Back in August 2025 we ran a story on the launch LADY JANE that after a submariner incident was being auctioned off. Link here to that story
We understand she did sell but to whom we do not know.
(edited – the wires out shorted / lost in translation – all too hard AH)
Over the break woody Barrie Abel sent in the top two photos of LADY JANE.
In the second photo we see Brian Harkin and his team at Pine Harbour after they did an awesome repair on her bow after storm damage 15 or so years ago. So woodys and update / news on the whereabouts of LADY JANE.
Barrie also shared the photos below of his classic launch – MATIRA, hauled out at the CLEVEDON CRUISING CLUB yard for some TLC. Lucky man to have access to a shed 😉
CLASSIC LAUNCH LADY JANE REMAINS UNSOLD AFTER SINKING INCIDENT
The classic wooden 34’ launch – LADY JANE appeared recently on fb, it was a being auctioned by Turners Trucks, and hadn’t reached the reserve price when the auction closed. Thanks Ian McDonald for the heads up.
Reading the listing the seller states that the boat and engine ‘had taken on water’ so I assume she is now a member of the submariners club.
For the record the engine in her is a Ford 80hp diesel.
Hard finding a buyer to take on such a craft, even harder when the seller lists it as fibreglass Roy Ford boat……
LADY JOYCE (Sheik) Some days the WW email inbox is full of only spam and some days pure gold. Last Thursday was a golden day – any email from Harold Kidd has a good chance of being special.When I click on it to open up popped three stunning photos of the launch Lady Joyce. These photos had been shared with Harold by Rick Norris. With both HDK and Rick’s ok I have included below Rick’s covering note to HDK
“I have followed with interest the various exchanges about the provenance of the launch the Lady Joyce. She was owned by my wife’s grandfather Shirley Harrowell for some years before and after WW2 and was named after his daughter Joyce.. Some time before the war my father, Reg Norris, with his friends Tom Jackson and Bill Harrowell ( Shirley’s son) holidayed on the Lady Joyce in the Bay of Islands.(The Jackson family had a house in Matauwhi Bay.) When my wife Nan’s nephews Paul Baragwanath and Mark Withers recently started taking an interest in the launch, which Mark mistakenly but understandably took for the Lady Shirley which he had seen at the Woodies Boat Show, I dug out some of dad’s old photos of the Lady Joyce to clarify the position. I thought that you would be interested in seeing the photos, which I attach. One of the photos shows Reg and Bill doing the dishes in the stern of Lady Joyce under the watchful eye of Shirley Harrowell.”
In a previous WW story HDK commented (refer below) that Lady Joyce was most likely built in 1922 by Leon Warne. When launched she was named Sheik.In c.1932 she was extensively rebuilt at the Lane Motor Boat.
Regular WW readers will be familiar with the USA video blog Off Center Harbor. Over the weekend I received one of their regular newsletters – this one was all about maintenance on wooden boats – links to 40+ videos on painting, varnishing & epoxy use etc. Because its a pay-2-view site I can not link you to it but the screen grab below will give you a peek at some of the cool content. Depending on the exchange rate – the annual sub is approx. NZ$80 – that woodys is minor compared to what you will save in time, materials and fixing oops. Subscription info here – https://www.offcenterharbor.com
As regular readers of the waitematawoodys site know the last weekend of January is always a biggie on the wooden boating calendar. The Mahurangi Cruising Club year-on-year pull off the biggest wooden boating event in New Zealand – {the} Mahurangi Regatta. If you type that into the WW search box your day will be ruined – hundreds of classic wooden boating photos.
I’ll apologise upfront for the lack of sailing photos – these days there are a lot of other happy-snappers recording the racing – when and if I get photos or links, I’ll add them to the story.
It was a sub 24hr up and back trip to Mahurangi – I had an important family event that I have been dodging for years, and this year the message was – “be here” 🙂
I came away from Mahurangi feeling very upbeat for the health of the classic wooden motor boat movement – there was in excess of 50 classic woodys in the Mahurangi Harbour and from that fleet 32 skippers participated in the classic woody launch parade. A record turnout, so I say thank you those that took part and specially those that dressed their craft.
I was particularly heartened to see the return of several craft that had drifted away from the scene due to relocations, long tern refits and frustration with the community. Of note was Florance Dawn, Kumi and Raiona.
People linked to the supposedly organisation of the the parade (I’m not talking about the MCC) need to wake up to the contribution that the classic launches make to the event – 50+ craft is a mighty powerful visual vista. So fingers crossed the housekeeping improves to ensure the loyalist keep turning up.
After the speed bumps at the start, the parade got underway and a good time was had by the skippers, crews and spectators afloat and ashore at Sullivans Bay.
Enjoy the gallery of photos – some (most) boats appear twice, some I’m sure missed the camera, can’t be everywhere:-) Thanks to Steve Horsley for the photo of Raindance and Murray Deeble for the race start photo.
As always click on photos to enlarge 😉
A reward – first woody to tell me which boat in the above photos has the largest WW flag – wins a normal size WW burgee – enter at waitematawoodys@gmail.com
The above photo comes to us ex Jon Morey via Maurice Sharp’s fb. The truck has ‘Roost – Mercer’ on the cab so I’m assuming its a Waikato boat, but could be very wrong.
She does look very familiar, I’m sure Nathan Herbert will be able to ID her.
INPUT ex John Bullivant – boat is ‘Lady Joyce’, built by Willy Oliver on his farm at Pukekawa and launched in the Waikato in the late 40s. Pic is apparently around 1949. Truck belonged to Ceaser Roose (Roose Ind Mercer) and was apparently one of two bought back from Pear Harbour. (info and photo from the Road Transport & Contracting archives Facebook page)
INPUT (+. photos below) ex Ken Ricketts – later renamed Lady Jane
WW T-SHIRTS – BEAT THE PRICE RISE
The price of the WW t-shirts has stayed the same for many years – sadly that is about to end – the buy price has been jumping up for the last 2 years. Sure I could source cheaper garments, but that is not what we are about – only source top line, 100% cotton.
So woodys I have the following existing stock – so be quick, first in first served limited sizes, refer below. Note: going forward will most likely only stock large and XL sizes
SMALL s/s – 2 only black
LARGE s/s – 4 only black + 9 only slate grey
XLlong sleeve – 5 only black – light weight, organic cotton
XL s/s – 3 only black
2XL s/s – 4 only black
3XL s/s – 3 only black
PRICE $34.95 (INCL GST) + $5 P&P
ORDERING: Because of the small numbers I’ll keep it simple – just drop me an email at waitematawoodys@gmail.com with your size/s and quantity and I’ll get back to you and confirm if there is still stock.
LADY JOYCE – c.1963 The photos above of the launch – Lady Joyce, currently named Lady Jane come to us from Robert Philips and were taken about 1963, when Len and Jean Perry owned her before Len had Aquarius built for him by Owen Woolly.
The first photo shows Jean struggling to haul the anchor in leaving Mansion House Bay while Len calmly powers off. A practice you still see today if anchored in a bay near Mark Edmond’s launch – Monterey 🙂 The other two photos are with Lady Joyce anchored with Len and Jean in the cockpit and third is taken at the same time with their daughter Dale Perry diving off for a swim with Arthur Burke’s Yasawa in the background.
The 32’10” Lady Jane was built in 1930, her builder is unknown, a previous owner believed it was built by Lidgards at Kawau Island but others have suggested Sam Ford. The black and white photo above is dated 1948.
Engine is a Ford 80hp diesel and LJ over the last 9 years has undergone a ‘rolling-restoration’ to see her in the condition she is presented in, on her tme listing.
I’m not sure which of the cabin window configuration I prefer – the x3 TV monitors eg or the x3 ‘eyebrow’ version on the b/w photo.
FYI – there have several Lady Jane launches on WW, seems she was a popular lady 🙂
Would be nice if we could confirm the design / builder?
Harold Kidd Input – The LADY JANE in the black & white photo is clearly a built-up flush-decker of the period 1910-15. The arch-topped side windows are a dead giveaway. Sam Ford was at school at the time.
Back in December 2019 Angus Rogers sent in the photos above of Lady Jane anchored at Kawau Island. Then yesterday David West emailed me the two photos below of Lady Jane on the move – David was travelling behind her on state highway one heading south, nearly in Taihape.
Read more about here at the WW link. https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/02/22/lady-jane/
Anyone know where she is off to?
LOOKING FOR LESTER TURRELL
Does anyone know the where abouts of – Lester Turrell, he was building a 43′ Roger Carey design based on the fishing boat “Achenar” 20 odd years ago in Auckland.
Lady Jane is described in her listing as a 12’5” Squirt model and while is was built in 1975, she ticks all the classic boxes.
Tucked away under a cover is a 25hp Johnson that is more than enough to make her 12’ hull fly along.
Being easily trailerable Lady Jane would make a great family fun boat for the beach or lake. Christmas is only 14 weeks away 🙂
A neibour of mine has a teak ladder 2.5m long 580mm wide (photos below) that is surplus to their needs. They are keen to sell it to someone who needs it as part of a restoration or whatever. It was in their house when they bought it so could be ex Navy, maybe it was an old engine room ladder. Anyone interested call David 021 793 439
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