Tag Archives: Merlin

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – KARINA (ex MERLIN) 

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – KARINA (ex MERLIN) 

The launch KARINA last appeared on WW back in Dec 2022, link below, where with the help of Harold Kidd and Paul Drake we were able to join the dots and link the launch to MERLIN.  https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/12/06/mystery-lake-okataina-launch-can-we-now-confirm-her-id/

We now know thanks to Greg Philpott & Lew Redwood that KARINA was originally built as MERLIN  by Dick Lang in Auckland in 1939. The commissioning owner is unknown.

MERLIN was apparently based in Auckland in her early years and may have been used to deliver mail to Great Barrier Island during World War Two.

She went to Lake Rotorua in 1945 and then in 1947 to Lake Okataina. MERLIN was sold in May 1957 to Les Tetzlaff who took the boat to Kawhia where she was operated primarily for fishing charters. Jim Storey, a long established Taupo based launch operator, purchased MERLIN in 1961, relocated her to Taupo and on arrival there, renamed her KARINA. Her last survey (to enable commercial use) was in 1965.

Anyone know what became of her beyond 1965.

(Photo of KARINA as MERLIN when on Lake Okataina, courtesy of Beamish-White family archives)

MYSTERY TUTUKAKA CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – MERLIN

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MYSTERY TUTUKAKA CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – MERLIN

Todays woody story is the last from my recent trip to Tutukaka marina. The woody seen in the above photos looks a tad familiar but my brain search mode is a somewhat slow these days 🙂 Not sure if she is midway thru a varnish job or just crying out for some TLC, hopefully the first.

Can we put a name to the vessel and anymore intel on her. – Its MERLIN, but we still know very little about her.

1902 CLASSIC WOODEN YACHT – 4sale

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A CLASSIC WOODEN TRAILER-SAILER YACHT – Yeap You Read That Right 🙂

As covered many times on WW the cost of a marina berth is the #1 deterrent to owning classic wooden craft. I have speculated that smaller trailerable woodys will be the future of the classic boating movement in NZ.

MERLN – todays 22’ clinker kauri built, gaff-rigged sloop is one such boat that ticks all the boxes. And most importantly MERLIN is a looker and we like that.

Built c.1902 as a motorboat she was converted in the 1920>30’s to a yacht (deadwood/keel added etc). Then in the late 2000’s restored by professional Christchurch boat builder – Davie Norris. 

MERLIN received another birthday in 2015/16 with restored gaff-rig and ‘converted’ to tabernacle set-up, plus new sails and all rigging. Also included was a new custom trailer and new 4-stroke 6hp outboard.In the last 10+ years MERLIN has been shed stored and only used on Lake Hood, Canterbury, South Island.Her current status is in storage and as with all traditional built clinkers may need some tweaking / re-caulking to the garboard seam.

So woodys if you’re considering stepping up to life as a classic woody owner, MERLIN is the vessel for you and at the end of a days sailing you get to take her home. Interested parties to initially contact Andrew  andrew@siseed.co.nz for more details. And almost forgot – she will sell for around $25k – a bargain.

RSVP – waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Mystery Lake Okataina Launch – Can We Now Confirm Her ID

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Mystery Lake Okataina Launch – Can We Now Confirm Her ID

Back in February 2022 we ran a story, link below, on an unknown launch (2nd photo above) at an unknown location. At the time the location was ID’ed as Lake Okataina, Rotorua. The was a couple of potential ID’d on the launch from the two of the WW wise men 🙂

Harold Kidd suggested it may have been the bridgedecker – Merlin, owned by Beamish-White, that later went to Kawhia

Paul Drake was keen on her being the launch – Karina, that was in commercial service at Taupo in the 1960’s, owned by Jim Story.

Today thanks to Greg Philpott uncovering the top photo from the Archive NZ collection – taken by JG Duncan, we get a much better view of the launch, which was tagged 1951, Lake Okataina – so hopefully we can confirm her name and builder etc

Link to previous WW story https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/02/24/mystery-lake-launch-24-02-22/

Mystery Tutakaka Launch (Merlin) + Nereides

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TUTUKAKA LAUNCH = Merlin
Dean Wright sent in the above photo of this launch berthed at Tutukaka. No visible name so would be nice if we could ID her.

17-05-2021 Update ex Keeny West – the mystery game boat above is Merlin owned by Brett Bracey.


NEREIDES COULD BE YOURS WITHOUT ANY UPKEEP COSTS


One of the growth boating areas is time share – where you get access to a boat for a set period of time for a set cost.Normally the only boats available in these ‘partnerships’ are pieces of white plastic and a 3rd party is clipping the ticket, with a rather large pair of clippers. For several years Mark Lever the owner of the 1926 classic launch – Nereides, has been making her available to suitable parties via similar agreement to the above. Nereides is one of our best maintained and presented woodys, in fact just drop dead gorgeous, see more photos below. Mark contacted me during the week for a chat and he drop in that a, what he calls – ‘Crew Spot’ was coming available , so I asked for details – I’ll let Mark explain how it works below, but if you are interested give him a call or drop an email for more details    021 747 102 or email mark@workshop73.co.nz


“Nereides is berthed at Sandspit Marina one hour north of Auckland. She is a  glamorous Wellington boat from 1926, gaff rigged main sail, mizzen and headsail perfect for coastal cruising. The skipper looks after maintenance. Looking for someone, or a couple who would like to share the use of this classic launch.The cost is $6k per year with a weekend a month and a week over the summer period.” 

Merlin – Sailing Sunday

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MERLIN – Sailing Sunday

I recently received a note from Andrew Hewitt from Ashburton, concerning his 22’ yacht Merlin. Andrew became custodian of her three years ago, when she was put up for sale by a broker on behalf of her former owner’s widow (Peter Beaven, a notable Christchurch architect and heritage advocate).

Peter had had her hull restored professionally in Christchurch some time previously, but the earthquakes and his ultimate death intervened. Andrew completed the job, rigged her and commissioned a trailer for her locally. So she’s now, home from the sea in her retirement – converted for use as a ‘trailer-sailor’ and lives protected from the elements in a boat shed at Lake Hood (just east of Ashburton) – where Andrew sails her when time allows.

Andrew commented that Harold Kidd kindly supplied a little history on her and Les McBean (Dunedin) also did a quite an extensive one (link here Les McBean Merlin), but unfortunately they contradict each other J According to Les, it seems she dates from around 1902 by Mr Derwent Aitcheson of Waikouaiti, where she was originally a fishing boat fitted with an engine. She appears to have been based there and Moeraki, moving about in the general Otago area. At some time mid-century she was converted to a yacht, and was well known in Otago Harbour for some decades, prior to becoming derelict and ultimate salvation by Peter Beaven.

The registration number seems original (V9) – it is on an old cotton sail that came with her.

Like all woodys, Merlin’s restoration is an ongoing thing….. the photos above ange from the fitting out/rigging stage at Andrew’s home to an early pic of Andrew under sail at Lake Hood.

Andrew is keen to discover more on Merlin past, to date he has made one or two connections through the Canterbury Classic Boat meets and tried both the Port Chalmers Maritime Museum and the two yacht clubs down there for info, but nothing forthcoming. The Museum at Waikouaiti knew of the builder, but didn’t supply any info when requested.

2017 Centreboard Cup – Herne Bay Yacht Club – Sat 9th Dec – Sloanes Beach, Herne Bay

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Pencil midday on Saturday the 9th of December into the diary, the Herne Bay Crusing Club are hosting their legendary Centreboard Cup Regatta. Its one of the coolest sailing events in town & the venue is rather special.

Details here   http://hbcc.net.nz/centreboardcup2017/

And check out my photos from a previous regatta. https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/12/20/whats-the-coolest-yacht-club-10-minutes-from-queen-st/

Anyone Looking For a Wooden Mast?

The Herne Bay Cruising Club have a 31’6″ laminated, hollow wooden mast that needs a home, the price will be very attractive if its for a classic yacht, if you want it as a flag pole expect to pay more 🙂 email Andrew Mason at    a.mason@auckland.ac.nz