Tag Archives: Dean Wright

Bay of Islands Summer Mooching + Anniversary Weekend Cruising 

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RANONI
ENTERPRIZE
ARETHUSA
IORANGI
ALOFA
VALHALLA
RAMPAGE

Bay of Islands Summer Mooching + Anniversary Weekend Cruising 

Todays gallery of classic wooden craft comes to us from the camera of Dean Wright, taken while he was cruising the bay on his woody – Arethusa.

From top to bottom the craft are:

• Ranoni – Army Bay

• Enterprise – Opunga Cove

• Arohanui – steaming past Cable Bay, Urupukapuka

• Arethusa – Whangamumu

• The Logan yacht – Iorangi – Whangamumu

• Alofa – Whangamumu

• Valhalla – Whangamumu

• Rampage – Whangmumu – an early 2000’s Robertson Boats sedan launch ( lengthened and repainted)

• Mary of York – Ben Tomb’s leeboarder

2024 MAHURANGI REGATTA – Classic Launch Parade & Sunday Gathering At KAWAU ISLAND 

The countdown is on for one of the worlds best and biggest classic wooden boating events, the Mahurangi Regatta, organised by the Mahurangi Cruising Club.

Sadly due to the freakish weather the 2023 regatta was cancelled, but plans are in place to make 2024 on-the-water and ashore at Scotts Landing bigger and better.

The Classic Wooden Launch Parade is one of the highlights of the weekends activities – followed later in the day by a serious ‘old school’ boaty BBQ ashore at Scott’s – including a massive marquee for the 20 piece dance band.

 On the Sunday, most woody launch skippers head to KAWAU ISLAND and the plan is to gather later in the day for a few sun-downers at the newly refurbished Kawau Boating Club.

Classic Boats – Kerikeri – Workshop Visit – PUFFIN

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Classic Boats – Kerikeri – Workshop Visit – PUFFIN

Bay of Islands woody – Dean Wright recently dropped into the shed of Classic Boats in Kerikeri (website link below), one of the projects underway is a complete replanting of the 100 year + classic above, named Puffin.                              Master boat builderHerbert Crumb-Gartner was just about to turn the hull over- wonderful craftsmanship on display.                              Dean has promised to call back and update us on the project.

Check out some of the past and present work that Classic Boats have been connected with https://www.classicboats.co.nz

INPUT From Herbert Krumm-Gartner – I am restoring ‘Puffin’ for her current owner of over 30 years. I first laid eyes on her in a shed in Russell about 3 years ago. Her owner phoned me up asking if I would be interested in restoring her to her former glory.

She is now 102 years old and was built as a fishing boat south of Sydney by some carpenters.

The current owner has all the history of her, he even knows, I think the great grand sons of her builders. When I had a look at her I realized that restoring her planking would not be satisfactory at all, as most of her laps had cracks where the copper rivets were, plus lots of the ribs were broken.

I suggested to the owner to completely re-plank and re-rib her. Instead of having 11 planks a side I decided to go to 13, which reduced the overall size of the individual planks considerably. I have retained the deck that the current owner built in the 1990’s. She will be re-powered with a 14hp Nanni diesel engine. Most of her interior, like seats, floor boards, etc, will be re-furbished and re-installed.

At present she is right way up, back in the shed and we are steaming in new Tanekaha ribs. Puffin is just under 18ft long.

ALMA G II – Restoration Update #2

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ALMA G II – Restoration Update #2

Last week B.O.I. woody Dean Wright popped into the CMC Design boat shed in Opua and snapped a few photos of the restoration of the 1927 Collings & Bell built launch – Alma G II. The last update was in May, link here to that story https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/05/01/restoration-of-alma-g-ii-begins/

The old girl is getting a serious refit, some diagonal planking being added to hold the old girl together 🙂 anything that gives her another 100 years of life is better than slowly decomposing on a swing mooring up some estuary .

Her Lees Ford has been reconditioned – check out this video of the test bed run.

https://fb.watch/oKseSMfJ5O/

Photos below of Alma G II is her early days earning her keep as one of the most popular big game boats in the Bay of Islands.

Micheline

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MICHELINE

In the above photos we see the launch Micheline – while both photos appear to be on the same day, they are tagged March 1967 and 1965 – obviously a typo. The photos come to us from the Tauranga City Library collection via Dean Wright.

Given that on Micheline’s stern she has her port as Tauranga, there is something strange going on – in the top photo she has either just come out of the shed or been hauled out. In the second photo she is being positioned onto a transporter. Maybe its as simple as going somewhere land based to have engine/s installed.

Can we ID the location and learn what became of Micheline.

UPDATE – Location is Hutcheson Boat Builders yard/slip by the Tauranga Harbour Bridge – opposite the Bridge Marina.

05-10-2023 INPUT ex Dean Wright – Waimarie II, renamed Kiwi Cruiser, hit Tapeka one night in 2000 and was a total loss. This article says built by O&G in 1967 https://issuu.com/sunmedia/docs/wl1102/23

WW link to Waimarie II story https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/09/12/waimarie-ii/

(Photo below ex Ken Ricketts)

RSVP TO – waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Waimarie

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WAIMARIE

The two b/w photos above show the 32′ Oliver & Gilpin built launch – Waimarie being launched c.Sept 1964. She was built for a RG Falconer.

The b/w photos came to WW from Dean Wright via the Tauranga Library collection. 

Momo

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MOMO

Bay of Islands woody Dean Wright sent in the above photo and video of a very salty woody trailer boat, Dean took the photos on Saturday as Momo cruised back up the Kerikeri inlet. 

If the background noise in the video doesn’t match what you would  have expected from Momo – relax, you ears aren’t playing up –  Momo is powered by an o/board. The noise is coming from Dean’s woody – Arethusa’s Gardner 4LW.

Would love to learn more about Momo.

A bonus for the Gardner nuts – link below to a past WW story on Arethusa, which backgrounds the restoration and installation of the Gardner 4LW in Arethusa.

Restoring & Installing a Gardner in Arethusa – Revisited

Big thank you to all the woodys that attended the Boat Boat Sale at The Slipway Milford on Saturday – a lot walked away with a WW cap and burgee tucked under their arm 🙂

NORSEMAN Launch Day

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NORSEMAN Launch Day

Todays photo is dated Feb 1965 and comes to us from Dean Wright ex the Tauranga Library collection. No mention of the location or builder.

Back in Sept 2022 Dean commented on WW that Norseman was run as a charter boat out of Tutukaka by Phil Bendle for an extend period, these days home is a mooring at Rangitane, up the Kerikeri River.

Photo below taken by Dean in Sept 2022 in the Bay of Islands.

Work Boat Wednesday – Seastar + Fathers Day Sorted

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Work Boat Wednesday – Seastar + Fathers Day Sorted

Todays woody photo comes to us from the Tauranga Museum collection via Dean Wright. The vessel on the slipway is Seastar, and her home port is shown as Gisborne. The photo is tagged May 1965 and that woodys is all we known. Fingers crossed that one of the Work-Boat group can help out with some details.

Sick Of Getting Socks For Fathers Day

This year grab the reins and tell the family what you really want. Today is the un-offical launch of the new waitematawoodys burgee – a long time in the making but I picked the first batch up yesterday. I’ll do a longer story on them later but the quick over view is – 100% canvas, printed 2 sides with the Waitemata Woodys logo using old-school screen printing methods = long lasting. Size is 40cm x 30cm. Sorry about the bad mast photo, no wind yesterday -:) See flyer below – Burgees are $40, caps $38. P&P is $7 – Buy both and WW will pay the P&P. Email orders to waitematawoodys@gmail.com with your address and we will send them off and let you know payment details etc.

Elsinore

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ELSINORE

Todays photo is from the Tauranga Library collection (but is tagged Nelson) and comes to us via Dean Wright.

It would be nice if we could learn more about Elsinore but the main reason for posting the photo is that it is just such a cool photo.

it has all the feel good vibes written all over it – clinker / motorboat > sail / gaff rig/  beach railway haul-out and everything in proportion, even the name plate is perfect. Maybe a small porthole on the cabin side, but that is just me being OTT.

Enjoy the photo and weekend 🙂

INPUT ex John Burland – excerpt below from the NZ Gazette 1944 wherein a J. Chapman applied for (declined) a fishing license for Elsinore. The location being Motuka supports the ‘Nelson tag on the photo. Where is she currently?

Northern Classic Woody Gander

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PATHFINDER
October 2017 https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/10/17/eunice-k/
March 2023  https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/03/30/pathfinder-eunice-k/
LEISURE HOUR
WHITE HERON
May 2017 https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/05/25/white-heron/
REEL TIME
LADY J 
May 2020 https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/05/06/joel/
April 2021 https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/04/29/lady-j-joel/
UNKNOWN
UNKNOWN
NGAIO
BLUE FIN
Nov 2014 https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/11/26/blue-fin/
Dec 2018 https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/12/09/blue-fin-an-old-sailor-dies/
April 2021 https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/04/27/blue-fin-2/
CLOUD NINE
FLORENCE MAY
Jan 2016  https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/01/21/florence-rose-2/
Feb 2022 https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/02/22/florence-may/
LINDA II
FOUR WINDS
Oct 2018 https://waitematawoodys.com/2018/10/22/four-winds/

Northern Classic Woody Gander

Today thanks to Dean Wright we get to wander the docks at Tutukaka marina and point the lens towards the Ngunguru River.

It was a slow day yesterday so I have done the hard work for you i.e. you will find links to previous WW stories on the boats that have appeared on WW in the past. Links found in the title section under each photo – enjoy 🙂

And if you can tell us more about the unknown boats e.g. there provenance, that would be great. If you haven’t come to grips with using the comments section – just send an email to waitematawoodys@gmail.com