Tag Archives: Mystery Launch

Mystery Marlborough Sounds Launch

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Mystery Marlborough Sounds Launch
All we know about the above launch is that she is 27’, made of kauri and has a Ford 60hp does; engine that pushes her along at 5>6 knots.
From her cabin top layout she looks like she has been used as a bach ’taxi’, most likely private use.
Can any of the Southern Woodys put a name to her and any info on her past?

 

Where and when did we go wrong

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WHERE AND WHEN DID WE GO WRONG
I just love the photos above, back then even smaller boats and boats with outboards still looked like real boats. I’d like to think that if something like these boats were around today they would be popular.
The caption on the top photo reads ’The Latest Development of Outboard Motor-Boating.  A 20ft. V-bottom cabin boat built at Tauranga for use with a large-size outboard motor’
The SeaCraft runabout photo is via Peter Murton and again shows us that even small craft can look very salty.
Next week/weekend at the Auckland Viaduct Boat Show you will see some terrible examples of companies NOT using the skills of a designer or marine architect  – but there will be some cool examples e.g. Dickey Boats from Napier seem to get it right every year 🙂
HIGHEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE EVER VIEWING waitematawoodys YESTERDAY

Interesting day yesterday, WW struggles with the UK market, despite lots of promotional activity we just can not seem to crack it. Yesterday was the biggest number of individual people ever on one day visiting the WW site, with UK visitors 2nd in numbers to NZ for the 1st time ever. Checking out the stats the WW story titled ‘Electro-Chemical Damage Update’ by Chris McMullen was the single biggest viewed page.

I can only assume that somewhere in the UK, maybe a wooden boat building school or a tech university etc told all their pupils to check out Chris’s findings – what ever the reason its great to see the WW site and Chris’s research findings getting exposure around the world 🙂

Mystery Launch at Clevedon

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Mystery Launch at Clevedon

I feel that ID’ing the above photo, dated c1912,  will be a big ask, but hopefully Harold Kidd will come to the rescue 🙂
An overnight trip up the Clevedon River is on the cards for a Woodys Classics Weekend in 2020. I missed the last trip up the river so really looking forward to this one.
No one was able to ID Sundays mystery launch, so all will be revealed on Wednesday, which will include an interesting twist 😉
I saw this & being a dog owner it rang my bell – so true 🙂
DOG T Ball

Mystery Launch  15-09-2018 + WW T-shirt To Be Won

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Mystery Launch  15-09-2018

I was sent this photo yesterday and thought it would make a great WW mystery quiz – first woody that emails me (YES emails, link below) the boats name and builder, wins a WW T-shirt, as seen being ‘modelled’ in the photo below by two visitors from the Hawkes Bay.
Some exclusions – Ken Rickets, Nathan Herbert & Harold Kidd.
I have also held off making this post live until 7.00am to ensure more people have a chance, rather than just the insomniacs 🙂
LR2016 ww shirts CM

Mystery Launch 03-09-2019

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MYSTERY LAUNCH 03-09-2019

The launch on the right is part of the flotilla of pleasure craft welcoming the SS Gothic into Auckland in 1953.  Can anyone ID the launch for us? I have also included a close up, taken off the larger photo.

WCW WW Poster

Click Link to RSVP https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/08/08/how-often-do-you-use-your-classic-boat/

Mystery Launch 16-08-2019

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Mystery Launch 16-08-2019

Another mystery launch photo from Andy Donovan’s boat broking days – that distinctive stern hopeful will ring a bell with one of the woodys.
Kiwi’s On The World Stage
Marco Scuderi and his yard – MCN Shipwrights – are making noises in the world of classic boating with a double page feature in the August 2019 edition of UK Classic Boating magazine.
Well done Marco. And just by coincidence I’m at the yard later today to check out the 1969 Riva Superaquarama restoration, before it heads back to its owner across the Tasman. Twin 454 V8’s so cool zoom zoom  photos soon 😉
UK Classic Boat August2019

Woodys In The Whangarei Town Basin

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Woodys In The Whangarei Town Basin

Previously on WW we have seen numerous b/w photos of the Whangarei Town Basin , today’s photo comes to use via Lew Redwood’s fb. and show a lot of classic launches tied up on pole moorings.
While its a great photo of the area, the wide angle makes it a little hard to ID the boats – any on brave enough to suggest the year ?
The Perks of Being The Commodore
Thankfully we have moved on in terms gender equality in advertising 🙂 the image below appeared in an early 1950’s edition of the American published ’The Rudder’ boating magazine.
Old sexist Ad

Kaipara Barn Find

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Kaipara Barn Find

Another woody spotted by Jason Prew last weekend.

We know nothing – can a WCW (West Coast Woody) tell us more about her?
RIP Tom Nesbitt
Noticed in the NZ Herald that Tom Nesbitt – WW’s first and only banned person has passed over the bar – we had some interesting banter…..
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Beached Mystery Wooden Launch

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BEACHED MYSTERY WOODEN LAUNCH 

I’m not sure how the above launch ended up in this situation and I’m hesitant to name the location as not everyone that reads this site is above a ‘souvenir’ trip. Let’s just say its down Clevedon way.
The absence of floor boards would lead one to think that she has joined the submariners club i.e. been submerged.
The ‘anchor’ I’m assuming has been put out by someone trying to secure the vessel in its present location. Thanks to T Foh for sending in the photos.
Anyone able to ID the boat and tell us where she may have come from?
Could be a project for ’Tom The Torch’ 😉

Classic Woody Launch Bronze Steering Gear 4sale

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Beautiful bronze Wilcox Crittenden angled helm fitting with bronze chain, 6.5m x 2 of stainless wire, one bronze double upright block with phenolic sheaves, three single Edson upright blocks with bronze sheaves, two bronze Cheek blocks with phenolic sheaves. From a classic American launch. The best quality gear that will give a lifetime of service on your classic launch. Good for another 75 years. Shaft puts the wheel approx 50cm from the bulkhead at about a 45 degree angle. Straight shaft with keyway could be machined to fit any wheel. Tension at the rudder end with turnbuckles. For sale on trade me by one of us good guys 🙂

https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/boats-marine/parts-accessories/blocks-shackles-deck-hardware/auction-2214228778.htm

 

Classic Wooden Boat Project

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Classic Wooden Boat Project

It’s been the week of project boats – for some reason they just keep popping up, thanks to Ian McDonald for the trade me heads up.

Today’s woody was built c.1930, carvel planked kauri and 26’ in length. She has a Nissan TD23 diesels engine, not sure of the condition. The listing says the hull is in good condition – but its a bit hard to tell, that grey undercoat is a bit like black stockings e.g. hides a magnitude of sins 😉

Currently hauled out in Kerikeri, Northland.

Keen to learn more about this woody – name?, designer / builder? – anyone able to help out?