
Mystery Launch – Win a WW t-shirt

Mystery Launch – Win a WW t-shirt

Mystery Launch & Location


A Spirit of Tradition Woody
The above launch was built in 1983 but looks 50 years older, so she makes the cut on WW. Her trademe listing (thanks Ian McDonald) describes her as a 37’ Jorgenson Quicksley launch, with a beam of 10’7” & draft of 4’3’.
Hull construction is 1 3/8” kauri plank and the zoom zoom comes from a 100hp GM Detroit diesel.
Home port is Nelson so she comes with all the fruit, including the mandatory diesel heater 😉 Anyone able to put a name to the launch?
Input from John Wicks – Cna’t for the life of me remember her name, but Jorgensens built her for one Cdr. “Sankey” Critchley who lived just outside Blenheim and had a bach at a bay known as Longbeach in the Grove Arm of Queen Charlotte Sound.
Cdr Critchley had previously owned the Albert Strange yawl “Sheila II” which he bought from Adrian Hayter after the latter had sailed her out from the UK.
Anyone Looking For A Winter Project?
I have been contacted by Mike Renner who inherited a pond yacht (photos below) from his father, who died over 50 years ago. It’s 1.2 metres long & Mike suspect it belonged to his grandfather. It’s been hanging in the garage for years and it needs a new home.

20-07-2018 Update – I understand the model has found a new home with Greg Lees at his boatyard – I look forward to seeing it finished 🙂

Mystery Launch 12-07-2018


Motiti High & Dry

MYSTERY LAUNCH – 03-07-2018
Short post today – other boating things distracting me 😉
The above unidentified launch is seen above in Fitzroy Harbour, Great Barrier Island. photo ex Lew Redwood fb
Anyone able to ID her?

It Might Be Wood – But It Sure Isn’t A Classic
The above boat was bought to my attention on trademe by James Dreyer, its listing states it’s a mid 1930’s build, 41’ twin skin kauri hull, with a beam of 14’9” / draft 3’3” – but somewhere along the line its been turned into a floating apartment.
Interestingly the main engine has been removed and replaced with ballast, & she now has two 15hp 4 stroke outboards hanging off the back.
Her owner is very honest & states that she is only really a vessel to potter in the marina and potentially the harbour on a calm day, so woodys if you’re looking for a love shack in Wellington…..
My real reason for posting was to give Jason Prew some interior decorating hints for his My Girl 🙂

Mystery Tourist Launch
Todays photo created some chat from Harold Kidd when it appeared on Lew Redwood’s facebook page. Harold commented that the location looked like Lake Rotorua & the launch could have been one of the Bailey & Lowe purpose built tourist launches, built in the 1900>1910 period for Robinson & McIntosh of Rotorua. Harold pointed out the steering position as the giveaway – “not open sea gear” were the words used.
I have enhanced the photo a little to show more of the launches features – can any of the woodys tell us anymore about the launch?
Update 31-05-2018 – I have been contacted by Alice Morrison who is moored beside the vessel pictured below in Tauranga. The vessel’s name is Presto and according to the owner, was built in 1898. She is approx. 40′ (that’s a guess) and made of kauri. Alice is of the view that she looks similar to the mystery tourist launch above . What do the woodys think?

The Hottest Trend In Classic Boating?
The answer is ……… owning two boats 🙂
CYA launch dynamo Nathan Herbert (Lucinda) has now joined the 2 boat club. Photos below of the new addition – Pacific (photos below ex Nathan’s fb), being hauled out at Miford Marina. One of my bucket list classics.



Mystery Classics On The Waitemata
Steve Horsley recently sent me the above photo – it came from a collection of old albums that Steve has been loaned. The album photos cover – Auckland, Sydney & England.
The only one that Steve can shed any light on is the V-Class on the left (is the sail # 16 or possibly 36?). Her name is AVOO or AVDO?
Anyone able to ID the motorboats on the right?

Mystery Launch at Lake Rotomahana
The above launch is obviously a tourist / charter boat but the styling is very ‘out there’. Photo comes from Lew Redwood’s facebook page. Nathan Herbert has commented that she has a nice looking hull, the question is from whom & when did the top 1/2 arrive?
The caption states: Steaming Cliffs, Waimangu, Rotomahana.
Lake Rotomanhana, Rotorua, is the North Island’s deepest lake & increased it size x20, as a result of the 1886 Mt Tarawera eruption.
Any woodys able to shed some lift on her background > & what became of her?