MILFORD CREEK FLASH BACK
Wouldn’t it be great if we still had businesses like the above around today. One stop shops.
I was up and down the creek today myself – giving the 95 year old a bottom tickle up – 2023 was such a crap season Raindance didn’t get the normal amount of use. So from entering and exiting the creak the watch said 38 minutes – service with a smile, well almost …… things a tad busy at The Slipway Milford with only 96>hrs till closing the door.
VIOLETTA
Back in October WW was contacted by Jeff Giddens who advised that his father, Spencer Giddens, has been the owner of Violetts, a 36’ Swanson launch. Which the family regularly cruised the Marlborough Sounds on. The Sounds was her birthplace – she was built there in Queen Charlotte Sound by the well known boat builder Bob Swanson, for a Mister Jack Hutton. It was built to cross Cook Strait as the owner lived in Paremata. It did many crossing, often in rough seas and was known for its sea keeping abilities. In approximately 1983 , it was sold to Jeff’s father, who still has it today, but now in his 80s is regretfully, looking to sell. She is 36′ by 11’-6″ feet, with a 3’6″ draft. Violetta is powered by a 6 cylinder turbo charged Ford diesel, and will do 15 knots. It is a hard chine planing hull, which is double planked kauri, a
full inch thick.
Included above s a copy of a Sea Spray magazine article on Violetta dated November 1962. Top photos show the before and after of the alterations Jeff’s father made to the boat eg windows and I top roof dodger, all made to slightly modernise her look.
Out & About – went to a little backyard gathering yesterday and came away with a serious case of blokes shed envy 🙂
DESTINY II – Treat Your Grandchildren This Xmas
This rather cute / salty 21’ gaff rigged cutter sitting on tme and is crying out for someone to step up and adopt her. Destiny II has a $1 reserve and at last look bids were in the low $300’s.
Built /launched c.1930’s she had a major refit in 2007.Her owner has looked after her in the 2+ years he has owned her but with 4 young children she is not getting the use she deserves.
An inboard Bukh 7hp gets her along at 7 knots and there is access to a Weiti River mooring till the end of Jan so thats the holiday cruising in and around Kawau sorted.
Check out the tme listing is a lot of boat for the $$$ – Auction closes 7pm Dec 22nd – Just buy it and the kids / grandkids will think your the best ever.
Question of the day – can anyone ID the pennant (tie-pin?) below.
KAIPARA
Todays woody is the launch – Kaipara and is seen in both photos above in Russell in the Bay of Islands. The photos come to use from the Auckland Library Heritage Collection and were possibly taken by a Ian Mason
In the bottom photo the large building is the Dukeof Marlbouragh Hotel.
So todays questions are:
• who designed/built Kaipara
• what became of Kaipara
• can we put a date on the photo
WW CHRISTMAS BOOY QUIZ WINNER
Earlier in the week we ran a quiz asking which boat builder / designer has had the most boat / name mentions on the WW site. The prize was a copy of the Best Selling Book – ’Shipwright, Boatbuilder, Yachtsman’ by Gilbert J. Littler + a WW sweatshirt (L/S, size XL only) + a WW Burgee.
THE WINNER IS – JAY OWEN – with COLLINGS & BELL
Amazingly only two people chose that answer – almost everyone else went with Colin Wild, followed by various versions of Bailey. Well done Jay.
The book is available to buy at Boatbooks in Westhaven or online https://boatbooks.co.nz/nzbooks.asp
And WW merchandise for sale here https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/11/11/58095/
MYSTERY LAUNCH 15-12-2023
I was sent a link from Harold Kidd re a woody that had ‘popped up’ on one of his son’s fb marketplace feeds.
The boat is located in Wanganui, Manawatu and all we know is she is 28’ in length, no engine, and built by Laines (their spelling) in 1905. As discussed many times on WW, sadly the word Lanes is almost the default for any unknown launch, so she could be built by anyone. Been on tme for over 10 months and has an asking price of $500, maybe there are a few bronze fittings that could offset that.
It is a very long shot but – anyone out there know anything about the vessel.
ORDER HERE waitematawoodys@gmail.com Click image above for details
Photos below November 2023
PIRIMANU – Ready To Splash
We have been following the refit / restoration of the 28’ Salthouse built, A Couldrey designed, 1968 launch – Pirimanui – links below to the last few years stories on WW.
This week the Blair Boats yard advised that the day had come and she would be re-splashing later this week.
Stunning workmanship and hats off to her ’newish’ owner for the level of commitment to the project.
Fingers crossed we get to see some photos of Pirimanu post launching.May 2022 https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/05/16/pirimanu-a-peek-down-below/
Jan 2023 Refresh https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/01/31/pirimanu-gets-a-makeover/
July 2023 >>> Work In Process. https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/07/28/pirimanu-gets-a-birthday/
Update – Pirimanu back in the water, all windows replaced with new teak beading, all new varnish inside and out (14 coats of alwood gloss) inside cabin repainted, new electronics solar and bilge pumps, new gear box and refurbished engine. (Photos and words ex Blair Boats fb.
02-01-2025 UPDATE ex NIXON FLYER (a previous owner) now in her new Bay of Islands home
CHRISTMAS BOOTY TO BE WON
Time for some xmas goodwill – a little quiz with a cool prize. As always entry is ONLY VIA EMAIL, you can only enter once, all correct entries go into the draw. Quiz ends on Friday December 15th at 6pm. Winner announced on WW. (photos shown above random selection only)
THE QUIZ QUESTION: Which boat builder / designer has had the most boat / name mentions on the WW site – email your entry to waitematawoodys@gmail.com
THE PRIZE: A copy of the Best Selling Book – ’Shipwright, Boatbuilder, Yachtsman’ by Gilbert J. Littler + A WW sweatshirt (L/S, size XL only) + A WW Burgee
The book is available to buy at Boatbooks in Westhaven or online https://boatbooks.co.nz/nzbooks.asp
And WW merchandise for sale here https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/11/11/58095/
TAIHO II – A Peek Down Below
Todays woody is somewhat of an unknown boat – the only time I have seen her out and about was back in November 2022 at our ‘Woodys Beach Picnic’ at Motuihe Island, the top photo is from that outing. Todays photos come to us for a tme me listing, spotted by Ian McDonald.
What we know about the 34’4” Taiho II is the she was built in 1968 by Shipbuilders using double diagonal kauri. Power is via a 150hp Ford D-Series turbo Diesel engine that gives her a 7>8 knot cruising speed.
Back in 2020 she underwent something of a re-birth and her interior is now very modern in layout and build – but as they say each to their own. Certainly well spec’ed in terms of home comforts.
Personally I’d lose the batwing which doesn’t appear to do anything other than be a mounting spot for the anchor light.
Do we know anything about her early days.
INPUT BELOW (press clipping) ex Nathan Herbert
Heading To The Bay of Islands This Summer – – circle Jan 6th 2024 in the diary for the Tall Ships Regatta , hosted by the Russell Boating Club it is always a dozy of an event.See below – more details at russellboatingclub.org.nz
KARINA – A Peek Down Below
Todays woody – Karina, was built in 1959 by Brin Wilson, kauri planked she is 36’ in length with a 10’ 11” beam and draws 2’11”. Forward motion is via newish 75hp Yammer diesel engine that gives her a cruising speed of 8 knots. Her owner must like hot showers as her tme listing (thanks Ian McDonald) states she has 600L water capacity.
Can anyone tell us what Karina has been up to for theist 60+ years.
Input ex K Ricketts – Top photo (b/w) below ex a Ford Dealership advertisement in Sea Spay magazine 1961. 2nd photo (colour) c.2014 ex B Worthington.
ROMANY RYE
Todays woody story is on the launch – Romany Rye that sank in late June 1936, near the launch jetty in Lyttelton. A diver located the boat in 30’ of water and successfully placed slings under her. The Harbour Board’s pile driver was then used to lift Romany Rye to the surface.
Can anyone enlighten us more on the vessel and whether she survived.
(Photo ex fb, ex Stuff, ex The Press and probably ex Paperspast – via K Ricketts)
STOCK LEVELS GETTING LOW ON WW MERCH – already o/s of some sizes. If you are thinking about treating yourself this xmas -order soooooooon.
waitematawoodys.com #1 for classic wooden boat stories, info, advice & news - updated daily - 14+ million views 