WW was contacted yesterday by Lindsay McMorran (MV POPPET – Logan 33) in regard to a woody that has just appeared on his pier at the OBC (Outdoor Boating Club, Orakei) the boats name is KAIPAPA.
At first glance I might be a little to quick to use the term woody….. looks a relatively new hull shape and someone made good use of some plywood sheets on the cabin 🙂
Seems PACIFIC isn’t the only boat that used the ‘WARNING BOW THRUSTER decals that came in the packaging 😉
MERLE – 1956 CLASSIC KAURI CLINKER This very smart looking 14’ Sea Craft built kauri clinker runabout popped recently on tme. In the last 18 months we have seen several of these woodys hitting the market . This one is named MERLE and appears to be one of the best.
She was rescued and restored by retired Fairlie boatbuilder Dick Guard as a retirement project. His father, in turn, was also a boatbuilder in the region who helped create Jomo Craft, which built some of the country’s most beautiful old timber boats.
Her owner has correspondence between the restorer and Lionel Sands of Sea Craft – which went on to become Haines Hunter. Sands talks about working in the family’s 1,000 acre forest where for two years he milled the kauri timber used to build this boat. His father believed you must appreciate the living tree before you could build boats.
The original construction of these boats is detailed in the correspondence and the restoration detailed in hand-written notes.
The owner purchased the boat but a growing family has meant MERLE has not been used she she should be and the decision has been made to pass her onto an appropriate new owner.
She’s fitted with a 30HP Mercury two-stroke and an auxiliary Mercury outboard.
Todays woody recently popped up on tme (Ian McDonald ✔️), while the cabin house is calling out for a facelift more in keeping with her hull, as the architects say – she has got great bones.
A woody sympathetic craftsman could easily turn ORMPAPERE into a real looker.
Some background – 22’ in length built by Alf Sanders in the carvel planked method. Forward motion is via a Nissan SD22 4cyl. diesel engine.
Home port is Waikawa Bay, Picton – the perfect base and craft for cruising the Marlborough Sounds
Today we have the latest update on the restoration of LADY CAROLE, as previously co-owner Patrick Crawshaw will walk us thru it – certainly on the home straight 🙂
“A couple of weeks ago the cradle had to be removed for another boat, and so the cover had to come off. After all this time under the plastic, we were able to see Lady Carole for the first time after all the work we had done. Later that day, the cover was pulled back over and she went back into hiding for the home stretch of work to be done – finish line in sight!
The original waterline, which was grooved into the planks, was reinstated.
Window trims with top coats
The glass for the windows arrived and were fitted along with the trims.
Chrome half cowl vents were collected from the fabricators who had to repair them and then they went to the Chromers. Both companies did an incredible job at restoring them.
Plinths had to be made for them to sit on. This is them being pre-fitted to the boat so we could get the plinths right as they angle back and in.
And finally the colours are going on and we can see the colour scheme a bit better. All two-pot rolled on and then tipped off with a brush.
Second coat white, then it will be masked for the blue to form a sharp line.
Lady Carole letters will go evenly spaced just below the walk through instead of either side as they were before.
Mid section is going to be browny red and this goes on tomorrow, so more photos to come once this is done. Rub rail will be white to break up the blue a bit. Waterline will also be white.”
Thursday night was the second event in the Ponsonby Cruising Club’s new initiative called ‘Featured Vessel Series’ , this time the vessel on display at one of the berths outside the Westhaven clubhouse was the 1904 Arch Logan designed, built by Bennett Bros & Stitchbury, 34’5’’ guff cutter yacht – WAIRIKI.
15+ years ago thanks to the talent, determination and deep pockets of Jason Prew WAIRIKI was successfully saved from a beehive restoration and totally rebuilt and relaunched in 2010. For the next 10 years Jason and WAIRIKI were a familiar sight at every classic event, then he saw the light and came over to the dark side with the purchase of the launch – MY GIRL, another total rebuild. This coincided with WAIRIKI being acquired by current owner – Keith Logan, grandson of Arch Logan. You can view the restoration at this link https://www.my-girl.co.nz/Wairiki1904/Welcome.html
Complimenting WAIRIKI was a collection of Arch Logans tools on display upstairs at the club, video below + ‘RUMBO’ spiced rum tasting 🙂
MYSTERY LIDGARD WOODEN LAUNCH– LE ANNE > SALACIA TOO > EMMZEE
John Dawson wrote in earlier in the week that while sniffing around fb he came across the above photos. In them we see a c.1960’s launch built by John Lidgard at this West Auckland yard on a Winstone Ltd transporter on route to launching.
Can we ID the boat and learn more about what became of her.. Update – was originally named LE ANNE and now named EMMZEE.
INPUT ex KEN RICKETTS – The boat is the SALACIA TOO. She lied at the Sandspit for many years & was named as she is, (or was originally), by the early owners as their first boat was called SALACIA. Photos of SALACIA TOO below (last three relate to – SALACIA)
Todays woody is only a mystery because there is no name visible on the vessel or mentioned on tme (thanks Ian McDonald).
What we know is she was built from triple skin kauri (+glass) in 1979 by Shipbuilders and is powered by a 180hp Nissan turbo diesel engine, given her length and engine size she cruises nicely at 10 knots.
I have spotted her several time moored at Waiheke Island and she always looked well cared for.
The 1979 build and some of the design elements (flybridge, stern profile) keep her out of the true classic group but she gets away with it, which isn’t easy on a sub 30’ vessel.
Can we put a name to the launch.
REMEMBER BOAT YARD SALE AT TE ATAU BOATING CLUB TOMORROW
CLASSIC WOODEB CLINKER – MISS MARAETAI – Where Is She
WW was recently contacted by Rowan Muir re Seacraft runabout named – MISS MARAETAI, read below
“We are compiling a history of sea rescue out of Maraetai as it has operated from 1975 and it will be fifty years in 2025. I am trying to locate the present owners of “MISS MARAETAI” the original rescue vessel that the Maraetai Beach Boating Club owned.
She was a 16 foot Seacraft clinker built runabout with a petrol inboard Falcon motor. The last information I have is about 15 -20 years ago was that Rick and Viv who we think they lived in Manurewa somewhere owned her.Can we help Rowan and the MBBC track down what became of MISS MARAETAI.
NAME THE PENNANT – AND WIN A WW BURGEE In my recent travels around Auckland I spotted this on a club wall – I rather like the design ;-)First woody that can ID the pennant – wins a WW burgee. NOTE: entry via the WW comments section. Here’s a hint – not NZ, but not too far away………..
THE SAILING SCOW RIPPLE – CAN WE LEARN MORE ABOUT HER
WW has been contacted by James McLaren who recently was mooching around the riverside docks at Warkworth and noticed a scow named – RIPPLE keeping the JANE GIFFORD company.
James and myself were unaware of RIPPLE and would love to learn more.
So today a question today for the Mahurangi River woodys – tell us what you know – old/new, wood?, builder, engine etc 🙂
INPUT FROM JOHN WICKS – Ralph Sewell’s Ripple. Not a scow – she has round bilges, though she has very shoal draft and a centreboard.
INPUT ex PETER MENCE – Ralph Sewell referred to her as a round bilge scow. Ralph designed and with Alison and Peter built her – launched on the beach at Okura in the 70s I think. INPUT ex PAUL BARLOW – Ripple is a round bilge,drop centre board vessel.I owned her for several years when I was based in Coromandel town.She was built by Ralph Sewell (who also built the Breeze).Ralph used her as his family boat when he lived in Coromandel Town.Her shallow draft allowed her to be berthed in the creek at the end of the 309 road /Waiau river. Similarly,I had a jetty berth in Furey’s creek where she was berthed. INPUT ex ROSS DAWSON – Yes, Ralph Sewell’s replica NZ trading ketch, according to Bill McCarthy little book “Blokes & Boats”, he notes..”built of Californian Redwood in just nine months, without any plans, by a guy who hated school and had no formal boat-building or engineering training, it’s a pretty impressive achievement.” He says that vessels like this were common at the turn of the century carting everything from livestock to gravel and timber all round the northern coastline. In later years Ralph built the brigantine Breeze now in the Maritime Museum…no plans, “a case of a great eye coupled with a natural talent.” “If it looks good from any angle, it’s a good boat, says Ralph.” (Ralph died 1999)
Its’ not often we see two Dave Jackson boats together, hauled out side by side. Gregs Lees sent in the above photos from the yard at the Sandspit Yacht Club.
On the left is the launch – KARROS, Dave’s own boat, built in 1974 and on the right LADY BEV, the first boat of his own design, which he built in 1957 for his father.
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