CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – MONTEREY Gets some TLC + Updated Labour Weekend Woody Activity At Kawau Island
Last week I did the right thing and helped a wounded friend deliver his classic woody – MONTEREY to the Slipway Milford for some TLC, while there a quick inspection showed up some dodgy previous work that needed sorting out. Worm damage to the stem/keelson that had been ‘bogged up’ and when the cabin sides were fibreglassed the f/g was taken over the beading, right up to the glass – perfect trap for moisture > rot. Was impressed with the low level of growth on the hull after 2+ years in OBC. If that was Bayswater you would have needed a spade.
Also out or waiting their turn was EILEEN PATRICIA, IONA II, and the Salthouse Southern Star 37 – CAPTAIN TOM.
UPDATE INFO ON THE LABOUR WEEKEND KAWAU SPRING SLASH REGATTA
Earlier in the month we reported that the 34’ John Salthouse built classic wooden launch – SEA FEVER was hauled out at the Slipway Milford for some TLC.
Yesterday afternoon she slipped down the railway into the Milford creek looking very grand.
#1 job was a Jason Prew Paint Job but her newish owners also upgraded some systems, repainted the decks, converted the old compressor driven freezer to 12V and removed / replaced a few spots of boat cancer. She was also fitted with a bow thruster to protect the new paint job 😉
As per most owners the project is a rolling restoration and next winter the cabin coaming bright work will get a birthday.
SEA FEVER is one of John Salthouse’s best sedan designs and enjoys a light and airy saloon with large windows that makes for a very comfortable vessel both on route, at anchor or in the marina.
And if you are ever in doubt as to the best way to haul out > launch your classic woody – check out the video below – railways rock ✔️ your boat will repay you for the kid gloves.
SEA FEVER – Gets A Visit To The Classic Wooden Boat Parlour
Earlier this year SEA FEVER the 34’ 1958 John Salthouse design / build wooden launch changed hands The Wooden Boat Bureau worked with owner Doug Reid to find a new custodian. The buyer ticked all the boxes on Dougs wish list, and if Doug is reading WW today I’m sure he will be very chuffed to see SEA FEVER getting TLC she deserves. (when launched her name was Onetaunga.)
I’ve commented many times that one of the reasons particular craft pass the half century mark is good old luck – luck in terms of having the right owners who value these classic craft, SEA FEVER has had a succession of good people caring for her and it shows.
In the next few days Jason Prew will be applying his skills to SEA FEVER and another one of our classic woody fleet will have a JPPJ (Jason Prew Paint Job)
SEA FEVER below in 2022 at anchor in Chamberlains Bay
No Names (and not SEA FEVER) – But the decal is a little OTT 🙂
The owner of the 36′ classic launch IONA II currently midway thru a total refit at the Slipway Milford is currently mooching around in Venice and sent in the above photo gallery of the hard working Venetian woody water taxis. Nice to have window into the other side of the world and to see the sun 🙂
The scope of the work on IONA II is next level and includes conversion to electric powered – there will be no combustion engine or generator i.e. not a hybrid. Really looking forward to following the project. IONA II was designed by Bruce Askew , and built in 1994 from strip planked wood + some f/glass, all good on a 1994 craft. Link below from when the work first commenced. I’ll get down there later in the week for an update, or maybe Jason Prew could put the tools down for a minute and send in some iPhone photos 😉 https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/05/28/iona-ii-gets-a-birthday/
Jump forward to last Saturday morning and she is sliding down the rails looking rather grand. It is always a big ask ($$) to bring these craft back to better than as launch presentation. But the feel good factor when you walk down the dock or row away from her in a bay is priceless.
There is a saying that I believe originated from Frances Herreshoff that goes like this “if as you walk away or row away from your boat, you do not look back at her, you own the wrong boat”
Over the last 2 years her owners have had one major focus – to retaining/ restore all her classic characteristics and charm. Well done to the Telford family and the team at the yard.
A few minutes before REHIA was launched my RAINDANCE also splashed after a brief haul-out for a face wash and bottom shave. Sitting for 2 months on her marina and with the engine not working, RD had a very impressive beard + a plastic bag around the prop 😦
Now do not be confused with todays woody – it is IONA as spotted in the weekend by Jason Prew at the Motuoapa Marina in Taupo. Jason commented that she is a sster-ship to IONA II that currently sits on the hard at {the} Slipway Milford.
Photos below of the work happening on IONA II. In the last photo below we she IONA II’s room mate – REHIA which has a fast approaching re-launch date. More on her later in the week.
Last we we reported in on the 1938 Colin Wild built launch – Rehia and its xxxxx underway at the Slipway Milford. Today we get an update on the work-in-process. With the current good weather Auckland is experiencing the team at the Slipway have not been holding back, in fact even Cam Malcolm has emerged from his engineering workshop to get ‘on the tools’ 🙂
Sometimes it is quicker to build new than try and save – so a new cabin door has been added to the work list.
The wonder finish Uroxsys (Alwood) always repays attention to prep, so the 100% back to bare wood will look stunning when it gets the treatment. Her owners will reap the rewards of this work for years to come, and as I said last week, you can’t spend too much on a Colin Wild craft 🙂
The 28’ David Bedham designed spirit of tradition launch that we featured on WW back in November 2023, link below it nearing completion at the Slipway yard in Milford.
Will be a very smart and fast addition to the Waitemata Harbour, were her intended use is as a fast island commuter.
SPRAT – Spirit Of Tradition + Orakei Hardstand Good News
During one of my recent visits to The Slipway Milford I was intrigued to see a recent addition to the work schedule – the sprit of tradition 28′ launch – Sprat, designed by David Badham and built in 2008 bt Peter McLea in Kerikeri, Northland. Sprit’shull is double diagonal kaikatia with a thick coat of ‘paint’ (aka f/glass). The cabin structure is foam core composite with glass.
Sprat is in for a re-power and and tart up (my words for a varnish job) – I understand that in her next life she will be a fast commuter / day boat for a Hauraki Gulf island residence.
It would be nice to see more craft like Sprat being built, modern with a slant to the past. The Salthouse yard were there with their Nick Peal designed 33′ weekenders – link below
VERY GOOD NEWS – refer below – ex summary > the hardstand was thrown a lifeline. Here’s what was passed at the Orakei Local Board meeting
a) approve The Landing concept plan refresh as presented in Attachment A subject to two amendments to the plan that would reduce the planned passive green space area as described in d)i. and d)ii. below and outlined in Attachment E:
i) subject to commercial viability, retain approximately 50 per cent of the 2022 managed hardstand area (about 2,750 square metres, including the washdown pad and associated existing filtration system) to establish a smaller, flexible-use site for a short-stay haul-out facility (based on the presentation in Attachment E from the Young 88 Owners’ Association) to be used from May to December each year and the site being cleared and available for activations and major events from January to April, contingent on the approved operator providing the necessary infrastructure and a commensurate commercial return to the Ōrākei Local Board and operating to the highest industry standards in respect of water and air quality management
ii) if feasible, retain and utilise the existing filtration infrastructure and associated washdown pad to enable a cost-recovery wash-down facility for small recreational boat/water-craft users as they exit the boat ramp and sea-access ramp areas
iii) further to d)i request staff to undertake an expression of interest and other enabling processes to facilitate the establishment of a smaller flexible-use site for a short-stay haul-out facility as soon as possible with a view to commercial arrangements being in place from 1 July 2024, and to keep the local board informed of progress
b) request staff to report back before 30 June 2024 outlining an updated amended final plan incorporating d)ii., and, if commercially feasible, with a return to the Ōrākei Local Board incorporating d)i. to enable the local board’s decision making on the final plan configuration
Visitors to {the} Slipway Milford yard last month would have seen the launch – Summer Wine hauled out getting a serious refresh in & out.
Summer Wine was designed and built be Noel May, Buckland Beach, launched in 1993 so slips into the spirit of tradition category .
The weather last Friday when she slipped back into the Milford creek as not very pleasant but she still looked very smart. Launch day photos via cadet WW photographer Jason Prew 😉
In the on the hard photos we also see the 1953 A Couldrey designed, Brin Wilson built launch – Endeavour , hauled out for some cardiac surgery – the engine is being reconditioned.
waitematawoodys.com #1 for classic wooden boat stories, info, advice & news - updated daily - 14+ million views 