Tag Archives: Roger Carey

MYSTERY CLASSIC LAUNCH – Help Needed Identifying The Craft 

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MYSTERY CLASSIC LAUNCH – Help Needed Identifying The Craft 

Todays classic wooden launch photo was sent in by John Dawson with a comment that while ‘sorting out’ a box of old family photos, he found an old newspaper clipping of the above boat , and on the back someone had written ‘Awhina’. So the first question woodys  – is  AWHINA the name of the boat and then if so what do we know about her. 

The bow pennant appear to have cross on it, as well as the hull, so maybe a vessel that serviced something medical related eg – quarantine ship / island , rehabilitation island (alcoholic detox) etc. Supporting this the word Awhina is Maori for – the helper, assist, support.

Can we learn more about the boat.

INPUT ex ROSS DAWSON – From Papers Past NZ Herald 23.7.1919…. Awhina “Hospital motor launch given by the NZ Power Boat Assn. for use in connection with the NZ Hospital ship Maheno….built in Auckland by volunteer labour in June 1915…launched June 10 1915…

30-04-2025 ex ROSS DAWSON – Copy of Papers Past clipping below which gives a full explanation of how this launch came about as charitable cooperation of number of Auckland boat builders. (click images to enlarge)

ATTENTION ROGER CAREY FAN’S

WW has been contacted by Trevor Cozens re the vessel GEM – refer below.

“I am not sure if anyone will be interested, but I have got the building moulds, stem and backbone patterns for Gem, built by Roger Carey. Also the basic lines drawings and a construction drawing for her. I was given them by a chap who used to work for Roger. I no longer have a use for them and if anyone is interested I am willing to give them away. I moved over to Picton from Greymouth 2001 and worked for Jim Carey until the yard closed 2009ish.

My email address is tjcozens@xtra.co.nz.

As featured 4 weeks ago on WW https://waitematawoodys.com/2025/03/29/classic-wooden-work-boat-gem/

CLASSIC WORKBOAT – L’AVENIR TO GET A 2ND LIFE

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As launched – photo coloured by Dean Wright
March 2025 Dove Bay
Conceptual Rendering ex Dean Wright

CLASSIC WORKBOAT – L’AVENIR TO GET A 2ND LIFE

Over the weekend I received a repot from Dean Wright (owner of MV ARETHUSA) that he had spotted the fishing boat – L’AVENIR moored in Doves Bay for a few days.

L”AVENIR was designed and built by Roger Carey and launched in 1958. Her spec’s are 50’ with a 14’ beam.

Dean had a quick chat to the new owner Dan, who advised they were on route to her new home port in Whangaroa. 

Dan has plans is to take the fishing gear off her. Now Dean Wright is a very clever chap so he did a before and after shot of what she might look like for Dan.

Dean also ‘coloured’ an old photo of her when she was new. 

Fingers crossed that Dan follows Dean’s suggestions and we end up with another stunning workboat conversion.

Anyone of the workboat group able to tell us more about L’AVENIR.

Observation – workboats are probably the most active sales category in the classic wooden boat movement at the moment – seems everyone wants something they can live aboard and have the ability to do laps of NZ.

CLASSIC WOODEN WORKBOAT – KAHENO

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CLASSIC WOODEN WORKBOAT – KAHENO

Todays photos recently popped up on the ‘ Carey Boats’ fb in a post by Phillip Carey and show the very smart looking 46′ workboat KAHENO. Phillip commented that when launched in 1966 she was powered by a Gardner 6LX, which may have been replaced in the 1990’s with a 5LW.

Hamish Mason commented that she was built for his grandfather – Dick Mason. She was once owned by the Salvation Army to service Rotoroa Island. She tragically sank with the loss of 4 lives in the Tamaki Strait circa 1986 whilst carrying timber as deck cargo.

From previous WW stories we learnt that she was refloated and in the 2016 > 2019 period underwent a conversion to pleasure craft. Links to those WW stories below.

WW Oct 2016 https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/10/24/23166/

WW Dec 2019 https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/12/27/kaheno/

Do we know where she is today.

Full details here  https://www.whangareimaritimefestival.co.nz/boatshow

SLOW MOVING TUESDAY

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Souvenir
Atheena
Ave Gitana

SLOW MOVING TUESDAY

Has been a few weeks of back to back woody boating activity, so today is a case of slowing down – So when the WW email inbox pinged with a note from Bay of Islands woody photographer – Dean Wright, my eyes lit up. As always Dean was sending in some great photos from mooching around the Bay of Islands aboard his magnificent woody – Arethusa .

Todays are from Deans weekend trip to Mimiwhangata and starting at the top we see one of my favourite workboat woodys – the Roger Carey designed (1954), built by Curnow & West Nelson Boatbuilders craft – Souvenir in Deep Water Cove.               

Souvenir is one of those boats that looks perfect from any angle. And of course there is a Gardner (6L3) below 🙂 Link below to July 2023 WW story –https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/07/05/souvenir-work-boat-wednesday/

Then we have – Atheena heading out of Mimiwhangata.

And lastly – Ave Gitana in Pip Bay ( this was 2>3 weeks ago). Link to Sept 2021 WW Ave Gitana Story below –                    https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/09/29/ave-gitana-workboat-wednesday/  we learnt back then she was previously named Mason Bay

Today I’ll doing something very un-boating related – but to me very chilling out – 1st one to guess what that is, its an inside project – wins a WW burgee – entries via email only to waitematawoodys@gmail.com . Closes off at 6pm.

QUEST – Heads Home 

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QUEST – Heads Home 

WW got alerted last week that the Roger Carey built double-ender – Quest was heading back to Picton after my time in the winterless north.  Sad for the northland fleet, but good news for the southern woodys.

Now Quest has been well documented on WW (use the WW search box) but we have never really got to have a good look aboard. Today thanks to the camera of Dean Wright we see Quest in all her glory.

The short story is – built 1959 as Roger Carey’s private boat, later converted to a work boat, then converted back to pleasure. She sat on the hardstand in Picton for a number of years and then came north, where she was given a major refit. Specs – 33’ x 9’9” x 4’6” and powered by a Gardner 5LW. A lot of boat for 33’ and in my eyes her new owners bought very well.

Nows The Time To Order WW Kit For Xmas – click link for details https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/11/11/58095/

Quest

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QUEST 

Back in May 2022 WW ran a story on the relaunch of the 1959 Roger Carey built 33’ double-ender – Quest , link below. The story goes that she was Roger Carey’s private boat and when sold was converted to a work-boat and then later on returned to pleasure use fit out. Her current owners did an amazing job of refitting her after a long spell on the hard in Picton. 

The Relaunch of Quest

If her looks aren’t enough to weaken your knees, the engine room will – tucked away is a Gardner 5LW.

SUNDAYS QUIZ WINNER – ALISTAIR McRAE Correct Answer Was –

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

Northern Star

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NORTHERN STAR

The 40’ ex workboat Northern Star was built c.late 196o’s by Roger Carey in Picton, then c.2009 she was converted to a trawler cruiser / live aboard.

Forward motion is via a rebuilt 6LX Gardner that is keel cooled. Like all good southerns woodys there is a diesel heater to keep toastie below.

From her tme listing (thanks Ian McDonald) we see that she is very well fitted out for extended cruising.

INPUT ex Russell Ward – photo below taken 20+ years back, in Picton marina. Russell commented that they all looked so much better in working colours than in the stark white that present owners use.

The Relaunch of Quest

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THE RELAUNCH OF QUEST

The last we heard of the Roger Carey 1959 built woody – Quest was back in August 2020 in a report from John Gander who being prompt by a WW story on Quest II, sent in photos dated 2008 of Quest berthed at Waikawa Marina, Picton. In these 2000 photos she looked very smart. Sadly John also included a photo taken in 2013 of her hauled out in Picton looking very un-loved and her planks crying out for a life afloat again.

View details and photos at this WW link https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/08/19/quest/

Then yesterday Bay of Islands woody Dean Wright sent in the above photos taken on Monday. Dean had been at Waipapa Landing, Northland to see Quest being put back in the water after a huge amount of work by owners Eric and Win Sanderson to get her back in the water again after spending so long on the hard in Picton. In my eyes there is a lot to like about this boat – while she started life as Roger Carey’s private boat, she was later sold and converted to a work-boat. She measures 33’ x 9’9” x 4’6”, has a canoe stern and best of all down below is a Gardner 5LW 🙂 Mondays splash was brief to check a few systems and caulking, we look forward to getting a peek-down-below when she is finally ship-shape.

You have to love the EBH (Exclusive Boat Haulage – JJ & Shelley ) rig, that is the way to transport your pride and joy 🙂

Highlander

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HIGHLANDER

Back in May while mooching around the upper Tamaki River, one of the woodys I spotted was Highlander – the 49’ Roger Carey designed boat. She has a 13’6” beam and draws 5’6”.Highlander featured on WW back in October 2019, link here https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/10/12/highlander/


The boat has an interesting history, starting life as a ‘home’ build then semi abandoned for 20+ years on a farm in Blenheim. Back in 1984 she was saved by Don Galbraith who along with Peter McManaway gathered all the bits , designed a wheelhouse and finished the boat off. They then brought her up to Auckland. Details on the passage in the above link.

In the above photo photo not sure if she is dockside for some work or whether that is her permanent home – can any one enlighten us? And maybe some more details on her.

Classic Yacht Association AGM – ATTENTION – Launch Members

A call out to all CYA launch owners – we (the launchies) need more say on the general committee, so how about putting your hand up to join the committee – for details on whats involved and required – email the launch captain Jason Prew launchcaptain@classicyacht.org.nz