Tag Archives: Workboat

CLASSIC WORKBOAT VANGUARD – A WATERFRONT APARTMENT FOR $2.50

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CLASSIC WORKBOAT VANGUARD – A WATERFRONT APARTMENT FOR $2.50

First up that isn’t a typo in the headline – todays woody is for sale and the current bid is $2.50 and the reserve has been met……….

Two option here, buy her as a live aboard or as a project to end up with a very fine workboat conversion.

What we know about VANGUARD –

• Built in 1947 by Lidgard’s

• 50’ in length with either double or triple skinned hull

• Powered by a GM V8.

• Was in survey up to May 2025.

• Located currently in Pelorus Sound.

(thanks Ian McDonald for the tme heads up)

CLASSIC SOUTHERN WORKBOAT – ELIZABETH DN.61 – CONVERSION 

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CLASSIC SOUTHERN WORKBOAT – ELIZABETH DN.61 – CONVERSION 

The 36’ 1956 Miller & Tunnage (Port Chalmers) built classic wooden launch – ELIZABETH started life was a work boat, built for E.J. Pile of Moeraki. Her reg # being DN.61 .

From her tme post she was converted to pleasure use in 2000. Post the conversion she has lived on Lake Wanaka (fresh water).

Forward motion is via a 75hp Ford 6 cyl.2715E engine.

Like all southern girls she is well fitted out for comfortable life afloat, including a heater.

If the top photo above is current and with her parentage, its a good buy at 28.5k. Thanks Ian McDonald for the heads up

CLASSIC WOODEN WORKBOAT – TENACITY

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CLASSIC WOODEN WORKBOAT – TENACITY

Back in 2024 the 44’ classic wooden workboat TENACITY was for sale in Nelson as a commercial fishing boat , but the suggestion was she had the bones to make a good recreational cruiser.

At the time we learnt she was a Jack Guard design, built in 1988 from kauri and was powered by a 150hp Gardner 6L3B engine.

Todays woody question is did she sell, and if so did she remain in commercial work or get converted to recreational use.

CLASSIC WORKBOAT – TE TUI + MYSTERY LAUNCH

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CLASSIC WORKBOAT – TE TUI + MYSTERY LAUNCH

We have two woodys of interest in todays photo – firstly the Auckland Harbour Board launch TE TUI seen in the forefront looking very smart for a ‘workboat. The photo came to us from a Chris Wood post on the ’Tug & Workboat of NZ fb page. Chris commented that she operated at Westhaven Marina or the Harbour Masters loft at the end of Queens Wharf. Frequently used for wharf soundings. The Engineers Dept. had  a similar boat named – TE WAKA.

Chris asked what became of these boats. B Worthington commented that TE TUI resides in Tauranga these days.

Can we get an update on her status and builder etc and also TE WAKA.

The second woody of interest is the sedan top launch behind TE TUI, any thoughts on her name.

CLASSIC SOUTHERN WOODEN WORKBOATS 

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CLASSIC SOUTHERN WOODEN WORKBOATS 

Earlier in the month Glenn Martin was mooching around the South Island on a bike  (I assume motorbike) and sent in todays gallery of woody workboat photos from Bluff. 

Not all capable of heading out to sea but wonderful to see them still intact, if that was Auckland they would have made a oneway trip to the landfill years ago.

TOKATEA – A Classic Workboat Conversion 

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TOKATEA – A Classic Workboat Conversion 

The 44’ launch TOKATEA started life back in 1959 as a Government fishing patrol and lighthouse tender, built by WG Lowe.                                           TOKATEA was ‘retired’ in 1987 and converted to pleasure use.

While still retaining her workboat roots the interior fit out is rather smart, certainly providing a home away from home afloat.

Forward motion is from a 100hp Gardner 6LW engine.

Read and see more on her past here https://waitematawoodys.com/2016/07/28/tokatea/

TOKATEA was once owned by WW contributor Ian McDonald. Home these days is Waikawa Marina, South Island.

1942 EX OTAGO HB CLASSIC WOODEN WORKBOAT – MARORO

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1942 EX OTAGO HB CLASSIC WOODEN WORKBOAT – MARORO

When I get an email that has the boat name MARORO in the subject panel, it gets opened straight away – lots of classic boating history surrounding that name. Turns out todays woody is an ex Otago Harbour Board workboat, that started life as a tender to a OHB dredge. 

MARORO was launched c.1942 and she is 30’ x 9’3” x 3’ and built from kauri carvel planks and rebuilt in 1990 and still owned by the family that rebuilt her. Powered by a Mazda 4cyl HA 76hp diesel engine, she has a cruising speed of 7>8 knots.

Home is still Dunedin and she looks like she could handle a sporty weather day + very well fitted out.

Each to there own but the mahogany interior doesn’t get a tick from me – a tad too perfect for an 80 yr old classic. (Thanks Ian McDonald for the tme heads up)

Remember – if you are at a loose end tomorrow (Monday), head down to Westhaven / waterfront to watch the Auckland Ann. Day Regatta – Classic MotorBoat Inner Harbour Racing.

Race start off RNZYS / Westhaven > Orakei and return > RNZYS

KAWHIA WHARF – 1910 – CLASSIC WOODEN MOTORBOATS FLASHBACK

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KAWHIA WHARF – 1910 – CLASSIC WOODEN MOTORBOATS FLASHBACK

Todays woody photo is of the wharf at Kawia and the large vessel berthed alongside is the harbour ferry – MAHINO.

Of more interest is the collection of small launches , they have a workboat look to them, anyone able to iD any of them.

Photo ex Auckland Libraries heritage collection via Ian McDonald. 

MYSTERY CLASSIC WOODEN WORKBOAT

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MYSTERY CLASSIC WOODEN WORKBOAT

I spotted the above (ex?) workboat last weekend in Bon Accord Harbour, KAWAU ISLAND during the Woodys Classic Launch Parade.

Keen to lean more about her past and present life.

ANYONE OWN A –  J. A. Wheeler classic boat? I have come across the location of the builders name plate below, which is crying out to be re-connected to a suitable vessel.

Email me at waitematawoodys@gmail.com telling me why you are the most suitable reciprant.

ONE OF THEM IS DREAMING – 17’ V 40’ WOODY

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ONE OF THEM IS DREAMING – 17’ V 40’ WOODY

An unnamed woody recently sent me a link to a craft on tme with a one line note “wow check this out, you should buy it”.

Well woodys turns out the craft was a 1955 17’ speedboat . Bui;t by someone named ‘Lewis’ and repowered with a 350hp Mercury inboard V8, capable of 90 kph (50 knots). 

Short answer – not for me.

Reading the listing it was all a little OTT eg “Rare vintage boats like this almost never come up for sale”, well thats not correct tme has mutable listings and then this line – “Trade-ins and finance welcome, and transport can be arranged nationwide.”

The nostrils started to twitch , smells like a car dealer…… well reading on turns out it was being sold by a car yard. And with a $40>45k price tag someones been sniffing the fuel tank.

So what’s the real story today – well this listing just illustrates the current divide between classic wooden motorboats and zoom zoom recreational trailer craft. 

For the same $$ you could own the 40’ Miller & Tunnage classic woody below and do laps of NZ.