Tag Archives: Game boat

1941- CLASSIC GAME BOAT BURNS TO THE WATERLINE

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1941- CLASSIC GAME BOAT BURNS TO THE WATERLINE

If I had run the headline ‘ Classic Launch VALHALLA Catches Fire’ Peter Busfield would have had a heart attach, so I toned it down 🙂

Todays photo was sent in by John Dawson and is ex the NZ Herald heritage collection.The image was tagged ‘March 1941 Otehei Bay, Bay of Islands. The 35’ fishing launch belonging to Mr L Blomfield VALHALLA destroyed by fire (burnt to the waterline)

The owner suffered burns and shock.
Do we know any more about this VALHALLA – builder, year built and was she rebuilt or scraped.

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WHAT BECAME OF THE CLASSIC EX GAME BOAT KITTY VANE 

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WHAT BECAME OF THE CLASSIC EX GAME BOAT KITTY VANE 

Back in July we ran a story on the 42’ classic ex game launch – KITTY VANE (link below), at the time her owners were seeking to find a new custodian to complete the restoration project https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/07/31/legendary-ex-big-game-wooden-launch-seeks-passionate-new-custodian/

From previous WW stories we learnt that KITTY VANE was  launched in 1956, designed and built by T.C. (Ces) Watson, Laurie Going (father of Hugh Going) worked on her as well. She is named after Katherine (Kitty) Airini Vane, a famous artist from Northland.

She was based at Whangarei Deep Sea Anglers Club at Tutukaka for many years, under the ownership of the Going family.

Yesterday I was contacted by woody John Dawson who sent in todays photos from her past.

We have two questions :-                                                                                                   # 1 Did KITTY VANE find a new owner and if so can we get an update on the project. # 2 Is the last photo from her launch day

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH FLASHBACK  –  JOHN GLADDEN’s LADY JESS

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2021
2025

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH FLASHBACK  –  JOHN GLADDEN’s LADY JESS

LADY JESS the1961 John Gladden built classic wooden launch last appeared on WW back in May 2021 when Dean Wright took the top photo of her berthed at Tutukaka Marina, link below to that story. At the time Scott Macindoe sent in a great piece on the boats provenance, also in the link https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/05/25/lady-jess-woody-workshop/

Then in June 2025 we saw her on fb (2nd photo above), via Lew Redwood. Now retired from commercial big game fishing. Fast forward to yesterday and woody John Dawson sent in the great photos below from her early days, before the addition of a 2nd story.

LEGENDARY EX BIG GAME WOODEN LAUNCH SEEKS PASSIONATE NEW CUSTODIAN

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c.2005 tbc
2025
2025

LEGENDARY EX BIG GAME WOODEN LAUNCH SEEKS PASSIONATE NEW CUSTODIAN

The 42’ ex game boat KITTY VANE has a wonderful back story, starting life in 1956 big game fishing and owned by the Going family in Tutukaka, Northland. She has appeared numerous times on WW, starting back in March 2015 when we reached out to learn more about the craft. Link below to that story and others – lots of chat in the comments section.

Fast forward to July 2021 and we learnt that KITTY VANE had been purchased in Auckland and returned to Northland with the intention of a full restoration. As can be seen in the above photos the worked has started and most of the hard yards have been ticked off. Unfortunately circumstances have changed and the decision has been made to find a new owner that can complete the restoration.   As she sits now, under cover in Kerikeri, KITTY VANE is a blank canvas that her next owner can refit to match their style and budget.

As the architects say when working on heritage buildings – KITTY VANE has good bones and has not been ‘altered’ too much from as built.
KITTY ZANE has always been a good looking woody and with a new passionate owner, we look forward to seeing her back on the briny.

Her owners are very realistic in terms of an asking price, so interested parties to initially make contact via michelle@zewnealanddesign.co.nz

LINKS TO PREVIOUS WW STORIES: WW March 2015 https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/03/21/kitty-vane/
WW April 2020 https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/04/20/kitty-vane-where-are-you/
WW July 2021 https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/07/03/kitty-vane-update/

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH SUSAN ROSE > ODYSSEA 

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1975
1984
2025

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH SUSAN ROSE > ODYSSEA 

Our first glimpse of the 34’ ex game fishing boat SUSAN ROSE was in August 2017, (2nd photo above) this 1984 photo and others were shared with us by Dean Wright. At the time we saw her docking at Paihia in the Bay of Islands – link below to that story.                            https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/08/17/susan-rose/

Now thanks to a tme listing we get to see her back in 1975 (top photo) and today, re named ODYSSEA, with an extra ‘story’ on top and a lot of upgrades.

Her back story is she was launched in 1960 in Mangonui, Northland but it has been reported that it took 18 years to build her. Design unknown.

In c.1991 she was repowered with twin 90hp Ford 4cyl. 2722E diesel engines that gives a cruising speed of 8 knots. 

The seller comments that all she needs is a lick of paint and an oil change. These days she is Auckland based.

SPOILER ALEART – THE WW SITE OR THE WRITER ISN’T THAT SMART – NO ONE PICKED UP A PREVIOUS STORY WHERE THE BOAT NAME WAS SPELT – ODYSEA………… sorry and just too tired to write a replacement 🙂

LA PALOMA – A Peek Down Below

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LA PALOMA – A Peek Down Below

The 45’ classic wooden launch – LA PALOMA was built in 1955 by Lanes and has made several appearances on WW – refer link below WW Nove 2021 https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/11/13/la-paloma/

LA PALOMA recently appeared on tme and sold rather quickly – probably based on the lowish asking price and her interior presentation. A little too much happening up top for my taste.
We learnt from Ian McDonald’s hawk eyes that she is powered by a Ford 130hp 6 cyl diesel engine that gets her along at a 7>8.5 cruising speed. With a beam 13’8” she is a FBG ;- )In the b/w photo below, from a Oct 2019 Nathan Herbert WW story we get to see her as designed and built.
Enjoy the peek down below.

LAKE ROTOITI CLASSIC & WOODEN BOAT PARADE 2025 CALENDAR WINNERS The competition the other day that offered up a LRCBP calendar to the first 3 woodys that emailed in the correct date of the 2025 parade was proof that the early bird catches the worm. I had recieved 5 correct answers be 5am – the winners were:-D. Holmes / G. Logan / J. McConnell

CLASSIC GAME LAUNCH – ALMA G

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CLASSIC GAME LAUNCH – ALMA G

Todays woody story features the Bay of Islands big game launch – ALMA G. In the above photo we see her at Russell departing on what appears to be a day trip. Interesting observation – the majority of the passengers appear to be female .

The photo comes to us from the ’New Zealand Vintage Postcards’ via a Garry Law fb post.

ALMA G has made numerous appearances on WWRefer link below. She was designed / built by Collings & Bell and launched in late 1922. https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/11/19/what-price-provenance-100-year-old-game-fishing-wooden-launch/ https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/11/05/alma-g-alma-g-ii/

IF YOU HAVE SPOTTED ANY WOODYS OUT AND ABOUT OVER THE XMAS/NY PERIOD – EMAIL ANY PHOTOS TO waitematawoodys@gmail.com

THE COMEDOWN OF A CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – CARA MIA 

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THE COMEDOWN OF A CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – CARA MIA 

Last weekend at the Kawau Spring Splash Regatta I spot a launch named – CARA MIA, the name ringed a bell but the look didn’t match the tone of the bell ringing.

When I got back to the WW data base I did a search and jackpot, there she was but the old girl has had several trips to the plastic surgeon over the years. 

Built in 1961 by Maurice Palmer in Devonport, Auckland, her specs are 36’ x 11’3”x 2’9”. She spent the 1960>70’s game fishing out of Tutukakak, Northland.

Each to their own, an owner can do what ever they like to their vessel, but I wasn’t sad when they headed off up the harbour and didn’t participate in the Woodys Classic Launch Parade 😉

Link here to the parade – 70+ classic wooden boat photos  https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/10/29/kawau-island-spring-splash-regatta-review-70-classic-wooden-boating-photos/

Lots of photos and ownership details in this WW story link  – dated Jan 2014  https://waitematawoodys.com/2014/01/17/caramia/

CLASSIC GAME FISHING BOAT – RELIANCE

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CLASSIC GAME FISHING BOAT – RELIANCE

The photo above of the classic game boat – RELIANCE comes to us from Lew Redwood fb’s and is dated May 1930.

The photo is captioned  – ‘A launch returning from the Bay of Islands grounds at Cape Brett, with a captured mako shark landed on rod and line by Mr.J.W. Harding of Waipukurau, after a fierce struggle. The weight of this fish was 615lb.

Would love to have seen how they got that fish onboard. Several years ago fishing at Great Barrier Island we hooked a mako and even though we thought it was dead, hours later on the wharf at Tryphena , it was inches away from taking a passing child’s leg off…… 

WILL YOU BE JOINING THE CLASSIC MUSTER THIS LABOUR WEEKEND AT KAWAU

CLICK IMAGE FOR DETAILS

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – VOI

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – VOI

On my recent trip to Tutukaka marina one of the classic craft that caught my eye was – VOI.

A modern-ish hull and a small apartment on top but VOI is set up for game fishing so gets away with it nicely.

My brains trust have suggested its design starts with a V,  as in vindex, with a possible spot of lengthening. Dam if it is thats another one thats slipped under the WW radar 😦

Anyone familiar with the vessel and can enlighten us more on her design / builder.

Hopefully today I’ll be enjoying the company of fellow classic woodys tied up at the Clevedon Cruising Club for our annual (ish) overnight BBQ cruise up the Wairoa River 🙂 Lots of photos on Monday.