WAIWHARE – MAYBE A WOODY, MAYBE A TUPPERWARE – BUT STILL A CLASSIC 

WAIWHARE – MAYBE A WOODY, MAYBE A TUPPERWARE – BUT STILL A CLASSIC 

Yesterday was another journey on the ‘Holiday Highway’ to Sandspit, spotted a classic craft on the marina that caught my eye – wasn’t sure if its a woody of plastic, or a combination of both.

These ‘Grand Banks’ designs offers lot of boat for the money. A friend once owned one and he always impressed visitors by asking if they would like a bath – technically more a shubb but it was a good break the ice line.

Todays craft is named WAIWHARE, my pigeon Maori tells me the name probably translate to Water House, which is probably a very appropriate name.

WAIWHARE is presented in very good condition – we like that, when an owners cares for their pride and joy.

Can we confirm the vessels breeding and build.

INPUT ex Brian Fulton – “I thought WAIWHARE meant WHY WORRY” 🙂

INPUT ex NIXON FRYER – she’s my grandads launch, Dennis Craig, Ex owner of the 28ft Couldrey Pirimanu. Waiwhare is a 34ft CHB built in Taiwan to the design of a grand banks. Power is by a 120hp Leemans Ford. And yes she is fibreglass hull and topsides but absolutely covered in teak inside and out. Next time aboard I can get some photos for a peak down below.

MAKE LIFE EASY FOR YOUR KINSFOLK THIS XMAS  Tell them to buy you a copy of the 2025 Mahurangi Cruising Club Year Book. Always value for money and choker full of great tales and amazing photos of our classic wooden craft. It will be in store next week at the retailers shown below – $20 well spent. Edited / crafted by design guru Steve Horsley, who has promised me that they is a fair division of yacht / motorboat photos. I know there is a least one launch article – I wrote it 😉

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH RAIONA – DOCKSIDE 

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH RAIONA – DOCKSIDE 

Back in July 2022 we had a superb insight into the 48’ 1919 Joe Slattery built launch – RAIONA as she exited the Colin Brown / Josh Hawke yard – links below. Her interior is so impressive.

I spied RAIONA recently dockside at Sandspit Marina and very happy to report she is being so well cared for. How goods that clinker dinghy, her 48′ make it look just right.

RELAUNCH https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/07/09/raiona-relaunch/

DOWN BELOW https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/07/11/raiona-a-peek-down-below/

24-08-2025 UPDATE ex Kiwi Classics – hauled out for annual maintenance at Sandspit Boat Yard

HAVE YOU RSVP’ed FOR THE WOODY RIVERHEAD TAVERN LUNCH CRUISE – RSVP to waitematawoodys@gmail.com

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – LADY ADELAIDE OUT FOR SOME TLC

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – LADY ADELAIDE OUT FOR SOME TLC

I Have been spending too much time at the Sandspit marina – as an example 4 trips in the last 10 days………

One of the upsides is bumping into a few woodys that I have not caught up with in a few years.

Last week I snapped some photos of the 1922 Dick Lang built 36’ launch – LADY ADELAIDE. Then yesterday there she is hauled out for some TLC. Back in November 2021 when she was for sale we ran a ‘peek down below story’ on her,  link below, and now get to see her out of the water.

LADY ADELAIDE is one of those classic wooden craft that just looks right from any angle. When done to her owner on the condition she presents in and the ongoing ‘investment’ in systems and salty look.

View Previous WW Story Below Nov 2021 https://waitematawoodys.com/2021/11/22/lady-adelaide-a-peek-down-below/

SEEMS MOST OF US SHARE THE SAME VIEW ON WHAT TYPIFIES A CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – results of yesterdays online poll below.

November 19-11-2024 Poll

MYSTERY CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH AT GREG LEES BOATBUILDERS

MYSTERY CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH AT GREG LEES BOATBUILDERS

Todays classic wooden launch is only a mystery because o one was home at Greg’s Sandspit yard when I was mooching around.

I’m sure Greg will comment soon with details on the vessel 🙂

19-11-2024 UPDATE ex Greg Lees – the launch was once named POLLY and resided at Kawau Island for an extended period. Previous owners include Dave Jackson.

05-08-2025 UPDATE – progressing nicely.

TODAYS THE CUT OFF FOR ORDERING WW GEAR FOR XMAS – Link Below https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/11/09/waitematawoodys-gear-limited-summer-offering-romance-ii-update/

CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT – CAPTAIN BANJO + WW merchandise

CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT – CAPTAIN BANJO

CAPTAIN BANJO is another woody that I spotted recently at Sandspit marina. Her stern shows her home port as Whangarei so maybe she is a visitor.

At first glance she has a southern gal look to her and that exhaust / comms stack is very robust for her size.

Can we learn more about CAPTAIN BANJO

19-11-2024 UPDATE ex Greg Lees – Built approx. 30 years ago by Lidgards, strip planked – powered by a Gardner 6LXB. Sadly her owner passed away last week.

XMAS WW MERCHANDISE – ORDER NOW

DETAILS HERE https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/11/09/waitematawoodys-gear-limited-summer-offering-romance-ii-update/

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – ARISTOS 

2015

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – ARISTOS 

Back in 2015 I took the top photo of the 36′ launch – ARISTOS at the  Classic Launch & Yacht exhibition, she is a very fine looking woody but with her probably being the only Des Townson designed launch to be built, we would not expect anything less. Built by Noel May and launched in 1985.

Over the weekend I had cause to be mooching around the Sandspit Marina and I spied ARISTOS, nice to see she is still presented in grand condition. The davits on the stern are an unusual design, with the ability to swing back. Wouldn’t suit a lot of classics but ARISTOS carries it well.

See and read more here https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/10/03/the-des-townson-story-aristos/

And here https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/03/09/aristos/

Photo below that I’m sure Des Townson would feel more comfortable with 🙂

Sandspit Yacht Club Yard Visit

Sandspit Yacht Club Yard Visit

Following on from yesterdays semi Sandspit story, I was there again during the week and did a quick loop of the SYC yard – nice collection of both traditional classics and spirit of tradition old hauled for some TLC.

If any of you are around any boat yards – get the phone out and take > send in some photo 🙂

Classic Woodys at Sandspit Marina

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Classic Woodys at Sandspit Marina

A couple of weeks ago I was up Sandspit way & spent an hour or so mooching around the new (ish) marina. Very impressive set up & with the yacht club’s haul-out facilities its a prefect spot to keep a woody. The real win win factor is the proximity of the ‘Greg Lees Boatbuilder’ yard, in recent years Greg & his talented team have rubbed the magic wand over some of our finest classic woodys. Just type Greg Lees in the WW search box to see the level of workmanship & perfection.

I have included a few photos of the motor camp where I stayed with my ex woodys boater – Chris Miller in this stunning motor home. 

A real bonus was the amazing meal & service we had at the Sandspit Yacht Club on Saturday night – I was expecting burgers & fries but no – everything – décor, service & the food was superb – check it out if you are up that way. The scallop entree was as good as anything you would get in Auckland City. Photos below.

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Update: I have been sent by Dean Wright the photo below of the dinghy ‘Tiki’ in happier times 🙂

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