALLAN
Strathallan was the name given to this Miller & Tunnage, kauri carvel built, double ender, ex pilot boat by the Timaru Harbour Board. She measures 46’6”” LOA & draws 6’5”. The traditional Scottish boat builder, Doug Robb built Strathallan in 1955 at his Timaru yard.

As you would expect from an ex work-boat the engine room is impressive & dominated by the 190hp, 8L3B Gardner. With a displacement of approx. 20 tons and being driven by the classic Gardner with a 3.1 transmission gives her a cruising speed of 8.5 knots at 810 rpm and max speed of approx. 10 knots at 990 rpm. Her size, design & power unit make her a powerful strong seaworthy vessel.

After being decommissioned as a work-boat in the 1990s she was converted to a cruising vessel. The main saloon, galley & engine room have full headroom & her walk-around decks are perfect for fishing. One of the hangovers from her commercial days is the exterior head with the door facing the stern; I can personally vouch for the view J

Strathallan is currently for sale & would be an ideal vessel for the boat owner who wants a classic, traditional boat that is a part of New Zealand’s maritime history. The asking price I understand is <$80k & at that price would be a good buy & still have the potential for a new owner to add their own touch to the boat in terms of decor.

Photo below was taken at Mahurangi Regatta (2012?) by Chris Miller – slightly different paint ‘job’ back then.

Strathallan

 

Matara & Menace – Sailing Sunday

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MENACE @ GH 1.6.16

MATARA & MENACE – Sailing Sunday

While doing a lap of the Gulf Harbour compound a few weeks ago Ken Ricketts spotted Matara & Menace, two of the three ‘M’ Class yachts owned by Howard Spencer (the other being Mach One). All were built by Owen Reid* the legendary M Class builder. Reid’s idea to glue the laps of a clinker boat veered away from the traditional & ensured that the moisture content was fairly stable.

Matara & Menace were built in 1991 & Matara was listed for sale last in 2014, most likely when Spencer bought her.
They both look almost brand new in these photos, but Ken reports that they were at Gulf Harbour for some routine TLC.

“If You Buy A Classic, Buy It For Life, Then All The Work Pays Off”
As a bonus today – you an view & or download the official Classic Boat magazine programme for the 2016 Panerai British Classic Week, click blue link below.
Great article on David Murrin, the commodore of the British Classic Yacht Club, the headline above about buying a classic for life is one of David’s quotes.

Classic Boat Panerai Classic British 2016 Guide

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Input from Robin Elliott

In 1989 Owen Reid began building built 3 M’s simultaneously in the old Watersiders Cafeteria on Princes Wharf.. The planking was glued and fastened, then coated in Everdure to ensure stability of the planking and prevent moisture intake. It was a long term project, all 3 hulls being finished, varnished and decks painted by Owen (with a lot of help from Graham Russell) in 1991.

The late Peter Spencer bought two of these hulls and the third, originally intended for Owen himself, was bought by a syndicate headed by Sandy Grigg.

First to be launched was Peter Spencer’s Matara M-47 in December 1991. He raced Matara for a season or so then handed her over to his son Howard who has campaigned her ever since.

Matara was followed by Sandy Griggs’ Mistress M-50 in October 1992. She is currently owned by Dave and Eric Mahoney.

The third Spencer hull was kept ‘on ice’ until completed by Howard and launched as Menace M-47 in December 2011.

Most of the above details are expanded on in some book somewhere.

Princess

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PRINCESS

Back in early January 2016, I ran a story on ww, ex Paul Drake, on a launch by the name of Princess that had recently arrived at Lake Taupo. At the time there was discussion around whether the owners claim on her name plate as being a 1927 Col Wild launch was in fact genuine.

I was sent the above photos by Keith Grizzly / Raymond Davidson (sorry if I have the name/s wrong) taken during her extensive restoration over the 1998-2002 period. Apart from finding out she was used as a commercial fishing boat out of the Mahurangi, her builder was unknown to Keith and there was no name plate on her. Keith also commented that there was no evidence of any fire damage, so that may counter Harold Kidd’s comment that she may have started life as the 1927 36 footer Paloma which was pretty much burnt out in a fire in 1929 and completely rebuilt. But in HDK’s defence he also said that Paloma was hard chime.

So woodys use the link below to view the previous story & maybe with the addition of the above photos we can ID the launch.

Princess

Around The Yards – Neptune

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NEPTUNE WINTER HAUL-OUT

Over winter, Neptune the 1956, 30′ motor sailer built by Fred Lidgard on Kawau Island, has been hauled out at the Whangateau boat yard for some TLC & some major work to realign her drive shaft. After buying Neptune, owner Greg was my marina neighbour at Bayswater last summer & on numerous occasions relayed that over a certain rpm Neptune was not the the most relaxing classic to be aboard 😉 Now it would be an understatement to say Greg is a perfectionist so at the earliest opportunity he slipped her & set to correcting the problem.  I’m sure Greg will added to this post the exact details of the work – hint hint Greg 🙂
Neptune slid down the ramp 2 weeks ago & is looking magnificent, see photo below on her mooring. Neptune has always been gifted with wonderful, caring owners & its awesome to see that Greg has taken her to a new high. Check out the ww link (blue) below to see more of this woody.

Neptune

(todays post photos ex owner)

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Ngahi

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NGAHI

I first spotted Ngahi over the Easter 2015 period (photo above) in Waikalabubu Bay, Motutapu Island. Then recently Ken Ricketts snapped 2 photos (below) of her at Milford Marina on one of his ‘walk-abouts’. Given the Ngahi MCC name board on her stern, one of the Milford woodys should be able to provide us with more details.

Mystery Launch 13-07-2016

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Mystery Launch 13-07-2016

Today’s post is a going to test the talents of you woodys. Baden Pascoe sent me the above photos of a launch that is ‘parked’ outside Horopito Motors (central North Island). Baden commented that he was told by a Barbara Cole that it last floated at Whakatane, given its condition – that would have been a while ago 🙂

Barbara thinks the vessel may have been called ‘Gay Lee’.

So woodys what are the collective thoughts on her.

Update from Andrew Pollard –  I have a poor quality photo of this boat, i found it online sometime ago. See below.
I have it under the name Gay Lee also.

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Harold Kidd Awarded Life Membership of the CYA

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Harold Kidd Awarded Life Membership of the CYA

I’m pleased to be able to report that at last nights Classic Yacht Association of NZ AGM – Harold Kidd was made a life member of the CYA. Below is the presentation speech given by CYA Patron – Hamish Ross.
photo (sorry out of focus) L>R Harold Kidd, Rod Marler & Hamish Ross.

Harold Kidd – Life Membership

 We will not see in our lifetime anyone who will make greater an impact on Classic Yachting in New Zealand, than Harold Desmond Kidd.

 It is through his meticulous research and extensive writings that New Zealand’s pleasure boating history will live on, not to be forgotten or become a twisted mixture of fact and fable. With Robin Elliot, his frequent co-author, Harold has been responsible for many books and articles detailing the history of our craft, their builders, their owners and crew. I have been a witness to a little of their hard work, the detail of their research, as well as their generosity in sharing that information with so many others. The timing of their work has been critical as we lose knowledge and their memories as people pass away. For example, to speak to someone who worked with or knew the Logans or the Baileys is becoming rarer and rarer as each year passes, if not now extinct and soon the knowledge be rather like an old 1920’s song “ I’ve danced with a man, who’s danced with a girl, who’s danced with the Prince of Wales”

 The influence of Harold’s work has lead many of us, and many more, not only to appreciate the rich history of our vessels, but also, perhaps most importantly, to regularly part with our hard earned money, to restore them and keep them afloat.

 Harold has been involved in many classic craft, but for me the by far the most important has been the Jessie Logan, the crack craft and the genesis of the House of Logan. His doggedness in tracking down of the vessel, rescuing it as a children playhouse, transporting it by road from Nelson to Auckland with a woefully under powered vehicle, storing it for many years until he found the right people to help him to restore her, and afterwards securing her future is just one example of his dedication.

 Mention must be made of his Rescue Trust, which has help rescue derelict vessels threatened with destruction.

 Harold regularly assists the Dept. of Internal Affairs in protecting NZ’s historic vessels from being lost to this country through export.

 There are many more achievements and contributions that could be mentioned, but Harold, on behalf of all members of the Classic Yacht Association, please accept this very small token of our esteem and gratitude from your fellow classic yachtsmen and yachtswomen.

I cannot think of anyone who has done more for or is more deserving of Life Membership of the Classic Yacht Association of New Zealand.

 Hamish Ross –  CYA AGM 12th July 2016

Why Is Classic Sailing Stuck In The Doldrums?

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Why Is Classic Sailing Stuck In The Doldrums?

Now here is an idea – may be the Classic Yacht Association should change its name to something like the Classic Boat Club – why? well given that over 50% of its boat owner members are launch owners & in physical numbers the classic launches out number classic yachts, maybe the ‘yacht’ name is not reflective of the movement.

If you want further proof, in the latest addition of the CYA newsletter, Sheerlines (see below), the new (to be elected tonight) CYA chairman + a ex yacht captain + the out-going launch captain – all have their latest classic boating projects featured & guess what? – they are all motor boats. Sure 2 out of the 3 people also own a yacht, but the trend for the last few years has been launch ownership. The out-going CYA chairman owns a motor boat & has his classic yacht on the market.
Even a blind-man could see there is a huge shift to classic launch ownership & the more relaxed, social activities associated around launches. Today the ‘sport’ of racing a classic yacht has less & less appeal, the yachts look magnificent but there is no queue of people to own / sail them. Just look at the asking / sold prices for classic yachts these days – that alone tells the story.

Aside from the name, the real issue facing the CYA is membership retention – has been for the last few years. No shortage of people joining up but an un-healthy number continue to drop off at the other end. Despite record numbers joining in the last 3 years (would be in excess of 100 individuals) the total membership number almost remains static.

There will be a change of guard at tonights CYA AGM – lets hope they are open to welcoming new thinking in terms of the classic boating movement & what it offerers up to retain members. The days of the CYA being a yacht club with its primary mission providing yacht racing for classic yacht owners, is over – that role needs to be handed over to the numerous classic yacht ‘trusts’ that these days directly or indirectly control 68%+ of the active classic yachting race fleets.

If your a CYA member, make the effort to come to the AGM tonight – 7.00pm @ the RNZYC, Westhaven.

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