Tag Archives: Joe Slattery

MYSTERY CLASSIC LAUNCH + COASTGUARD TO THE RESCUE

Posted on by
11

MYSTERY CLASSIC LAUNCH + COASTGUARD TO THE RESCUE

The b/w photos above were sent in by Mark Sorrenson (MV ), Mark spotted the framed photo in a 2nd and shop in Thames last week. The sale sticker said ‘Auckland Pre WW2.’

Mark bought the photo with the thought that someone following WW may own this boat and would like the photo. Mark commented that he was happy to hand it on. So woodys – can we ID the boat. My guess is – LINDA or WIRIHANA

INPUT ex NATHAN HERBERT – the vessel is ALCESTIS refer HAROLD KIDD input below.

INPUT ex HAROLD KIDD – Nathan is right, it’s MOLLIE, built by Joe Slattery in 1919 for Percy Colebrook, heavily modified by Colin Wild for the Guthries in 1928 and renamed ALCESTIS. Alf Seccombe of Lion Breweries bought her in 1936 and renamed her RAIONA (Maori version of LION). The image from the book came from Richmond. My memory is that it was miscaptioned “MARION D” at Richmond. MOLLIE, as originally built in 1919 looked nothing like this image. It’s not the first time people have been confused about the boat. Even at the time she was confused with GLADYS II / RONGO as well as IMANOTA (I) / MARION D which were also extensively altered out of recognition.

COASTGUARD MEMBERSHIP CAN BE GOOD VALUE

The owners of the launch – WAIKARO got their monies worth from their CG membership over the weekend. WAIKARO was off Leigh on route to Whangreai when they had a mechanical issue (the two joined sections of the water pump pulley decided they no longer liked each other and parted company). Kawau Volunteer Coastguard towed WAIKARO to Tiri where they handed WAIKARO over to theHibiscu CG to continued the tow back to her Auckland marina berth. The Kawau CG commented that conditions weren’t pleasant – “20 knots+ from west-southwest with gusts over 30 knots + a confused 1m sea” Check out the video below. I think the skipper of WAIKARO was very fortunate that Mrs WAIKARO wasn’t on-board 🙂

The boys at the Slipway Milford came to the rescue with a replacement pulley harvested off CONNIE V.

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH TRIP REPORT #2

Posted on by
3
MANUIA

05-01-25 INPUT ex PAUL DRAKE – In support of the pic of MANUIA above, here she is below in the 1970’s? with original dodger. No doubt the higher dodger improves the liveability of these old timers (ALBERTA – LADY ADEAIDE etc) but it does not enhance their looks. Sometimes I wonder if lowering the cockpit sole could be an option if more headroom is required.There is nothing quite like a straight stem flush decker!

MARISE
REHIA

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH TRIP REPORT #2

Today we get to visit a few of the bays and check out the lucky woodys that have managed to escape the marina. The first photo comes to us from Simon McMullen and we see MANUIA at anchor at Ponui, the unmarked bay next one around from Chamberlains. I love the sheep on the beach, Simon commented that there were three donkeys also roaming the beach at times.

The second photo shows Sarah and Peter Wren’s Salthouse 37 – MARISE at anchor at Man 0 War, Waiheke Island.
Peter also supplied the gallery of photos of Amanda and Joe Telford’s Colin Wild launch – REHIA. 

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH RAIONA – DOCKSIDE 

Posted on by
1

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH RAIONA – DOCKSIDE 

Back in July 2022 we had a superb insight into the 48’ 1919 Joe Slattery built launch – RAIONA as she exited the Colin Brown / Josh Hawke yard – links below. Her interior is so impressive.

I spied RAIONA recently dockside at Sandspit Marina and very happy to report she is being so well cared for. How goods that clinker dinghy, her 48′ make it look just right.

RELAUNCH https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/07/09/raiona-relaunch/

DOWN BELOW https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/07/11/raiona-a-peek-down-below/

24-08-2025 UPDATE ex Kiwi Classics – hauled out for annual maintenance at Sandspit Boat Yard

HAVE YOU RSVP’ed FOR THE WOODY RIVERHEAD TAVERN LUNCH CRUISE – RSVP to waitematawoodys@gmail.com

WAITERE II SOS

Posted on by
1

WAITERE II SOS

Looking for a very cool winter project – 1913, Joe Slattery built 26’ Mullet Boat is in need of a new guardian. Her tme asking price is $1 but its more about finding the right person/persons to take her over, so her owners are open to all offers. Originally an H2 class. Has been in the same family for the last 50 years.

A lot of repair work has been completed and the current plan is to relocate the boat to Westhaven marina very soon. To view and read more about her just search Waitere II on tme.

The gallery of photos above are from varying time periods, reproduced to give you an insight into what she once was and her current presentation. 

SILVER SPRAY – Heads North

Posted on by
6

SILVER SPRAY – Heads North

I was contacted last week by John Briers the ’newish’ owner of the 1926 Joe Slattery launch – Silver Spray.

Sliver Spay has made numerous appearances on WW – search her name in the WW search box to see / read more on her provenance.

John purchased the launch off boat builder Glen Burnnand, who gave her a serious birthday back in 2019.

The recent work at Glen’s Orakei Basin shed included upgrading the boats electrical battery systems, and she received several coats of varnish and repainting throughout, plus lots of other modifications.The mid term plan is to relocate Silver Spray to a  new home in Russell, Bay of Islands, on a mooring in front of the Duke of Marlborough Hotel, that will be a nice addition to the vista from the house bar. 

Silver Spray is powered by a Perkins 4108 and has a very impressive turn of speed for a 26′ woody.

I have to say that when John mentioned the recent work I was hoping the two ‘Haines Hunter’ cabin top windows (refer below) would have been replaced, never mind a wee job for the woody boys in Opua 😉

MATAROA (Kenya) – Looking For A New Owner.

Posted on by
1

MATAROA (Kenya) – Looking For A New Owner.

The 1928 Joe Slattery built 36’ launch – Mataroa (previously named Kenya) has popped up on WW numerous times – enter her name in the WW search box to see and read a lot more on her.

The link below has a cracker of a story from 1970 when she had a near sinking at Gt Barrier Island.https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/04/29/mataroa-kenya-3/

Back in 2016 she received a refresh to her exterior but her interior remained almost un-touched, which it still is today.

Powered by a Ford 80hp diesel, like all Slattery designed craft she has a respectable turn of speed (11 knots).

Mataroa’s owner for the last 6+ years has made the big call and decided that she deserves a new custodian that will complete the final work to bring her back to her former glory. As they say “all the hard works done” just needs someone handy with the tools to tidy the interior up.

Very realistically priced – expressions of interest to – waitematawoodys@gmail.com

PACIFIC GETS A TICKLE UP

Posted on by
5

PACIFIC GETS A TICKLE UP

Happy New – todays the first story for 2023 and Pacific is a very fitting woody to welcome in the new year with – during the winter of 2022 Pacific sent time on the hard having some delayed maintenance issues addressed and some creative comforts added. I’ll let owner Nathan Herbert tell the story:

“Bit of an update is due after Pacific’s most recent haul. In past attempts, the prop shaft wasn’t able to be drawn out more than 150mm so I had always been nervous about the situation up there. This time with the help of Seagar Marine and The Slipway Milford, we by brute force and a makeshift large slide hammer removed the shaft. It was found to be pitted, and then very badly pitted in one section where she ran in a highly noble bronze bush about tube centre. Three bearings were subsequently rammed out; one lignum vitae, one fibrous and one bronze. The Tube was found to be thin walled gunmetal and had almost completely de-zinced to mush. The mystery bitumen bath on the keelson was found to be a crude repair some decades old, hiding bad corrosion. A boring bar was made from the old 3.6m tail shaft extended to 5m and with unholy effort the remnants were removed and the hole gradually bored out to accept a fibreglass stern tube. This tube was epoxied in, with two Vesconite and one rubber  cutless bearing installed, topped off by a Chatfields  blue water dripless seal. 

Interior works included re-configuration of the saloon to cater for modern(or at least 1970s) needs and finished in kauri and honduras mahogany. A lightweight cradle was made for the RIB when in commission, and a Francis  searchlight fitted to the bridge deck.

There are always extras attended to along the way such as minor/insidious leaks but they fade in the memory compared with the newfound smoothness of a new, dry drivel ine”

2021 saw major updates to the zoom zoom – link here https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/01/27/pacific-the-105-year-old-woody-get-a-new-heart/ https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/02/03/pacific-sea-trial/

29-10-2024 INPUT ex JOHN DAWSON – JD sent in the photos ex fb below of PACIFIC’s new cockpit refit

Raiona – A Peek Down Below

Posted on by
2

RAIONA – A Peek Down Below

Last week we featured the relaunch of the 48’, 1919, Joe Slattery built launch – Raiona, after a 2 year refit at the Colin Brown / Josh Hawke yard. Today thanks to her owners we get to have a gander down below. Launching story link below – https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/07/09/raiona-relaunch/

The ’new’ decor (can I use the word when describing a classic woody?) really lightens the interior up and the varnished woodwork is magnificent. Well done to everyone that rubbed up against her during the last two years – below is a shot of Raiona leaving the yard, on-route to relaunching.

Raiona Relaunch

Posted on by
3
July 2020
July 2022

RAIONA RELAUNCHED

The double-ender Raiona or Alcestis as see was called when launched in 1919 , was built by Joe Slattery. She would have to be a contender for the most appearances on WW, mainly due to the wonderful photographic collection ex the H.D. Guthrie collection from the early 1900’s. Search both boat names in the WW Search Box to read and see more.

Almost exactly two years ago (July 2020) the new owner of Raiona hauled her out and trucked her off to Colin Brown and Josh Hawke’s – ‘Kauri Classics’ boat yard for a birthday. 

We will cover the extent of the work in another story – today is about celebrating the relaunch of Raiona and to step back and admire the craftsmanship of Colin and Josh.

Photo below taken in 2018 prior to Raiona changing hands – it was never a dull day when Raiona was in your bay 🙂

B/W photo below ex Graham Guthrie shows Alcestis in the 1920>30’s period when owned by the Guthrie Family

Manuia – Back On The Waitemata

Posted on by
3

MANUIA BACK ON THE WAITEMATA

Very happy to be able to confirm that – Manuia, the 32’, Joe Slattery designed and 1928 built launch has made the shift from the Bay of Islands and is now back in Auckland. 

Her new owners have classic woody blue blood in their veins so no-doubt over time she will be tickled up to the standard a Slattery launch deserves. Her last owner, sadly had declining health, so there is some deferred maintenance to address. 

A few years ago Manuia had a heart transplant and now sports a 100hp Yanmar 4JH3-HT6 that I’m sure pushes her along at a good clip.

CLASSIC WOODY LAUNCHES 4SALE

CLICK TO READ > VIEW MORE https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/10/17/buying-or-selling-a-classic-boat/