Tag Archives: Leader Boat Builders

REVIVING A CLASSIC – INSIDE LEADER BOATBUILDERS AS FANTASIA PREPARES TO LAUNCH

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REVIVING A CLASSIC – INSIDE LEADER BOATBUILDERS AS FANTASIA PREPARES TO LAUNCH

Back in November 2023 I was mooching around Leader Boatbuilders on the Panmure River and Dave Patterson showed me around the 36’ 1968 (possibly 1963), Harry Biddle built (to a Crestcraft design)  launch FANTASIA . Link to the 2023 story here  https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/11/16/fantasia/

Today thanks to Mark McLaughlin’s visit to the shed last week and his guided tour from Ken we get to see what’s been happening to FANTASIA in the last 3 years. If I recall she came into the shed for a paint job, and now look at her – close to relaunching after an extensive refit 🙂 We love companion selling e.g. “Would You Like Frys With That?”

Mark commented that the new hull colour gets his tick of approval and I agree. We need more colour afloat – the bias for white-on-white must make Coastguards work a challenge .

Photos below from the past and prior to entering the shed + 2023 work in progress.

INPUT ex NATHAN HERBERT – I understand that these were Customcraft. Crestacraft were fibreglass trailer boats

A COOL WOODY BUSINESS CARD

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A COOL WOODY BUSINESS CARD

Any boatbuilder that had a tool chest like the above you would have to feel confident having them working on your boat 🙂 I spotted the crest recently at Leader Boat Builders in Panmure. I’m sure a reader will comment on who the owner is.

ADONIS – Step Aboard & Start Living Your Best Life

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ADONIS – Step Aboard & Start Living Your Best Life 

Buying a classic wooden craft is similar to a historic home, regardless of the price there is normally something that needs addressing. With classic launches the finest examples rarely change hands, thats why they score 10/10. So when a exceptionally well built and maintained launch comes onto the market, they normally find a new owner in double quick time.

The 1965 Owen Woolley built 45’ (40’ waterline) launch – Anois is one of those craft – she Is an exceptionally well built and maintained launch and presents in superb condition and retains her original aura, character and pedigree. 

Some Background – we sold Adonis approx. 12 months ago , her previous owner had her for 23 years and her maintenance schedule was like a Boeing 747, just prior to selling she was given a birthday at Leader Boats on the Panmure River. Fast forward one year and her ’new’ owners have come to the decision that right here and now, there are other priorities in their lives, so the Wooden Boat Bureau has been tasked with finding a new home for Adonis.

Whats especially compelling about Adonis is that she’s ready to use today, hop aboard and the adventure begins. It should be an easy sale – we have  on hand an out-of-water survey + mechanical report (including oil test analytics) on the twin 120hp Ford engines. 

To read and view more on Adonis – click on the WW links below

Sept2017 https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/09/04/adonis/

Dec2021 https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/12/11/around-the-yards-adonis/

Seriously interested buyers – initially contact

waitematawoodys@gmail.com

UPDATE 09-11-2025 Just hauled out and prepped for summer cruising

Around The Yards – Adonis

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Around The Yards – Adonis

I received an invite to poke my nose into the Leader Boat Builders shed on the Panmure / Tamaki River during the week to catch up on the latest woody to grace Dave Patterson’s shed. The 45’ Owen Woolley built Adonis, in for some serious TLC. Meet her owner of many years, John Fleming and got to discuss the planned work. We will catch up again on Adonis and update with more detail. You can read and see a lot more at this link to a previous WW story  https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/09/04/adonis/

I have said it many times before but one of the coolest classic wooden boating entities is the Off Center Harbor website. A day wouldn’t you by without me pointing someone to the site, and they always find a solution, answer, guidance to what they needed / wanted to know.

On the site there are 800+ videos about wooden boats.  And woodys best of all most of the content is informative, educational and entertaining. The Off Center Harbor team are celebrating their 10th anniversary and have an amazing offer for WW woodys – TEN months membership for US$10* – (normally US$49/year).  CLICK THIS LINK  https://www.offcenterharbor.com/join-10th-anniversary-10-10-month-2021-holiday-ww/ And because they like us Kiwis, when renewal time comes around, all NZ memberships will be in NZ dollars, so we don’t have to suffer from the unfavorable gap in the exchange rate.

The best value, bang for your buck, woody Christmas present ever (well 2nd best – #1 is a WW t-shirt) – sign up today 🙂