How Not To Sell A Classic Wooden Launch – Huia
List it on trademe BUT
1. Don’t mention the vessels name
2. Don’t mention the designer/builder
3. Don’t mention the make of engine
4. Say it has history but make no mention of it
UPDATE Thanks to ww follower Zach Matich we now know its Huia, built by Demmings & powered by a Ford 60hp. She was previously residing on the Kaipara. More details & photos here https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/05/06/huia/
LADY JULE RIP
photos & details ex Kerry Clarkson (owner)
Lady Jule was built in 1939 for the Pollard family ( Henderson & Pollard ?) of Auckland by Dick Lang. I understand that she was built just before Lady Margaret (Peter Boardman’s stunning Dick Lang launch).
Kerry Clarkson purchased her in 2008 and along with a friend brought her down the coast from Houhora to Clevedon in August of that year.
She is 38ft plus duck board making her 40ft LOA. Her beam at the widest point is 11ft 4inches making her a very beamy old girl for her age. She is an extremely seaworthy and strongly built vessel of single 1.1/4 kauri plank carvel construction.
She is powered by a 6 cylinder 120hp Lees Marine Ford, installed new in 1976, and will cruise all day at 18-1900 rpm. (8-8.5 knots).
Currently hauled out for some rib sistering, recaulking, anti-foul & hull paint job. I understand her owners have relocated outside of Auckland & she is for sale & is very well priced. Interested parties could contact Kerry on rooclarkson@gmail.com or on 0274574 756 .
Harold Kidd update
Sorry to rain on this man’s parade too, but that history is not right. LADY JULE was indeed built by Dick Lang in 1939 but not for the Pollards. It was a tumultuous year with the outbreak of war so launch building news was not high priority in the newspapers. My best guess is that she was built for Gordon Hunter and was his first boat. Gordon’s son Don provided that info. Gordon sold her in 1944 to buy ROYAL SAXON. I think the purchaser was Edward Morrison of Herne Bay. The Frankham brothers, Jack & Stan bought her in the early 1960s and kept her until c1984. Their brother-in-law Noel Pollard (of Henderson & Pollard) crewed on her extensively during that time and again when his mate Jack Allen of L.R. Allen Ltd had her briefly. That’s the only Pollard connection, and it’s extremely tenuous.
Her original engine was a petrol Buda (for which my father was agent)
23-07-2016 Update – Lady Jule wrecked at Rocky Bay, Waiheke Island
Very sad to report that on July 19th 2016 Lady Jule broke free from her mooring in Rocky Bay & was wrecked on the rocks. See link to story below
26-07-2016 Update
Photos of the ‘wreck’ below. When first reported on ww there were no photos available, the below have now appeared, perhaps the term wreck is a little too severe, some (like Jason Prew) would consider that hull a good candidate for restoration 😉
HAPPY FATHERS DAY
photo ex Roger Guthrie
Before my time but I’m sure a lot of you will remember the walkway from Arran Bay to Cowes Bay on Waiheke Island. Imagine applying for resource consent now days to build that 🙂
In the photo everyone is a Guthrie & given today is Fathers Day it seemed a perfect photo for the day.
The varnished dinghy was sporting a new Seagull outboard, thence the cover. This dinghy was like a piece of furniture & was also a sailing dinghy. The other one was just a dinghy for the kids and rough work.
As youngsters Roger & family spent many hours on the walkway catching Paketi and at low tide turning the rocks to see the crabs run.
The size above & web just do not do justice to this photo, given when it was taken the person with the camera was very talented.
MANSION HOUSE BAY c.1947
photo ex Ken Ricketts ex Allan/Coggan family
From left to right we have Tiromoana, Awarua & most likely Movarie. All 3 have been on ww before so use the search box to see more on each launch.
Not wanting to get start a lengthy debate, but in a discussion with Russell Ward the other day he commented how a varnished wheelhouse isn’t as obtrusive as a white painted one, he is right (he normally is), they just look so much better & show off the designers lines. I understand the pro’s & cons, I myself have a painted lady, but with some of the advances in bright finishes on the market these days, hopefully we will see more of the ‘as built’ 😉
Jack Brooke Cruise Collection #1 – Arohia 1952-53
waitematawoodys would like to thank Robert Brooke for making the remarkable cruise drawings done by his father, Jack Brooke, available to ww followers. Jack produced a hand drawing on each cruise. Todays post is the first of several – enjoy.
The above drawing records the travels of Arohia during 3 events – the 1952 Ocean Race to the Bay of Islands, the Whangaroa – Mangonui Race & their Xmas 1952-53 Cruise.
Jack & crew were in great form with :- 1st to finish & 2nd on handicap for the Ocean Race. Winner of the Russell Regatta. 1st to finish & 2nd on handicap for the Mangonui Race. If you look in the top right corner there is a legend that shows the individual passages.
The cruise crew were made up of the Brooke family – Elsie, Jack, Donald, Robert & Judith + Elgin Rhind, Norman Leese & Tony Yates.
Harold Kidd Reply
Jack Brooke was a genius and a great teacher and leader. I’ll never forget the winter evening lectures the Squadron used to hold for secondary school boys (not girls) at its rooms in Endean’s Building at the foot of Queen Street in the ’40s and ’50s. Not only did we get taught all sorts of useful nautical things by expert people like Jack (“Mr. Brooke”, of course), Arthur Angell, Jim Frater, Bressin Thompson and Jim Faire, but there was cocoa and fruit cake in front of the fire. And the ambiance! Those oak-framed photographs of heroic Logan and Bailey gaff cutters and the glitter of trophies in the firelight. Then the ferry ride home on a steamer. Life-changing stuff!
IDA MAE (Playmate)
photos ex Peter Sample (owner for 25 yrs)
Following on from the post on Playmate 2 days ago, above are photos of the launch when she was Ida Mae.
The black and whites photos are from Ted Swales, the original owners son. He thinks they were taken in 1942 just before she was sold to the Air Force.
The later, colour one is at Owhiti Bay Waiheke in 2006.
Harold Kidd Info
She was built by Sam Ford in 1936 for Roy Swales of Epsom. Her original engine was a 2 cylinder National 20hp diesel, later replaced with a Fairbanks Morse while in RNZAF service. Harold suspects she went to Nelson after she was sold off by the RNZAF.
Click link to view photos of her during the war in Fiji https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/09/02/playmate-ida-mae/
Recent photo (Kerikeri) ex Nathan Herbert
Update from Peter Sample (former owner)
I owned Ida Mae from 1982 to 2007. I had known Ted Swales, the original owners son, for a few years beforehand and when he found we had just bought a Sam Ford launch,named Ida Mae he told me about the one his family owned when he was a boy, named Playmate.
He told me that the RNZAF had purchased her in 1942 for service in Fiji and as far as he knew she had never come back.
He showed me photos of her in Whakataka Bay.
A couple of years later when I was burning multiple layers of paint from the hull I came across the old wartime registration number scribed in the timber. Something about that number rang a bell so I got in touch with Ted and asked him what the number was on their Sam Ford launch. He told me number 414. I said to him we have her in my back yard.
He was rather speechless for a while and within a couple of days was at my place sitting inside.
He confirmed evidence in the hull that she had been twin screw.for a while. She had originally been launched with a single Ailsa Craig engine which was far too small. This was shifted over and a second Ailsa Craig fitted. It was plain to see where the shafts had been as the cut ribs still existed where the shafts went through the hull and the replacement pieces of planking of a couple of feet long where the shaft logs had been. I later replaced the ribs along with many others but the twin shaft evidence still exists.Ted said she was fitted with a single Fairbanks Morse when the RNZAF had her but I do not remember if this was done by the Swales or not.
Whenever Ted was on board he always referred to her as Playmate.
The logs I had showed she was in Napier in 1970 probably in her original state. She had a 90hp 6 cyl BMC sealord in her at this time and was still in when I sold.
She made a few sailings up the coast to Tauranga while based at Napier for Big game fishing at Mayor Island and it made interesting reading in the log of the non stop voyage up the coast stopping at Gisborne for fuel.
Owners I am aware of
Wyness of Auckland who I think had Shipbuilders do the alterations in the early 70’s
Eric Boisen of Auckland up to about 1981
George Mabey of Coromandel
Peter and Liz Sample Westpark 1982 to 2007
Aksel and Susan Jepsen Kerikeri
09/03/2015 – Photo pre WW2 ex Ken Ricketts ex B Worthington
08-01-2016 photo of Playmate in Opito Bay, Kerikeri ex Baden Pascoe
Mystery Launch 03/09/2014
photo ex Scott Taylor
Todays mystery launch really is a mystery, Scott found the unmarked photo in an envelope along with some 1964 change of ownership / sale papers on the launch ‘Thetis’ & a 1942 receipt from Bert Woollacottt for materials sold to Scott’s Dad, Mac Taylor of HM Taylor Shipbrokers, for the building of ‘Sheryl’.
Whether there is any connection between the 3 items – who knows. But hopefully someone can ID the launch.
PLAYMATE (Ida Mae)
Details & photos ex Harold Kidd
Playmate was built by Sam Ford in 1936 for Roy Swales of Epsom. Her original engine was a 2 cylinder National 20hp diesel, later replaced with a Fairbanks Morse while in RNZAF service. The photos above show her (#72) at Lauthala Bay, Fiji with Mataroa (#71) & Doris
Harold suspects she went to Nelson after she was sold off by the RNZAF. She is often confused with the 1950 bridgedecker MY PLAYMATE built for M.V. Wilson of Awatea Road, Parnell by the O’Rorke brothers.
Details from previous owner Peter Sample
I owned her for 25 years during which time she was named Ida Mae. She has since been renamed Playmate by the new owner when I sold her in 2007. I had her history back to 1970 when she was at Napier but sadly nothing up to then after the Air Force disposal from service in Fiji after the war. She carried wartime registration 414 which could still be seen scribed into the bow planking after sanding back. Her Air Force number 72 is also visible.
With this old girls travel passport there must be a few stories out there on her ?. I’m yet to check but I assume she is the launch now owned by CYA members Aksel & Susan Jepsen. AH
MATANUI
Sometimes on ww things happen fast, sometimes they take time – todays post started off in early April – then almost 4 months later someone lights a match & boom – details & photos appear.
Details from Harold Kidd, photos ex Bruce Overhill.
Matanui was built as San Luis by Ernie Lane in Picton for Martin Beck of Picton in 1923 for Cook Strait conditions. Beck sold her to Auckland owners in October 1925 and motored her up. Early Auckland owners were W.J. Bridson and J.A. Peacock but Walsh Brothers bought her in 1933 and fitted a Kelvin diesel, for which they were Auckland agents.
Between 1942 and 1945 she was used as a Naval patrol launch out of Suva (and may have had a petrol engine installed during that period (Chrysler Crown?) for rationalisation purposes. She was sold back to Leo Walsh in July 1945 but on sold to Joe Kissin (not Kissen) a well-known North Shore businessman of Lake Road, Takapuna, once again Kelvin-powered. Jack Brooke helped Joe with a redesign in 1952. She was moored off Queen’s Parade Devonport, in close company with Moana, Ariki, Spray II, Marangi, Tasmin, Jacqueline and the 30 sq meter Tangaika either side of the Iris Cable Wharf. Her call-sign was ZMQB
The Kelvin was replaced with a Fairbanks-Morse by 1954 and that by a new 6 cylinder Fordson diesel in 1960. By 1973 Joe had sold her to W.K.Downey of Epsom.
He sold her to Thames and then she came back to Auckland owned by O’Meara until about 1983 etc etc.
To read more on her past click this link https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/04/05/id-the-boats/comment-page-1/#comment-11765
‘New’ photos from Bruce Overhill – 03/09/2014
LITTLE JIM
Little Jim is a rather special boat, almost royalty – blue blood 🙂 Designed by Arch Logan & built by Bill Couldrey in 1934 under Arch’s discerning eye.
When you start life with parents like that, when you get older & it comes time for some orthopedic surgery, only the best wooden surgeon will do – enter Peter Brookes, this artisan has worked his magic on Little Jim twice. The first time was a 2 year major refit in 2007/8, which saw strengthening work to the step and bow sections and a full interior reconfiguration. The keel was off & got new bolts & the systems were replaced or overhauled. Currently Little Jim is in Peter Brookes shed getting the finishing touches to an extensive renovation. Hopefully Little Jim’s owner Rod Marler will chip in here & walk us thru whats been happening to Little Jim over the last 12 months (photos ex Peter Brookes shed below).
And at the risk of falling off-side with the gaff-rig cohorts, Little Jim being sloop rigged is just so much more sailable (if there is such a word). No need to spend hours ringing around looking for crew, Little Jim is easily sailed by two.
When she was relaunched in 2008, Lew Barrett, one of the WoodenBoat Forum guru’s made the following comments –
“I like the textures and lightness in the handling of the interior. The glossy highlights of the trim (and the beautiful natural color of the wood) works perfectly against the subdued but flawless finishes of the cabinetry. The paneled locker doors and trim are simple but elegant. It’s exactly what we love about old wooden boats. They fully respected and retained the feel and sense of age while making her new. This is a really sensitive and demanding restoration objective to accomplish.The exterior is as clean and purposeful as the interior. It all really works to make a place you want to be.”
Our own Harold Kidd commented in 2008 at her relaunch
“it remains today an eye-catcher & a head-turner by any standards, so beautifully does form fulfill function. The aesthetics of its lines remain exquisite.
We are almost spoilt by the number of classic wooden yachts in & around our harbour, they are all special in their owners eyes but few are drop dead gorgeous – Little Jim is.
(note: Interior photos ex Chris Miller ex 2010 CYA Classic Register)
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