Tag Archives: Whangaroa Harbour

WHAT BECAME OF THE CLASSIC LAUNCH – OK

Posted on by
3

WHAT BECAME OF THE CLASSIC LAUNCH – OK

During the week WW was contacted by Maxine Dignan a descendant of the Sanderson family from Whangaroa, Northland.  Maxine advised she was currently writing a history of the family. During the research process she came across the photo above of a launch named – OK, pictured in Whangaroa Harbour, with Eric Sanderson at the helm.The photo was in her great-aunt’s album, but sadly with nothing more than the name the boat name and skipper.

Maxine commented that she had also found on WW mention of Eric Sanderson, most often about the launch MANAAKI. She also has links to him re the HAZEL and his brother Alan ( who was the Whangaroa Harbourmaster) on the LOTUS, and apparently Alan also owned the CONDETTE and the  RIO. Eric’s son Jim, grandson Bruce and his sons have all carried on the family commercial fishing business.

With that distinctive bow pattern / caving she must be a Bailey & Lowe boat. And with a very memorable name like OK, we must be able to tell Maxine more about the vessel. So woodys what can we share with Maxine.

INPUT ex HAROLD KIDD – she is Te Whara built by Bailey & Lowe (obviously) in late 1916 for TL and N Drummond of Whangarei. The only local O.K was built by James Reid in 1909 as a passenger launch for Capt Stentiford. Misnamed in the caption I think.

JUST NEED TO FIND THE 8MM MOVIE PROJECTOR IN THE STORAGE LOCKUP 


One of the Friday night gang is an antique dealer and travels the country sourcing goods, these days mainly ‘old’ gold.During the week at one location he spotted a stack of old 8mm movies, on closer inspection one to him may have had appeal to me (note I’m being very PC). Titled ‘Nautical Nudes’ , filmed c.1960 – for the sensitive WW readers I have edited the cover photo, when and if its viewed I will report back 😉

Posted on by
Reply

SURE BEATS AN OLD BUS / MOTORHOME – AN APARTMENT THAT FLOATS

Yesterday we had a classic launch that looked like a block of flats, today we have an apartment that is a boat.

Todays craft is appropriately named – THE BARGE, she made a cameo appearince on WW back in January 2024, but at the time we learnt zero about the craft.

Today thanks to Alan Sexton and a Bay of Islands cruise he did in February 2024 , where he spotted THE BARGE in Whangaroa Harbour , we get to learn and see more about this rather cool house boat. Alan S tells the story below – 

“We encountered The Barge in Whangaroa in February 2024 during our Northland Cruise. Of course our first thoughts on seeing her were one of “amazement”, but of course curiosity got the better of us and on the way back from a kayaking trip had a chat with the owners (can’t remember their names). They were very friendly and welcomed us on board for a tour.

The Barge was built during the Covid times in a shed near Uretiti in about 18 mths. The owner is / was a house builder so that of course heavily influenced design/build.                                           Hull is a catamaran, philosophy was literally to be a “home afloat”, in particular the lady’s insistence on a full size kitchen.                                                                                                                 

Construction is construction ply, tanalised pine, aluminium window joinery and house paint. I don’t think she was glassed over. Most of the marine fitout came from Trademe, Facebook market place and other used equipment emporiums.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Shaft drive engines were Nissan SD22 diesels, the fuel tanks were 2x 44 drums in each hull, water tanks were 3 cubes in each hull. The upper level was built separately from hull / lower level for transport limitations. The owner said the boat builders at Marsden Cove were just about apoplectic when she arrived on transporters for assembly and launching.                                                                                                                                                                                           Cruises at about 5 kts under power and owner said although he of course watches the weather she handles ok in a bit of a sea. Certainly not an example of beauty but functional to the max.”

CLASSIC WOODY CRUISING AT WHANGAROA

Posted on by
2
LUANA
STELLA MARIS
ATHENA
TUI
NGARUROA
MILLIWAYS
CEREGO
UNKNOW
METEOR
WAIRMARIE
HOPE (tbc)

CLASSIC WOODY CRUISING AT WHANGAROA

Recently Bay of Islands woody Dean Wright had headed up the coast to Whangaroa Harbour and being a professional photographer by trade his camera was never far from hand. So today we get to enjoy more of the B.O.I.’s woody fleet at play. 

The ex workboat looking craft has done a few laps, anyone know her name / history.

And of course the magnificent 1920 built LUANA………the best looking boat to come out of the MT Lane shed 🙂

WOODEN MOTOR LAUNCH – ZEPHYR AT WHANGAROA HARBOUR

Posted on by
1

MYSTERY CLASSIC WOODEN MOTOR LAUNCH – ZEPHYR AT WHANGAROA HARBOUR

Todays woody photo is another mystery launch that comes to us from the Far North District Library collection via Dean Wright. The photographer being Trevellyn Guest .

The location is Whangaroa Harbour and the date is unknown.

In the photo we see a straight stem launch with a tram top, the lack of a dog house may date the photo c.1910 > early 1920.                                                 Her unusual coamings window configuration may help with ID’ing the boat. That centre square (with curved top) window is a very distinctive feature.

Can anyone put a name to the boat and comment on its back story.

29-07-2025 UPDATE: As identified in the comments section by Fred Walker and latter confirmed via a phone call. It is ZEPHYR and was owned at the time by Joe Shephard who was managing the Whangaroa slip at the time.

Ethel Big Game Fishing

Posted on by
1

Ethel Big Game Fishing

The passage of life sometimes is a tad scary – recently I have been doing several stories based around Whangaroa Harbour in the Far North and  yesterday the phone rings and one of the last standing relatives has passed on – and where is the funeral – Whangaroa, so tomorrow the car will be pointing north. These events are never good but in her mid 90’s, it will be a celebration of life.

Anyway moving on to todays story – thanks to a Lew Redwood fb post we get to see a c.1931 photo gallery of the launch – Ethel in / around Whangaroa Harbour, in her big game fishing heyday. Regular WW readers will known my personal views on this heinous practice – one photo is tagged ‘Mako shark being killed with a spade’. Ok its not a spade, but seriously how barbaric is that.

(Photos ex The British Museum collection)

Get a Wee Bit Excited About The Upcoming Mahurangi Regatta – next weekend – Jan 28th.

Valhalla At Whangaroa 1932 + Woody Quiz

Posted on by
Reply

Valhalla At Whangaroa 1932

In the above March 1932 photo we see the launch Valhalla alongside the wharf at the Whangaroa Swordfish and Big Gamefish Club in Northland.

Two very impressive Mako sharks are being weighed in – must have been a hell of a battle to land that pair in a boat the size of Valhalla 🙂

I’m a bit light on intel on Valhalla – can we learn more on her?

(Photo ex Lew Redwood fb)

INPUT ex Greg Philpott – below press clippings. I wonder if she survived the fire i.e. rebuilt.

WEDNESDAY WOODY QUIZ – Win WW t-shirt + a Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Calendar

⎈ Name the boat yard and location (approx) in the photo below – and your are in the draw for a WW t-shirt + LRC&WB calendar. ENTRY ONLY VIA EMAIL TO THE ADDRESS BELOW (entries close 6pm 18-01-2023

waitematawoodys@gmail.com

Mooching Around Whangaroa Harbour

Posted on by
1

Mooching Around Whangaroa Harbour

Pointed the car north yesterday for a fleeting visit to one of my favorite woody haunts – Whangaroa Harbour in the Far North. Always a great display of classic craft either tied up at the marina or moored in the bay.

Terrible internet connection and battery life disappearing fast – so I’ll add names to the vessels when I’m back in the big smoke 🙂

Enjoy the gallery.