SAD DAY YESTERDAY IN THE CLASSIC WOODY BOATING COMMUNITY
Yesterday, one of the seriously good men that I called a friend, – left us – David Cooke, skipper of TRINIDAD. David lost the battle in his amazing fight to beat the cancer that was razing his body.
Most other humans would have surcomed a long time ago but not Cookie, he amazed us and his doctors with his ability to counterattack and box on. But even the best can’t take the number of blows that David did for so long and the body said enough.
There will be a lot more said about David, the ‘seriously good bugger’, but today our thoughts and love go out to Barbara and the Cooke family.
Todays woody made an appearance on Bob Jones fb, thank you John Dawson for the link. The location and identity of the launch / motorsailer hauled out created some debate. General consensus was the Wellington region, with potential being – Petone foreshore, Balaena Bay / Evans Bay. Would be nice to confirm the location.
As to the vessel – my monies on VAGABOND – photo below and previous WW story links. VAGABOND was built / launched by Joe Jukes in 1926. A ’sister’ ship to NEREIDES. Jukes yard was located in Balaena Bay, which adds weight to the photos location.
CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – FLORENCE – Getting Some TLC
The classic wooden launch – FLORENCE has made several cameo appearance on WW, mainly via Dean Wrights camera as he has been cruising the Bay of Island.
Back 2013 we had a peek down below and then in2014 we had a wonderful insight into her past – links to this two stories below
Last week while in Opua for the re-launch of ALMA G II, I spotted FLORENCE hauled out.
Florence was designed and built in 1910 by H N Burgess, Parnell Auckland – as was yesterdays woody ALBERTA – that man had a very good eye for designing good looking craft.
The question of the day – what’s happening on the bow with this two small section cut out, both port and starboard sides.
The classic 1913 wooden launch – ALBERTA was designed and built by H N Burgess, in Parnell, Auckland.
Alberta is a woody that I have always admired when visiting Lake Rotoiti, she has a rather prominent waterfront berth and is one of those lucky craft that looks dam near perfect from any angle.
Her specs are 28’ in length and has a beam that would make her a trailerable classic – given the cost of a marina berth in most NZ cities thats a serious bonus.
Powered by a 30hp Lombardini, new in the boat approx. 5 years ago, with 138 hours on the clock – not a lot of places to go to on the lake 😉
Configured currently as a day / picnic boat she is all good for overnight / weekend cruising.
Fresh from a visit to one our best classic boat yards (Craig Marine) where she had a refresh to paint and varnish work.
Starting to sound like a woody 4sale advertisement – well she is. And probably the buy of 2024, even allowing for transporting her back to the Waitemata and setting her free again 🙂
Todays woody story could be a long reach – but the woody universe is longer, so fingers crossedHarold Kidd was recently counted by Lindsay Woodward regarding the launch – MINERVA, that Lindsay believed was once her grandfathers (Charlie Woodward).
Harold commented that he was pretty sure the launch in the photo supplied by Lindsay is not her grandfather’s MINERVA. Records show that the grandfather’s launch was a 30 footer built c.1912 by Miller & Tunnage in Port Chalmers. The vessel pictured above is much bigger and a later build. Harold also is of the belief that the location of the photo may be Port Levy, Banks Peninsula, South Island.
So woodys can we put a name to the above launch and possibly learn more about her.
Input From John Gander: The photo looks like the Claud Wells boat “Noeline’ 45’ x 11’ 1932 and built for the French Pass D’Urvile island mail run
NOT TO LATE TO RSVP FOR NEXT SATURDAYS WOODY CRUISE TO THE RIVERHEAD PUB FOR LUNCH
CLASSIC GAME BOAT – ALMA G II – RE-LAUNCHING CEREMONY
Yesterday we covered the relaunching of the 1927, Collings & Bell built game boat – ALMA G II.
Co owners (brother & sister) Shelly and Brett Arlidge, grand children of the original owner – E C Arlidge, hosted a very proper ceremony, with a welcome, a history of the boat, a Waiata and formal blessing. With the restarts of a working boat yard in the background and large crowd I have attempted to record the ‘formal’ parts of the ceremony – TURN YOUR VOLUME UP.
One of the missions of waitematawoodys is to archive this content for future review and reference. I encourage you to spend a few minutes and take in the wisdom being shared.
CLASSIC 1927 WOODEN GAME BOAT – ALMA G II RE-LAUNCHED
For the last 18+ months WW has been following closely the refit / restoration of the 1927, Collings & Bell built game boat – ALMA G II.
On Wednesday I pointed the car north and attended the re-launching celebration at Opua, in the Bay of Islands.
Today is about sharing the day with all the WW readers – In previous WW stories (links below) we have extensively covered her past and how she progressed to what we are viewing today.
Tomorrow on WW we will run the videos I recored of the speeches, Waiata and blessing.
Co owners (brother & sister) Shelly and Brett Arlidge, grand children of the original owner – E C Arlidge, are to be commended for ensuring ALMA G II will still be cruising the Bay of Island waters in 100 years time.
I really like the interior fit out, its a take on the old school look and she even sports a reconditioned Ford Lees 130hp diesel engine, no ‘black box’ electronics connected to this engine.
Boatbuilder Craig McInnes and the team at CMC Design have excelled themselves with this project.
The game chair and salon table are original 1927 items.
The gallery of photos comes to us from the cameras of yours truely and professional B.O.I. photographer Dean Wright. As always click on photos to enlarge 😉
THE PEOPLE – A fantastic number of people turned out to celebrate the re-launch, seems anyone and everyone with a link to the boat or game fishing in the Bay of Islands was there.
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
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/
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.
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