Tag Archives: Tainui

CLASSIC LAUNCH TAINUI – RELAUNCH DAY DRAWS NEAR

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CLASSIC LAUNCH TAINUI – RELAUNCH DAY DRAWS NEAR

WW has been following the restoration of the 38’ 1967 built classic launch – TAINUI for several years and as we can see from todays photos from Blair Boats, the big day is not too far off. Wonderful work being done and owner John Sloane must be over the moon.

Lots of previous WW stories covering her past, but looking at todays photos its hard to believe she was once a Harbour Board workboat. 

Check out the previous updates at this linkhttps://waitematawoodys.com/2025/02/17/restoration-of-classic-launch-tainui-update/

Photo below from ‘way back’ 🙂

RESTORATION OF CLASSIC LAUNCH – TAINUI – UPDATES – RELAUNCHED

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RESTORATION OF CLASSIC LAUNCH – TAINUI – UPDATES – RELAUNCHED

Very pleased to be able to report that the restoration of the 38′ classic wooden launch – TAINUI , built c.1967 is progressing well – recently Blair Boats provided via fb the above images. TAINUI is kauri carvel planked and has a beam of 9’3″.

TAINUI was originally named KAIPARA and was a pilot vessel on the Kaipara Harbour. From that role she was converted to a commercial fishing vessel and then went off to Great Barrier Island, GBI more often than not ends up a grave yard for wooden boats but she was saved by John Sloane who and bought back to the main land. After 8+ years at the boat shed at Whangateau TAINU was moved to Blair Boats for fitting out and re-powering prior to launching.

Recent work has seen the ‘new’ Gardner engine fitted and aligned on reenforced engine beds. The photos show that the head and anchor locker work is almost complete. 

As is becoming the normal these days a jet bow thruster is also being installed 🙂

Read more on TAINUI here https://waitematawoodys.com/2024/08/27/the-classic-wooden-launch-tainui-relocates-north/

11-04-2025 UPDATE ex Blair Boats – new floorboard have been fitted and varnished

24-08-2025 UPDATE ex Blair Boats – the work continues – teak hand rails and anchor roller, engine box undercoated.

10-09-2025 UPDATE – First coat of varnish on the hand rails and teak capping going on the toenail. 

22-09-2025 UPDATE – work continues with bonding and screwing on the laminated teak capping on the toe rail.

01-10-2025 UPDATE – Varnish going on the trim and toe rail

07-10-2025 UPDATE

UPDATE 10-10-2025 – Tainui was moved the outside shelter to free up some space in the shed. Latest work includes – installing custom built bifold doors, bronze potholes and engine vent.

01-11-2025 UPDATE – Bow rails receiving final coat + installed.

UPDATE 30-11-2025

SPLASH DAY HAS ARRIVED

THE CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH TAINUI RELOCATES NORTH

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THE CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH TAINUI RELOCATES NORTH

As reported last week the 38’ 1968 ex work boat – TAINUI was heading north to Blair Boats in Kerikeri to bring to fruition owner John Sloane’s dream.

In the photos above we see TAINUI leaving the Whangateau traditional boat shed via the beach and then heading north to Kerikeri .

Third photo sees her resting on the lawn at the Blair yard, waiting her turn in the shed. 

Last photo is of the Gardner 5LW installed. John commented previously that there is no intention to have an engine box – the mighty Gardner will be centre stage – as per MY GIRL, photo below – we like that 🙂

15-11-2024 UPDATE – to quote owner John Sloane ’The journey begins’ at Blair Boats

18-01-2025 UPDATE – work underway in the Blair Boats shed – we like that 🙂

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – TAINUI – On The Move Again

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – TAINUI – On The Move Again

Back in early Feb 2016 we reported that John Sloane had recently purchased the 1967 38’ ex workboat – TAINUI and had transported her to the Whangateau traditional boat yard for a major refit – well woodys fast forward 8 years and the decision has obviously been made to relocate TAINUI to another yard. 

My spies tell me that Blair Boats in Kerikeri will be taking over the project, so we look forward to regular updates and photos.

At one stage there was a mint Gardner engine (see below) waiting to go in, keen to learn what became of that engine – hopefully still in storage.

In a previous WW story we learnt from Phil Saunders that TAINUI was the (then) Marine Department fisheries protection launch based at Russell during the 1950s and 1960s and was skippered by Jake Saunders and Inspector Anderson. She is a great sea boat and when in service she was kept in immaculate order. She sailed weekly to provision Cape Brett Lighthouse, often in inclement weather and also oversaw the harvesting of rock oysters up Kerikeri inlet.

UPDATE ex JOHN SLOANE – The 3LW was traded and we upgraded to 5LW . Which is sitting in her . Dave Shaw the grandmaster has done all the work as I wanted the engine to be a show piece with open engine room,  including move hydraulic gear box . Will keep you posted as things progress . 

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Tainui

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TAINUI

 I received an email yesterday from woody – Mark McLaughlin, regarding the launch Tainui, that he and his wife previously owned – I’ll let Mark tell te story – 

 “My wife was in Thames recently for work and managed to get a few photos of our old launch Tainui (also previously owned by Sue & Mark Edmonds before me), having recently emerged from the shed at Kopu Marine. After 10 years of sitting idle in a mud berth at Thames she now has a new owner, Peter Elliot. Peter works at Kopu Marine and has bought Tainui back to life again. Amongst other items, I understand she has had new fuel tanks installed, new windows fitted (with the original claytonrite window rubber mouldings now replaced with battens), new stainless steel bow rail, some interior upgrades, and she has been stripped back to bare wood and repainted. When the photos above were taken last month she was just awaiting antifouling and will then be relaunched.  Tainui was very well built in Nelson in 1958 by boat builder Alan Westrupp for Ron Montgomery at “Montgomery’s Garage”, which is the site where the Montgomery Carpark is now. Ron Montgomery did the finishing work and engineering on the boat himself. The original engine was a 6 cylinder Chrysler Crown, replaced in 1988 by a 4 cylinder Toyota 1W diesel. The design is derived from a Nova Scotian lobster boat hull form by US Naval Architects Eldredge-McInnis Inc. She is very sea kindly and capable of a good turn of speed.  Also above is a photo from 1958 when new and another one from the “Nelson Photo News” in 1960. The last photos show her on the pole mooring during our ownership. It’s great to see Tainui looking refreshed now and hopefully we see her out and about again on the water soon.”
Look below to previous WW story https://waitematawoodys.com/2013/04/23/tainui/

RSVP waitematawoodys@gnail,com

Tainui in the Sounds

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Tainui in the Sounds

Nathan Herbert sent in the above photo of this Dick Lange design/built woody that he spotted on his recent trip to the Marlborough Sounds.

She is quite big for a Lange, so hopefully we can ID her & dig out some info on her?

 

08-03-21 Input from Nikki Clark – The mystery is TAINUI owned by my dad (Peter Wiblin) and has been part of our family for 42 years. She lives at Momorangi Bay Marlborough Sounds. We understand she may be a Dick Lange built 1968 for Marine Land Napier as a dolphin catcher. Dad had her lengthened in 1986. Dad was told she was one of three built the same. Any more information would be fantastic 

Mystery Launch (Tainui)

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Mystery Launch (Tainui) 

I was sent the above photos by Graeme Sapwell who is hoping to ID this launch.

They were taken in Auckland in 1989, the vessel is 26’ in length, but the design/builder unknown. She was at the time powered by 60hp Fordson.

The name on the photos is Tainui, but not the original name. Can anyone identify her?

Tainui – The old days

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TAINUI - c1940s

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TAINUI – the old days

Photos & details ex Fraser Chapman via Ken Ricketts. edited by Alan H

The above photos show Tainui in the 1940’s & 1970’s.
There have been several posts on Tainui on ww (link below) but these photos deserved their own post, rather than be added to the existing. I’m a little confused because the top b/w photo Ken emailed to me is tagged 1940’s but else where on ww it has been stated that she was built in 1967 for the Auckland Harbour Board.

Tainui is currently at the Whangateau boat yard undergoing an extended restoration which includes a full rebuild on the Gardner engine. Her Kiwi owner lives/works overseas so will be very keen to view these photos, equally we look forward to following her progress at the yard.

Fraser Chapman has told Ken R that he recalls he bought Tainui in the 1980’s off the widow of a Helensville gentleman, who had owner her for approx. 10 years. Tainui was moored at a jetty, on a private property, opposite Herald Island, (probably Beachaven), when he inspected & bought her. He took her to Thames, where he has lived for a great many years. He owned her for approximately 7 years & sold her to the proprietor of a Boatel in the Sounds, who sailed her directly down the East Coast, to the Sounds from Thames, without stopping. This ties in with the existing details in one of the previous posts on herr which states she was on-sold, (presumably by the Boatellier) in Plimmerton in 1994.

When Fraser C., bought her she had a 3 LW Gardner, but whilst on a trip to the Bay of Islands, not long after he bought her, Fraser called on the people at Opua who had replaced her original engine, which was a 3 cyl Kelvin, with the Gardner & actually saw the old engine, which was painted green, still there, under a tree, on the property. Fraser believes it was replaced because the Gardner was more economical & she went faster. Fraser said she cruised at 9 knots all day.

Fraser believes she was built by Coulthard possibly around 1953/55 & the kauri for her milled in Thames at the Twentymans Mill. Fraser was good friend with the Gt. Barrier Island radio operator at that time also, during the early days of her Govternment ownership era. They both spoke often, about her trips to service the lighthouses in the area during that period.

Fraser advises that her new owner John Sloane, rang him in an effort to try to find her, some time back, as John Sloane’s father, along with John as a young lad, had cruised on Tainui with Fraser frequently & John had such happy memories of that era, he contacted Fraser & told him he would like to buy her. Fraser told him that she belonged to the Christiansens, of Gt. Barrier Island, who he thought had had her there for about 10 years. John tracked the boat down & now owns her.

Can anyone confirm the builder / year?

Link to past ww stories on Tainui

Tainui On The Move

Mooching Around Whangaroa

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20160416_133847

Mapu

Leah/Leaf?
Leah/Leaf?
Leilani
Sea Mite? & Leilani
?
Lady Jade
Tainui
Mapu

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Mooching Around Whangaroa
photos ex Nathan Herbert

Last weekend Nathan took a break (based on the weather forecast) from working on Lucinda & headed north to Whangaroa for some R&R. He reports the fishing was good.
This collection of photos show some of the woodys Nathan spied in the harbour (Totara North) while aboard Korara.

Tainui On The Move

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TAINUI ON THE MOVE
photos ex Pam Cundy

One of the ww woodys, John Sloane, recently purchased the 1967, 38′ kauri plank carvel launch Tainui from the Great Barrier Island. We do not know a lot about her but she did start life as an Auckland Harbour Board work boat.

John has retained the service of the Whangateau Traditional Boat Yard to under take a two year restoration of Tainui. Pam & George had previously travelled to the island to inspect her & yesterday (10-02-2016) the real work began with Pam & George towing Tainui back to Whangateau with the help of Dave Jackson & his wee ship Karros. Pam reports it was a very pleasant trip & Tanui’s now tucked up at T Point and will go up the creek to the boat yard later today.

Tainui is a great looking launch & I’m sure John picked her up for a good price. She is also a very lucky boat because she is now in the care of one of the best classic friendly yards in NZ.
We will follow the work at WTBY with great interest.

Still keen to learn more about Tainui’s past – anyone able to help?

More details on Tainui here https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/12/28/tainui-3/

15-06-2018 Update – photo below ex Whangateau boat year fb  showing Tainui’s rebuilt Gardner being delivered ex Dave Shaw’s workshop. Looking stunning 🙂 well done John. 

Visit the yard fb page to see / follow the restoration

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Update 10-09-2019 – Tainui seen here off Cape Brett, in the 1958>1966 period. Her owner John Sloane commented to me that she was probably ‘working’ in her role as an Oyster Inspector boat.

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