Tag Archives: Slipway Milford

Kotuku

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KOTUKU

When I was coming onto the Slipway at Milford the other day, this very smart launch  – Kotuku had just vacated the cradle I was heading for. Kotuku is a 26’ Pelin Mascot and has just had some serious TLC (9 weeks out). 

Powered by a 25hp Isuzu 2ab1, she would be very frugal on the fuel.

She wasn’t going far – she’s a river rat e.g. calls Milford Creek home.

Message For The Skippers That Did The Woody Trip Last Easter To Paeroa

Check your prop/s – seems there was a few solid items hiding in all that mud – Raindance’s prop was in need of some love from Dr. Cam at the Slipway Milford workshop. All 3 blades were similar to the one below 😦

Westshore 1931 Regatta

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Westshore 1931 Regatta

Now I might be losing my marbles, but I’m pretty sure I haven’t run this story before.

Back in early 2019 an old friend – Greg Fenwick, sent me the above photo of the motor boat – Heather, participating in the Westshore Regatta in Napier on Jan 31st 1931.

In the photo Greg’s dad John, is on the helm, aged 12 years at the time.

Four days later the Napier Earthquake hit and the waterway in the photo was no more. The location is now close to the site of the current Napier Airport. The houses still exist and are next to the main highway north in to Napier. 

Any info on what became of Heather would be most welcome.

Job Opportunity At Auckland Boat Yard

Todays a shout out to anyone that is this person or knows someone that is – looking for a work-life change. If you have a CV you’re probably not who we are looking for 🙂

In no particular order does this sound like you –

• Good practical hands on general skills

• Not afraid to roll your sleeves up and just get the job done

• Sense of humour

• Looking for full time / part time / flexible hours

• Age open – young > old, its all about attitude

We offer – 

• Small passionate team

• Central Auckland location

• Working railway slip – one of few left in Auckland

• Wide variety of work

• Plenty of parking

INTERESTED? In the first instance email cam@slipway.co.nz

Aloha

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ALOHA 

The 1926 Charles Robinson built, St Mary’s Bay, Auckland launch – Aloha has appeared twice on WW but we have never been up close. Yesterday she came into the Slipway Milford for some TLC. A resident of Bayswater Marina, her bottom would have to be the worst I’ve seen ex there.

Interesting point – as Aloha came up the Milford Creek , she slipped past the launch Aumoe, the two boats had been regular cruising buddies in the mid 1960’s > 1970’s – and were always rafted up together. They even had side-by-side boat sheds in the Whangarei Town Basin. Powered these days by a Yanmar 125hp engine. Hopefully we can get a few more details on her e.g. length etc

Previous WW stories: 

Feb 2015  https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/02/24/aloha/

More recent WW story (Mar 2022) https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/03/17/aloha-2/

Busy Morning – One Down & One Up

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As purchased

Busy Morning – One Down & One Up

Yesterday the 30’ 1978 Roy Parris built launch – Waikaro, slipped back into the creek at the Slipway, Milford, looking very smart post a lot of work both in and outside. A Jason Prew paint job and 15+ coats of uroxsys were just the icing on the cake + lots of work on her systems and ‘lets keep the water on the outside’ eg new windows etc.

No sooner had Waikaro vacated the cradle, the 38’ 1937 Sam Ford built launch – Menai (below) was climbing into a warm bed. After a lot of deferred maintenance work, Menai had been ’settling down’ eg taking up on one of the Milford marina berths before getting her final top coats. The new bow-thruster certainly made manoeuvring in the creek easy. 

UPDATE 12-07-2022 back in the water after the JPPJ at The Slipway Milford.

Mystery Bay of Islands Yacht – REGULUS

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Mystery Bay of Island Yacht REGULUS

On morning of 13th March Dean Wright spotted the above yacht off Moturua Island in the BOI.

A mystery to Dean and myself – can anyone put a name to the boat and tell us about her?

Input from John Bertenshaw. -the mystery schooner is Regulus , a William Hand design originally from San Francisco. Its been in the bay for some here. Circa 1928 build or so IIRC. Photo below 

The Mence armada, below, sharing the Slipway at Milford this week 😉

Jeanne & Eileen Patricia

The Balmain Bug

Hugh Gladwell sent in the above YouTube link to a very cool video on the Australian Balmain Bug – the six foot skiffs that hav been racing on Sydney Harbour for over 130 years.  As Hugh joked – perfect for someone wanting to get into classic yachting without the marina fees 🙂

Awarua Relaunches

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AWARUA RELAUNCHES

The 1947 Lidgard built 36′ launch – Awarua has been hauled out at the Slipway Milford for several months. Her new owner righting some deferred maintenance, enhancing her internal layout to suit ’todays’ expectation re amenities, giving the engine a birthday and getting a JPPJ (Jason Prew paint job).

Awarua slipped back into the water on Saturday morning looking very regal, still a few internal jobs to be ticked off, as there always is. Her owner is a committed woody, this is the 2nd woody in the fleet 🙂

Awarua has appeared on WW numerous times – links below

Awarua – Gets  A Make Over
Awarua – A Peek Down Below
Mansion House Bay c1947

Raindance Gets A Birthday

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Raindance Gets A Birthday
Firstly a double apology 

1. If you are one of the several WW followers that have an issue with me posting photos of my launch – switch off and read a book, in fact do everyone a favour and push delete to WW updates

2. Today is all about the boat – after several weeks of being hauled out at The Slipway Milford, I relaunched today – I have used the term b4 but I’m as happy as a dog with two dicks 🙂
I will not bore you with all the work but Jason and Cam at the Slipway have corrected a telephone book size list of issues, faults and potential future oops – the ‘Readers Digest’ version of the work I’m very happy about is :-

• the paint job, stunning

• the steering, rebuilt including new rudder tube / stock / arm

• the mast – rewired / vanished  + visual enhancements

• refurbished stern – removed upright support posts + rot

• refastened duckboard

• addressed several niggling water leaks

Still a few cosmetic jobs on my list but she is looking 90% perfect.
If you are joining us on Sunday for the Woodys Riverhead Tavern lunch cruise, you can have.a gander dock side 🙂

(Photos ex Jason Prew & yours truly)

Can We ID This Launch

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Can We ID This Launch
Another photo sent in by Bryce Strong from his families old photo collection. The above launch is a mystery to me, but the very distinctive array of windows should trigger someones memory. I can make out the following letters on her name board ‘_OANUI’

Given the other photos in the album, the location would have to be in / around the Hauraki Gulf. 

STOP READING THIS AND GET DOWN TO THE WW – SLIPWAY MILFORD, BOAT BOOT SALE On today between 10>11.30am @ 5 Omana Road, Milford. 


Circle The Diary – November 6>8th – Aucklands Waterfront Celebrates Yacht Designer John Spencer – Details below

http://www.tinorawatrust.co.nz

Yard Mooching

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My Girl

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YARD MOOCHING

Over the last few days I have had cause to be in the vicinity of several boat yards

THE SLIPWAY MILFORD
Jason Prew has his 1925 Dick Lang built speedster – My Girl out and is in the process of re-powering her with a ’newer / better’ version of the 100hp Volvo that powers her. Given an engine box hasn’t been ticked off the To-Do List, this ones being pimped and blinged a little.
The new engine wasn’t the primary reason I called in, I had to see Jason’s just added,  Riviera styled set up for his Robert Brook built classic dinghy. I’m told it all comes apart and tucks away out of sight for photo oppo’s. Thats a relief 😉
Also at the yard are Eileen Patricia , Peter and Jenni Mence’s 1933 Arnold Couldrey designed and built launch. Out for even more enhancements and a coat of paint.
Meanwhile Connie V the 1949, Lane Motor Boat Co. built launch waits her turn.

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Eileen Patricia

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Connie V

MILFORD CRUISING CLUB
Little Jim and Wairiki are out getting some TLC

Little Jim
Little Jim

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Wairiki

PIER 21
Thanks to a call from Dave Giddens, I got to see the recently arrived / unloaded Tasmanian built Couta Boat – Rose. They were stepping my mast. Photos and video footage over on the original WW story https://waitematawoodys.com/2020/07/15/mystery-kiwi-buyer-australian-woody/

Rose
Rose

CLEVER MAN
Jason Delamore who purchased the launch Mahanui off Angus Rogers, is a clever chap and very handy with the tools. Jason has just recycyled an old oak table into a very smart table that alternates between the saloon and cockpit, thanks to a ‘Langun’ base / mounting system (ex UK).
The flip hinges give both a small drinks table and larger table for dinner.
Jason commented that he was pretty happy with the result and breathed new life into some gorgeous timber that will last another 80-100 years on top of its current 80+ years.