Tag Archives: Riwaka Marina

CLASSIC CLINKER LAUNCH – WEST BAY @ RIWAKA INLET

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CLASSIC CLINKER LAUNCH – WEST BAY @ RIWAKA INLET

The ‘marina’ (I use the term loosely) at the Riwaka Wharf, located between Motueka & Kaiteriteri, Nelson is probably best called mud berths. Don’t get me wrong thats not a negative description – the area is very well maintained and visually engaging.

Back in March 2018 friend John Burland snaps some photos of the area, WW did a story and the lead photo was the wooden clinker launch – WEST BAY berthed next to ROYAL SAXON. 

Fast forward to yesterday which was a miserable wet day in Auckland and I was searching the WW files for a lost boating photo and I found a file tagged ‘Mud Berths – Riwaka Inlet’, it contained a collection of photos I had taken of the Riwaka Inlet on a trip down south.

Included were todays photos of WEST BAY ‘dried out’, she is a rather smart wee woody that must have a cool back story – so woodys can we learn more.

Results from Mondays poll on the hull colour of the launch – BONITA – blue the winner by a wide margin 🙂

RIWAKA INLET STROLL

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RIWAKA INLET STROLL

My part time resident (1/2 year in Tasman area and the other 1/2 in Germany) has just returned to NZ and wasted no time checking out the Riwaka Inlet waterfront – todays photos shows a recent addition –  the very funky Kahurangi Boat Shed Coffee House. Tied up alongside is the launch Aurora II. Rumour has it that you can get a good fix of caffeine there, when its open 🙂 (closed when John Burland was there).

The 38’ launch Aurora II was possibly built in 1927 by Collings & Bell, that is if we believe her 2016 tme listing. Thanks to Harold Kidd for the input on a WW story from Feb 2016 – link below

FEB 2016 https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/02/13/aurora-ii/

Auroroa II’s semi permeant spot at the end of the Riwaka Wharf has been taken by a launch that was once named ‘Hatterleys’ (last photo above) that at first glance has Lidgard written all over her. But a call to the 4sale phone number on the front screen told me it was built c.1960 in Whangarei, Northland by a M. Ryan. Anyone able to better ID her / confirm the build details. The seller is contactable on 021 026 23890 – if not sold by xmas she is off to the landfill 😦

08-12-2023 UPDATE ex John Burland

The owner of Aurora II is named Oli and he the back story to the boat is – Aurora II is 1923 built, kauri, worked as a whaler out of Akaroa, has a massive V8 up forward and that when the owner retired from whaling, he took off and replaced the superstructure and used her as a pleasure boat. 

Oli was selling coffee from a the boat shed but the Tasman District Council (TDC) had issue with that so he moved the set-to the boat – But guess what ‘you can’t have commercial activities in a coastal environment (plus some other bylaw) and there is a $700 daily fine – so sadly the poplar cafe has now closed.

John commented Oli has a cart at the Motueka Sunday Market, so if you’re local, make sure you support Oli. (photos below ex JB)

In the photo below we see the wreck of the ship – Janie Seddon, laying at rest on the beach at Motueka. Read more about the wreck at the link below  https://mainzdailyphoto.com/2011/06/08/the-wreck-of-the-janie-seddon-1353/

Southern Woodys at Riwaka

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Southern Woodys at Riwaka

One of my southern woody spies – John Burland, has just has returned to NZ after summering over in Germany (he lives there, well at least in the northern summer).

Not long after unpacking the bags he was heading down to the Riwaka riverside marina, close to Motueka, Tasman. As the photos show the area is seriously tidal and John’s visit was at low water. 

While John commented that the photos were of the usual suspects, it always good to see what’s normally hidden.

In the photos we see Varlene getting some TLC, as an aside looking at the finish on Varlene’s rail and the tin – it looks like at last Cetol is an ok finish – used to be a horrendous orange/yellow colour, similar to what actor George Hamilton used to use as fake tan (photo below)

13-12-2022 UPDATE – ex John Burland – more photos below, and yes the tides still out 🙂

Matahorua

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MATAHORUA

Friends Pauline and Tim Evill managed to get a day away from the grape harvest at the Lawson Dry Hills vineyard and were mooching around their old home town of Mapua, Nelson.Tim never likes to be far from the sea so its not surprising he ended up down at the Riwaka river/estuary where there is always an impressive fleet of woodys berthed.

Today’s woody is an open cutter named Matahorua, which my suspicion of being an ex Outward Bound boat was confirmed with a quick google search – she is stretching the WW ethos a bit as she is made from ply and fiber-glassed but her salty looks get the tick. Would have to be a contender for the boat with the highest number of individuals that have sailed / rowed her 🙂

Riwaka Channel – Marina

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RIWAKA CHANNEL – MARINA
Now I used to think the channel up the creek to Auckland’s Riverhead Hotel was narrow and shallow. Well the photos above of the Riwaka Channel take things to another level (low). To quote John Burland who took the photos – “the channel is narrow, winding and mobile”. That is an understatement.
John has pulled together a collection of photos showcasing some of the woody craft at Riwaka Marina, for those not familiar with the area, Riwaka is located between Motueka and Kaiteriteri , in NZ’s upper South Island.
John’s is very talented with a phone/camera and they will make woody Cameron Pollard’s day i.e. a lot of very practical vessels and very little varnish on display 🙂