Mystery Launch At Te Atatu Boating Club
Short story today, other things got in the way of WW life.
So we have another woody from last weeks visit to TBC.
Can we put a name to the boat and learn her past.
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
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
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
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
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/
Can We ID This Sinking Woody
Todays story comes to us from Ian McDonald via the Bay of Plenty community website – SUNLIVE’ –Article written by Rosalie Liddle
“Plans are in place for the removal of a vessel rotting and sinking on its mooring in Tairua Harbour. Sadly, the boat’s owner has recently passed away. Last week a commercial operator alerted Waikato Regional Council to an old wooden vessel sinking on its mooring in Tairua Harbour, says Waikato Regional Council’s regional harbourmaster Chris Bredenbeck. Staff from our Maritime Services team responded, pumping out the water.
The team returned again on Sunday, after becoming aware that the vessel was again taking on water. They pumped the water from the vessel and then towed it to shore on the high tide, where it remains, says Chris. After establishing that the owner has recently passed away, we arranged for the 300 litres of diesel onboard to be safely drained and taken away so it no longer posed a risk to the environment. Chris says while the diesel was being removed from the vessel at low tide, booms were set up around it just in case any contaminants escaped.
Unfortunately, the timber is rotten which prevents the vessel from being lifted off the beach, so it will be dismantled and removed over the coming days,” says Chris.”
So woodys – can we put a name to the vessel
MYSTERY LAUNCH 20-01-2024
Todays woody photo was sent in by Nathan Herbert, now we know the name of the boat – but today is a wee bit of a quiz to see how sharp some of you are.
Prize is a WW burgee – entry by email only to waitematawoodys@gmail.com Close off is 6pm today (20-01-2024)
QUESTION IS: Boats name, where was she built and what became of her.
uPDATE – A HINT – It isn’t a North Island built boat
Mystery 1937 Launch
Todays photo comes to us from ’Timespanner’ via a Maurice Sharp fb post. The location is the Whau Creek in New Lynn, Auckland and the photo originally appeared in the NZ Herald on 15 Oct 1937.
Its captioned – that the craft was 26’ in length, built by a Mr. L. Knaggs of Sandringham, Auckland to an American design, probably ex Rudder Magazine. Her first owner was a Mr.J. Harvey of New Lynn.
Can we put a name to the craft and possibly uncover what became of her.
Slipped the mooring lines yesterday for a wee trip to McKezies Bay, Rangitoto Island. Swapped photos with the crew on Endeavour, who were out celebrating owner Paul’s 84th birthday – Endeavour was looking very smart.
MYSTERY LAUNCH 15-12-2023
I was sent a link from Harold Kidd re a woody that had ‘popped up’ on one of his son’s fb marketplace feeds.
The boat is located in Wanganui, Manawatu and all we know is she is 28’ in length, no engine, and built by Laines (their spelling) in 1905. As discussed many times on WW, sadly the word Lanes is almost the default for any unknown launch, so she could be built by anyone. Been on tme for over 10 months and has an asking price of $500, maybe there are a few bronze fittings that could offset that.
It is a very long shot but – anyone out there know anything about the vessel.
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