Tag Archives: Mystery Launch

MYSTERY 42’ CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH BUILT IN OTAGO

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MYSTERY 42’ CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH BUILT IN OTAGO

Todays classic wooden launch comes to us from the July 1960 issue of Sea Spray magazine via Ken Ricketts. The write up appeared is a popular magazine section titled ‘Gadabout’.

As learnt from the accompanying copy – the 42’ twin engined launch was built by a Mr. C. Maxwell and his sons – Ron and Barry. The article mentioned a Nov 1961launching date.

The launch had a 12’ beam and that sadly is all we know about her. It looks like someone has ‘borrowed’ the design of the cabin windows from the Lidgard yard, the 3 aft were a signature Lidgard look.

So woodys todays questions are

1. There is mention of there going to be a post launching story – did that happen

2. Do we know her name , designer and what became of the vessel

3. Who was ‘reporter’ that went by the handle – ‘Gadabout’

INPUT ex NATHAN HERBERT – Waiana/ Exclusive Lady, purported to have been a Lane but obviously incorrect. The windows do have the Lane Ma Cherie look to them, mind you.

MYSTERY COROMANDEL CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH

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MYSTERY COROMANDEL CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH

My spotter Ian McDonald sent in todays photo ex the Auckland heritage collection via fb.

The photo was tagged ‘A motorboat at an unidentified location on the Coromandel Peninsula’. Stapley Farmer, 1960’s.

And that woodys is all we know. Her appearance / finish has that workboat look. Keen to learn more about the vessel and whether she is still around.

JUST RELEASED – MAHURANGI CRUISING CLUB YEARBOOK 2026 – Another impressive edition from the hands of Steve Horsley – at $20 its the best buy this summer. Don’t wait hoping someone will buy you a copy for xmas – treat yourself – out next week – preorder your copy here srhorsley@gmail.com

NOW AVAIILABLE FROM BOAT BOOKS WESTHAVEN – IN STORE & ON LINE

MYSTERY WOODEN LAUNCH AT TE KOUMA – SALT

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MYSTERY WOODEN LAUNCH AT TE KOUMA – SALT

Well woodys todays photo is  a tad left field , sent in by one of my spies that is mooching around the Coromandel / Te Kouma area on his plastic fantastic launch – but he’s forgiven buying the launch as in a previous life he owned one of smartest classic launches afloat on the Waitemata. 
A mix of styles and material on display, a hint of ‘dory’ in the hull shape. Not seen on the Waitemata harbour so maybe a Coro / Thames craft. Hopefully one of the mud dwellers can enlighten us.

WW MERCHANDISE – IF YOU ARE THINKING OF ORDERING – DO IT NOW – DOWN TO SINGLE DIGIT NUMBERS ON MOST T-SHIRT SIZES AND LESS THAN 12 CAPS IN STOCK 

MYSTERY LAKE TAUPO MOTOR LAUNCH c.1950 – – OKATAINA

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MYSTERY LAKE TAUPO MOTOR LAUNCH c.1950 – OKATAINA

Crazy day celebrating xmas in November – overseas family visiting, so just had to do it………….

So woodys when I saw late yesterday that Ian McDonald had sent in the photo that appears above, I was so happy. Was probably the closest I’ve been to missing posting a story.

So the photo is tagged “An unidentified motor launch on Lake Taupo”. William Barbour Beattie for NZ Herald, 1950. (Luck Lib Heritage Collections)

I’m expecting one of the Drake Brothers to ID her and possibly say they own or owned her 🙂

INPUT EX GREG PHILPOTT – OKATAINA – Built in 1938 by Sam Ford in 1938 for the Beamish-Whites at Lake Okataina. Sold in 1939 to the Government’s Internal Affairs Department who were looking for a boat to “serve their ranger work on Lake Taupo as well as on occasions carry distinguished guests”. They required a boat that “could handle rough weather and give fair speed”. Hence the official flag.
Later owners on Lake Taupo included John Henry Kay and Peter Redwood.
The boat ended up in Auckland in late 1989 / early 1990 in poor condition and then found her way to Thames where she remains today.

24-11-2025 INPUT EX PAUL DRAKE – We, the Drake Brothers, were quite besotted with OKATAINA when Peter Redwood owned her, and before we owned ROMANCE. In 1975, OKATAINA ‘s Chrysler Ace petrol engine ended up in ROMANCE. Legend has it that in 1939, at the start of WW2, OKATAINA was put in her float-in shed at the Taupo Boat Harbour and the door locked, not to be opened until 1945. She didn’t fare too well and required fairly expensive rot repairs, so it is said.

26-11-2025 INPUT EX PAUL DRAKE – Photo below of OKATAINA at Taupo (late 1960s) when the young Drake brothers were besotted with her. These days she has rather more structure (flying bridge) and is painted – white. But back then, she had class! To our young eyes, anyway. 

Proof of the feast and the reason I was so unmotivated to punch the keyboard 🙂 And guess what, we will be doing it all again on Dec 25th 🙃

CAN WE HELP IDENTIFY THIS RUMPTY CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH

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CAN WE HELP IDENTIFY THIS RUMPTY CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH

WW was contacted recently by Guilford Bonehill regard todays wooden launch. The vessel is owned by a friend of Guilford’s and has been resting in their yard for 10+ years.

The owner believes it previously came from the Cleveland area, and the Wairoa River.  Although there is no name on the launch, they think it was named PRINCESS ALOHA and built a century ago.

The understatement in Guilford’s note was ‘the condition of the launch is not good’.

Any help in identifying the launch and her past would be most appreciated.

26-11-2025 INPUT EX GUILFORD BONEHILL -Laurie Webster (deceased) had the boat in Pukekohe and for the last 8 years up high n dry near a wool shed in Te Kohanga

CHAD THOMPSON TRIBUTE SPRING RALLY

Yesterday was the start of the CYA – CTT Spring Rally (year 3) Photos below of the start line – entrants were down 50% on last year…………  Reminds me of the Albert Einstein quote: Insanity Is Doing the Same Thing Over and Over Again and Expecting Different Results.

Mystery Northland Classic Wooden Launch – VALIENT

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Mystery Northland Classic Wooden Launch – VALIENT

Leaving the Whangārei Maritime Festival on Saturday, I made the rookie mistake of thinking, “I know a shortcut.” I didn’t.
Instead, I found myself deep in the industrial maze of Port Whangārei.

The upside? I stumbled across a couple of woodys hauled out at Oceania Marine — home to the biggest travel-lift I’ve ever laid eyes on.

Tucked away among a line-up of serious commercial tonnage was today’s mystery classic wooden launch. She’d clearly had some recent TLC and looked about ready to be splashed again.

I couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at the generous helping of zinc hanging off her stern gear… seems the message about no / over-zincing hasn’t quite made it this far north yet! 😅

So, woodys — what do we know about this mystery craft? Any sharp-eyed locals able to share her name and history?

15-10-2025 UPDATE ex owner – Launches name is VALIENT, once called PLAY-BOY, Possibly built by Bailey & Lowe. 32′ in length. Has spent several extend stints as a long-line fishing boat. Once owned by the RSA Fishing Club in Whangarei, they did the name change. In a previous life was moored in the Waitangi river. Currently powered by a Nissan diesel.Has undergone a rolling restoration with lots of structural work, which included over 800 new copper rivets.

COULD THE REAL MA CHERIE STAND UP PLEASE

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COULD THE REAL MA CHERIE STAND UP PLEASE

Earlier in the week John Dawson sent in the above launch day photo of the classic wooden launch – MA CHERIE, a WW search threw up numerous stories linked to that name but none that match the above launch size and design.

There was a brief mention of a MaCherie being built in the early 1960’s at the Visa Ship Yard in Tauranga for a Don Shattock. The Visa name may be a typo as I recall a Tauranga boatbuilder named Bill Visser, who possibly worked at Kingfisher Boats – sorry for any confusion – hopefully we can clarify todays launch heritage.

WW also ran a story in June 2025, link below, re a launch named MA CHERIE , that had been once named ADI KUILA  that had been recently relocated to Auckland  – in my eyes not the same boat, this ones much bigger and different design. https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/06/14/classic-wooden-launch-ma-cherie-adi-kuila-lives-on/

So woodys – what do me know about todays boat.

UNIDENTIFIED WOODEN LAUNCH, PT CHEVALIER 1933 – ANY CLUES

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UNIDENTIFIED WOODEN LAUNCH, PT CHEVALIER 1933 – ANY CLUES

Todays woody photo comes to us from the NZ Herald archives via David Tomlinson and is dated April 1933. The caption reads – ‘Looking down from the foreshore at Pt Chev, showing visiting sailing boats on the beach’.
On the original fb post Robin Elliott did a wonderful job of ID’ing the yachts, see below.

But todays challenge is can we put a name to the launch at anchor in the middle of the beach.

“From left the yachts are: S-47 Snipe, an American Snipe class design that failed to gain popularity here and was registered in the open S-class yachts exc 14ft not exc 16ft.; T-41 14-footer Nyria, originally a 14-foot One Design (X-class) built by Colin Wild in 1921 but converted to an open T-class not exc 14ft, in 1929; V-13 Belle, 18ft racing yacht designed by Pt Chevalier identity, A.L. ‘Trotter’ Willetts. V-class was exc 16ft not exc 18ft; S-13 Kittiwake was originally a Logan built yawl that was converted to an S-class and raced with Pt Chevalier Sailing Club by the Thorpe brothers

LABOUR WEEKEND SPRING SPLASH (2)Download

2008 YARD PHOTO OF AN UNNAMED CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – ANY CLUES 

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Westpark marina c.2008

2008 YARD PHOTO OF AN UNNAMED CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – ANY CLUES 

Well maybe not too much of a mystery  – todays photo was sent in by John Dawson, the location is the hardstand at Westpark (Hobsonville) marina.

Already Chris Leech has commented that whilst he initially thought the vessel was RESOLUTE , after a 2nd look Chris is leaning towards ALOHA , but to me – not enough tram-top windows and a few other bits that don’t quite look right.

Can we confirm get a confirmed ID on the launch.

HAVE YOU RSVP’ed FOR THE WOODYS CLEVEDON CRUISE

We like to get as many boats as possible alongside the (all tide) dock and numbers are building so if you are considering the trip on Sept 21.22, rsvp today to waitematawoodys@gmail.com  with your boat name, length and approx. # of crew. AND ITS JUST NOT MOTOR LAUNCHES – WE HAVE 4 YACHTS (so far) JOINING IN 🙂

RVSP TO waitematawoodys@gmail.com

MYSTERY WOODEN LAUNCH – ENTRY LEVEL CLASSIC 

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MYSTERY WOODEN LAUNCH – ENTRY LEVEL CLASSIC 

Todays woody bridge-decker is only a classic because the seller choices to not record her name, nor builder (made not known). What we know is she is 32’ in length, has a beam of 8’3”, and draws just over 3’ and is built from kauri.

Forward motion is via a 4 cyl., 3.6L Fordson Major diesel engine.

Currently inWellington, previously Christchurch and Auckland before that. Given current tme bid of $1500 (reserve meet), could be a good buy given what appears to be a lot of worked / $$ done to her. (thanks Ian McDonald for the heads up)

Can we put a name to the vessel and maybe learn who built her and when.

RSVP TO waitematawoodys@gmail.com