MARE-EE-AN

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MARE-EE-AN

Last week WW was contacted by Tim Munro enquiring about a 16’ run-about that his father-in-law, Bryan McLeod,  built early 1960’s. The vessel was to a design by Carl Augustin and built in his farm wool shed. Bryan used the run-about regularly into the 2000’s, particularly on the Kaipara Harbour which his farm backed onto but he also took it into a few events on the Waitemata Harbour, as seen in the photo above.

Bryan passed away last year in his mid 90s and the family are getting the boat refurbished.

The reason for Tim’s email to WW and todays question is – does anyone have a copy the Carl Augustin plans that Bryan will have used for the build. And /or is there anyone that has an interest in the designer that Tim could chat to.

UPDATE 10-08-2023 – WW Rocks – Cam Malcolm at The Slipway Milford has a set off full plans and build instructions- photos below just to show the detail included.

2023 Thames Traditional Boat Festival + Woody Kawau Weekend

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2023 Thames Traditional Boat Festival + Woody Kawau Long Weekend

Following on from Sundays story on Olaf Wiig’s slipper launch – Vega, todays photos comes to us from Olaf who attended the Thames traditional boat festival in his slipper launch.

There is an awful lot of varnish on display and the attention to detail is spot on. The festival is on my bucket list. Olaf commented that this years festival didn’t have the usual sparkling weather but there was still plenty of varnish on display. He focused the camera on some of the interesting smaller boats.  

Links below to previous festivals:

2019 (photos ex Ian Gavin)  https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/11/04/2019-thames-traditional-boat-festival-100-classic-wooden-boats/

2020 (photos ex Olaf Wiig)  https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/09/06/thames-traditional-boat-festival-2021/
2021  (photos ex the ‘Cruising The Cut’ weblog)  https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/07/29/2022-thames-traditional-boat-festival/

There are a few woody events coming up as we enter spring > summer, but I wanted to highlight the plan for Labour weekend (October 21>23). If your anything like me this year has been a non event in terms of over nighting on the boat, so lets all try and make Labour weekend special.

As a bonus the Kawau Boating Club will be re-opening that weekend after a refurbishment, if your not a member I encourage you to join, the club needs help to continue to operate as a haven in the gulf.

Ps you don’t have to be a KBC to enjoy the weekend.

More details closer and pre-xmas event dates below.

Woodys Abroad

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WOODYs ABROAD

One of our most passionate and talented woodys – Olaf Wiig is currently based in the UK but still owns back in NZ the stunning 48’ 1953 Lidgard built launch – Ngaro (photo below) which the family cruises on in the NZ summer (when we have one).

After returning this time to the UK Olaf quickly found a woody project to keep his hand in.

The photos above are of Olaf’s 1930’s Andrews slipper launch named – Vega. This is a style of launch which is unique to the upper Thames.  The first of its type was a boat called “merc” it is part of the national Maritime museum’s collection https://nmmc.co.uk/object/boats/slipper-launch-merk-from-1912/

Olaf commented that the boat had been out of the water for some time so the main job was to address the dried out bottom planks and re caulk her seams. The more enjoyable bit was to re-varnish her. Some 14 odd coats of traditional yacht varnish and some 24ct gold leaf she was ready for the water. Just in time for the Thames traditional boat festival, and that will be tomorrows story 😉

Ngaro

Lady Gazelle Rebuilt & Launched

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LADY GAZELLE REBUILT & LAUNCHED 

Back in March we sadly reported that the Jim Young designed launch – Lady Gazelle (formerly Gazelle) had been struck by another vessel and came free from her Coromandel Harbour mooring. Lady Gazelle ended up on the rocks and sustained enough damage for the insurance company to write the vessel off. Link below to that story.

We were heartened to learn that a new owner had stepped up and bought the boat and had started to repair her. 

Today we can report that she was relaunched this week at Clevedon and looks as new. Well done to all those involved in her rebuild.

MARCH 2023 WW Story https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/03/02/lady-gazelle-on-the-rocks/

CENTAURUS LAUNCH DATE & EARLY HISTORY UNCOVERED

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As Launched

CENTAURUS LAUNCH DATE & EARLY HISTORY UNCOVERED 

Over the last 12 months there has been chat (off-line) about the Centaurus’s launch date. As always with events 50+ years ago, things get a little hazy. Last week we were contacted by Graeme and Flo Varcoe and Graeme wanted to clear up any confusion regarding the launch date. 

The original owners of Centaurus were the Sibun family and Graeme’s mother was married to Sonny Sibun. Speaking with his sister Graeme was reminded that she was pregnant during the final stages of the build and her daughter, Graeme’s niece was born on March 19th. 1969 and was 3 weeks old at the time of the launching of Centaurus.

So woodys the dates are: Built – 1967/68 – Launched – April 1969

In the last photo above, a close up of her wheel – there is a plaque that states “Built By Baileys 1967” – this is correct, the build did start in 1967, a little unusual to record that rather than the actual splash date – but not for me to question.

During the brother ./ sister discussions a newspaper clipping came to light that Graeme believes was published by the Half Moon Bay Marina. That article appears above, it is a great read, I have also attached it as a downloadable PDF to make it easier to read.

centaurus-hmb-newsletterDownload

We learn how Centaurus acquired her name  – the boat was built in the 100th year of the Chas Bailey yard, so the ‘Cen’ reflects the century and ’taurus’ comes from owner Sonny Sibun’s zodiac sign – Taurus.

As an added bonus the article backgrounds how that lump of an engine – the Cummings V6 215hp diesel (photo below) ended up in the boat.  As designed the intention was for a pair of Ford 100hp diesels. Regular WW readers will be aware that Centaurus’s current owner, Angus Rogers has just installed a 175 hp John Deere (photo below)

Centaurus is nearing the end of an extensive refit, and as with most things Angus Rogers rubs up against – Centaurus will be glorious. 

UPDATE – Angus Rogers advised the gearbox (Borg Warner) mentioned in the article is incorrect – it was a Capitol.

Mystery Couldrey Launch

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MYSTERY COULDREY LAUNCH

As always its only a mystery because the broker deletes the name 🙂 What we know is she was built by Bill Couldrey in 1972 so slips into the ’spirit of tradition’ grouping. 34’4” in length with a beam of 11’ 4” built from double diagonal kauri (+ glassed….). Powered by a 80hp Ford diesel that pushes her along at 7 knots. Appears to be well spec’ed. As always thanks to Ian McDonald for the heads us.
Can we put a name to the launch.

UPDATE 11-08-2023 ex Harold Kidd – She wasn’t BUILT by Bill Couldrey; he stopped building shortly after WW2.

AQUARIUS – Back In Time

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Russell – 1961

AQUARIUS – Back In Time

The above photo shows the 38’ big game launch – Aquarius. Along side the wharf at Russell the Bay of Islands. The photo is dated 1961 and comes to us via Lew Redwoods fb.

Aquarius was built / launched in 1955 by Supreme Craft. She first appeared on WW back in 2018 as a SOS story and over the next 3 years we followed her resume and restoration – links to those stories below + 2018 photos of her leaving Waiheke Island and relaunched in 2021.

Dec 2021 https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/12/15/aquarius-is-back/

June 2020 https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/06/10/aquarius-restoration-update/

April 2019 https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/04/16/aquarius-saved/

Sept 2018 https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/09/01/aquarius-sos/

Te Atatu BC – 2021

06-05-2024 photos below at T.B.C. late April

Freelance – Launch Day Oops

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Freelance – Launch Day Oops

Woody Kerry Lilley sent in the tale below concerning the launching of the 1964 Owen Woolley built launch – Freelance. At the time Kerry was an apprentice to Owen Woolley (1964 -1970) and now owns the 32′ Woolley launch – Awariki, which he helped build and launch in 1967. I’ll let Kerry tell the story.

“I started my boatbuilding apprenticeship in mid 1964, Freelance was in the final stage of her interior fit out for Mr Ken Williams from memory he was head of the Ak branch of the Master Builders Assn., the launching of Freelance was on the cover a special edition of the Seaspray Magazine sliding down the slipway.  

When Mr Williams took Freelance away from Owen Woolley’s shed intending to steam her to her pile up the Clevedon River, in going through between Browns Is and Musick Point he hit the ( I understand it’s a block of concrete used to hold anti submarine net during the 2nd world war) no damage to the hull or keel but the propeller was bent and tore the stern bearing out of the keel and stalled the engine.

So 3 hours after steaming away from our shed over the Tamaki River, old Bert Subrisky on the tug – Romo pushes Freelance back for repair new prop shaft, stern bearing, copper stern tube and Kauri repair to the keel.”  

I wonder if the concrete block is still there or some kind sole used so dynamite on it. (Photo above taken at the 2020 Mahurangi Regatta)

More photos of Freelance here https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/07/03/freelance/

60 years later we still have launch day oops – my lips are sealed ;-), its not Freelance.

INPUT ex Nigel Drake (current custodian) – “Despite that early mishap Freelance is going strong and will celebrate 60 years next year. She has just completed 2 weeks of TLC in the shed in Tauranga.”

Crescent

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CRESCENT 

Back in Feb 2018 WW was contacted by Ted Bosch concerning the vessel – Crescent , Ted was just about to commence building a 1:20 scale model of Crescent. Back in 1998 Ted had help restore her and the model was going to be ‘as remembered’ as no plans existed. At the time the WW story generated a lot of chat in the comments section and we uncovered a lot of intel on her past.

While some thought the double-ender had Miller & Tunnage lineage, turned out she was actually ‘designed’ and built by three M&T employees, no doubt there was a mix of DNA going on.

These days Crescent calls Tauranga home and is being very well cared for – if her owner or anyone local knows the boat can they send in a photo/s.

Ted recently advised that the model was complete and sent in the above photos – quite impressive. 

2018 WW story https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/02/14/crescent/

INPUT ex Nigel Drake – “Photo below of Crescent taken in March when she buzzed me will l was attempting to catch a snapper for dinner just outside the Tauranga harbour entrance. She is well looked after by her owner and lives in the Tauranga Marina.”

INPUT ex Dave Stanaway – photos below

Crescent 1995 Crash Mallory’s boat

Ana Maree

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Ana Maree

The 32’ launch Ana Maree has appeared on WW several times (links below). Thanks to Harold Kidd back in November 2013 we established her start in life and some of her history – all in the links.

Built in 1965 by Oliver & Gilpin for Sir William Stevenson, over the years she has under gone several visits to the orthopaedic surgeons – we last saw her in Jan 2020 when she was part way thru a refit at Pine Harbour. At the time she lost her flying bridge so I was very happy. I understand there is still a few items to tick of the list but all of the major work is completed.

Forward motion is from a 120hp Lees Ford engine

Thanks to her tme listing (ex Ian McDonald) we get to have a gander down below.

Nov 2013 https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/11/19/ana-maree/

Jan 2020 https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/01/23/ana-maree-2/