Tag Archives: Mystery Launch

Mystery Launch & Location + Win A WW Cap

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Mystery Launch & Location 12-07-2023

Earlier in the week I had a what I would call a WW windfall – Bay of Islands based woody – Dean Wright shared 80+ black and white photos from NZ’s boating past.

Some have appeared on WW before but the majority are new to my eyes.

Todays photo immediately caught my eye – everything captured is just a delight and records a special moment in time. I’ll stop now before I start sounding like K Ricketts 😉 The photo is currently my laptop screensaver image 🙂

The possible date of the photo is January 1961, and comes to us from the Tauranga Library archives.

So woodys – a very long shot but can we ID the launch and possibly the location. I’ll give the last of the winter corduroy WW caps to the first person that can name both, I’ll need more than a guess, so – tell me in a little detail why you think your answer/s are correct. ALL ANSWERS VIA EMAIL ONLY TO waitematawoodys@gmail.com

MYSTERY LAUNCH 30-06-2023

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MYSTERY LAUNCH 30-06-2023

Todays woody was nearly one of those projects that got started then life and time got in the way – thankfully Simon Raikes discovered the hull and took on the project.

What we see above is the result of Simon’s very talented skills. Simon’s company Craftbuilt won the 2023 Supreme Award at the Master Joinery Awards.

The launch is 30’ in length, constructed of diagonal laminated kauri planks and powered by a 80hp Ford D series engine. Not a lot more is known about the launch, so if anyone recognizes her – let us know.

Mystery Lake Rotorua Launch #2

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Input from Janice Rogers – “The house in this photo belonged to my grandparents and I lived in it as a child at Otaramarae. I remember 1 of those boats is called the Kay and I recognised the other smaller one as well. The Kay was tied up down at our jetty in the enclave below my grandmothers house I know because I went for rides on it the rear of the bigger boat now has a ramp and has pretty much progressed from when I was a 12yr old 

I got a fright when I saw those photos online golly bought back many memories 

Judge Simon Moore’s parents had a house right on the lake but it often flooded many years later that land was leased to his parents by my grandfather so there you go a piece of history for you”

MYSTERY LAKE ROTORUA LAUNCH #2

Todays woody again comes to us from Greg Philpott, hopefully we will get a better response than last weeks WW story concerning another of Greg’s mystery boats. I suspect that Greg has exhausted most avenues and people ’switch off’ re his pursuit for answers.

The transporter / truck door reads – E.G. Maurice, Cartage Contractor, Rotorua

But its worth a final try – so woodys anyone able to enlighten us on the above launch.

And while we are in the middle of the North Island – circle 8th July 2023 in the diary for what looks like a cool classic event – details on the website – see poster.

lhttp://lakehop.co.nz

Mystery Lake Rotorua Launch

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MYSTERY LAKE ROTORUA LAUNCH

We know a lot about todays woody – but no name, builder or what became of her.

What we know – possibly built in 1927, 27’ in length with a beam of 7>8’. When launched powered by a 4 cyl. Ailsa Craig engine.

Initially a family launch, she was later moved to Lake Rotorua The photo above is dated March 1932 and is when her then owner Ted Fenton obtained a license to carry fishing parties.

The photo is ex the Don Stafford collection at the Rotorua Museum and is tagged ‘ Dads Boat’. Photo and details shared by Greg Philpott.

Can we put a name and builder to her and discover what became of her.

WW Caps – low profile, 6 panel, canvas caps in the new camel colour topped with dark brown WW embroidered logo has a dash of understated style.

just click the email link here and tell me your name, postal address and number of caps required. I’ll come back to you with payment details – $38 + $6 p&p. waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Mystery Havelock Marina Launch

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Mystery Havelock Marina Launch

One of the boats that Dean Wright photographed at Havelock Marina back in October 2022, is pictured above – to date we have not been able to ID her.

Obviously has the sounds boat look i.e. could take just about anything over the bow and still pop up.

The size of the dry stack exhaust at the rear of the pilot house suggests a rather large zoom zoom down below.

Can any of the southern woodys put a name and more details to her?

The New WW Caps Are Popular – Just Placed My 4th Order With the Embroiderer 

WW Caps – low profile, 6 panel, canvas caps in the new camel colour topped with dark brown WW embroidered logo has a dash of understated style. I have reordered 4 times already and the next shipment arrives today – so get your order in – just click the email link here and tell me your name, postal address and number of caps required. I’ll come back to you with payment details – $38 + $6 p&p. waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Te Atatu Boating Club – Mystery Launch

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Te Atatu Boating Club – Mystery Launch

While mooching around the TBC earlier in the week I spotted the above launch out for some TLC.

Can we put a name to her and any more details on her provenance.

Mystery Launch 14-05-2023

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Mystery Launch 14-05-2023

Back in January Eric Sanderson sent me a folder of random woodys – no names, no location or dates. Eric ‘recently’ restored the 33’ ex work-boat – Quest, re-launched May 2022. Quest is a very stunning woody, built in 1959 by Roger Carey, one of her many features is a canoe stern. Quest launching photos at link below: https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/05/11/the-relaunch-of-quest/

In the folder mentioned above was the launch berthed along side Moana, in my eyes a rather fetching craft. 

With that raked mast it does look a little familiar –  can you put a name and some provenance to her.

ORDER WW CAPS HERE waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Mystery Launch On The Wade River

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Mystery Launch On The Wade River

Small photo, short story today – its Good Friday.

The launch pictured above moored in the Wade River, Silverdale, Auckland that comes to us from an album that belonged to Brian Peet’s ‘non-boating’ side of his family. Brian’s assumption is that the launch is one that his landlubber ancestors saw from a shoreline or wharf.

Can we put a name to the boat – those portholes look vaguely familiar

Mystery Lake Boat and Location + Quick Poll

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Mystery Lake Boat & Location

WW was sent the above photo by Shelley Campbell, who uncovered the photo amongst some old slides that belonged to her grandparents. Shelly resides in Australia and commented that she had family in NZ and took cruises from Australia to visit them in the 1960’s and 1970’s. 

Unfortunately none of the slides are labelled so Shelley has been trying to figure out where the photos are taken using Google image search, the WW site came up in one of those searches for the above photo. 

So woodys the question today is – can we ID the location and launch – Shelley was thinking possibly Lake Taupo or Lake Wanaka. 

Mystery Launch + Woodys Stillwater Picnic New Date

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Jack Brooke Mystery Launch

Todays woody is only a mystery because the seller didn’t disclose the vessels name 😦

What we know is she is 36’ in length, with a 10’ beam. Built in kauri utilising carvel construction and launched in 1962.

Powered by twin Ford 65hp Diesel engines, cruises comfortably at 8>9 knots.

Anyone able to tell us more about the boat – name, builder, history etc 🙂

WOODYS STILLWATER / WATERFRONT PICNIC – NEW DATE – APRIL 15TH