Mystery Lidgard Launch
A question – why are so many mystery launches, Lidgards?
Todays woody is double diagonal kauri with f/glass on outside, and is 26′ in length with a beam of 8’ and draws 2’. The engine is a Ford 60hp diesel. Thanks to Ian McDonald for the tme heads up. WW would like help to uncover more on her past.
Beachaven Mystery Launch
One of the woodys was mooching around Beachaven in the weekend, must have taken a wrong turn 😉 and spotted the above woody. From the condition of the boat and the cradle set up, I think we could safely assume she has been there a while.
Given the clandestine nature of the woodys visit, I cant ID them, their partner would not be impressed with another woody joining the fleet.
Anyone able to tell us more about the boat?
RIVERHEAD WOODY LAUNCH CRUISE 28-11-2021 POSTPONED – New Date tbc
Whangarei Town Basin – Mystery Launch
Keith and Heather Nicholson sent in the above photo of an old post card of the Whangarei Town Basin. The photo first appeared on a Mitchell Hutchings fb post.
In the photo, lower right, we can see a launch hauled out – so todays question is – can we put a name to the boat?
Heather mentioned that their beloved woody – Paea (photo below) was for sale on tme. An amazing classic, the 72’, 1942 ex Harbour Defence Motor Launch (P3552) offers so many boating opportunities.
29-09-2023 UPDATE – photo below of Paea about to be relaunched after some TLC – TLC doesnt really fit a vessel the size of Paea 🙂
05-10-2023 UPDATE – Back in the water. we understand that six months ago the boat was put inside a shed and dried out, the seams were splined and the hull was fiber-glassed. The Fodens were removed and replaced with Cummins. (details & photos ex Ken West)
Can We ID This Woody
Another photo from the Andrew Donovan collection, I have feeling I may have posted this one b4 but can’t locate it on the WW site ,so maybe not. Each to their own but I do like the design, very salty.
Thoughts on name and builder?
The below made me chuckle 🙂
Mystery Bridgedecker – LADY ELLISON
No name on this old girl but her tme listing (thanks Ian McDonald) tells us she was built by Sam Ford in 1950, measures 36’ x 9’10” x 2’9”.
Built of kauri and powered by a Ford D360 diesel engine, that gets her along at 10 knots max. Other than calling Nelson home, that is about all we know about her. Can anyone put a name to her and tell us about her past?
UPDATE: SHE HAS BEEN ID’ed AS LADY ELLISON https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/03/06/lady-ellison-3/
HELP WANTED – ANYONE KNOW THE YACHT – KITENUI
The story goes that she was designed by Colin Wild and built by John Salthouse. Can anyone tells us more details about this yacht.
Update – photos below ex John Newsham
Mystery Launch – Any Donovan Collection
Today’s woody is a total unknown, no dates, names, specs etc on the rear of the photo- so hopefully we can ID the boat and uncover some of her past.
After a long 7 weeks – I went boating yesterday, RD forgave me for neglecting her 🙂 A heads up, some serious wood floating around the harbour.
Two Black Holes
Many moons ago when I was looking at buying a classic boat, my father-in-law commented “son you already own one black hole, why would you want another”. He was referring to the fact that I owned a 100+ year old wooden house that back then was hoovering up every cent I earned, and in his eyes an old boat would do the same, but quicker. He of course was right and I took his advise and didn’t buy the boat.
Waited a few years and after he ‘left’ us, I was back in the market 🙂
When I was sent the above photo by Glenn Martin of a house in Beach Haven on Auckland’s North Shore, it reminded me of the vision my F-I-L had of what I was going to inflict on his daughter.
Anyone know the story behind the boat?
Mystery Launch – B.O.I.
Today’s photo appeared on the cover of a recent issue of the Property Press in Russell. Scan sent in by Dean Wright. The question of the day is = can we ID the woody on the right? Dean is leaning towards ex big game boat – Zane Grey.
Leeway > Melanie
Today’s launch photo comes to us from the Andrew Donovan Collection. No name on the flip side so we will hopefully get an ID from some of the Bay of Island woodys. That is assuming its a BOI boat and photo.
Harold Kidd Input – LEEWAY/MELANIE was built by 20th Century Boats (Brian Donovan) in 1959. Last word was in 2015 when she was for sale by a Havelock owner. Brian of course was Andy Donovan’s brother.
TREAT YOUR BOAT OR YOU THIS CHRISTMAS
BOI woody – Dean Wright filmed a short video to show you and I some cool drinking mugs that a Bay Of Islands potter, Lynda Harris, makes and personalise for your boat.
Each one is hand painted from a supplied photo. They are fired in batches of x60, so subject to orders, the lead time can be a little while (that was an Irish answer).
Cost is $45, which is very reasonable for a functional art object. If you are interested in the artists contact details – email me waitematawoodys@waitematawoodys
MYSTERY LAUNCH – WHAU RIVER
Today’s photo ex Auckland Libraries Heritage Collection and comes to us via Nathan Herbert. The location is the Whau River and probably dated 1966.
Any one able to ID the launch in the foreground.
Well Auckland woodys – another 2 weeks in lock down – not too sure how I’ll handle that, just about ticked off everything on the To Do list 🙂 So happy I hauled Raindance out in July for the big birthday, otherwise it wouldn’t have happened.
If you have any photos that you’d like to share on WW – email them in – as we say “if it’s wood, it’s good”
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