Tag Archives: Collings & Bell

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – MOOSE – RESTORATION UPDATE #2

Posted on by
Reply

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – MOOSE – RESTORATION UPDATE #2

Last Wednesday we did an story on the TCL work boatbuilder Alan Craig had done on the classic wooden launch – ALPHEUS. During the chat with Alan I nudged him for an update on the 28’, 1938, Collings & Bell built – MOOSE restoration, and today woodys we get to share what’s been happening in the Craig Marine shed.

Links below to the previous stories, including the extraction of MOOSE from her lake front boat shed.

WW May 8th https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/05/08/classic-launch-moose-a-sneak-peek/

WW May 26th https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/05/26/classic-launch-moose-on-the-move/ As seen in the gallery of photos Moose is well under way. Plenty of rib and rot repairs done and as Alan commented ‘undoing the sins from years of repairs’. 

With the likelihood of a new Yanmar engine, the old unit has come out. The plan is to try and use the existing V drive. 

As MOOSE will end up out on a Jetty most of the time, the cabin roof will be getting a protective layer of f/glass. Alan remarked that while it seems a shame to cover the nice tongue & groove roof, they want MOOSE to live on many more years yet.

Now that she is in a cradle the boatyard team can attack the underside and are starting work on an interior layout. 

DAVEY JONES NEW BOOK QUIZ WINNER – JAMES HUTCHINSON. Congratulations to James, for all those that missed out – copies available at daveyjonesofwakatahuri@gmail.com

CLASSIC LAUNCH RUAMANO – A JOURNEY GONE WRONG

Posted on by
7
NZ Herald Front Page 02-01-2001
NZ Herald Inner Page 02-01-2001

CLASSIC LAUNCH RUAMANO – A JOURNEY GONE WRONG

Over the years there have been several mentions on WW of the loss of the 43’ Collings & Bell built launch – RUAMANO launched in 1925 at Freemans Bay, Auckland. 

Let us not pussy foot around – loss is the wrong word. At the time maritime authorities used stronger words e.g. ‘crew abandoned it’ / ‘questioned the need to abandon’ / ‘vessel was not in a life-threatening situation’ / ‘crew appeared to have simply had enough’ / ‘lack of experience may have been a factor’ / they bit off more than they could chew’. 

On New Years Day 2001 the NZ classic boating community lost one of its finest craft, and reading the reports it appears it did not need to have happened. 

Recently WW was contacted by Denis O’Callahan, past co-owner of the wonderful Colin Wild built woody – TASMAN. Denis commented that he had been working on preparing a summary of the logbooks from the TASMAN. Nine volumes from 26 December 1971 to 12 December 2020.

In the back of Volume 6, 24 October 1998 to 27 July 2002 Denis found taped in the clippings from the NZ Herald, dated 2 January 2001, the front page and an internal page telling the story of the loss of the RUAMANO.

In the TASMAN log, dated Tuesday 02-01-2001 while the launch was cruising the Mahurangi area a note was added to the log book that read “Newspaper from Warkworth reported loss of RUAMANO on fool hardy attempt to repeat 1925 circumnavigation of NZ (see clipping at end of log)” . The photos above are scans of the original NZ Herald press clippings ex the TASMAN log, given to Alan H at WW.

I encourage WW follower / readers to take the time to read the NZ Herald news stories and make your own decision on the sad event. As always you can enlarge the photos by clicking on them.

Masthead from the NZ Herald below (page too large for the scanner).

CLASSIC WOODEN 1927 EX WORKBOAT – OWAKA 

Posted on by
Reply

CLASSIC WOODEN 1927 EX WORKBOAT – OWAKA 

Todays photos come to us from John Dawson. We learnt more from an online search that popped up an old fb comment by Ray Morey where Ray told us OWAKA was built in 1927 by Collings & Bell in Auckland for service at Lyttelton. 

Ray also said that in the mid 1930’s she was re-powered with a Kelvin K9 engine. Then in the mid 1960’s she was re-powered agin with a D-Series Ford.

In another fb post Lew Redwood tagged the top photo above as being c.1950>69 and the location being Honeymoon Bay, Moturua, Bay of Islands (photographer – Ron Clark).

A July 2014 WW story featured a search by the son of an ex owner to learn more about his fathers boat. We uncovered an amazing amount of history and photos. Read/see at this link  https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/07/13/owaka-find-a-classic/

The last mention of her in the above post was in Jan 2019 when Nathan Herbert took the below photo from onboard his launch Pacific.

So woodys the question of the day is – what became of OWAKA post 2019.

CLASSIC LAUNCH MOOSE ON THE MOVE – Update #1

Posted on by
4

CLASSIC LAUNCH MOOSE ON THE MOVE – Update #1

Earlier in the month woody boat builder Alan Craig gave us a peek at his team extracting the Collings & Bell, 1939 built, 28’ launch – MOOSE, link below to that story. https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/05/08/classic-launch-moose-a-sneak-peek/

As previously promised, last week Alan sent in the gallery of photos above starting with MOOSE in her Lake Rotoiti boathouse at Moose Lodge and finishing up in Alan’s yard with the restoration already underway.

Alan commented that the process went very smoothly, a few of the crew were a little apprehensive that a planked wooden boat will still float after an extended period out of the water. Alan said that MOOSE was all good, with a bit of help from the modern technology of temporary urethane sealant 😉

As with all wooden boat projects things start with unveiling the surprises that lie beneath the layers of paint, but for the experienced team at Craig Marine there are no real surprises these days.

We look forward to following this restoration. (photo below dated 1954)

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – DONALD SUTHERLAND (MV USSCO / SEA HAWK) – On The Move

Posted on by
4

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – DONALD SUTHERLAND (MV USSCO / SEA HAWK) – On The Move

The 46’ classic wooden launch – DONALD SUTHERLAND, once named MV USSCO and also SEA HAWK, was spotted by Angus Rogers at Half Moon Bay Marina, Auckland on Tuesday on the back of a Boat Haulage rig. 

We last saw her back in May 2023 when she had had an oops in a storm and ended up on the Tamaki Drive breakwater, as shown in the second group of photos. She has made several appearance on WW, links below.

WW Aug 2019 https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/08/30/donald-sutherland/

WW April 2023 https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/04/14/mv-ussco-4sale/

In the previous WW stories we learnt she was built by Collings & Bell in 1936 and commissioned by the NZ Government as a tourist / passenger vessel, also worked as a light house tender.

Not sure from the photos she is coming or going, I suspect leaving HMB as you dont need a transporter to launch + the ‘Kaiapoi’ name on the stern suggests she’s heading to the Christchurch region.

Anyone able to confirm the plans for her.

(Photo below – lunch day Jan 1936)

Screenshot

MYSTERY CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH DOCKSIDE – BELL BIRD

Posted on by
5

MYSTERY CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH DOCKSIDE – BELL BIRD

Todays woody popped up on a post that Don France made on the Tug & Workboat fb.

From comments made the bow scroll tends to point towards either a Collings & Bell or Bailey & Lowe built vessel.

The location has the look of a tide estuary / coastal river.

I’m being very generous in the heading with the use of the word ‘dockside’, I’m sure it was fit for purpose but wouldn’t pass todays OSH standards 🙂

Anyone able to ID the boating location.

15-05-2025 INPUT ex PAUL DRAKE – This is surely the present day BELL BIRD. She has been at Taupo for many years and is in frequent use. Certainly Bailey and Lowe. Photo below ex Jason Prew Jan 2015.

★ Mondays AVALON photo bomb was the highest rating in terms of views for YTD 2025 – looking forward to more updates.★

THURSDAY’s WW Story – tomorrow we have the last of the 7 part series –  ‘AN INSIGHT INTO NZ’s UNIQUE MARINE ENGINES’, complied by Ken Ricketts.

While having a niche audience, we received a lot of positive feedback and additional intel from readers. When approached by Ken Ricketts re WW running the series our primary aim was to record the data on a searchable source for access now and in the future. 

WW thanks Ken Ricketts for his passion, time and tenacity in pulling it together.  In the next few days I will do a post to provide all the links to the 7 stories in one location.

CLASSIC LAUNCH MOOSE -A Sneak Peek

Posted on by
2

CLASSIC LAUNCH MOOSE -A Sneak Peek

Back in April 2023 we ran a story on the 28’ launch – MOOSE, built / launched in early 1939 by Collings & Bell, link below to that story. At the time boat builder Alan Craig (Craig Marine) provided and update us on the vessel, including photos.
WW APRIL 2023https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/04/27/moose/

Fast forward to Tuesday night and I get an email from Craig headed up ’Sneak Peek’ – now Alan’s emails are few and far between but always include gold, so I was keen to open and view.The sneak peek was the above two photos of MOOSE being extracted from her boat house at Moose Lodge, on the shore of Lake Rotoiti.

Alan has promised more photos / detail asap, so fingers crossed.
We will follow this project closely, the launch has wonderful provenance and will be in great woody hands at Craig Marine.

RAIRA – A Peek Down Below – SOLD

Posted on by
2

RAIRA – A Peek Down Below – SOLD

Todays classic wooden launch is the 1915 38’ McLeod Brothers Devonport built launch – RAIRA. RAIRA was built to a Collings & Bell design and like most woodys has had a few enhancements (good & bad) over the last 110 years. As she floats today RAIRA is a very handsome craft, but she has a big secret – her interior. Step below deck and you’ll be wowed by her fit out, as seen in the above gallery of photos.

Forward motion is via a Ford Lees 6cyl. 120hp diesel engine that was rebuilt in 2011. At the same time work included replacement of ribs, keel bolts, bulkheads, decks and full refastening and caulking.
Her systems and electrics are as expected for a vessel capable of extended coastal cruising + she sports a diesel cabin heater, so there’s the opportunity for RAIRA to be very comfortable live aboard.

If you haven’t clicked yet – yes RAIRA is for sale and at an asking price of $30k she is very good value for money and her next owner will get a very affordable entry to the classic wooden boating movement.  The asking price is a sad reflection of the boating (wood/glass) market at present. Believe me it will never be cheaper to by your dream boat.

Interested buyers initially to contact owner – Thomas via email at  gosi120@hotmail.com

(note: game poles in top photo, now removed)

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – ALMA G II – THE FINAL CHAPTER

Posted on by
1

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – ALMA G II – THE FINAL CHAPTER

Back in Nov WW covered the relaunching of the classic wooden launch – ALMA G II, after a 19 month rebuild / restoration in the CMC Design shed in Opus, Bay of Island.

Link below to the launch day, unfortunately we couldn’t stay for the second half of the event which saw ALMA G II motoring over to her rightful home in front of the Swordfish Club in Russell, Bay of Islands. https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/11/30/classic-game-boat-alma-g-ii-re-launching-ceremony/

Now thanks to the team at CMC Design we get to see the 1927 Collings & Bell built ALMA G II post launching – In my eyes a wonderful rebuild that has sympathetically brought her up to modern standards, yet retaining most of her original charm, whilst being a very usable vessel that will provide future generations with another 100 years of woody boating.

Check out the 2nd to last photo above – the design / fitting of the new hand rail is a clever idea – there where you need some sureness when scurrying up the side decks. So more tastful than a stainless steel bow rail set up.

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – ARAB

Posted on by
2

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – ARAB

I stumbled across todays woody photo during a search of the the Auckland Libraries Heritage Collection – the photos is ‘credited’ to the McLeod Collection, date and photographer unknown. The location is probably – Kopu Wharf, Thames.

What we do know from previous WW stories on ARAB (links below), that she is 32’ in length and built / launched in 1913 bu boatbuilders Collings & Bell.

Lots more re past owners and photos in the links .

WW Aug 2013 https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/08/23/3911/

WW March 2021 https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/03/30/arab/

VERY COOL MARITIME AUCTION – check out at link below https://auctions.mccormackandmckellar.co.nz/208/catalogue?page=1#0051