Tag Archives: Athol Burns

CLASSIC WOODEN MOTORSAILER – ASTROLINDA

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CLASSIC WOODEN MOTORSAILER – ASTROLINDA

WW was recently contacted by Matthew Montgomery regarding his 34’6” motor-sailer – ASTROLINDA, and whether she passed the classic woody test – short answer yes.

ASTROLINDA is an Athol Burns design, built for charter at the Morgan yard in Picton in 1966. Matthew has owned her for approx. 8 years.
Matthew commented that he doesn’t know if ASTROLINDA has been north of Wellington, but there are charts of Otago on board , so maybe she’s been south.  Matthew bought her ex Nelson, at the time her exterior was in reasonable condition but a worn interior and an engine bay that was a nasty rusty mess and engine not working.

Current home is Waikawa marina, but there are plans to get to Northland and Auckland later in the year.

Matthew has good woody credentials being a past owner of PIKO in the 1970’s in Auckland , KORAMA in the 1990’s (brought to Picton). He was also a broker at Vinings in Picton and sold THETIS to Paul Harris in the late 1990’s, who asked if Matthew would use her to keep her functioning while he was away flying airplanes for Royal Brunei, before relocating her to Auckland with  Paul.

INPUT ex MARK MCLAUGHLIN – Below is a design article by Athol Burns from Sea Spray for Astrolinda. She was built to the alternative configuration by Jack Morgan:

INPUT ex JOHN GANDER (via Dean Wright) – ASTROLINDA was designed as stated by Athol Burns for Trevor Johnson of Wellington. Built by Jack Morgan and launched as MANUTAI in 1966.

In about 1970 she was purchased by Bill Rutherford and Jack McMath who petitioned parliament for a law change regarding surveyed vessels to enable them to hire her as a sail yourself charter vessel, the first vessel to do so in New Zealand. Her survey certificate was for 15 passengers but reduced to 6 when hired to an uncertificated master.

Wife Bev and I together with Frank Derbyshire,  purchased her in 1973 and along with the yacht ASTROLABE ran our business as ‘Charter Yachts Ltd.’ 

When launched ASTROLINDA was fitted with a Coventry Godiva 4 cylinder 30 hp engine, we changed the engine for a Volvo Penta in about 1975.

There are many boat owners around who’s first boating experience was on ASTROLINDA or ASTROLABE.

CLASSIC WOODEN YACHT TAIROA RELAUNCHED

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CLASSIC WOODEN YACHT TAIROA RELAUNCHED

During the week I received an email from Otto Schuttle with the great news that the Athol Burns designed 26’ cutter – TAIROA had been relaunched after her unfortunate 2015 accident. Read below- 

Back in June 2015 we ran a story on the yacht being swiped onto the rocks during a fierce storm in Wellington harbour. From the ‘news’ photos things looked grim but Athol Burns built his craft like the proverbial brick out house.

Thanks to the efforts of Russell Ward and family we received photos of TAIROA being salvaged. Then in Oct 2018 we received an update from her new owner (Otto) with some work in progress photo. 

Link below to the 2015 story – lots of photos and details  https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/06/20/tairaroa/

Otto’s note covers off the news and his happiness at finely getting her back afloat – I’ll hand over to Otto – 

“It was a tremendously emotional day for me on Saturday 27th July 2024 when many friends and family gathered at the Evans Bay Boat yard to see TAIROA relaunched.

This has been a long journey with a vast amount of research and learning ,many hours watching YouTube. Trying things and scraping them locating materials online to find it wasn’t exactly what I wanted or it didn’t quite fit. . at times things went wrong and had to be redone, or just pack up and go home and come back another day and have another go with fresh eyes and mind. OH and going to work when things were going really well on a project and wanting to get back to it. having to pack up and go away and wait for the glue, varnish or paint to dry,

She is now afloat in the Evans Bay marina looking as if she belongs 

I still need to have some sail modifications done to suit the furler, permanent mooring lines fitted to the berth and some interior work done but its a boat always work to do and things to buy don’t you just love BOATING”

Photos below from 2015 and 2018

2018

UPDATE: Todays story prompted two woodys to contact me re a photo of the yacht , not long after launching – the amazing thing was it was the same photo – below.
Brian Peet commented  – the photo was taken by my father John in the 1960s. Alby Bland was a member of the Glendowie Boating Club and he built the boat in his back yard. I used to walk past it everyday on my way to school. 
Russell Ward commented – the photo of her was when new. It was sent years back by the builder’s daughter. Fabulous ship. The spirit of Athol Burns.

Bay of Islands Woody Long Weekend

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Bay of Islands Woody Long Weekend

Being a professional photographer, BOI woody Dean Wright is seldom without a camera near by, which is a bonus for us. Over last weekend (Kings Birthday) Dean was out enjoying the bay on his classic woody – ARETHUSA and took the above photos.

First up is a stunning open day boat that Mike mentioned that he had seen out a few times on the Kerikeri River and at last got close enough to take a photo.

The Gladden yacht – is WINTERLUDE, owned by Bram Cone. I’m told she is as impressive down below as what we see in the photo.

Next we have the 35’ launch – LOURENA  built in 1965 by Watson Brothers in Wellington to a Athol Burns design. More on her here https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/11/14/lourena-a-peek-down-below/

Lastly the very smart Salthouse launch – TAPUI, owned by Mike and Robi Quilter. Mike is a life member of my good bastards woody club, having taken a chainsaw to the flying bridge that was on TAPUI when purchased . See and read more here https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/09/04/tapui/

REEL TIME ( Mary Ann)

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REEL TIME ( Mary Ann)

Yesterday on WW one of the launches included in the Tutukaka Marina photos was named Reel Time (photo below), ex owner Eric Sanders contacted WW advised that Reel Time is a Athol Burns design and built in 1969. 

When Eric brought her in 1991 off Wally Lambie in Tauranga she was named Mary Ann. Eric sold her around 2002 to Mal Sharples who changed the name to Reel Time.

Three of this design were build by Tauranga boat builders, one is in Opua moored off the break water.

In the photos above the first photo is from 1991 and the next three show her in 40 plus knots. The last last one is as sold in 2002 aprox.

16-08-2023 INPUT EX OWNER – Ron Bell – when I bought her in 2010 from a Phil Halse,at Tutukaka it was called Reel Thing. I got information from Phil that she was built in 1962 by Strongman Bros at Coromandel, I have since met Eric at Dockland 5 in Whangarei and said no it was Tauranga built. I still have the Mary Ann life-bouy ring that was on the old flying bridge. I had the new flying bridge put on in 2018. Have had to fix a reasonable amount of rot around decks and along and under the belting, shes in pretty awesome shape now and is used fairly regular, Still got the 180 HP Ford diesel which does not miss a beat.

Lourena – A Peek Down Below

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LOURENA – A Peek Down Below

The 35’ launch Lourena was built c.1963 by Watson Brothers in Wellington to an Athol Burns design, using 1 1/8” kauri carvel planks. With a 11’6” beam she has a healthy interior for a 35’ boat, the draft is 3’6”. Forward motion is via a 70hp D series 4 cylinder Ford that gives her a 7 knot cruising speed.

Lourena is a well traveled woody having spent time in Wellington > Marlborough Sounds (15 yrs) > Opua (20 yrs),

Thanks to Ian McDonald’s heads up re the tme listing, today we get to have a peek down below.

Oranui – Part Two

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Waikawa early 2000’s
Hobsonville Aug 2008
Hutcheson Boat-builders 08-11-2011

ORANUI – Part Two
Yesterdays request for more intel on the yacht Oranui, hit the jackpot when Marl McLaughlin opened his WW email yesterday. Mark sent in the above and below selection of photos. If you missed yesterdays story, might be best to scroll down first and read /view it then read Mark’s input – reproduced below.


“Further to the “what became of her story” on Oranui, I have sent in some extra info and photos. The obituary details are for her builder and original owner Eric Tomkies, taken from the winter 1988 edition of the RPNYC magazine “The Rip”. Eric Tomkies was a distant relation of mine (he and my grandfather were cousins) and I know Oranui well.

Previously brothers Eric, Clinton and Horace Tomkies built the 47ft Burns designed RAKOA and sailed her extensively. I have included a photo (below) of Rakoa from the Gisborne Photo News, June 1954. Unfortunately Rakoa was later lost when working as a fishing boat at Stewart Island and what remains now rests on the seabed in Foveaux Strait. 

Oranui was sturdily built in strip planked kauri on a hardwood backbone. Heavy scantlings are typical of Athol Burns’ style and it is notable in the magazine article that of the six boats that came ashore in the Wahine storm, it was only the two Athol Burns boats (Hinemoana III was the other one), that were re-floated. 

Oranui has spent most of her life in the Wellington and Marlborough Sounds regions. Her 3cyl Volvo Penta diesel was re-powered with a 4cyl 52hp Yanmar diesel engine in 1999 and she circumnavigated the South Island in the early 2000’s. She was then sold to a New Plymouth based owner who cruised her extensively between New Plymouth and Nelson/Marlborough Sounds and also up to Auckland. I have attached a photo of her on the hardstand at Hobsonville Marina during this time. She was then sold in 2011 to a Wellington based Doctor who sent her to Hutcheson Boatbuilders in Tauranga for a refit before taking her back to Wellington. I spotted her motoring around Picton Harbour in January this year looking as good as new.

As per most Athol Burns designs she is functional but beautiful, and very sea-kindly for Cook Strait conditions. “

FOOT NOTE: Mark believes the RPNYC article is confusing the Wahine storm in 1968 with the storm in 1966 which the Sea Spray article about Oranui and Hinemoana III relates to. However, Eric’s brother Clinton Tomkies did tell him that Oranui came ashore in the Wahine storm as well, but he could have been confusing it with the 1966 storm too 🙂

Wooden Boat Yard Mooching

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Wooden Boat Yard Mooching
Hobsonville woody John Wicks sent me a bunch of photos yesterday from this home marina at Hobsonville. It reminded me that I had snapped a few myself on a recent visit, nice to see that the woodys had moved along and should be re-floating soon.First up the Athol Burns designed, Barney Daniels built – Taotane, which John commented – was being brought back from the almost dead. Then we see the very regal Lady Crossley, the 1947 Colin Wild motor-lunch, out of the shed after a lick of paint and varnish.Lastly above the 48’, 1948 Lidgard built Ranui , in for a paint job, and wearing my Wooden Boat Bureau cap – I have to remind you that she is for sale and ready for summer cruising. More details here

https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/07/08/ranui-a-peek-down-below/


Things are getting a tad posh at The Slipway Milford, when I hauled out the other day, instead of a ladder, a set of stairs was waiting for me – much appreciated 🙂

Teigenes

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TEIGENES
The 32’ Athol Burns  designed Teigenes was built in 1956, not sure if he also built her.
Built from 1’ carvel kauri planks with glassed ply cabin and decks.
Powered by a 1985 Mercedes 55hp diesel ’Sole conversion, that gets her along at a comfortable 7 knot cruising speed.
Teigenes spent most of her life between Wellington and the Marlborough Sounds , her owners ‘found’ her in Havelock Marina and brought her to Auckland where of the last 18 months they have done a magnificent refit. She is now on the market as they are returning to France. A bonus in todays tight marina ownership market, she comes with a Westhaven marina berth, if required.
Thanks to Ian McDonald for the trademe heads up
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RSVP TODAY   sueedmonds@xtra.co.nz

 

Cristina (Vanguard) A Peek Down Below

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CRISTINA (Vanguard) A Peak Down Below

Cristina has appeared on WW before (link below), now thanks to her trademe listing ex Ian McDonald, we get to have a peak down below.

Designed by Athol Burns she was built by Frank Dellabarca, Island Bay, in the 1960’s and named Vanguard, & measures 36’. She had a major rebuild in the 1990’s and was relaunched in 2000. During this period her hull was stripped to bare timber and all new equipment installed. Isuzu 6BD1 diesel, 142hp, then a new gearbox in 2015. Cristina will cruise happily at 7.5 knots with 5.5 litre per hour fuel burn approx. 
I understand she has done a few laps of NZ, so if anyones looking for a classic to ‘escape’ on – check Cristina out.
 
Previous WW story  https://waitematawoodys.com/?s=cristina&submit=Search

Stardust

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STARDUST

Stardust is a 36’ Athol Burns Kauri built woody. 

Her trademe listing states she was built in 1962 & zoom zoom is via a 80hp diesel.

Home is Motueka, Nelson.

Anyone able to tell us more about Stardust?