Tag Archives: Milford Creek Marina

MILFORD MARINA MOOCHING

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MILFORD MARINA MOOCHING

Given all the recent upgrades in the marina it seems wrong to refer to it as Milford Creek. Maybe the areas now fitting of the name that some of the mud berth dwellers use – ‘Wairau Cove’.

I spent some time there yesterday helping with the relaunch of Angus Rogers 1968 Bailey & Son built launch – CENTAURUS that had been out at the Slipway Milford railway slip for some TLC and a JPPJ (Jason Prew Paint Job) – a minor opps – flat batteries………. meant a delayed start, so plenty of time to pull the camera (phone) out. A 3.5m tide equalled a lot of activity at the Slipway and the adjacent Milford Cruising Club hard stand.

The standard of the woodys in the marina seems to be improving in the last few years , probably a combination of the new bridge , upgraded MCC yard and the big crew working at the Slipway Milford. 

Nice to see that the small berths along the roadside have almost exclusively been taken over by the Pied Piper fleet. The MCC yard was home to some out for early winter TLC.

I won’t disclose how many berthing attempts we had back at CENTAURUS’s marina but while Angus blamed the out going tide and wind – me thinks the new JPPJ was the reason i.e. skipper was a tad gun shy and didn’t want to mark the boat on the first outing 😉

MYSTERY CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH AT MILFORD MARINA – NGAHI

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MYSTERY CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH AT MILFORD MARINA – NGAHI

On a recent stroll around the Milford Marina on Auckland North Shore I spotted the classic sedan launch seen above. No name so hence todays story. 

Looking a tad too perfect so must be a recent restoration, hopefully the topsides haven’t been given a coat of that thick paint (eg f/glass).  

Also a question for the purists – what’s the kosher direction for coaming planks – N > S or W > E, struggling with the upright grain look.

INPUT ex NATHAN HERBERT – The launch is NGAHI and its been glassed and the coamings are teak overlay.

View details on the refit here https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/04/10/ngahi-gets-a-makeover/

BIG SHOUT OUT TO THE CREW AT TEAM NEW ZEALAND – WELL DONE. Not only are they #1 in the Americas Cup world, several of them have very good taste in pleasure craft – classic woody of course 🙂 The old WW merch was seen to be making an appearance in the cup village

RSVP to waitematawoodys@gmail.com

MATUA

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MATUA

Mooching around Milford Marina yesterday waiting to meet someone and I spotted a woody that is new to my eyes – MATUA. Enlarging the photo I can read her home port as ‘Whangaparapara, Great Barrier Island’

What do we know about MATUA.

INPUT ex John Wicks – She’s a converted lifeboat, and a nice example of the type. In her previous incarnation she was one of the old island liner “Matua’s” lifeboats, hence the name. For several years she was here at Hobsonville Marina, in the ownership of the Redwood family. I don’t know who has her now.

INPUT ex GRAEME SAPWELL – a mate of mine Dave Cox bought her from marine haulage’s yard at Hillside Road, Glenfield back in the late 70s . It was then just an abandoned open life boat. He repaired the hull and built the cabin on it and fitted an old 2 cyl Dorman engine. It also was kept at Milford marina at the time.

Speaking of Milford Marina – there is a major make-over happening there – the days of the loose planked board walks that you had to climb ladders to access your boat at low tide are numbered. Totally new design that is up there with any of Aucklands other marinas, sadly I suspect the berthing rates will be going up, which could be the end of some of the tired old woodys currently residing there.

Wairau Estuary – Mystery Boats

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Wairau Estuary – Mystery Boats


Ok, maybe I should have said ‘Milford Creek’ in the headline, but you know where I’m talking about. The above photo (c. 1930>39) comes to us ex Andrew Reid, via Maurice Sharp’s fb. The actual location would appear to be near the current ’The Slipway Milford’ railway haul out yard and the Milford Cruising Clubs hard stand area. And just be coincidence I will be sliding up that piece of water at 7am today.


Can we ID the craft? I have included close-up photos below to help.

Input from Graeme Sapwell – The Flush deck launch in bottom photo is Webster’s – Reta W. outside his property .
Input from Harold Kidd – RETA W was built by R Malcolm in the creek for T.G. Webster in November 1925. Linc Wood always thought it amusing that her name is “Water” spelt backwards.