Mystery Wooden Boat & Location

Mystery Wooden Boat & Location

The woody photo above popped up on Lew Redwood’s fb and in the photo we see a launch being craned out of what probably was a back-yard building site.

The name on the crane is H.J. Hensley, does that ring any bells out there.

Keen to learn – location / date /  builder / boat name.

Classic Wooden Boat <> Water Front Apartment

Classic Wooden Boat <> Water Front Apartment

We know nothing about this 33’ woodys past life and how it ended up as a floating waterfront pad – but its a seriously cool, low cost accomodation option in Wellington.

The tme story (thanks Ian McDonald) says only $120 a week rent and that includes secure car parking and security gate. At <$20k its a bargain. 

The stern ‘window’ is an obvious giveaway that dockside is her resting place, in fact the engine is not working.

Can we put a name to this former launch now apartment.

MYSTERY CLASSIC WOODY DUCK SHOOTING BOAT

MYSTERY CLASSIC WOODY DUCK SHOOTING BOAT

The first weekend of May is not a good time for ducks – its opening weekend for the duck shooting season. Angus Rogers sent in the above photo yesterday that is pinned to the wall of the maimai (explained for non NZ readers – a temporary waterfront shelter for shooters to hide in, photos below) that Angus was shooting from on Saturday.

The caption reads – ’Shooting on the Piako – 1920’s. Various members of the Wilson and Collins familiars onboard.

Hopefully Angus’s bag for the day was less than what we see on display in the photo 🙂

Anyone able to ID the launch.

Mystery Lyttelton Launch

Mystery Lyttelton Launch
Again only a mystery because her owner didn’t include a name on tme (thanks Ian McDonald). If we believe the tme story she is a Logan, built in1908, 36’ in length. Powered by a 1970, 65hp Rustin Rover (???) 

And that woodys is all me know – any southern readers able to enlighten us more on the launch.

BUY OF THE YEAR – HEAO – LOGAN 33 – A Sailors Motor Boat – Reduced Price – Low $80’ks – Click link below for details. https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/02/29/heao-a-peek-down-below-4sale/

MANSION HOUSE KAWAU ISLAND 1971

MANSION HOUSE KAWAU ISLAND 1971

Todays photo comes to use from ‘Timespanner’ (Auckland Library Heritage collection via Maurice Sharp fb. 

The caption reads ‘Muriel Clark on the balcony at Mansion House, KAWAU ISLAND. 1971, Ron Clark (the photographer I assume).

An unusual light number of boats in the bay, and mostly launches. Maybe the yachts were out racing.

Can we put names to the 4 classics in the bay – refer below enlarged image. And for a change rather than WW merch, I’ll gift a bottle of my ‘ world famous in Devonport’ homemade tomato sauce to the first woody that supplies the correct answers. I’ll rely on Nathan Herbert to be the oracle on ID’ing the boats – Entry via email only to waitematawoodys@gmail.com – closes 7pm 23/04/24 Conditions: Winner must be Auckland based, NZ Post doesn’t like glass bottles 😉

NOTE: as pointed out by K Ricketts todays photo has been developed incorrectly – I have flipped the image toshown the correct orientation – refer below

Screenshot

MYSTERY LAKE LAUNCH

MYSTERY LAKE LAUNCH

Well woodys it is only a mystery because the owner, trying to sell her chooses to not show the vessels name – a tad crazy when selling a classic – the name is what joins the dots.

What we are told (thanks IanMcDonald / tme) is that she was built in 1978 and is described as a Woolley 25, kauri planked, powered by a Volvo Penta 28hp diesel engine and calls Lake Rotoiti (Nth Island) home.

The ability to trailer the boat is a big bonus – but sadly the trailer is probably worth more than the boat 😉

Hopefully one of the Lake Rotoiti woodys can enlighten us more.

MYSTERY NORTHLAND LAUNCH

MYSTERY NORTHLAND LAUNCH

ID’ing todays woody will either be very easy eg someone will know all about the launch or it will need the input of many. 

The launch is located in a paddock in the Kaeo / Kerikeri area – on the Takou Bay Road. 

The ‘photographer’ was Murray Deeble, who apologised for the photos – he couldn’t get better pic as Murray had no desire to be shot and fed to the owners dogs 🙂
So woodys what do we know about this craft – given the location, maybe Nathan Hebert will have seen the boat and been braver than Murray.

 KAIWAKA ROADSIDE WOODY

 KAIWAKA ROADSIDE WOODY

At the recent Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat weekend I was asked about the woody that has been ‘parked’ in front of a property near Kaiwaka – as long as I can remember, well as long as I have been interested in woodys boats. She has sat in that same spot slowly decomposing, Im sure her owner would tell you its a work-in progress but…………….

The craft is visible from the main road, on the right hand side heading north.

Can anyone ID her for us

INPUT FROM PREVIOUS OWNER (Terry) – She is a Harley Black Marlin design, name was Aljo (spelling could be wrong) when I owned her back in the mid 70s.I think she has had a name change .She is battern carvel construction.I brought her in Tauranga but I believe she was from Whakatane after my ownership she moved to Clevedon river for many years, them moved north to the Bay,Last time I saw her in the water was in the Mangawhai river a long time ago.

I22-02-2023 NPUT ex BARBARA BUSET

Well, would you believe it, I think I was the previous owner of this boat, before it was left there on the side of the road, must be coming up to 20 years now!!

 It was known as Alijo when my ex-husband and I bought it in the 90’s. We re-named it Bartab and spent thousands doing it up. The first thing we did was have it parked on our front lawn at One Tree Point giving it a complete repaint. All the squabs and curtains were remade and she looked a picture.  The shower/toilet was rebuilt and the engine had major work done on it, much to my ex’s disgust as it was a Ford and he was a Holden nut! She was moored on the blind channel at OTP, not far from the little dairy there. Over the years we had a new bow rail,  new Bimini and new automatic winch. I loved going out on her for the weekends and we even took her up to the Bay of Islands a few times. With the divorce, she was sold and I don’t know what happened to her then until I suddenly noticed her there at the side of the road at Kaiwaka. She’s been there so long now that I don’t think she can ever go back in the water. I understand she’s a Kauri Carvel. It’s so sad to see her every time I go to Auckland,  rotting there on the side of the road. When I used to go out on her I kept a log book which I still have! Unfortunately I’m away from home at the moment,  but as soon as I get back home, I’m going to find it and then I might have some more info for you. 

Couldn’t believe it when the Woody’s web page popped up tonight as I had only driven by earlier today and always talk about her whenever I see her.

I’ll be in touch again nearer the end of the month when I’m home and can find my log book.

YESTERDAYS QUIZ WINNER – Graeme Finch , he correctly picked – cooking – I started the process of making the ‘World Famous In Devonport Tomato Sauce’ 🙂

Lyttelton Marina Mooching – Taieri Lass + Katherine

Lyttelton Marina MoochingTaieri Lass + Katherine

Recently Bryce Strong sent in the above photos from Lyttelton Harbour. 

The top woody is unknown to Bryce and WW, can anyone help ID her for us.

The other photos are of the spirit of tradition launch – Katherine, she has made several appearances on WW , link below, click on headline.                   She was sold early in 2023 and relocated south form Auckland. Now we know where exactly

UPDATE ex John Burland – JB has a good eye – it is Taieri Lass https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/09/08/taieri-lass/