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 🙂

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – KOALA (Amaryllis)

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – KOALA (Amaryllis)

WW was contacted over the weekend by Mark Wakefield regarding his grandfathers launch – KOALA, previously named AMARYLLIS.

Mark sent in the above photos, the photo of the baby is in fact Mark in a high chair on the freezer of KOALA in about 1978. Mark commented that one thing he remembers is the freezer had a Hauraki Gulf navigational map on the top with epoxy over it. In a previous WW KOALA story in April 2015 we had a photo of a launch that Mark is confident was wrongly labelled as being KOALA,  Mark pointed out that the featured boats roof line was different and KOALA also never had a davit attached.  ( I have made a note on the previous story)

In another WW story in Oct 2021 a comment was made about the fenders being out while underway – Mark said that was probably because his dad and his mates were on board – all rough dairy farmers from the Waikato at the time. The grandfather, the skipper, would have had his hands full dealing with them.

KOALA cruised at around 6kts, and was terrible in a following sea. Mark’s dad reckons he saw the speedo dial max out once at over 20kts, stuck riding a wave and was fearful for his life as it was not overly controllable.

Mark is keen to learn if anyone might know what happened to KOALA.

LINKS TO PREVIOUS STORIES BELOW

WW April 2015 https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/04/15/koala-amaryllus/

WW Oct 2012. https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/10/01/mystery-launch-01-10-2021-win-a-ww-t-shirt/

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CLASSIC LAUNCH ARIZONA 

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Arizona moored between Mushroom Rocks, Whna
Arab (L) and Arizona at Awanui, 1914
Arab (L) and Arizona at Haruru Falls, Waitangi, 1914

CLASSIC LAUNCH ARIZONA 

The classic launch – ARIZONA as made a couple of brief appearances on WW – back in Dec  2022 we were trying to track her down – link below to that story and then in May 2023 we learnt that there was a rolling restoration underway on her- that story also linked below.

Fast forward to last week and ARIZONA popped up in a link ex Nathan Herbert to the McLeod collection at the Auckland Libraries Heritage Collection – there we saw her on what appears to be a 1914 (ish) Northland Cruise. Given she was launched c.1914 could have been a shake down cruise. 

In the photos above according to the captions we see her with the launch – ARAB, not 100% sure the captions are correct at times, I have tagged the photos so the woodys brains trust can review and comment.

WW Dec 2022 https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/12/08/arizona-where-is-she-cya-heritage-basin/

WW May 2023 https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/05/05/arizona-gets-a-happy-ending/

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CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT – MOVARIE – A Peek Down Below

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CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT – MOVARIE – A Peek Down Below

The 1938 launch – MOVARIE II has in recent years made as many appearances on tme as it has on WW.  We know that the bridge decker was built by W&G Lowe, is 40’ in length, with a 11’ beam and draws 5’. Powered by twin Ford 80hp diesel engines. The launch started life as a game fishing.

Numerous WW story – lots of detail and photos of her over the years – best I post a link to all of them –  https://waitematawoodys.com/?s=MOVARIE&submit=Search

Once owned by Russell Ward so must have been a goody back them. These days there are a few issues, reflected in the current tme listing having $5k start price.

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MAIA II – Sailing Sunday

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MAIA II – Sailing Sunday

Todays woody is the very salty looking Woollacott yacht – MAIA II. Built in 1949 she is one of the ‘Ghost’ designs and is 28’ x 8’ + a draft of 4’6”.Her owner asked for a plug on WW re her being for sale, and of course I said yes – the boats very smart and Devonport based so couldn’t say no.When required forward motion is via a 13hp Shibaura engine and the sale includes a spare engine.Again dont normally talk $$ on WW but at $12k ono it has to be a bargain for someone wanting to join the classic wooden boating movement.A very strong and active Woollcott owners association is a bonus.
Initial interest via email –  sazoriginals@hotmail.com

Sea Scouts Need Some Help

Recently WW was contacted by Keith Christensen from the Kotuku Sea Scout Group in Levin asking for help finding a new home for one of their boats – I’ll let Keith tell the story – 

“This is a 17′ kauri clinker standard Sea Scout cutter, #112 Moutere, built in 1967.  She has spent most of her life in a shed and on Lake Horowhenua with occasional trips to Wellington. Her greatest stress has been trailering across town from our boat shed to the lake. Her major challenges are a split strake, a few cracked ribs and a very interesting repair in the front. I have started renovation by stripping 95% of the paint. She comes with a trailer different than she is on in the photos which will need work as it has no mudguards. We have the rudder and some stretchers and can rummage up a mast (Oregon). 
Any money donated to our group will be used for our youth programs as well as repairs to our other 3 Cutters. It’s sad to let her go but she has spent 13 years untouched so we need to focus on our other boats. 
Because this is standard boat you will be able to find other  people who have done refits. I think it’s common to put an inboard in them. The transom on our other one got a bit beaten up with a Seagull so I wouldn’t recommend it.”
Contact Keith Christensen at  drkchristensen@hotmail.com

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CLASSIC LAUNCH RENA – Humble Pie On The Menu Today………

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CLASSIC LAUNCH RENA – Humble Pie On The Menu Today ………

Maybe only a small serving of pie, but let me explain – yesterday I was sent by Marty Gunman the above photo of a very smart looking classic launch named RENA.

Surprise surprise it’s a Vindex, which weakens my view that Vindex are an uncomfortable fit in the big woody boat house. Maybe the boats 29’ length made for a more classic look than her bigger sisters …………. (holding my breath for the president of the Vindex fan club – Murray Deeble to comment 😉 )

The launch was built c.1964 by Jim McKay in his shed in Sunnybrae road, Takapuna (Archers Rd. end). The photo is dated 1967 and RENA was owned at the time by Tom McCauley.

On the bow, no PC rules in those days, the young lads are Tom Birdsall (son of Bo Birdsall and grandson of the owner) + Marty’s brother Kirk. 

The question today is – what became of RENA. Chances are a 2nd layer has been added to her, hopefully not 😄

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CLASSIC LAUNCH – LADY CAROLE RESTORATION – UPDATE #4

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Mock up of potential new paint

CLASSIC LAUNCH – LADY CAROLE RESTORATION – UPDATE #4

Today co-owner Patrick Crawshaw walks us thru the latest work, different layout today, might make it easier to follow. 

The last couple of weeks have been focussed on getting the sanding finished for first coat and the wood work finished.  The forward hatch, which had been blocked up was re-instated. Tthe forward cabin, where the mast once was had been opened up to make way for a hatch. Two of the ribs had been cut into and this was compromising the strength. So, ribs were replace and the hatch filled in so that the mast can go back to its original location. 

The main cabin hatch (shown below) which is above the helm had to be moved inward to allow for the railings to match the other side – from front to back. At some stage, it had been cut too close to the port  side and so the railings had to start back behind the hatch which looked awful.  This is about the lines – again. 

The windows have been a complex and long process. Firstly, we had to find the old curved line which ran along the side connecting the forward cabin to the aft curve. 

We had to completely fill the existing windows in so that we could draw that line. Once that was drawn, we could then find out where the windows (from the photograph above) once were.  The filled in ply was then taken out and cut to the new window lines. Then they had to be rebated for the glass to then be glued in. Next week is the glass templates and once the glass is in, we will have to cut the trims to go around the windows… The windows have been the most complex part of the job with so many elements and stages to the process. It’s so important we get this right, as they are crucial to the lines of the boat, and we can only work off this photo and a few other tell tale signs.   

Rod holders…such fun getting the angle right so they are flush on to the transom.

CLASSIC LAUNCH RAIRA – BEFORE THE WOOD BUTCHERS GOT HOLD OF HER 

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CLASSIC LAUNCH RAIRA – BEFORE THE WOOD BUTCHERS GOT HOLD OF HER 

The top photo is the 1915 launch – RAIRA, moored in the Waihou River, Te Aroha.  RAIRA was built by the McLeod brothers, Ted and Ray + J. Verran at Bayswater,  Auckland.  – to a  Collings & Bell design.

The photo comes to us from the Auckland Library Heritage Collection – McLeod collection via a Nathan Herbert link.

The 2nd photo is from late 2015. Location is Woolshed Bay, Coromandel.

Last heard she was calling Waiheke Island home.

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CLASSIC YACHT CELOX – A FITTING TRIBUTE

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CLASSIC YACHT CELOX – A FITTING TRIBUTE

We discussed in last Sundays WW story the sad demise of the  26’ mullet boat – CELOX and her tragic past life.

The story prompted Nelson based maritime antarctic artist – Sean Harwood to send in the magnificent above photo of CELOX. Sean exhibited the painting in a 2021/22 exhibition he had at the Jonathan Grant Gallery in Auckland.The copy below accompanied the painting:

Mullet boat ‘Celox’ racing in the Hauraki Gulf 1914

Here we have the 26’ Mullet boat ‘Celox’ thundering down the Hauraki Gulf running under spinnaker before a south westerly in 1914. A steamer is heading down the channel towards North Head and into Auckland harbour. The painting actually has the viewer looking from another vessel as can be scene by the bow wave at bottom left. The painting illustrates the enormous spread of canvas these stout vessels carried. The other two Mullet boats behind ‘Celox’ are also racing.

‘Celox’ was built by Logan Brothers in 1908. Noted for her speed, over time she accumulated a very impressive racing history.

Mullet boats began life sometime in the 1880s as fishing smacks with retractable keels and shallow draft so they could easily sidle deep into the estuaries of the Waitemata Harbour to ply their trade. The lack of refrigeration back then made them fast – the quickest boat would have the freshest catch for the fish markets at the bottom of Queen St. As recreational sailing became more popular at the beginning of the 20th century, prize money and gambling took off, too, attracting more mullet boats to the weekend regattas and fuelling refinements in design. Fierce rivalries developed, often spilling off the boats and into the yacht clubs afterwards.

Sean also shared two more painting – the 2nd one above of the yacht VIKING rounding North Head, Auckland. The small launch is the Logan built DOREEN, which had the marine photographer – Henry Winkelmann on board taking photos.  The bottom painting is of the Baileys Boatbuilding yard in Freemans Bay.

More Sean’s work can be viewed here Seangarwood.co.nz

Link To Sundays story here https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/07/14/classic-wooden-yacht-celox-h8-a-look-back-in-time/

17-07-2024 – INPUT ex NIXON FRYER – I was reading your brilliant stories on the old Mullet Boat Celox. I though I better share this paint of Celox I inherited (below). My family (Craig family) had a part ownership in Celox however I don’t know when this was.
The painting is definitely Celox as it is marked on the back of the Canvas as “Celox”.

WHATS HAPPENING UP THE TAMAKI RIVER / PANMURE BOATING NEIGHBOURHOOD

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LONG GONE
GONE

WHATS HAPPENING UP THE TAMAKI RIVER / PANMURE BOATING NEIGHBOURHOOD

Recently woody John Bullivant had been smooching around the Panmure boating area – seems that the boating community have been have been overlooked by town planners or the likes that work in small windowless city offices and never actually see what their work actually ends up doing – I’ll let John tell the story – 

“I recently came down from the Hibiscus Coast to buy some paint, and thought I’d have a look at the new Panmure bridge additions. Took a few more pics of NAU MAI, – looking very sad now. IMATRA is still afloat as well. A few interesting boats further up but out of camera range. Hoping to do a dinghy tour from Half Moon Bay this year to see what’s new and identify a few mystery boats.   The old Panmure marina has gone with the new busway and cycle path over the area, and the slip is now cut off by a cycle path and the busway at the top of the road. Could have made a good boat ramp, but you know councils, – not a clue ! Not sure what the future plan is, as things are still under construction, with only the up stream access road open now. Another haul-out area gone, only the Panmure Yacht Club and Half Moon Bay left now for the whole of the Tamaki River.” (edited)

Can any of the river rats tells us more on the goings on to what was once a vibrant marine hub.