Email in the location of the image in the photo below and all correct entries go in the draw for a WW cap. waitematawoodys@gmail.com Closes 6pm 25-06-2023
Todays woody appeared in WW back in 2016 (link below) since then she has been re-powered with twin 350 Chef V8’s that give her a top speed of 30 knots – as they say if you have to ask what the consumption is – its not the boat for you 🙂 The re-power was more a de-power, the previous engines saw her topping out at 45 knots.
Ka-iwi is a 26’ Mason Clipper, built in 1968 and possibly the first twin engined one. Originally owned by the Stevenson family and used up north at their family bach. Has also done some powerboat racing in her early days. Thanks to Ian McDonald for the tme heads up
29-06-2023 UPDATE ex Hamish Moore – Hamish spotted the article below in the May 1968 edition of Sea Spray magazine
SAD – Angus Roger’s 1967/8 Baileys & Sons built launch – Centaurus left The Landing at Okahu Bay hardstand on Aucklands waterfront on a transporter – why sad?, because she was the last boat left hauled out at the Orakei Hardstand, looks like Scott Milne and his Auckland Council cronies have done a clandestine stocktake i.e. the haul out facility has been closed down and the area no longer available to rate paying Auckland boaties.
(“A section (term) in the above post has been edited on request. The use of the term was not intended to offend any particular ethnic group or religious advocate. No malicious was intended.
WW thanks Mr. Adam Ross for drawing the NZ Human Rights Commission to the matter and going forward the WW site will tighten the filter on its comments”)
GOOD – Centaurus is off to a new temporary home for the final act of her refit – the installation of a John Deere 6.8L 175 hp diesel. The JD replaces her original engine, which was a monster – a Cumins V6 215hp – photo below. The Cumins had to partially dismantled to get her out.
Centaurus is a very big woody – 42’ long with a 13’ beam and built like a brick outhouse – 1.25” kauri carvel planked.
Lots of chat and head scratching going on during the unloading > cradle 🙂
Full details on all the refit work in a later WW story.
UPDATE 06-07-2023 NEW ENGINE INSTALLED (video ex Tim Strange)
SKY TV ADDICT – the owner of this (name withheld) launch must like his Sky Sports 🙂
UPDATE FOR THE RECORD – after input from numerious parties re the launch date of Centaurus we can advise the following – BUILT 1967/8 – LAUNCHED EARLY 1969
Today woody recently popped up on tme (thanks Ian McDonald), the listing doesn’t tell us anything about who built her and when but what we do know is –
30’ in length, she started life as a trawler from Greymouth. Then brought up to Picton and at some stage converted to a yacht then filled wth concrete to negate the need for chalking caulking. Later convert to the launch configuration we see today.
Forward motion is via a 30hp Yammer engine that sees her cruising nicely at 7>7.5 knots.
Can we have a crack at the design / builder and a new would be nice. Can’t see her moving from the south so fingers crossed a southern woody is looking for a low entry woody that with a small investment could be a very smart sounds boat.
WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE WANT FROM A CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT GROUP
The answer is very simple – events + know how + friendship Seems that Lake Rotoiti’s Classic & Wooden Boat Association know the answer 🙂 Lets hope ‘others’ take notice 😉
Input from Janice Rogers – “The house in this photo belonged to my grandparents and I lived in it as a child at Otaramarae. I remember 1 of those boats is called the Kay and I recognised the other smaller one as well. The Kay was tied up down at our jetty in the enclave below my grandmothers house I know because I went for rides on it the rear of the bigger boat now has a ramp and has pretty much progressed from when I was a 12yr old
I got a fright when I saw those photos online golly bought back many memories
Judge Simon Moore’s parents had a house right on the lake but it often flooded many years later that land was leased to his parents by my grandfather so there you go a piece of history for you”
MYSTERY LAKE ROTORUA LAUNCH #2
Todays woody again comes to us from Greg Philpott, hopefully we will get a better response than last weeks WW story concerning another of Greg’s mystery boats. I suspect that Greg has exhausted most avenues and people ’switch off’ re his pursuit for answers.
The transporter / truck door reads – E.G. Maurice, Cartage Contractor, Rotorua
But its worth a final try – so woodys anyone able to enlighten us on the above launch.
And while we are in the middle of the North Island – circle 8th July 2023 in the diary for what looks like a cool classic event – details on the website – see poster.
Back in mid January in one of the few good boating days we had I spotted the 40’ Atkinson designed/built (1970) launch – Shango anchored at Waiheke Island – link below to photos and details.
Now thanks to an appearance on tme (thanks Ian McDonald) we get to have a peek down below. A Ford 200hp 2728T engine gives Shango a comfortable cruising speed of 9 knots. Reviewing the photos she appears to be a very well presented woody.
She ‘lost’ her NASA space centre control tower (refer below older photo) as part of a 2021/22 refit – we like that 😉
Back in April 2121 we reported that the 1966 Brin Wilson designed, Fred Lidgard built 34’ 8” launch – Buccaneer had sold and was relocated to Auckland 🙂 A the time it was talk that originally Buccaneer may have been Brin Wilson’s personal boat.
Fast forward two years and her owners have had her out at Precision Boat Painters, Panmure for some serious TLC , the plan is once relaunched the owners will give the interior a lick of paint this winter.
Her co-owner Tim is a very talented man in the metal work industry so as expected there has been some new bling going on.
A very smart looking woody, and one of the few that carries a flying bridge well.
WW was recently contacted by the owner of Korora, a 32’ Townson ‘Moonlight’ 1972 built keeler and advised that due to a few speed bumps in life, a new owner was needed.
As always its best to talk to the owner but who I can tell you is below –
• Built in 1972, kauri hull construction, comes with main/1/2/3/storm/spinaker – headsail is self-furling.
• Power is via a Yammer 2GM20, 18hp. Solar panel, and comes with a 2020 inflatable dinghy and Johnson 3.3hp outboard.
• Owner tells me it has a competitive sailing record in the Townson Association – sail # 1360
• Westhaven marina berth possibly available for rent
Interested – very attractive price – contact Mike Going on email at – thegoings@xtra.co.nz
We know a lot about todays woody – but no name, builder or what became of her.
What we know – possibly built in 1927, 27’ in length with a beam of 7>8’. When launched powered by a 4 cyl. Ailsa Craig engine.
Initially a family launch, she was later moved to Lake Rotorua The photo above is dated March 1932 and is when her then owner Ted Fenton obtained a license to carry fishing parties.
The photo is ex the Don Stafford collection at the Rotorua Museum and is tagged ‘ Dads Boat’. Photo and details shared by Greg Philpott.
Can we put a name and builder to her and discover what became of her.
WW Caps – low profile, 6 panel, canvas caps in the new camel colour topped with dark brown WW embroidered logo has a dash of understated style.
just click the email link here and tell me your name, postal address and number of caps required. I’ll come back to you with payment details – $38 + $6 p&p. waitematawoodys@gmail.com
The 36’ 1921 Arch Logan built launch – Ngaio is one of my favourite woodys, impeccable bloodline and drop dead looks. There are lots of stories on her in the WW archive , including her restoration back in 2013.
Back then if she had a weakness it was her a heart – a 95hp Ford Trader engine that was a tad tired, well 10 years later and that old Ford was still delivering the goods but her owner decided in the interests of reliability an upgrade might be a good idea – so out it came at the Slipway Milford and the hole will be filled with a much newer (30+ yrs) reconditioned 125hp Ford Dover engine, sourced by Cameron Pollard.
Back in March 2021 Ngaio celebrated her 100 th birthday – link below with lots of interior photos
(Todays photos ex Jason Prew, Luca Beachman and myself)
21-07-2023 UPDATE – ‘new’ Ford 125hp installed (almost)
WW Caps – low profile, 6 panel, canvas caps in the new camel colour topped with dark brown WW embroidered logo has a dash of understated style.
just click the email link here and tell me your name, postal address and number of caps required. I’ll come back to you with payment details – $38 + $6 p&p. waitematawoodys@gmail.com
waitematawoodys.com #1 for classic wooden boat stories, info, advice & news - updated daily - 14+ million views 