While using the WW search box yesterday for the SOS – SOUTHERN MAID story I typed in SOS and was amazed how many WW stories had SOS in the headline of text (selection above)
Ata glance not many of them were saved. The common denominator was lack of timing, in most cases WW was contacted with less than 24hrs notice of an appointment with a back-hoe.
SOS – SOUTHERN MAID – CLASSIC 1929 MOTOR LAUNCH NEEDS SAVING
The 42’ 1929 wooden motor launch – SOUTHERN MAID, built by E.R. Lane in Picton has just popped up on tme with a call out for someone to help save this significant southern woody. Current owner is unable to continue the upkeep of the vessel and the call has gone out for a new owner to step up.
As we can see from the photos below, she hasn’t always been in the ‘as presented for sale’ condition.
There must be a woody follower in the South Island that can bring the SOUTHERN MAID back to the condition she deserves. ( thanks Ian McDonald for the heads up)
SOS – CAN WE SAVE CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – LIBERTY – FROM THE LAND FILL – SOS
WW was contacted yesterday by the owner of the 30/33’ classic wooden launch LIBERTY that is moored in Whitianga.
As a result of last weeks storm, she has been taking on water and the Harbour Master has advised the vessel will be removed from her mooring and towed to a ramp and sadly then await a visit from the back-hoe.Note: her engine has been partially submerged.
LIBERTY has appeared on WW several times, links below to those stories. But in a nut-shell built somewhere in the 1919> early 1920’s period, 30>33’ in length, powered by a 35hp BMW engine (only 160hrs). Her provenance differs depending on who you listen to – some say built by Lou Burns and Stu McCallum in Te Papapa Onehunga. Harold Kidd has previously commented that he always thought she was the LIBERTY built by F and S Shaw in Devonport in 1919 when both brothers got back from WW1. She had a 12hp Regal originally. HDK suspected she’s been lengthened as well as had a couple of tophamper additions. L.R. Matthews had her in 1947 when Commodore of PCC and Noel Mitchell owned her in the 1960s.
Yesterday afternoon WW was contacted by fellow classic boat owner Mark McLaughlin – details below – “ I was down at RAYC this afternoon for my son’s Optimist sailing and found Silver Sea being towed in by the Harbourmaster. He told me she went onto rocks today at Brown’s Island and the keel got punched into the hull. She went down to the gunwales at the cockpit but they managed to keep her afloat long enough to get her into Okahu Bay. She was quickly pulled ashore to the old hardstand area (brutally!) and will stay there for 48hrs before disposal by the Harbourmaster unless someone wants to take her on. Sadly the owner is not insured and apparently this was to be his final trip in the boat before selling her. The Harbourmaster said it is unlikely the owner will have the resources or energy to fix her.”
Check out the video below – the haul-out was VERY agricultural………………. So woodys anyone out they prepared to step up and take on saving SILVER SEA Anyone interested should contact the Harbourmasters Office.
WW MERCHANDISE – IF YOU ARE THINKING OF ORDERING – DO IT NOW B4 STOCK RUNS OUT
LADY FAYE – CAN WE SAVE THIS CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH
WW has been contacted by interests of the Waipuna Boating Club asking for help in regard to the 32’ classic wooden launch – LADY FAYE
LADY FAYE is a Donovan design and built by 20th Century Boats, Takapuna in 1948. The company was owned by Andy Donovan and Fred Steel (the boats 1st owner)
The launch last made an appearance on WW back in April 2013 – photo below from that story. Since then she has several owners, all with the best intentionsof restoring her. These days home has been a pile mooring off the WBC and she is looking very neglected, these things happen so its time to move forward and either find a new home for her or a new owner. The club appreciate her provenance and would like to see her go to a deserving home. WW understands she is powered by a 4cyl. Ford D-series dieselbut requires work to her systems and probably re-caulking. The interior is partially bare.
WW understands the top photo (on pile mooring) is recent.The hauled out photos above are c.Jan 2021. Any woodys looking for a project or know someone that is – initially contact Mark via email waipunaboatingclub@gmail.com Make life easy of him and put Lady Faye in the subject line 🙂
Yesterdays winner of the quiz to name the launch – TEINA , John Dawson returned the favour and sent me the above photos of the launch – MOANA.
John commented that it was on tme late last month with a $1 reserve. According to the listing she was built in 1930, is 33’ in length and powered by a Ford 40hp engine. Located in Rawene, Northland.
As we can see she is looking very sad and probably beyond restoring.
Keen to hear what became of her and any known history.
The launch Nana popped up on tme 4sale by boat yard as a ‘As-Is-Where-Is’ sale.
Someone needs to snap her up – she has blue blood – designed by C. Bailey Jnr. , and built in 1934 by Chas Bailey & Son . 35’ in length and a very pretty woody.
Nana has appeared on WW several times – back in Feb 2017 she had just been repaired after being t-boned on her mooring by a wayward vessel. Link to that story with lots of pictures here https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/02/01/nana-resuced-restored/
New woody owner, Sam Mendlowitz gave me the heads up on the ex work boat – Sea Hawk and the fact that she was very close to having an affair with a back-hoe. As the heritage architects say – its got good bones and we need to find her an owner. I understand that the asking price is low and all relative to the intentions of the next owner, I almost never put links on WW but this woody needs saving – the tme listing # is 3380519991.
Check her out and if its not you, please forward this WW story to anyone that might be her saviour. Current home is Picton.
Sloanes Beach Regatta and Centreboard Cup
A quick heads up from the Herne Bay Yacht Club – the annual Sloanes Beach Regatta and Centreboard Cup is on this coming Sat 11 Dec 2021. FYI – the post-race prize giving and music is running as a vaccine pass event, so please be ready to show your vaccine pass.
As in previous years, the day will feature around-Watchman races for boats entering the Centreboard Cup. Come along and enjoy the spectacle of traditional mullet boat racing.
The rough plan is as follows. Sat 11 Dec Sloanes Beach Regatta & Centreboard Cup 1130 Race Entries accepted at Sloanes Beach 1200 Race Start 1: Mullet Boats and other boats 18’ and over, which we expect to be following the long course 1205 Race Start 2: Boats under 18’, which we expect to be following the short course (Race only runs if enough boats show up.) Followed by Prize Giving & Music
Times are estimates only; all activities are weather dependent.
Was sent the photos above today from Keith Ottaway of Sorceress ‘ashore / washed up’ under the Pohutukawa’s at Little Shoal Bay on the western side of Northcote Point. Keith understands she went ashore at low tide on Thursday and has been pushed up under the trees by the rising tide wave action. The tide today was too high for Keith to ascertain if there is any terminal damage.
Sorceress has appeared on WW before, link below, she is a fine ship – someone needs to save her before its too late 😦
UPDATE from Keith –She is flooded by damage to the after keel bolts – after wooden keel section has pulled away from keelson – with broken bolts. Water was draining still at low tide so its only a small leak at this stage. The hull looks OK at the moment – but that keelson damage may be the issue. Hope its not a chainsaw salvage. There is a lot of Kauri in there.
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