Amakura II Re-launched

AMAKURA II RELAUNCHED

Seems its the time of the year for relaunches, recently we had Haunui back in after a 2+ year rebuild and yesterday it was the turn of Amakura II.

The 52’ Colin Wild designed and built woody was launched in 1936 and excluding a few minor additions has remained very original. I have been aboard several times and was always impressed with her presentation.

Nearly (maybe longer) 3 years ago her owners made the call to haul her out and engaged maestro boat builder / restorer Peter Brookes and his team to intake a complete refit. 

Regular followers of the WW site will know that work at the Brookes yard is a bit like the breeding of elephants, whose gestation period is > 2 years but the workmanship is second to none. Supported by the fact that numerous classic owners have returned to the yard with other craft.

Fast forward to yesterday and Amakura II was gently set afloat again at the Hobsonville Marina in West Auckland.

As we have come to expect from anything that comes out of the Peters Waimauku yard she is a work of art – well done to Yvonne and Chris for this amazing restoration. 

Below are links to previous WW stories on Amakura II – the first one, shows the extent of the refit.

Nov 2020. https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/11/02/wooden-boat-yard-visit-50-photos/

May 2018 https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/05/05/amakura-ii-in-the-old-days/

April 2017 https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/04/01/amakura-ii-a-great-story/

HAUNUI RELAUNCHED

HAUNUI RELAUNCHED

WoW – double WoW – Luckily WW has spies everywhere – one of the team was walking the docks yesterday and spotted the 1948 Colin Wild built Haunui afloat in one of Auckland’s marinas.

WW has been covering the rebuild / restoration of the woody for several years, links below, click on the headline of each panel to see the full story.

Seems the owner chose to do a sneaky splash, I’m told there is still work to be finished and system testing etc – but woodys I assure you there will be more photos soon 😉

Sorry for low res images – spy needs to upgrade their tools 🙂

Classic Launch Linda – A Birds Eye View

Classic Launch Linda – A Birds Eye View

The 1927 Colin Wild built launch – Linda, being one of the finest on the Waitemata has made numerous appearances on the WW site. One of the most engaging is at this link – https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/11/24/linda-3/

Today we get to see a view of Linda not often seen unless you are a seagull. Recently relaunch after a pre summer spruce up at The Slipway Milford prior to heading to the Bay of Islands for summer.

UPDATE – photo below ex Russell Brooke taken in Jan 2021 showing the two Colin Wild launches – Linda and Wirihana at anchor in the Bay of Islands

Haunui Restoration Update #5

Haunui Restoration Update #5

Well woodys 4 months have slipped by since I last popped my head into the tented shed that is currently home to the 1948 Colin Wild built launch – Haunui. To master boatbuilder Paul Tingey and his team it probably seems longer, always does on the down hill run – but wow, I was gobsmacked – without doubt NZ’s grandest restoration. 

There is enough electrical systems on board to do an AirBus A350 proud, but tastefully hidden away. On the subject of being hidden away – the s/s mast/tower set up that you can see in one of the photos will be encased in a discreet ’ships’ funnel.

As I left the team were getting ready to start the topside painting – lots of love on the end of a long board for some poor soul 🙂

Enjoy the photo gallery – as always click on photos to enlarge.

Links To Previous Haunui Restoration Updates Below 

https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/11/13/haunui-restoration/ https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/04/28/haunui-restoration-update-2-woody-classic-event-dates/ https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/11/24/haunui-restoration-update-3/ https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/07/25/haunui-restoration-update-4/

Nereides Makes A Splash

NEREIDES MAKES A SPLASH

In between lock-downs in June 2021 I had cause to do a trip to Tauranga and took up Doug Owens invitation to visit the yard to get a peek at the refit of his 1937 Colin Wild built 55’ yacht – Nereides. The project was well underway and the commitment to best in class and standard of workmanship was already on display.

Yesterday Doug made contact to let me know that Nereides was back in the water and aside from some final interior work the refit was complete.

The gallery of photos above says it all, the pilot house just glows – well done to Doug and son Mohi. We will keep you updated as the final items are ticked off the to-do list. 

Link to 2021 story https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/06/13/nereides-gets-a-facelift/

Photo below at haul out – post refit

Haunui Restoration Update #4

Haunui Restoration Update #4

In the interest of keeping you all abreast of the process of the restoration of 1948 Colin Wild built launch – Haunui, last week I paid a visit to master craftsman Paul Tingey. It has been 8 months since my last visit (where does the time go) and Paul and his team have made big advancements on the project. At first glance – lots of glowing timber either on display or peeking out from behind masking tape, but oh boy the focus is on systems, and the team are performing magic in terms of the available space and keeping it out of sight.

Check out the anchor winch, serious bling. And at the other end of the scale – the original ships clock has been retained – we like that.

I wasn’t brave enough to ask about an estimated re-launch date – but I’ll be back well before that happens 🙂

Links To Previous Haunui Restoration Updates Below https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/11/13/haunui-restoration/

https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/04/28/haunui-restoration-update-2-woody-classic-event-dates/

https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/11/24/haunui-restoration-update-3/

Lady Crossley Gets Some TLC

LADY CROSSLEY GETS SOME TLC

The 1947 Colin Wild designed and built launch – Lady Crossley is currently tucked up in the ‘Nautique Boat Yard’ shed at Hobsonville Marina for some TLC.

The bottom has been taken back to bare timber, the kauri planking is a work of art. At the same time, the shafts and props have been pulled + the keel cooling tubes – for a refresh.

Lots of small maintenance jobs being ticked off + a splash of shinny new paint on the cabin tops.

Her owners always present LC in sublime condition – photos below from her relaunch in 2013 post a total refit. View more here https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/12/16/lady-crossley-3/

Two More x Dean Wright

Little Tasman Restoration

Click Image To View Video

LITTLE TASMAN RESTORATION

We followed the refit of the 26′ Colin Wild 1925 built launch – Little Tasman extensively on WW, links below will give you a great insight into the project undertaken by Colin Brown and Josh Hawke at the Omaha Yard.

The other day I uncovered a very cool video put together by Kauri Classics that gives us an overview of the project.

Post re-launching Little Tasman was relocated to her new home in Wellington.

PAST WW LITTLE TASMAN STORIES:

https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/08/11/little-tasman-gets-some-serious-tlc/

https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/04/18/little-tasman-2/

https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/09/19/little-tasman-out-of-the-shed/

https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/01/02/little-tasman-moves-south-after-91-years-in-auckland-waters/

Rehia Gets A JPPJ

Rehia Gets A JPPJ

Back in Dec 2021 we advised that the 1939 Colin Wild launch – Rehia had a new owner and that she was hauled out at the Slipway Milford for some pressing systems work before her summer cruise. Link here to that story. https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/12/18/rehia-finds-a-new-home/

In the last month Rehia has been out again for a Jason Prew Paint Job (JPPJ) at the Slipway Milford, at the same time the ‘rolling’ maintenance programme continued – lots of bits added and removed to make family boating easier and more enjoyable.

When she slipped back in, she had quite a thirst and the mobile big sucker pump had to be brought on-board. Owner Joe spent a restless first night aboard, but the old girl settled down in the next 24 hours.

Haumoana

HAUMOANA

The 1949 Colin Wild designed and built launch – Haumoana has made several appearances on WW, primarily because its a Col Wild, so it is very special and secondly because its owned by a very nice Lake Rotoiti couple that kindly host us when we are at the lake for the annual Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade. Link below to past story. Haumoana measures 30’x9’5”x4’ and has undergone several refits in her life.

WW link  https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/06/05/haumoana/

One of neat things about WW is when out of the blue you get an email like the one below from Doug Peacock whose father – Chris, once owned Haumoana and kept her at Half Moon Bay marina.

“My parents owned Haumoana from about 1990 through to mid 2000’s. I was showing my father your Waitamata Woodys site last night for two reasons, 1. I’m obsessed with your site it’s really incredible what you are doing telling the stories of all these wonderful boats with so much history, and 2. Because I’d seen there were some new photos of Haumoana on Lake Rotoiti that I wanted to show him.  

Next thing he disappears down stairs for a while and came back with a photo album dedicated to Haumoana. I took a quick few iPhone shots of the photos to share with you, sorry they have a lot of reflection.  He said he has heaps more stuff he couldn’t find last night. 

Anyway I have great memories of summers away on Haumoana and am chuffed that it’s being kept in such great shape by it’s current owners.”

In the last photo above the lad on the left is Doug. Photos below of Haumoana on Lake front Rotoiti.