Tag Archives: Bill Waters

Gay Dawn + Woody Riverhead Tavern Cruise

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GAY DAWN

At the recent CYA round Rangitoto race > cake day > BBQ one of the participating launches was the c.1953 Bill Waters built 34′ bridge decker – Gay Dawn. Gay Dawn has made several appearances on WW, links below, but today we get to also see her underway. Gay Dawn is built like a brick outhouse – carvel planked kauri, hardwood ribs and a pohutukawa stem. 

Forward motion comes via a Ford 120hp diesel engine, that delivers an impressive turn of speed. 

After a spell in the Bay of Plenty (Tauranga) GD is back home in Auckland. 

2013 https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/08/18/gay-dawn-2/

2019 https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/07/05/gay-dawn-down-below/

Update 11-04-2022 Please to see that Gay Dawn has lost the bow rail (ex a Haines Hunter?) – looks very cool nude. Fingers crossed its a permanent thing 🙂

WOODYS RIVERHEAD TAVERN LAUNCH CRUISE – THIS SATURDAY (26th) 

Not to late to RSVP to waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Full details will be emailed out to RSVP list.

Gay Dawn – Down Below

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GAY DAWN – Down Below

Gay Dawn has featured on WW numerous times, mainly because she is a very smart woody, but also to appease Ken Ricketts whose family owned her once.
Search Gay Dawn in the WW search box and you will get an extensive view of her past from construction to the present day.
In the past on WW we have seen a few photos of her cabin but now as a result of her trademe listing – we get to see her in her finest. Thanks to Ian McDonald for the listing heads up.
To recap she was designed and built in 1953 by Bill Waters, 35’ kauri carvel planked, 11’1” beam and a draws 3’3”. Powered by a 120hp Ford diesel, aren’t they all from that era 🙂

Gay Dawn – A Peek Down Below

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Gay Dawn –  A Peek Down Below
Thanks to GD popping up for sale on trademe, we get to have a peek down below. Her listing states she is 36’, if this is the case she has been stretched a tad because previous WW posts have her at 34’.
Search Gay Dawn in the WW search box to see read / see a lot more on this very tidy bridgedecker.

 

She was built by Bill Waters in 1950 in Auckland, kauri planked, hardwood ribs, kauri decks and glassed.
The zoom zoom comes from a Ford 120hp diesel underfloor in wheelhouse.

WOODY WEEKEND COMING UP – SCROLL DOWN TO VIEW

Gay Dawn

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GAY DAWN

The 34′ Lidgard designed bridge decker, built by Bill Waters 1953. Very similar to Monterey & like Monterey started out with varnished coaming, have to say I think they suit her (& Monterey) better than the paint.

12-01-2016 Photos below from during the build & launching period c1947>1953.

Note refer comments section for more details on her past

(L>R) Bill & Bryan Waters c1947/48
Gay Dawn building
Gay Dawn building
Gay Dawn building
Gay Dawn building
Gay Dawn launch day
Gay Dawn just launched c1953 Okahu Bay