MYSTERY LAUNCH 27-08-2019. Maristella
The above launch is seen here in the flotilla of pleasure craft welcoming the SS Gothic into Auckland in 1953.
Click Link to RSVP https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/08/08/how-often-do-you-use-your-classic-boat/
LADY ELLISON
Yesterday I was sent the above photo of the c.1952 launch – Lady Ellison by Murray (Mudge) White.
Murray commented that in 1953 he owned the classic yacht ‘ Scout’ and wishing to learn coastal and celestial navigation he went to classes held by Captain Warrick Dunsford at the RAYC and he asked Murray if he would help deliver the Lady Ellison to Wellington.
The skipper and old coastal skipper and an engineer and the boy (Murray) those job was mainly using a drum pump to pump petrol from the two 44 gallon drums in the aft cockpit to the main tank. Murray thinks the engine was a Scripps V8 conversion. After a 4 hour stop in Gisborne to refuel and have the radio checked (AZCI) they made Wellington in calm conditions in 77 hours. The previous owner was Bert Hammer but Murray doesn’t know who brought her.
Harold Kidd has previously commented on WW that the hull was built by Sam Ford c.1952-3 for Albert Ritchie Hammer of 22 Dommett Ave Epsom. Hammer worked on her for 6 months at Sam’s yard and she was launched at Okahu Bay. HDK also said that the treatment of the coamings and Sam Ford trademark windows were a bit clumsy compared with Sam’s usual treatment of them, but probably a combination of the current owner raising the center cabin by 9″ & Hammer’s handy work rather than Sam.
Her specs are LOA 36’, beam 11’4” and draught 2’9”. Currently powered by a Ford 120hp diesel. Home these days is Motueka, where her owner, Steve Simms, lives aboard.
Colour photo below ex Mark Jarvis – 2015
You can see and read more on Lady Ellison at the long below – remember to read the comments section, lots of chat there.
Last Chance to Check Out the Logan A Class Guff Fleet
If you haven’t yet seen the A Class Gaff Classic Yacht Exhibition – make the effort to visit the Viaduct this Saturday from 10am to 4pm. Details below & a sneak peek via one of Roger Mills stunning drone videos.
LADY KARITA – A Rolling Restoration
Lady K has been on the receiving end of what we call a rolling restoration for the last year+. Now based in the upper South Island, her owner Murray Shaw is very close to finishing a stunning re-fit. The photos above are from the camera’s of both Murray & mutal friend, John Burland & give us a peek at the standard of the work.
The last photos show Lady K relocated last week to the western entrance of Mapua Harbour.
You can read / view more on LadyK at the WW link below-
https://www.facebook.com/markety.mark.92/videos/377063966386661/
TARANUI
Taranui was built in 1963, so just slips into the classic category, helped by the Strongman design & built with a pitched pine carvel by Sam Ford in Lyttleton.
She measures 32’ 9”, with 11’ beam & 3’6” draft. Power comes from a 80hp Toyota B4 light truck diesel, converted to marine.
Taranui is for sale on trade (thanks Ian McDonald) & currently called Havelock Marina home.
Do we know any more about where Taranui has been for the rest of her life?
Woody Has Lucky Escape in Milford Marina
Woody Murray Deeble, keeps his lovely ‘spirit of tradition’ woody – Waikiore (pictured below at Riverhead Pub) , berth at Milford Marina on Auckland’s North Shore. I have been ribbing Murray that Waikiore is long over-due some TLC (5 years between haul-outs) so out of the blue he hauls her out at the Milford Cruising Club slip. Next day a ‘new New Zealander’ has a wee parking oops & ends up in the water in Waikiore’s berth.
Some would say Murray was very lucky – others would say bad luck i.e. would have been a nice insurance claim 😉
Tide In
Tide Out
MYSTERY WHANGAREI LAUNCH
The above launch is listed on trademe as a ‘Samsford’ – one would have to assume they mean Sam Ford.
What I can tell you about her is that is is 30’ in length, built of wood in 1965 & is powered by a 4 cyl. 72hp Ford diesel.
Home post is Whangarei. (thanks to Ian McDonald for the listing heads up)
Anyone able to ID the launch & tell us more about her?
Drunken (Isslington) Bay Dec1938>Jan1939 – Aft hand = Eric Clay
Drunken Bay 1938 – Speed = 10 knots
Mansion House Bay, Kawau Island
Maka Maile + Waitematawoodys Hits 3,000,000 Views
Today’s photo essay on the 1937, Sam Ford built, Maka Maile to me is what makes WW so special – out of the blue a comment gets posted on WW by Perrin Reilly advising that he has a collection of photos of Maka Maile that belonged to his Grandfather-in-law, one Eric Clay. Eric crewed on Maka Maile in the late 1930’s. When launched Maka Maile was 41’ in length, with a 10’5” beam & powered by a Chrysler 77 petrol engine that pushed her along at 12 knots.
Perrin emailed the above photos to me & now instead of gathering dust in some one’s bottom draw, they can be shared with the classic wooden boating community. You can read more about Maka Maile’s past on this link https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/04/19/mako-maile/
Waitematawoodys.com Milestone – 3 Million Views
When I started this weblog I never imagined that it would grow into the site that it is today, with just over 2,000 stories & followers/viewers from almost every corner of the world. Obviously NZ tops the list with the USA & Australia 2nd & 3rd, after that its everywhere. As always with sites like WW, it would be nothing without the input of people like Perrin Reilly who take the time to send in their stories & photos, so to all of you – many thanks for sharing. And on that topic, please keep sending in content – whether it’s old photos / stories, restoration projects or just you enjoying your woody.
I would like to slip an apology in – in the first 6>12mths of WW, I only really had 6>8 people who sent me content, I can tell you it was a real challenge doing a daily story back them, now I get over 100 emails a day. So the apology is for not always being able to answer your emails, it’s not that I’m lazy or rude – just busy working on the tomorrows story 🙂
Enjoy today’s WW story & remember there are over 2,000 more in the back library 😉
Alan Houghton
Marjorie Rosa
Marjorie Rosa these days is owned by a friend of mine, Fraser Wilson & lives on Lake Rotoiti (Nth Is.) She is a very different looking vessel from when she was launched by Sam Ford in 1930. You can view/read more about her past at the link below.
I was sent the photos above of her, when she was named Juliana, from Lindsay Thatcher, whose family owned it before the Algies. The top photo was taken when she was used to take people on picnics to Kawau Island from the boarding house and the other is when used from Algies as a commercial fishing boat.
At my count there are 20 people aboard in the top photo & I assume they were fare paying passengers – I would predict that there wouldn’t have been a life jacket aboard, not even for the skipper 🙂
Most of the classics still afloat today have lived thru numerous lives & owners & it’s wonderful to see so many in recent times being restored to as new condition. The ownership & restoration of classic wooden motor boats is at an all time high & will remain so. The sad /good thing is that the re-sale market is so depressed – BUT that means it’s a great time to buy 😉
LADY KARTIA
I very happy to be able to advise that the 1938,43′ Sam Ford designed bridge decker Lady Karita is now in the hands of a new woodys friendly owner, Murray Shaw. Murray also owns the Collings & Bell bridge decker Kawhiti so the man has been bitten by the bug 🙂 . Work is already underway to return her to her former glory, see photo above, ex Steve Thomas, of ‘work-in-progress’ restoring her brightwork. The immediate plans are for her to remain in the Nelson region, but hopefully one day we will see her back on the Waitemata.
Lady Karita was built in Kauri for a flag officer of the Ponsonby Cruisng Club, Mr Victor Salek. Powered by Ford 130hp diesel, shaft drive, sees her cruising economically at 8.5 Knots. For many years she has been based in the Pelorus Sounds.
Back in June, CYA member Mark McLaughlin (Mapuna) alerted me to the fact that LK was on the market, Marks father has been Lady Karita’s caretaker/skipper for the last 15 years in Havelock & supplied the 2 press clippings below.
04-04-2018 Photo below ex owner Murray Shaw of Lady Karita hauled out in Nelson. In the background is Lady Ellison – nice to see the two Sam Ford built launches together 🙂
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