MYSTERY WAIKAWA WOODEN LAUNCH

MYSTERY WAIKAWA WOODEN LAUNCH

Last week we ran a story on a very salty looking launch named JOAN, moored at Waikawa, Picton. In that photo (2nd above) there was a another launch moored closer in. Several woodys asked about her and now today, again thanks to Jason Prew we get a better look at the vessel.

Can we learn more at the launch.

28-11-2024 INPUT ex PAUL DRAKE – Maybe NGATEA ex Mana, Wellington

Pointed the car north yesterday to attend the re-launch of a very historic classic game boat – tease photo below – full report on Friday.


A 48’ CLASSIC WOODEN MOTORBOAT – BUT WHERE WOULD I KEEP IT

A 48’ CLASSIC WOODEN MOTORBOAT – BUT WHERE WOULD I KEEP IT

The 48’ Lidgard built (1948) motor launch RANUI is quite a ship, her interior layout is reflective of an apartment, it is just so spacious and being varnished, oozes traditional character.

Boats of RANUI’s size are normally a challenge to find a home for eg a marina at a reasonable cost. Well woodys RANUI’s owners wants a sale and are prepared to include the 14m Bayswater marina berth in the $210k asking price.View more of RANUI here  https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/07/08/ranui-a-peek-down-below/

Interested parties to initially contact waitematawoodys@gmail.com

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH RAIONA – DOCKSIDE 

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH RAIONA – DOCKSIDE 

Back in July 2022 we had a superb insight into the 48’ 1919 Joe Slattery built launch – RAIONA as she exited the Colin Brown / Josh Hawke yard – links below. Her interior is so impressive.

I spied RAIONA recently dockside at Sandspit Marina and very happy to report she is being so well cared for. How goods that clinker dinghy, her 48′ make it look just right.

RELAUNCH https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/07/09/raiona-relaunch/

DOWN BELOW https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/07/11/raiona-a-peek-down-below/

24-08-2025 UPDATE ex Kiwi Classics – hauled out for annual maintenance at Sandspit Boat Yard

HAVE YOU RSVP’ed FOR THE WOODY RIVERHEAD TAVERN LUNCH CRUISE – RSVP to waitematawoodys@gmail.com

CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT IONA II MAKES A SPLASH – NZ Restoration Of The Year

CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT IONA II MAKES A SPLASH – NZ Restoration Of The Year

We have been following (link below) the refit the classic wooden launch IONA II at the Slipway Milford yard since late May. Last week she slipped back into the water , check out the video below – don’t you love a railway haul-out, such a gentle procedure.

IONA II was built in 1994 to a Bruce Askew design so sits very comfortably into the spirit of tradition category. The recent work commissioned by her owner has magnified her existing appealing looks and made her even more easy on the eye.

Probably the finest example of the Slipway Milfords work – so a big shout out to Cam, Jason, Jan and team. Easily the restoration of the year in New Zealand.

I’m pretty sure nothing on the boat has escaped an upgrade or replacement – the biggest being ditching the Nissan TD23 60hp diesel engine and installing an electric propulsion set-up.

A few finishing touches to be completed at the marina – we will do another update when completed.

As always click images to enlarge.

IONA II – RESTORATION STORY  https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/05/28/iona-ii-gets-a-birthday/

2024 CENTREBOARD CUP – Traditional Centreboard Classic Yachts

2024 CENTREBOARD CUP – Traditional Centreboard Classic Yachts

A cancelled happening had an upside – I pointed the car to Marine Parade in Herne Bay Auckland to see the start of the 2024 Centreboard Cup.

The race started back in 2013 and is based at what the locals call ’Sloane Beach’ – one of Aucklands hidden gems.

The traditional centreboard yachts do two laps of a course that takes in Watchman Island and the Chelsea Buoy (off the Chelsea sugar works).

Numbers were done this year but that seems to be the norm of late – but on the plus side, the fleet was 300% up on Fridays CYA Classic Weekend Rally turnout 😦

I’ll hand over to Andrew Mason who supplied the results. 

“The winner Scullet L56 finished in 52:20. Rangi Manu L52 was 2nd just 48s later. Melita L28 withdraw on leg one. All boats had a most enjoyable day on the water.”

Beach / Clubrooms below

CAN WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CLASSIC YACHT – MANURUA
Recently WW was contacted by a gent considering purchasing a Bob Stewart designed 1965 yacht (Camelot design) named MANURUA. The craft is currently in Opua, Northland but the story goes that she was apparently built by Oliver and Gillpin in Tauranga, and possibly operated as a dive charter vessel in Bay of Plenty. The current owner doesn’t have much history, so woodys can we confirm / expend on the above.

CLASSIC SOUTHERN WOODEN LAUNCH – JOAN + CYA Spring Rally Report

CLASSIC SOUTHERN WOODEN LAUNCH – JOAN

Recently Jason Prew from the Slipway Milford has been wandering around the upper South Island on a 4×4 rally – being the good lad he is the camera was at hand to record any woodys he spotted.

Todays craft was seen moored in Waikawa, Picton, Marlborough and is named JOAN.

Lots of styles on display, but it kind of works for me.

Keen to learn more on JOAN

INPUT ex NATHAN HERBERT – Joan needs explaining, perhaps by Harold? Collings and Bell is obvious in her transom being typical of Ruamano, Paikea, Fleetwing etc. That eould seem to drag her build date 20 or so years back from what I’ve seen noted before(1940s 50s?). I would assume that her hull has been raised to a flare and the superstructure/coamings rebuilt at that stage? She doesn’t appear in old photos, perhaps she was reclusive or just not a ‘club boat’?

21-01-2025 – INPUT ex PHIL VINING – Around 20 years ago we had this vessel listed at Vining Shipbrokers Ltd and the
information supplied by the owner at the time is below.

CYA 3 Day Classic Spring Rally – Report

Not really sure if it warrants a report. Excuse the photos – my roving cub photographer needs some lessons 🙂

Sad to report only one vessel on the start line (late) – the organisers yacht. Well he had to turn up I suppose. At the published time a launch arrived from the direction of Waiheke but with not another vessel in sight – didn’t hang around.

Maybe after two years of ’thanks but no thanks’ interest – this event needs to be retired from the calendar.

I’m told there was an impressive gathering of jet ski’s out.

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – DIOMEDEA

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – DIOMEDEA

Back in 2016 I photographed the 1965 built launch DIOMEDEA on two visits to Whangaroa, back then she was starting to look a little tired, so on a visit last weekend to Whangaroa Swordfish Club marina I was very pleased to see that someone has been sharing the love on her and she was now back to her finest condition.

The 36’ DIOMEDEA was designed by Andrew Donovan and built by the Lane Motor Boat Co. These days there is an awful lot happening up top but given her game boat roots, I’ll turn a blind eye 🙂

Back in August thanks to a October 1965 Sea Spray magazine article on the boat we were Abe to view / read about her as launched – link below to that story. WW AUG2024  https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/08/13/diomedea-classic-wooden-game-fishing-boat/

As launched – below

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – LADY ADELAIDE OUT FOR SOME TLC

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – LADY ADELAIDE OUT FOR SOME TLC

I Have been spending too much time at the Sandspit marina – as an example 4 trips in the last 10 days………

One of the upsides is bumping into a few woodys that I have not caught up with in a few years.

Last week I snapped some photos of the 1922 Dick Lang built 36’ launch – LADY ADELAIDE. Then yesterday there she is hauled out for some TLC. Back in November 2021 when she was for sale we ran a ‘peek down below story’ on her,  link below, and now get to see her out of the water.

LADY ADELAIDE is one of those classic wooden craft that just looks right from any angle. When done to her owner on the condition she presents in and the ongoing ‘investment’ in systems and salty look.

View Previous WW Story Below Nov 2021 https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/11/22/lady-adelaide-a-peek-down-below/

SEEMS MOST OF US SHARE THE SAME VIEW ON WHAT TYPIFIES A CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – results of yesterdays online poll below.

November 19-11-2024 Poll

MAYBE NOT A CLASSIC – MAYBE A RESTOMOD – You Tell Us

MAYBE NOT A CLASSIC – MAYBE A RESTOMOD –  You Tell Us

Some woodys just slip into the classic category via the term ’spirit of tradition’, todays 46’ woody slips out of the either category – in the auto world it might be called a restomod.

What we know (thanks to Ian McDonald) is that she started life in 1974, built by F. Edes to a Brin Wilson design. The hull is carvel 32mm solid kauri planked, splined and epoxy glassed, decks have been re-clad with plywood and epoxy glassed also. When back in the water forward propulsion will be via twin 120hp Ford 2715E diesel engines.
Anyone know what her name was / is.

A POLL – VOTE BELOW – STILL A CLASSIC or NO LONGER A CLASSIC

CAN WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – MARIA

CAN WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH MARIA

Woody John Dawson sent in the above photo of this very distinctive craft hauled out in Whangarei.  Each to their own but personally I find heroines  quite appealing to the eye. Obvious question – is that Yamaha temporary or permanent. May have appeared on WW before but with no intel on the boat, makes searching very difficult .

So woodys can anyone enlighten us more on the craft. 

UPDATE – that was easy – thanks to Nick Voerman and Nathan Herbert we learn is named Maria and appeared on WW 9 years ago – link here https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/08/27/maria/

HAVE YOU RSVP’ed FOR THE WOODY RIVERHEAD TAVERN LUNCH CRUISE – RSVP to waitematawoodys@gmail.com