PITO

Todays woody is the ex workboat – PITO and the photo comes to us from Dave Stanaway. Dave took the photo of PITO on the Mahurangi River (Cement Works) approx. 8 years ago when he was master of the tug – HERENUI.

Dave commented that she may have started life as a workboat for the Whangarei Harbour Board.

At the time of the photo PITO was most likely owned by Conrad Robertson, do we know what became of her and more on her past.

Love the paint scheme , keep it simple and it works 🙂

INPUT EX RAY MELROSE – PITO (belly button) was designed and built in Auckland for the W.H.B. as a workboat and dredge tender. She towed the coal barges to bunker the steam dredge “Thomas McKinnon” and later the fuel barge for both McKinnon and Pikau, the other old dredge. Also did duties with the three side dump rock barges building sea walls to contain the dredge spoil areas where the present day “Port Whangarei'” (Kioriroa) I drove many miles in her towing the harbour board drill rig up all the creeks and ditches drilling for the M.O.W. before they re-aligned the main road at Mata, from Oakleigh south. When handed over from the builder she was brought up by one of the Auckland coastal tug and barges, probably Harry Julian. Power was a 60 hp Ford (Lees) Her build was featured in Sea Spray magazine but it was a long time ago, maybe around 1950. She has good bones and has aged well.

02-05-2024 INPUT ex ALAN SEXTON – Pito is alive and well still owned by Conrad Robertson,  picture taken today at Robertsons wharf.

08-05-2024 UPDATE – Photos below ex Alan Sexton 

Can We ID This Young Man Aboard MANAIA

Last week we ran a story that featured a photo of the pilot boat – MANAIA.  At the time Paul Drake chipped in to say he was at the launching in 1963 at the P. Los yard and took the photo. 

Russell Ward also advised he was lurking at the event. 

A couple of days later Paul contacted me and commented that unlike Vintage Steamer Russell W) who scored a seat with the big shots for MANAIA’s launching, he was just part of the boatyard urchin brigade. Paul mentioned that there was another young guy, pictured in the photo above who he fell in with. After the launching, we bravely boarded the vessel for a closer look, until we were asked to leave after poking our heads down the engine room hatch (a step too far). 

So woodys today we are trying to see if we can ID who Paul’s companion was. It would be very cool if he or someone else recognised himself through this WW story and made himself known.Russell Ward was sent the photo and asked if he was the young man in the photo, Russell’s reply was “it isn’t me and the bloke in the pic was far too clean cut to be any of his crew” 🙂
Link to the WW story mentioned above https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/04/18/launch-day-mystery/

Recent photos below – looking better than as launched.

OMOKOROA – In Former Times

Back in July 2021 we reported on the 36′ launch – Omokoroa being washed ashore in a storm. We subsequently learned that she was re-floated by Lyndon Chambers and moved to Shelly Park Cruising Club for repair / refitting. Link to the 2021 story below. Keen to learn how the project is coming along. https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/07/10/omokaroa-omokoroa-saved/

Fast forward to last week and Ian McDonald was doing a deep drive on his iPad and found the photos above . First up we have a b/w photo dated 1954 and the location is Katkati. Then a montage of photos from the 1983>84 period.

Last up is an undated press clipping from the Bay of Plenty Times that celebrates the restoration and relaunch of the launch after she has sat on a hardstand for an extended period.

NOTE: may the b/w photo is a different boat and the photo tag is the location v’s the boat name – thoughts?