LADY ROSALIND – Classic Wooden Launch + Notice of Important Meeting

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LADY ROSALIND – Classic Wooden Launch

Todays photo is another from the Tauranga City Library collection and is tagged ‘ Launch of LADY ROSALINE’ and woodys is all we known. Given the location and style of the vessel possibly a Oliver & Gilpin craft. Can we learn more about her.

04-07-2024 INPUT ex NATHAN HERBERT – now called Noelani, built by O&G designed by Woolley. Link to WW story on Noelani https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/10/29/mystery-opua-big-game-launch/ But what interests me is the flag on her mast with ‘Cynthia C’ on it, CC was a boat with a hull strikingly similar to My Girl’s which I’d love to track. Link to WW story on CC https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/07/17/cynthia-c/

PORTS OF AUCKLAND CLAIMING MORE OF OUR HARBOUR

Once again Ports of Auckland are trying to expand their footprint, which means less harbour for us.

There is shareholder (thats us – joke) public meeting next week on Thursday at the RNZYS at 7pm.

If you are in Auckland and can make it – please do. We need to hear their plans and they need to hear / see our disapproval. 

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – IMANOTA > MARION D > JOAN

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – IMANOTA > MARION D > JOAN

Todays 45’ woody comes to us via a James Donald fb post. 

The launch was built in 1918 (launched Dec, thank you Harold Kidd for the intel) by Bailey& Lowe, named IMANOTA.

James grandfather, J Donald bought the launch in May 1921 and changed her name to MARION D. 

When launched she was powered by a 3 cyl. Twigg engine. James commented on the stern on photo that illustrated how beamy the vessel was.

Some time later her name changed again to JOAN, as she is known today. These days JOAn is powered by a Gardner engine.

The colour photo of JOAN I took in Nov 2014 at anchor in Isslington Bay, Rangitoto Island.

The link below is to a June 2018 WW story that as well as an amazing gallery of photos from her past, there is produced a 10 page diary/log from a 1932 Bay of Islands big game fishing trip – its a great read.

The photo below of the angler is most likely to be James grandfather.

WW June 2018 Story https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/06/29/marion-d-joan/

04-11-2024 Input ex Steve – I have that rod and reel, A Hardy Bros 7 inch Sea Silex and the Tanekaha rod my Grandfather said his father made himself. I am searching for history on James Donald OBE, My Great grandfather.
I have found out this reel was made from 1925 to 1927 and it was his first reel. That photo has to be post 1925 at least

CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT CAROUSEL – Launch Day & Present Day

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CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT CAROUSEL – Launch Day & Present Day

Bay of Islands based woody and professional photographer Dean Wright and his partner Deb have just returned from a couple of weeks afloat in Fiordland, thats another story.

Today we see the 1967 Oliver and Gilpin launch – CAROUSEL, on her mooring in Te Anau. Dean also sent in the b/w photo from her launch day (Nov 1967) on the Wairoa River. Which solved a mystery for me, I had the same photo but no reference to the boat name.Links to previous WW stories below.

CAROUSEL resides these days on Lake Te Anau and operates as a charter boat. 

JUNE 2020 https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/06/25/carousel/
AUG 2022 https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/08/09/carousel-2/

RSVP – waitematawoodys@gmail.com

CLASSIC WOODEN LAKE BOAT – HEATHER DAWN – A Peek Down Below

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAKE BOAT – HEATHER DAWN – A Peek Down Below

Thanks to the eagle eyes of Ian McDonald who spotted the 21’ ex workboat – HEATHER DAWN on tme, today we get to have a gander at this craft that has an interesting back story.

Built in Glasgow Scotland in 1950 by Darroch and Espie Boat Builders, she carries the serial no 1666. D&E were famous boatbuilders, particularly lifeboats for major shipping companies back in the day. So HEATHER DAWN started life as a lifeboat, built from oak and was bought off a tug called DASHER in Auckland. Her wheelhouse and decking a later (NZ) addition, being made from kauri.

Powered by 30hp Yanmar 3 cylinder shaft drive, giving a cruising speed approx. 6 knots. Very well fitted out – the diesel oven / heater caught my eye.

I can just see HEATHER DAWN fitting in very well with the Lake Rotoiti (Nth Is) flotilla.

LAURA MAY > LAURA VEE

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LAURA MAY > LAURA VEE

Todays classic wooden launch is the c.1965/6 Oliver & Gilpin built 48’ launch – LADY VEE , named LADY MAY when launched. 

The top b/w photo is from the Tauranga City Library collection and was taken not long after launching.

In the 2nd photo ex Jason Prew (date unknown) we see her in Chamberlains Bay, bottom end of Waiheke area.

The 3rd photo was taken in Jan 2019 by Peter Loughlin and the location is Great Barrier Island. Peter at the time commented that he had been aboard and she was post a recent refi and looking very smart.

RSVP – waitematawoodys@gmail.com

CLASSIC LAUNCH WANDABYNE – 1929 KAWAU CRUISE

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LOYS AT COPPER MINE
Rhonda

CLASSIC LAUNCH WANDABYNE – 1929 KAWAU CRUISE

Todays photos come to us from Max Arthur and date back almost 100 years. Max came across the WW site while research his father – E.W. Arthur and grandfather – H.R. Arthur.

The photos record a cruise to Kawau Island inc.1929.

In the 1st photo (and other) Max believes the flush deck launch is – WANDABYNE. Which is a newbie to me , but in a previous WW story we identified a launch named WONDABYNE (LOLITA) , link below. At first I thought typo but in my eyes not the say boat. https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/06/24/wondabyme/

Can we learn more about WANDABYNE and keen to ID the other launch shown in a couple of the photos.

1902 CLASSIC WOODEN YACHT – 4sale

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A CLASSIC WOODEN TRAILER-SAILER YACHT – Yeap You Read That Right 🙂

As covered many times on WW the cost of a marina berth is the #1 deterrent to owning classic wooden craft. I have speculated that smaller trailerable woodys will be the future of the classic boating movement in NZ.

MERLN – todays 22’ clinker kauri built, gaff-rigged sloop is one such boat that ticks all the boxes. And most importantly MERLIN is a looker and we like that.

Built c.1902 as a motorboat she was converted in the 1920>30’s to a yacht (deadwood/keel added etc). Then in the late 2000’s restored by professional Christchurch boat builder – Davie Norris. 

MERLIN received another birthday in 2015/16 with restored gaff-rig and ‘converted’ to tabernacle set-up, plus new sails and all rigging. Also included was a new custom trailer and new 4-stroke 6hp outboard.In the last 10+ years MERLIN has been shed stored and only used on Lake Hood, Canterbury, South Island.Her current status is in storage and as with all traditional built clinkers may need some tweaking / re-caulking to the garboard seam.

So woodys if you’re considering stepping up to life as a classic woody owner, MERLIN is the vessel for you and at the end of a days sailing you get to take her home. Interested parties to initially contact Andrew  andrew@siseed.co.nz for more details. And almost forgot – she will sell for around $25k – a bargain.

RSVP – waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Help Needed ID’ing This Wooden Boat

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Help Needed ID’ing This Wooden Boat

Todays photos another from the McLeod Collection at the Auckland Library Heritage Collection and comes to us thanks to Nathan Herbert.

The photo is just tagged Bayswater and has a 1900>1909 time period on it. It does look vaguely familiar but I couldn’t find any reference to the photo in the WW archives.

Can anyone help put a her to her.

What’s The New Must Have In Classic Wooden Boating

Answer bow thrusters  – the Slipway Milford is doing a roaring trade in retro fitting – hauled out for work that included a bow thruster – IONA II, SEA FEVER , PACIFIC

PACIFIC

WOODYS ON TOUR – South of France Wooden Boats

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WOODYS ON TOUR – South of France Wooden Boats

Todays thanks to the owner of the launch – IONA II we get another peak at the wooden boating scene on the other side of the world.                                                                                      The family are currently cruising the Canal du Midi in the South of France for a week and sent in some photos of the local work boats earning their keep.                                                              Most of the boats are old converted steel bulk barges (with wooden wheelhouse and interior) or the modern plastic rental boats. The photos of the rarer wooden boat on the canal is rather smart
.

CAN YOU HELP LOCATE THIS WOODEN BOAT

Last week WW was contacted by John Chambers the owner of the launch – NGARUNUI, asking for help locating a boat from his past – I’ll hand over to John to tell the story – 

“In my earyl years, aged 10 to12 years i.e.1957 -58, I lived at Okura River  (Long Bay / Wade  River) after school, weekends, holidays – the river was my playground. I was the only kid on the river full time, there were only 11 locals living there at the time  plus 2 farms. The 1st was Warmans just up from the houses, 2nd was Jacksons about 1mile up the road down a long  drive. Mr Jackson built a big boat in the shed which I used to check out every few days.    Launch  day – boat was 60’ long, a double end ketch, heavily built in kauri and teak. The boat was towed across the paddocks by bulldozer to the river where a ramp had been bulldozed   and a wire cable  across to big tree  on the other side then back to the dozer. Boat in water high tide, my  job  lead the way  down the river to deep water, job  done. Next hurdle a big ketch that had broken the mizen mast on the new harbour bridge.    The point of this  – what was her name and were did she go? I think the plan was to sail back to England.I think the boats name was Tyrant or Truant “.        

LADY FAYE – CAN WE SAVE THIS CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH 

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LADY FAYE – CAN WE SAVE THIS CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH 

WW has been contacted by interests of the Waipuna Boating Club asking for help in regard to the 32’ classic wooden launch – LADY FAYE

LADY FAYE  is a Donovan design and built by 20th Century Boats, Takapuna in 1948. The company was owned by Andy Donovan and Fred Steel (the boats 1st owner)

The launch last made an appearance on WW back in April 2013 – photo below from that story. Since then she has several owners, all with the best intentions of restoring her. These days home has been a pile mooring off the WBC and she is looking very neglected, these things happen so its time to move forward and either find a new home for her or a new owner. The club appreciate her provenance and would like to see her go to a deserving home.  WW understands she is powered by a 4cyl. Ford D-series diesel but requires work to her systems and probably re-caulking. The interior is partially bare.

WW understands the top photo (on pile mooring) is recent.The hauled out photos above are c.Jan 2021. Any woodys looking for a project or know someone that is – initially contact Mark via email waipunaboatingclub@gmail.com  Make life easy of him and put Lady Faye in the subject line 🙂