LADY GLAD – Electric Conversion

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LADY GLAD – Electric Conversion

Todays story was written by Richard Amery on of the Lake Rotoiti woodys. Richard has pulled together the background on the launch – Lady Glad, owned by Marcus and Jan Wilkins, and her conversion from diesel power electric – I’ll hand over to Richard now – note: slightly different layout today with the photos in the story text.

“The keel was laid in 1981 by Mr. Bill Visser attached boat builder who had settled in Tauranga and started building boats under the name Kingfisher Boats limited, in a shed where the present oil terminal at the Mount is today before moving to Omokoroa. Bill was asked by Mr. Marshall Lee to build a small tug for him to tow a barge between Matakana Island and Omokoroa for his farming operations and it was to be named “Lady Glad” after his mother.

The tug was to have a gas stove and two bunks in it. The bunks had been beautifully painted with scenes by local young artist Alice Blakely, but unfortunately they were pulled out and lost.    Bill Visser was an artist with wood, and he carved the name along with the scroll and the tiller handle and also built the steering wheel which in itself is a work of art. The back deck was to have a bollard for towing mounted in the middle with the underneath area to be able to hold a farm bike and tools. This was all removed and Bill made the rear cockpit as it is now.   The motor was a Yanmar 32HP diesel.

However, before her completion Mr. Lee sold the property and we purchased the Lady Glad, and Bill Visser completed her at his home workshop, hence she never got to sea, and was launched on Lake Rotoiti in 1985.

In 2022 by age 87 Marcus with Jan 86 were sick of climbing over the motor and made the decision to bite the bullet and fit her with a more compact electric motor and batteries.              With the expertise of Tony Whiting, marine engineer of note from Auckland, Alan Craig boat builder and his team, Miles Harnett on boat electrics and local electrician Simon Andrew to sort out the mains electric charging system, the task provided quite a challenge for them.

The power comes from eight 6 Volt batteries weighing 400kg coupled in line to produce 48 volts. This was a little more weight than was removed, and the charging unit for these and the house battery which looks after lights, radio, auto bilge pumps etc are fitted up in the bow.                                                                                                                                                             The shaft thrust bearing, special coupling to motor and mounting bracket etc central and the redesign of rudder, keel and propellor are all part of the team’s combined thoughts and expertise that went into this conversion.

                                                                                                                                                  The shaft thrust bearing, special coupling to motor and mounting bracket etc central and the redesign of rudder, keel and propellor are all part of the team’s combined thoughts and expertise that went into this conversion.

Lady Glad’s heart transplant is now completed with the Combi inboard 10kw electric motor with a Combi Inboard 10 kW electric motor made in Holland, the home country of her designer and builder.

We are delighted with the result, and along with a new cockpit and cabin layout has transformed Lady Glad into a lovely comfortable easy to use craft.

Marcus and Jan say thanks to ‘the Team’. “

Note: Available now for sale in excellent condition: The 32hp Yanmar Diesel engine, hydraulic gearbox, heat exchanger, flexible shaft coupling, bilge blower, hand & electric bilge pumps plus gauges and wiring loom- a great unit in excellent condition. Phone or Text Marcus to view 027 955 2213.

ALIBI – Re-Launched Briefly

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ALIBI – Re-Launched Briefly

We have been following the refit / refurb of the Mason Clipper – Alibi at the Greg Lees Boa Builders yard at Sandspit.

Early this month ‘Alibi” came out of Lees shed after 5 months and slipped briefly into the water and out again on to the hardstand. The stern legs will be removed and serviced and painted along with engine servicing, some electrical work and general bits and bobs, this work will take a few months. We’ll keep you posted 🙂

(thanks to Mason Clippers fb for the photos)

CIRCLE THE CALENDAR

Put a ring around November 18th – for the Karapirp Classics – Off the water boat show followed by on the water activities, open to Classic and Wooden boats, Classic jet boats and home built boats of the 1960-70’s at the Horahora Domain – more details closer to the event.

PLAYMATE – A Peek Down Below

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PLAYMATE – A Peek Down Below
The Sam Ford 1936 built launch – Playmate (named ‘My Playmate’ when launched and changed to Ida Mae and then back to Playmate) , has popped up twice on WW – both stories in Sept 2014. At the time we uncovered so much about the launch – now thanks to a tme listing we get to have a better look at the ship. Links to the 2014 stories below – do check them out.
https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/09/02/playmate-ida-mae/ https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/09/04/ide-mae-playmate/

A quick overview = 39’ , powered by a 80hp BMC diesel – everything else you would want to know can be found in the links above 😉

Waitangi at Devonport 1897

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1897
2018

Waitangi at Devonport 1897

 I was poking around some old WW files and came across the above photo of the 1894 Logan built gaffer Waitangi, the photo is dated 1897 and shows her hauled out near the Logan yard in Devonport, Auckland.

The image was originally sent in by Keith Humphreys.

The colour photo I took back in Sept 2018, that is 121 year apart – most impressive.

In the WW story link below there is a video filmed by Roger Miles back in 2016, gives us a good insight into sailing Waitangi. 

Classic Yacht Racing – Waitangi

Margaret Pearl – Cray Boat > Cruising Boat

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Margaret Pearl – Cray Boat > Cruising Boat

During the week I stumbled on a YouTube video on the Southern Woodenboat Sailing channel – this 11 minute video showcase the ex Tasmanian crayboat – Margaret Pearl.

Built in 1958, 60’ in length she was about to be dispatched to the landfill in Portland, located on the southwest coast of Victoria, Australia,  when up stepped Jim and Sam Woods, who were brave enough to take on the restoration / conversion project. Whilst she sports a Tim Phillips designed rig, most of her use is under power at a steady 9 > 10 knots. The canvas does come out but I suspect its more for aesthetics 🙂

Have a watch and listen to Tim tells us about why he choose a wooden boat, where he found her and the work that went into her to get to the condition we see her in.

As a bonus Tim shares some sage advice for when considering taking on the restoration of any woody.

Enjoy – I did 🙂

Someone tell me this is a p_ss take. Spotted during the week at Half Moon Bay Marina. My 1st thought was it was a ‘mule’ for an electric propulsion experiment.

Mystery Havelock Marina Launch

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Mystery Havelock Marina Launch

One of the boats that Dean Wright photographed at Havelock Marina back in October 2022, is pictured above – to date we have not been able to ID her.

Obviously has the sounds boat look i.e. could take just about anything over the bow and still pop up.

The size of the dry stack exhaust at the rear of the pilot house suggests a rather large zoom zoom down below.

Can any of the southern woodys put a name and more details to her?

The New WW Caps Are Popular – Just Placed My 4th Order With the Embroiderer 

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. I have reordered 4 times already and the next shipment arrives today – so get your order in – 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

Chrystal Voyager

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CHRYSTAL VOYAGER

Todays woody story kicked off with an email from Kane Westgaard concerning his launch – Chrystal Voyager and a request for help uncovering some of the boats history. She started life as a motor-sailer, but that is just about all that is known about her. The guy that sold Kane the boat did not know anything about boats and was just using her as an apartment.

Given its a Hartley design and launched in 1971, normally I would not have finished reading the email – but she was built by Lionel Jefcoate, who was a master boat builder so she makes an appearance on WW today. Read more about Lionel Jefcoate here https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/03/12/lionel-jefcoat-boatbuilder-wood-craftsman/

Her story goes like this – she is a ’South Seas’ Hartley design and Kane and a buddy brought her from Tauranga approx. a year ago and were of the belief that there were only be a couple of soft spots that needed addressing, well surprise surprise the boats been in a shed at the Te Atatu Boat Club for over 2 months and guys have been tipping in vast amounts of labour and money.

Can we help Kane out with any intel – I might be wrong but you’d have to assume that there was a name change along the way – Chrystal Voyager sounds a tad ‘flower child’ / tarot card 🙂

06-05-2024 INPUT BELOW ex TONY SHORT –

My brother Peter and I were the first crew members (1971?) on ‘Crystal Voyager’, for the original owner Russell Berry. From (1969/70-1971) Russell would take Pete and I on alternating weekends (Sat & Sun) to Governors Bay to help (as much as young teenagers could), assist him and the builder Lionel. Although this Hartley design was for concrete, it was of course built with timber (& extended to 40’). All the timber came from Des Hunt’s sheep farm in Pigeon Bay. The boat was originally named ‘Lady Lee’ after Des’s wife Lee Hunt. After launching, Peter and I crewed for a number of years, accumulating many experiences, and some quite scary. LOL. I remember, attempting to leave the Lyttelton Yacht Club (Naval Point Club) pier in a strong southerly, we ended up on the rocks .. sideways to the southerly. Fortunately with the help of 20-30 bods (rushing out from the Yacht Club), we were freed. (Quite a story.) Another time with rollers reaching into Pigeon Bay wharf while attempting to attach a landline, our bow was pushed under the wharf with one surge and with the next surge raised us up, lifting up the entire end of the wharf (& punching a hole into our foredeck). Many stories .. many memories. We so often went to Pigeon Bay (PB) (a 90 min journey. 30 min to Lyttelton heads, 30 across the 3 heads [& crossing Port Leavy could be quite dicey] and 30 min into PB.) we were almost considered ‘locals’. Back then, the ’Lady Lee’ was fondly referred to as the “Push Button Gin Palace”. And as a young teenager, I wondered why. But concluded the emphases was on ‘gin’ not ‘palace’. And ‘Push Button’? .. Hardly! It was at least a year before ‘forward’ & ‘reverse’ gears were controlled from the wheelhouse. Up until then ‘muggins’ here, (lol) had to drop down into the cramp, hot! engine room, recking of diesel! and heave (with all the strength a young lad could muster) on the gearbox leaver, into neutral, reverse .. then Russell would shout “forward”! .. “reverse” .. “forward”, all the while the boat tossed & turned. Hahaha, Fortunately I don’t easily get sea sick, but crap, I couldn’t get out-of-there & back up on deck quick enough.

Again, many memories, and many more stories.

I wish the new owners of ‘Crystal Voyager’ much happiness, many wonderful times and the ‘makings of remarkable memories’.

10-05-2025 INPUT EX RUSSELL TEBAY –  My adopted grandad Russell Berry (person I was named after) was as stated the man that had this vessel built. Des Hunt was also a friend of the family. My late Father Mark Tebay I believe also crewed maybe with the short brothers (names really ring a bell) at times on this vessel. 

While I was very young  born 1979 i do have fond memories of this lovely vessel in pigeon bay going out fishing and having fun. This was definitely called the Gin Palace (always had gin on board) for the captain of course. 

I do remember a few instances where grandad would back his Ford panel wagon down the wharf at pigeon bay with his organ so he and friends (brass band I’m told) would take the boat out playing all sorts of music and having a good time. Oh the memories. I hope this email reaches the new owners and I wish them well on their journey with this fantastic boat. 

When Grandad sold this boat he brought the Nautalis which is now in Auckland taking tours as it was.in ww2 I think it  was with the red cross ship which came complete with bullet holes in th back transome..  

LENORA – 18’ Woody Runabout

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LENORA – 18’ Woody Runabout

With the constant escalation of Auckland marina berth costs more and more woodys are considering a craft that will fit in the garage / driveway. Today we have a peek at a unique 18’ runabout that started life in the early 1960’s at the Devonport Naval Base in Auckland.

The story goes that there were two boats built to the same design – the first boat was (possibly) built to take the Queen Mother fishing on Lake Taupo, in the early 1960s, and the second for old family friends of the current owner, they had a house at Rainbow Point, Taupo. The boat was fitted with a Volvo Penta Stern drive. The colour of the block (bronze) suggests it was either the first or second stern drive ever imported. When the house at Rainbow Point sold – the current owner bought the boat of the family. It had sat under cover for 60 years odd – she was as dry as a bone. Her new owner, a highly skilled furniture restorer commenced a restoration that included – engine reconditioned, new exhaust manifold, complete rewire, new upholstery, 1,000 hours on the woodwork and paintwork, new covers. An amazing project that accumulated with the craft winning ‘Best Presented Boat’ at Aucklands Outboard Boating Club (OBC). Power is from a 1962 Volvo 75hp stern drive (petrol)

Sadly her owner isn’t a boatie and has only used the runabout 4 times in the last 4 years so the hunt is on for a new custodian. (Thanks to Lindsay McMorran) for the tme heads up)

Seller contact email details – john@js.co.nz

INPUT EX ANGUS ROGERS – the craft was designed by Woolley and built in New Plymouth for the Tonkin family

ROAMER & The VOS Shed

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ROAMER & The VOS Shed


Over the last week I received several emails concerning the 40’ launch – Roamer that was on tme listed as ‘as is where is, any offers considered’. When had I had a look for her it was showing as withdrawn, so fingers crossed that a new owner was found. Roamer last appeared on WW back in July 2016 – link to the story below https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/07/01/roamer/

Roamer was built in 1911 in Ferrymead and has been modified multiple times over the years. Recently including a new cabin top to increase the height inside the main cabin. Repairs were done by Davie Norris Boatbuilders/Norris family over many years. The top photos show how it was in the water before she unfortunately sunk at the moorings 12/11/20. Since then she has been stored at Davie Norris Boatbuilders awaiting final repairs to make her watertight again. The engine, a Ford diesel had been serviced and ran. Unfortunately Davie passed away recently and the Norris syndicate who were looking after the Roamer were unable to keep her and get her back on the water. The tme listing was a shout out to locate a caretaker for her.

AUCKLAND’S WATERFRONT PINK ELEPHANT – THE PERCY VOS SHED

Nearly 8 months ago I asked WTF was happening with the Vos Shed, while strolling the waterfront yesterday I detoured to have a look – and, looking worse than ever – note the old newspapers on the windows 😦 Come on Auckland Council / Panuku – open the bloody doors.

Classic Canadian Wooden Boat Eye Candy

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Classic Canadian Wooden Boat Eye Candy

Today we get to have a dockside gander at the 20+ fleet of classic craft that came together for the 2023 Ladysmith Heritage Festival at the Ladysmith Community Marina in the town of Ladysmith, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. 

The photo gallery is via the camera of Maurizio Hublitz, one of Maurizio’s fellow woodys commented that he is fixated with sterns, but it’s all about showcasing / recording the vessel names.

Over the years I have enjoyed Maurizio’s event reports and been very envious of the set up at the Ladysmith Community Marina, reading this years report I was surprised that there is a dispute underway in regard to future access to the marina area – in fact they have been issued with an eviction notice to be out by Dec 31 2023 – I won’t bore you with the details but it appears that New Zealand isn’t the only country with indigenous (minority) land ownership issues. Fingers crossed sanity rules so this remarkable location can be enjoyed by everyone.

Politics aside – enjoy the photo gallery. Great to see the ex work boats sharing the limelight 🙂

As always – click on photos to enlarge 😉