MERRY CHRISTMAS ❤️

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MERRY CHRISTMAS ❤️

Merry Christmas to all the WW readers and as 2024 draws to a close I hope you have everything all under control and have something special to look forward to this coming week. Like a lot of people the family are scattered around the world but this year we are lucky to have 2/3 of them back in NZ and for the first part of the xmas/ny break we are land based and enjoying time together as a family. So for now we have swapped a cockpit for a Bure (still NZ based)

If you are afloat or at home I wish you fair winds and calm seas and encourage you to make the effort to pick up the phone and call (no txting) those that hold a special place in your life.

I’ll sign off with a special thank you to all the woodys that make my life easier by sending in stories and photos – publishing a weblog 365 days a year is a challenge but its very enjoyable and I savour the people I get to rub up against. 

One of the few WW rules is there is always a boat photo – today I share one of my favourite woody photos – in fact its my laptop screen saver – the 1922 launch – TEINA, designed by Glad Bailey and built by Ted & Ray McLeod at Bayswater, Auckland. In the photo below she is entering Bon Accord Harbour at Kawau Island.

LADY ELLEN – Out For Some TLC

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LADY ELLEN – Out For Some TLC

Recently the very stunning classic wooden launch – LADY ELLEN popped up on a fb page titled Mangawhat and the Mudflats’ , the poster was Carol Forsyth and the above photos were sent to WW by John Dawson. The photos were tagged ‘Doug’s Boatyard, Opua’ – will woodys whoever Doug is, he has a very smart yard.

We have featured LE on WW several times, following her restoration in the 2018 – 2019 period, in fact I attend the relaunch in December 2019 at Opua, Northland.- link below https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/12/16/the-launching-of-lady-ellen/ also on this page is links to all the WW restoration stories.

Its believed she was build in the late 1950’s by Supreme Craft in Auckland. At one stage she was spending her winters in Auckland as a floating office and escaping to the Bay of Islands for summer. But recently her Auckland berth has been occupied by another vessel so maybe she has retired to the north.

INPUT ex DENIS O’CALLAHAN –  I remember Doug’s boatyard very well. We hauled Tasman there in May 2004.As I recall there was no road access and we walked around a track from the Opua wharf.There was talk at that time that Doug might be forced to close the yard.However looking at the flash shed in the background he must have resolved the issues.
Photo below of Tasman at Doug’s yard.

CAN WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CLASSIC LAUNCH – JAN MAREE

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CAN WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CLASSIC LAUNCH – JAN MAREE

Recently WW was contacted by Hamish Moore regarding the classic launch – JAN MAREE, that in Hamish’s words is in the family stable and has resided on Lake Taupo for many a year. The family are short on her history and Hamish was wondering if any of the WW followers might know more about her.
The WW post on the Vindex RENA brought some more thoughts to Hamish’s mind and having recently had JAN MAREE surveyed for insurance and the gears have been turning to find out more about her. 

What we think we know about JAN MAREE – she was in the Bay Of Islands owned and used by one family line and ownership changed to another family line, Taupo based.  Her specs are 33’9” x 10’9” x 3’3″
What everyone would like to know is :-

• Confirm design (Vindex?)- • Who built her and where • Tales of her life on BOI 
She lives in a shed on Lake Taupo  and is enjoyed by family members for fishing, recreational and sightseeing. 

JAN MAREE was recently hauled out and trucked to Auckland and underwent some TLC.  • New Heart transplant, now a 320 Cummins • Hull Maintenance and replacement of all skin fittings.  • Remove and plug all redundant fittings.  • New Dash and systems upgrades, to complement the new Engine package.  • New Paint and varnish.  The above work was completed by :-
• The Boatbuilders, HMB, • Ray Bryant Marine • Halfmoon Bay Electrical.  • Gloss Boat, Tāmaki Park 

VENTURE – New Owner & Trip To The Beauty Parlour 

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VENTURE – New Owner & Trip To The Beauty Parlour 

Earlier in the month Jeff Norris reached out to introduce himself as the new owner of the launch – VENTURE, built by Morrie Palmer c.1964.

Her specs are 36’ x 12’11” x 3’7” and powered by a 90hp Lees Ford diesel engine.

Back in March we had a peek down below – link here – lots of photos. https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/03/14/venture-a-peek-down-below/

When I took my launch back to ‘bare wood’ a few years ago I was paranoid about getting too close to the kauri and scorching the surface, seems Jeff didn’t share my view 🙂 The finished repaint looks ace – we done.

CRAZY TIMES AT A WOODEN BOAT YARD 

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CRAZY TIMES AT A WOODEN BOAT YARD 

The count down to the xmas / ny break always sees a few last minute opps / can I / any chance of – phone calls to our boat yards.

I popped down to the Slipway Milford for the annual donut-fest and it was wall to wall woodys.

One of our finest had an emergency haulout for a ‘LEAKING’ water pipe that had also destroyed a rib/s – all fixed and two replacement ribs, done in 24hours. Boat name will remain anonymous. But a good reminder to check in all those hard to reach areas 😉

One of my bucket list boats the Arch Logan 1921 NGAIO was hauling for the addition of a set of davits to house the new (restored) dinghy. More photos when completed.

ALOHA, 1926 Charles Robinson, out for some deferred maintenance and TLC .

EILEEN PATRICA , 1933 A Couldrey, was getting the final touches with a JPPJ paint job and winter maintenance.

Woody Bill Rimmer (POCO LENTO) sent in the photo below, I’d like to think the bird is resting, but I’m sure a few grumpy old CYA members hope its about to take a poop 🙂

BONDI BELLE – A PEEK DOWN BELOW & SHE COULD BE YOURS

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2017
2017

21-12-2024 INPUT ex MAURIE OGDEN – photo below of WHAKAPARA (BONDI BELLE) on launch day

BONDI BELLE – A PEEK DOWN BELOW & SHE COULD BE YOURS

The classic 45’ vessel BONDI BELLE has a great back story – we have uncovered a lot about her on previous WW stories – links below – but the executive summary is BONDI BELLE was built as S.S. WHAKAPARA, at Whakapara (North of Whangarei) by Charles Bailey Jr. for the Foote family who were saw millers at several Northland locations . Construction started in1898 and she was launched in early 1901. Initially she was a steamer and was converted to diesel in the 1920’s. These days a 130hp Mercedes diesel provides the forward motion.

In the this 2014 WW link there is an amazing history of her past https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/02/17/bondi-belle/
And here we get a peek at her 2017 restoration  https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/04/20/bondi-belle-relaunched/

The Wooden Boat Bureau was contacted last week re finding the next custodian for BONDI BELLE. As you can see from the above photos, her current owner has done a wonderful job maintaining her to a very high standard. She presents in ‘sail away’ condition. 

Given her size, configuration, provenance and tasteful fit out, BONDI BELLE is offered for sale at a very realistic price, sadly reflective of the current depressed marine sector. I hate to use these words but she would make an impressive live-a-board, probably the best priced waterfront accommodation in Auckland.

Interested parties to initially contact waitematawoodys@gmail.com for more details. Its a busy time of the year so please – genuine enquires only 🙂

CLASSIC LAUNCH PHANTOM – Name change or just been hiding up a creek

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CLASSIC LAUNCH PHANTOM – Name change or just been hiding up a creek

Recently woody John Dawson sent in the photos above of a launch named – Phantom that he found on fb. A quick search of the WW archives came up with a big fat O, so maybe there has been a name change at some stage.

John is a man of few words, normally just emails in photos, so we will have to assume from the photos that she has had a recent paint job.

Any woodys able to ID the boat and tell us about her past and confirm the name.

I CAN CONFIRM THAT COPIES OF THE 2025 MAHURANGI CRUISING CLUB YEARBOOK ARE NOW IN STORE – well done Steve Horsley – best issue that I have seen – $20 well spent.

Available At These Outlets

The first woody that emails me the name of the boat on page 46, gets a WW burgee watematawoodys@gmail.com

2025 AUSTRALIAN WOODEN BOAT FESTIVAL – The Perfect Xmas Present

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2025 AUSTRALIAN WOODEN BOAT FESTIVAL – The Perfect Xmas Present

Starting to get a little excited about heading over the ditch in early 2025 (Feb7>10th) for the 2025 AWBF. Have confirmed by support crew, booked flights and accommodation = so its locked and loaded.  NZ is getting its day in the sun this festival with a focus on the pacific region. But 95% of the show content will be beautiful varnished wooden craft, which WW will be reporting on.

If you’re at a loose end in early Feb and have a few pennies to spare – consider treating yourself this Christmas and get over to Hobart. Air NZ fly direct these days, and I can assure you as a woody lover you won’t regret it.
Link here to the offical 2025 Festival https://www.australianwoodenboatfestival.com.au

CLASSIC 1916 WOODEN CRAFT – MAKORA

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CLASSIC 1916 WOODEN CRAFT – MAKORA

The 35’’ woody – MAKORA was supposedly built by Baillie Bros in 1916 and started life as a yacht. To my eye she has a very fetching rear end, when it comes to lookouts hard to fault as canoe stern.

What we know about her is that she is 35’x9’6″x4′ and powered by a 40hp, 3 cyl. Fordson Dexter engine that gets her along nicely at 7 knots at 1600rpm. This we know thanks to Ian McDonald and tme.

Anyone know more about her past.

19-12-2024 HAROLD KIDD INPUT – MAKORA was built by Chas Bailey Jr in 1914 for Fred Alison of the Devonport Steam Ferry Co as a launch not a yacht. Her original power was twin 9hp Andersons (Christchurch built) for which Bailey was the Auckland agent.

CLASSIC WOODY WORKBOAT MARISSA – GETS A NEW LIFE

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Screenshot

CLASSIC WOODY WORKBOAT MARISSA – GETS A NEW LIFE

When my phone rings and the ID says John Wright I always answer – why? Aside from the fact he is a great guy. John has a great eye for our classic craft and if he tells me to get my A into gear and do a yard / dockside visit, I know it will be a goody.

This time the woody was the semi-ex 24’ workboat MARISSA, a 100+ years old and owned by the Monaghan family for a very large chunk of that time.

Home port is Great Barrier Island and after her re-launch at Te Atatu Boating Club she will be heading back to the barrier.

Some of her history – at one change when she was a cray boat she went ashore at GB and was abandoned on the beach. I may get this wrong, someone correct me if I do – either Don Armitage or the Monaghan family saved the wreck and concerted here to something along the lines of what we see today.

Photos below of her post the wreck / rebuild. These days she is powered by a 4 cyl. Isuzu diesel engine.

INPUT ex KERIN QWEN – Don Milne rebuilt her and crayfished from Wairahi. Then to Whangapara as support vessel for the lodge, then to Monahan’s I believe. That’s from about 1980 on. I would like to know more of her earlier history. I believe she was converted from a launch configuration.