Tag Archives: Colin Wild

Tawera 1935 Logan A18

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TAWERA 1935 LOGAN – A18

Tawera was launched on 30th December, 1935. Tawera was designed by Arch Logan and built by Colin Wild of Stanley Bay, Devonport. Her first race was the Auckland Anniversary Regatta in January 1936.

She was Arch Logans last big cutter, measuring almost 50 feet on deck and the culmination of a number of racing keelers built at that time. As the largest of the more modern keelers from Arch Logans drawing board she represented the very best in design development and to this day still epitomises all of the racing winning and wholesome sea keeping abilities of Arch Logans designs.

Tawera is immaculate and has been extensively restored and is now considered one of the finest examples of the a keeler of the pre-WWII era. Her owner is one of the Classic Yacht Associations most loyal members & has loved her as a Logan should be & spared nothing on her maintenance & restoration. She is for sale & is I believe amazing value for money.

Her recent restoration was to the highest specification which includes the building of a new spruce mast to the original specs, new Volvo Penta engine, and redevelopment of the saloon, galley, heads and fore cabin. A new wooden spinnaker pole and wooden turning blocks on deck as well as an all new sail wardrobe consisting of Mainsail, #1, #2 genoas, asymmetric and conventional spinnakers.
Anyone interested in acquiring one of, if not, the best Logan a float could contact me on waitematawoodys@gmail.com & I’ll pass details on to the owner 🙂

Amakura II – A Great Story

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AMAKURA WWII

AMAKURA II – A Great Story

I was recently contacted by Michael Shields who relied the story below about the 1936, Colin Wild launch – Amakura II to me – its a get read – enjoy 🙂

“I spent several years on Amakura II, my step father Jim Somner, of Waipu and Somners Transport owned Amakura II for many years in Whangarei and did extensive work on her over that time, , Originally she had an open rear cabin and a single W12 engine, that is a V8 with an extra bank of 4 cylinders in the middle of the V, these same engines were used in landing craft in the second world war, this was removed and changed to twin engines very early on but if you dive down and have a look you can see where the single large prop was and where the very large prop shaft came out of the keel.
When lengthened the rear area was closed in forming a rear cabin.

She sunk during WW2 when after a few too many medicinal rums were consumed and the bow got caught under the wharf as the tide came up, water came up though the head in the bow and she sunk. Being a popular boat and crew everyone pitched in and a huge crane, called “Tiny”, was brought in and Amakura II was lifted up and cleaned up in time, before the Navy, who had heard that one of their boats had sunk came to investigate. The Navy found no evidence of any damage or sinking and everything was in order, although it was noted the rum rations were missing, having been used to pay for the help to clean her up.

She had a large machine gun mounted on her bow during the war and a photo of her in her drab paint hung in the main cabin.

During Jim Somners ownership he modernized and much altered her. He replaced the engines with twin Ford diesels which he then removed the turbos from for improved economy and also installed the custom made large fridge and freezer unit, removed the head from the bow, rejigged the shower and made the the large flying bridge which has now had the roof shortened as it used to extend almost to the rear end of the back cabin. Being a trucker, Jim was very good at getting things ship shape and working well.

I spent many years on her as crew for Jim and have many story’s of that time like when she ran around, caused the delay of the firing of guns at Waitangi Day and parties a board.”

You can read more about her history & past owners here https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/06/03/amakura-ii-2/

Michael – please send in more tales & any photos you might have. Thanks Alan.
(colour photos ex Heather Rose – b/w photo ex Ken Rickets)

Welly Woodys

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Mataroa

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Little Tasman

Welly Woodys

Rob Uivel has been promising me some photos of his recently re-furbished 36′, 1928 Joe Slattery launch Mataroa  for some time, well last weekend the Wellington weather gods smiled & delivered up a near perfect day for a classic woody launch cruise – in the photos above we see Mataroa joined by Waiata (32′, 1913 built by David Reid), both boats had a jaunt around the inner harbour, finally anchoring and rafting up in Oriental Bay. After a pleasant swim and lounge around while heading home they spotted Little Tasman coming out of Clyde Quay marina. Fantastic to have the 3 beautiful classic’s together. All 3 woodys have been featured extensively on ww & you can see / read more on them by using the ww search box.

REMEMBER: This Sundays CYA Classic Woody Launch Parade & Riverhead Hotel Cruise. Non CYA boats welcome. RSVP (boat name & approx. crew numbers) to Angus Rogers    rsvp email link  Scroll down 2 ww posts to see details 😉

Included also below are photos of Prima Donna, which Rob feels bears some resemblance to an old Auckland boat called All Black.

27-02-2017 photo below of All Black dated 1910 ex Maxwell Uivel

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Raumati II – same boat?

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RAUMATI II

I was contacted recently by Courtney Edwards in regard to her grandfather (Arthur Wilfred “Wolf” Edwards) launch Raumati II – read Courtney’s note below.

“We have been enjoying the Waitemata Woody’s site to learn about the wooden boats we see when staying in bays around the Gulf on our very fiberglass sportfisher

We stumbled upon the photos of Raumati II (Moeraki). My grandfather (Arthur Wilfred “Wolf” Edwards) owned a Raumati II that certainly looks similar from the late 40’s or early 50’s and for about 5 to 7 years. I have attached two photos…one was dated 1955 so assuming both are from then. My dad (Bruce) remembers bringing it down from Whangarei when they got it. It was kept at Westhaven and then sold to a doctor who kept it on a swing mooring at Devonport…does this sound correct? He also remembers that when they got it one of the kauri skins on one side had to be replaced from it sitting on the mud and rotting. He thought there was a very similar looking boat (but slightly longer) that was the police launch at some time…his dad had worked on it.

We also enjoyed the photos of La Rosa…my partner Mike’s grandfather, Bob King, had that and he remembers many times on it as a young kid. His dad (Douglas Oliver) then had Poseidon (Owen Woolley) which I found a photo of but can’t get back to wherever it was…are you able to point me in the right direction?

Thanks for the great resource!”

Alan H input – Courtney – link t Posiedon on ww here https://waitematawoodys.com/?s=Posiedon&submit=Search
Based on the photos on ww (2 below) it would appear to me that the vessel shown in the above photos is the same vessel. Have a look woodys – do you agree ? (apologies for the very low res photos above, trying to get better copies) https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/03/26/mystery-launch-26032014/

Little Tasman Moves South After 91 years in Auckland Waters

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LEAVING AUCKLAND

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ARRIVING IN WELLINGTON

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Little Tasman Moves South After 91 years in Auckland Waters

Late November 2016 saw a part of Auckland’s maritime heritage leave our waters & head to her new home in Wellington.  The 1925 Colin Wild built launch Little Tasman has graced the waters of the Waitemata for approx. 91 year. While Auckland’s loss is undoubtedly Wellington’s gain, she is in good& I’m sure will return home one day – they all do 🙂
Her restoration has been well documented on ww so to view/read more on her – type her name in the ww search panel.

The montage of photos above are from numerous cameras, including Ken Ricketts, who also emailed me the photo of her below, in Mansion House Bay, taken in 1936 by Tudor Collins, courtesy Auckland Museum, for comparison of then & now. A wonderful restoration at the hands of Colin Brown & son-in-law Josh.

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WAIRIKI – A Peek Down Below

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WAIRIKI – A Peek Down Below

Wairiki, the 1934 Colin Wild built launch has appeared on ww before – link below, & created a lot of ‘chat’ in the comments section. If you read Nathan Herbert & Harold Kidd’s comments you will discover her true provenience 😉
Having just popped up on trademe, we have the chance to have a peek down below. Enjoy

Wairiki – Yes, No, Maybe?

Lake Boat Truckers

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El Alamein

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Lake Boat Truckers

Rotorua boat builder Alan Craig sent me the above selection of photos that he ‘uplifted’ from a book owned by Tony Mitchell, its called – Urewera Trucks and Truckers, by Gavin M. Abbot. The photos showcase some of the boats that the truckers used to cart around the lakes.

Now ID’ing the first one is easy, El Alamein, because its got a name plate on her bow, how many of the others can we ID? Remember you can enlarge photos by clicking on them 😉

Wairiki – Yes, No, Maybe?

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Wairiki – Yes, No, Maybe?

In early January Nathan Herbert was poking around the Te Atatu Boating Club haul out area & spotted the launch Wairiki. It sparked a wee moment of ‘could it be…………’ & Nathan dropped me a note with the 2 photos above – “I won’t put my life on it, but I doubt I’m wrong. Same flare, same forward sheer, same bridge location, same twin for’d portholes. Wairiki as original moved to Wellington I’m told, and I have seen a photo of the modified one in Wellington in say the 1960’s. Without dodger. Add to that the correct name, and far too many coincidences.”
So would what do you think – same boat?

Little Tasman Out Of The Shed & Re-launched

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Little Tasman Out Of The Shed – relaunched

Since last Thursday my mobile has been running hot with woodys letting me know that the 26′ 1925 Colin Wild built launch Little Tasman had left boat builder Colin Brown’s Omaha shed & was now on the hard at Sandspit, for her final touches. ww has been following Little Tasman since back in early 2012 when Mark Edmonds spotted her on a section in Pt. Wells.
There have been numerous ww posts recording her progress, links below. ww thanks Mark Edmonds, Harold Kidd, Jason Prew, Bruce Pullman, Ken Ricketts & Russell Ward for your input & photos.
The story started in April 2015 when Little Tasman was bought by a new owner, fast forward to July 2015 & she is safely ensconced in Colin Brown’s shed, under going a serious restoration.
Ken Ricketts was on hand last week to record the journey to Sandspit & take a few hardstand photos. Unfortunately the conditions were not perfect for photography, but I have tried to digitally enhance them – see below. The photos above were taken by Steve Horsley the next day when conditions were better, but only shot on an earlier model iPhone.

ww understands that Little Tasman’s owner is Wellington based so post sea trials Little Tasman will be heading south 😦

Tasman / Little Tasman

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Little Tasman Gets Some Serious TLC

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The photos below were taken on Saturday by Jason Prew – again dodgy conditions

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23-09-2016 Update – Re-launched. Photos below by Dave Walker, email to me by Ken Ricketts.

In the ‘tractor’ photo below, just look at that hull, Colin Wild knew how to build a pretty boat – whether it was 26′ or 46′ 🙂

 

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Clinkers

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CLINKERS
On Saturday the Picton Clinker Club held a run up the Opawa River in Blenheim to the Raupo Cafe for lunch, 11 boats made the trip. Richmond boatbuilder/ restorer, timber furniture maker & vintage car coach builder – Peter Murton, sent me the above photos.

Chatting with Peter on-line he has some very cool woody projects in his workshop – starting with a  Colin Wild built day launch, see photos below. The launch arrived at Peters’s workshop last December from Auckland. When finished she is off to Christchurch, where her owner has re-located to, he dropped her off on his way past Peter’s workshop. Nothing is known about her, her owner had her stashed in his shed for 5+ years, her cabin sides & side decks are teak – any input from the woodys would be much appreciated.

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Also below are some photos of Peter’s 1895 fantail oil launch which is getting a 1906 Gray marine engine fitted.

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And to finish todays clinker theme – when I went down to Raindance yesterday to do a few chores, I was pleasantly surprized to find the stern off a model clinker dinghy in my cockpit, along with a note from Robert Brooke – “Hi Alan, If it is no use to you, please cut up for firewood. Cheers Robert”. Now Robert knows I have a ‘thing’  for clinkers & while having a workshop clean out he found the stern off one of his model boats & thought it might appeal to me – it surely does – will be a perfect project & this will join my collection of things clinker related (photo below). The clinker cross section in the photo, I bought on trademe several years ago, now I might be mistaken but I think it was built by Peter Murton – if so, its a small world.

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And yes I do own a proper clinker – named Peg.