Todays woody is looking for a new home and I suspect someone with deep pockets. The c.1950’s speedboat is 16’6” in length and built with triple kauri plank and mahogany plank deck. From the photos the hull appears to be in good condition, probably due to being in storage for the last 30 years.
Currently powered by a Ford flathead V8 engine (not running). Its stated that ‘in her day’ she was capable of towing skiers at 40mph.
So woodys – anyone looking for a project – has Lake Rotoiti written all over her 🙂 (Thanks Ian McDonald for the tme heads up)
MISS PICTON the ex tourist launch was built by Collings & Bell and launched in December 1933. Her first owner was Captain M Steele of Picton, who motored MISS PICTON down the East Coast to Picton. In 1953 her name was changed to MITRE PEAK and she ‘worked in the excursions & tourist services market.
Todays photo was sent in by Roger Young who commented that the man standing on the foredeck is Aubrey Forster, NZ Airforce. Aubery was Roger’s partner Suzanne’s father.. The photo is thought to be dated early 1950’sInteresting mix of people aboard, appear to be all well attired, but that was the normal back then. Any woody able to shed more light on the photo.
Photo below ex Richard Hockey – now named Anita Bay. Location is Riverton. The ’new’ superstructure was added c.1970’s. (Early intel ex Harold Kidd)
31-10-2025 INPUT ex RICHARD HOCKEY (Brisbane, Aust) – photos below of ANITA BAY in Riverton + also one from 1976 when she was still Mitre Peak but had new superstructure.
CAN WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT – TAIMARINO
Woody John Dawson recently unearthed the top black-and-white photo of the classic wooden boat TAIMARINO. The image appeared in an old article on big game fishing and immediately caught his eye. John’s detective work led him to Paul Wilson, who kindly sent through the colour photograph above. Paul also mentioned that TAIMARINO was possibly built by Bill Visser in the late 1960s. And that, woodys, is where the trail currently ends. Can anyone help fill in the gaps in TAIMARINO’s story? Any background on her design, builder, or early adventures would be greatly appreciated.
A SAD NOTE – Yesterday I learned of the passing of Bruce Tantrum – a true enthusiast and long-time supporter of the New Zealand classic wooden boating movement. R.I.P. Bruce — your passion and knowledge will be greatly missed on the waterfront.
2025 KAWAU ISLAND SPRING SPLASH REGATTA – A WOODY WEEKEND TO REMEMBER – 50+ PHOTOS
Pleased to report that the long weekend’s woody action at Kawau Island was an absolute triumph. Now in its second year, the Spring Splash Regatta — a joint venture between the Kawau Boating Club, Ponsonby Cruising Club, and Waitematawoodys — continues to grow in both size and spirit.
It’s still early days for what’s shaping up to be a great annual tradition, but this year’s event had an unmistakably upbeat, jaunty vibe. Everywhere you looked, people were smiling, swapping yarns, and clearly having a great time afloat and ashore.
I’ll apologise up front for being light on the yacht racing and prize-giving coverage — for reasons I won’t bore you with — but rest assured, the competition and camaraderie were both in full swing.
Sunday’s Woodys Classic Parade was the visual highlight of the weekend, showcasing a handsome flotilla of 17 classic launches for all those anchored in Bon Accord Harbour and watching from waterfront properties. Aside from a brief 10-minute burst of H₂O at the start, the weather came right and the parade looked spectacular.
A big thank you to the classic skippers and crews who took part — your efforts made for a great show.
Helming a boat among moored craft while trying to take photos is a fine line between “challenging” and “slightly reckless,” so I’m especially grateful to Dean Watchlin, Murray Deeble and Richard Bicknell for sharing their superb photos from the weekend.
Enjoy today’s gallery — loosely divided into two parts: the weekend’s happenings and the Sunday Parade. Sorry if the cameras missed your boat – some joined the parade midway and some departed midway. The crew of KAIKOURA below, correctly attired for the occasion 🙂
CLASSIC WOODEN BAY OF ISLANDS LAUNCH – MARLINE GETS A REFRESH
Today’s woody story features the beautifully built MARLINE — a 1949/50 ex-game boat crafted by Leon Warne, and remarkably, still in the same family after three generations.
Now owned by Leon’s son, Ken Warne, the custodianship torch has been passed to Ken’s son Kennedy Warne, who’s been spending countless hours alongside the skilled team at CMC Design Boatbuilders in Opua, giving MARLINE some well-earned TLC.
MARLINE arrived at the CMC Design workshop in late April 2025. As Sian Steward from CMC Design explains, Leon’s master craftsmanship remains front of mind in every decision as they carefully upgrade and refresh her. While she was in impressive condition on arrival, she’ll leave looking that little bit sharper — the perfect birthday present as she celebrates 75 years afloat.
Relaunch is set for December 2025 — just in time for a well-deserved Bay of Islands summer.
Not often I start with an apology– yesterday at Kawau was a wee bit of a cock up. I missed the prize giving. I’ll be polite and say things got ‘Lost In Translation’.
I was working on intel supplied eg prize giving was according to the notice of regatta was Sunday but it was held on Saturday……. Never mind 😄 sorry to the woodys that turned up 😢
During the week WW was contacted by Karl Reynolds the owner of the 1927 Dick Lang built 31’ classic wooden launch – IRENE. IRENE last appeared on WW back in April 2016, link here https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/04/27/irene-2/
Karl purchased the vessel in March 2025 and has been undertaking a refit, The work started with a good clean in the hull and then Karl and his father managed to complete the following in the 15 days they had IRENE hauled out.
• New larger hatch to remove engine through and lifted height to give me head room at helm
• Bulk heads installed to add support to hull and cut out to reduce visual impact
• New Ford engine with heat exchanger sitting on its mounts awaiting gearbox and alignment
• Closed in stern to keep birds out
If you are undertaking a woody project , please share the work with WW, readers love seeing word-in-progress.
Earlier in the week WW was contacted by Graeme Holloway regarding the classic wooden launch – CHLOE – I’ll hand over to Graeme to tell todays story –
“I happened to stumble upon a photo Below) you had posted and recognised it as a launch my Dad owned back in the 1980’s. CHLOE was a Bill Cauldrey design, and the hull and topsides were built for Joe and Edna Gaunt and Joe finished off the interior. She was launched in 1967 and the hull was originally painted green. She had no port holes and also had a mast on the foredeck. Joe and Edna were members of the Devonport Yacht Club and for many years she was moored just out from the club in Devonport. She was 30ft long and the original motor was a 55 horse BMC Commander. She cruised at 8 knots. My parents, Ian and Marion Holloway purchased CHLOE in 1983 and kept her moored in Westhaven. My Dad put the port holes in and painted her hull white. They too were members of the Devonport Yacht Club and over the winter months she would be pulled up on the hard in front of the clubhouse for maintenance. She was sold in 1993 and was moored in Whakatakataka for a period of time and then disappeared.”
Graeme commented the photos with the green hull show her out from Motuihe Island c.1983. In the last photo of CHLOE we see her with the white hull and new port holes. Is being slipped up next to the clubhouse at the Devonport Yacht Club c.1986, and was published in the Metro Magazine relating to an article that was written about Devonport. I recognise a few of the ‘helpers’ faces 🙂
1912 WOODEN EX WHALE CHASER BALAENA – GETS A REVAMP
BACK IN AUGUST 2022 WW ran a story on the classic ex whale chaser – BALAENA, built in 1912. The 2022 story, linked below, featured a Country Calendar programme profiling the Marlborough family that had owned the vessel for 64+ years. https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/08/20/balaena-110-year-old-ex-whale-chaser/
Fast forward to yesterday and Steve from {the} Cafe Cart in Waikawa sent in today gallery of photos of the classic wooden launch.
BALAENA is looking very well cared for and great to see her kept in very close to as built presentation.
Anyone able to tell us who did the work and what’s she is powered by these days.
Full weekend details in the downloadable PDF file below, which includes the entry (free) form for the sailing events.
The 1960, Orams built launch SIRENA once made several appearances at woody events and then I believe reverted to a live-a-board, with the occasional excursion as a mark boat for the Hobsonville Sailing Club.
Recently, SIRENA surfaced on the market — and from the listing photos, she appeared to be showing the effects of time and use. So today’s WW story is a bit of a call-out: does anyone know what became of her? Was she sold, and if so, where is SIRENA now?
Today we get a peek down below. She is a solid old girl, 1-1/4” kauri carvel planked and powered by a 6 cyl. 100hp Ford Lees D series that give her a cruise speed of 7 knots. As Ian McDonald commented “crying out for a Gardner” 🙂
GUNNER was originally intended for work and fishing in the Marlborough Sounds. However, she was requisitioned by the Crown during wartime and transported to the Devonport Naval Base in Auckland for final fitting out. After the war, Gunner was sold and began commercial fishing out of Leigh Harbour. During this time, she also operated a mail run to Great Barrier Island in the Hauraki Gulf. Around 1957, Gunner changed hands again and continued her commercial fishing career from Port Ohope. In 1973, she underwent a 3-year conversion from a working vessel into a pleasure craft. This transformation included extending the wheelhouse and adding an aft cabin.
Each to their own but she appeals to me, a very comfortable boat that could easily do laps on NZ.
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