Tag Archives: Lake Rotoiti

Which Boat Today ?

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Which Boat Today ?

If your names not Tony Stevenson that’s not a question many of us ask ourselves. When I picked up the Jan/Feb issue of the uber cool kiwi lifestyle magazine – NZ Life & Leisure, I discovered that there is someone else out there that’s been bitten by the classic boating bug, big time 🙂 Enter Charlotte & Richard Stevens, their menagerie of boats includes – ‘D’Urville’ a 70′ kauri, Laurent Giles designed motor boat, built by McMullen & Wing in 1975 – ‘Mickey Mouse’ a 1967 Ford 10 powered Albatross Motors speedboat – ‘Carvel’ their exquisite 1962 Norm Keen designed & built lake boat – a Frostbite, a Lazer, numerous canoes/kayaks & paddle boards AND a 45mph V8 powered ski boat. That ww followers is an impressive collection.

The article is a both a great read & a wonderful visual insight into the life & boats of Charlotte & Richard & we thank them for sharing it with us.

Todays post has been reproduced with the permission of Fairfax Media. The spectacular photos are from the camera of Tessa Chrisp & the words from the typewriter of Rebecca Hayter (NZ Boating editor). Check out the magazine at their website     http://nzlifeandleisure.co.nz

Note: if the images above are a little hard to read – you can view it here as a PDF file, click the blue link 😉

Lake Rotoiti

2015 Lake Rotoiti Antique & Classic Boat Show – Nelson Lakes

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Lake Rotoiti Antique & Classic Boat Show – Nelson Lakes
photos & details from Greg Lees & Gary Drummond

As featured on the ww post ‘Summertime’ Greg Lees daughter Rosie recently launched a run-about / speed boat that she built. No sooner had she splashed it but she was off down south (home) with the the boat in tow. Post launch the first major outing for the boat was the Nelson Lakes, 2015 Lake Rotoiti Antique & Classic Boat Show. Rosie had entered Summertime in the “Best New Build” competition category & Greg reports that she missed out on this award, the winner being a 14 year old whom had built a mini hydroplane, and according to Greg, he deserved the prize. Nor did she win best ‘Outboard Boat’ or ‘Powerboat’ prize.

BUT –  she won “Best Boat of the Boat Show”.  That young lady is a winner 🙂

Rosie is pictured in one of the photos above with a bottle of Mumm champagne, she has been carrying that bottle around with her since it was given to her by Barbara & David Cooke at the launching of Summertime – given the absence of a cork its safe to assume it was cracked at the prize giving.
Rosie went on to win her race in the ‘Over 40 hp’ division the next day.  A T-shirt was the trophy.
In the photos above there is a red row boat – one of very popular, Ian Oughtred designed, St Ayles skiffs, this one ‘Kaikoura Lass, was built in Kaikoura as a community project.
The event is a magic gathering of classic boating enthusiasts & the organisers welcome all i.e. not just wooden vessels , plus  classic cars are invited along to the weekend so its a hit with young & old.

Note: Press clipping below from the Nelson Mail

Lake Rotoiti Wooden Boat Parade Update

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Lake Rotoiti Wooden Boat Parade Update

photos ex Chris Miller

As I mentioned in Mondays post I traveled to Lake Rotoiti with Chris Miller, Chris is a very talented pro photographer & on this trip packed a lens that was longer than my arm. This enabled him to get up close to the boats & shoot from a better angle (sun was a problem). He’s also a dab hand with photoshop so these photos are stunning.

Also today we have a link to the TV3 news coverage of the event http://www.3news.co.nz/nznews/vintage-vessels-invade-lake-rotoiti-2015020717#axzz3RGmeg9GX

 

 

 

 

 

Miss Kathleen

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Miss Kathleen

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MISS KATHLEEN

A 1902 Logan, 27’6″, kauri planked. Built by Logans for a wealthy Whangarei family. She was used as a please boat & spent most of her life in the Bay of Islands. Subsequently used for long-line fishing. She resides on Lake Rotoiti.

Powered by a 50 year old David Brown 50h.p.

Miss Kathleen was rebuilt in 1989 & purchased by her current owner, Barry Green, in 1997 from Captain Richens, an old sea captain.

Harold Kidd Update

Yet another mythological “Logan”. Looking at her hull, she’s obviously neither Logan nor 1902. A 1992 “Northern Advocate” article on her provenance talks about her 1989 rebuild by Colin Richens and infers her original build date at around 1925, which is more like it.
However, I suspect she’s a bit earlier than that and possibly one of several launches of her type built for Whangarei by David Reid of Drake Street, Auckland, around 1914-16.

Jan

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Jan

JAN

photo ex Russell Ward

Designed & built from kauri in c.1960 by Brin Wilson for the late Sir William Stevenson & family. Sir William owned many boats on numerous lakes around NZ , Jan being one of them. She still resides in a boat shed in the Okere Arm of Lake Rotoiti. Jan is well known on the lake & one of the boats I hope to see next weekend at the Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade.
Check out http://www.woodenboatparade.co.nz to view more lake boats & the event. Boats are listed on the left side of the home page & grouped in chronological order.

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North Island’s Parade of Classic & Wooden Boats – Sat 8th Feb

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North Island's Parade of Classic & Wooden Boats - Sat 8th Feb

North Island’s Parade of Classic & Wooden Boats – Sat 8th Feb

When an invite to a classic boating event is accompanied with the above photo it would be rude to say no.

So waitematawoodys will heading off to Lake Rotoiti for the 2014 Classic and Wooden Boat Parade. Now this is the North Island event so its just a three hour drive from Auckland.
I have ‘followed’ the event on line for the past 5 > 6 years & its a cracker.
This year is the 17th year it has run & the formula is simple: A parade (on-the-water) to showcase the boats then everyone motors / steams off to a sheltered bay on the lake to enjoy old boats and fine company.

For full details check out http://www.woodenboatparade.co.nz

rotoitigathering thesteamers2 jan

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NZ Antique & Classic Boatshow 2014 – Lake Rotoiti, Sth. Island

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NZ Antique & Classic Boatshow 2014 - Lake Rotoiti, Sth. Island

NZ Antique & Classic Boatshow
Nelson Lakes National Park, February 2014

Classic boat-lovers have the opportunity to indulge in a long weekend of glorious hydromatic relaxation at St Arnaud in the Nelson Lakes National Park, with this year’s NZ Antique and Classic Boat Show linking with Waitangi Day.

Some photos from the 2010 event here http://classicyacht.org.nz/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=810&hilit=NZ+Antique+%26+Classic+Boat+show

The show is set for the weekend of February 8 & 9 and Coordinator Pete Rainey says if people can wangle Friday off they’ve got a four day mini-holiday.

“It’s the same weekend as Taste Marlborough and a Tasman Makos’ game in Blenheim so it’s an excellent time for North Islanders or Cantabrians to see what a varied range of action the Top of the South can offer,” he said. “Being a month earlier than usual means the weather is more stable for visitors who want to pack in a bit of mountain-biking, some exploration of the Nelson Lakes National Park or a few visits to our famous vineyards and art galleries.”

But for the true enthusiast, there’s no reason to wander further afield than the shore of Lake Rotoiti where the Classic Boat Show takes place.

“There will be the usual range of boats…cedar kayaks, jet boats from the 60s, clunky clinkers and veteran wooden yachts,” Rainey said. “From early morning on both days of the weekend you can wander around the boats on land, chat with the owners, view displays with stories of restoration and rebuild and then watch the races on the lake in the afternoon. We have a lot of fun, from the slightly chaotic sail-past to the Seagull dinghy race with its Le Mans start, which always has some poor bugger who can’t get his motor going.”

Another attraction this year is the new Nelson Lakes Classic Boat Museum, alongside the Clinker Café and gift shop complex at the St Arnaud village. It will be open with boating displays all weekend.

The NZ Antique and Classic Boatshow is now in its 16th year, and continues to grow in the number and quality of craft presented, as well as the number of people coming to view the boats and the action. Judging will take place on Saturday, ahead of an evening awards ceremony at the Alpine Lodge. At stake is the Jens Hansen Trophy where the judges are after good looks as well as history, construction and a boat with a story to tell.

Other awards include prizes for best new restoration, best steamboat, best jet-propelled craft and best themed display. Races will be held for yachts, row boats, seagull motored dinghies, poppers, canoes, child rowers and swimmers.

All boats will be checked for noxious aquatic weeds, and oil leaks before entering the water; and boaties are reminded to be aware of minimising the spread of didymo. And remember DOC has released Kiwi into the National Park very close to where the show takes place, so no antique and classic dogs please!

More info at http://www.nzclassicboats.com

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To view more WW stories & photos on any subject, just key in the ‘subject name*’ in the search box, click your computers enter key & related posts will appear. Scroll down to view & click on each post to view details. 

*designer,builder,type of vessel e.g. launch or yacht,CYA only vessel,period launched e.g. 1920 etc

EL CAPITAN

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EL CAPITAN

EL CAPITAN. This boat has a fascinating story. A genuine Chris Craft design & specs, built of 2 skins mahogany in 1960 on his farm, by the owner at Ohakea. Still has original 2 x 6cyl 90hp Chrysler Crown Petrol engines (still only done 750 hours since new). Was used on Taupo & at the Sounds from 1960 to 1974 & then put back in shed at Ohakea for maintenance & never moved until owner died & she was sold to Tony Mitchell a professional self employed boat builder at Lake Rotoiti 8 years ago who has restored her beautifully in his spare time. She was relaunched Dec. 2012 & had been in the water 3 minutes when this pic was taken — I was at the relaunching at Lake Rotoiti.
She had never had a call sign, as the original owner was radio ham & used his ham call sign for marine use. —
I was instrumental in Radio Spectrum Management allocating ZMEC to her for life.

photo & story by Ken Ricketts

Juliana

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JULIANA; Built 1930 by Sam Ford owned by Ralph & Wyn Ricketts from 1946 to 1956. She originally had a 4cyl “T” head Thornycroft petrol engine circa 1920s, this was replaced by Ralph in 1947 with a 6 cyl Leyland Cub Diesel, & again in 1956  with 4 cyl Buda Diesel. She went to Whangarei for a few years when sold & then to the Algie family at Algies Bay from about 1972 to 1995 — they replaced the Buda with a 6 cyl Ford. She was sold to a fisherman in New Plymouth for several years & ended up back at Tamaki River about 2006 as a bare hull absolutely nothing in her. Bought by present owner Fraser Wilson who is in the final stages of major restoration /rebuild on her with an unbelievable transformation. One pic of her is taken in Judges Bay by the Parnell baths in 1947, by Ken Ricketts, a few months after his parents bought her & had given her a fairly major refurb at that time & the other is of her a few months ago during her restoration, in the boatbuilders, Tony Mitchell’s shed at Lake Rotoiti where she will live, when back in the water.
photos & copy by Ken Ricketts