GRACE

Sorry its been a while. Meantime ,on a road trip south called in to Westport and finally saw and fotoed GRACE. It is looking for a new owner,Not much money for a syart but a full refit/rebuild will be required. I have more details if anyone interested, including owners contact.

BACK FROM THE BIG TRIP

Returned to Whangarei on !5th April having circumnavigated New Zealand. 3040 nautical miles.My eldest daughter anhusband were crew. They are commercial fisherfolk from North Queensland.

Missy, the Schipperke cross is also a veteran.

READY

We leave tomorrow the 2nd of December for our trip south to Stewart Island ans return. Down the East coast and up the West coast.We plan on stopping and playing tourist and exploring Captain Cook,s route. We have a full load of diesel on of 1850 litres.
Will post the odd foto here, but  daily on Facebook-Gary J. Underwood join me there....

JOLI BOAT

picked this up from BOAT BITS web site the other day and it caught my eye as a very clever use of space. Four berth 20ft canal cruiser, tho would be a bit crowded with four on a wet day. Maybe a couple wiyh overnite guests.

MEOLA FOR SALE

Pretty sure I posted a foto of Meola befor . But now for sale. View more details on WWW,waitematawoodies.com

WANGANUI

At Whangaparpara, Great barrier Is. Been on the beach here for at least 12 years. The tide goes in and out now, so I guess she will stay!

FIRST CAR

I know not much to do with Mason Bay. But trying a new upload! Bear with me please.
It is/was a 1929 Ford Model A Tudoor. Bought for 20 pounds with my mate in 1967 I think.We drove to Auckland from here in Wellington in Jan for the NZ Grande Prix. 400 m each way.

EMMA GOLDMAN

Emma Galdman was one of the two Alice Alakwes built on Marthas Vineyard. Emma had a stayed H28  rig. Here she is in the Carribean in happier times. Lost in mid Atlantis some years ago. Sad.

DONNA MARIE

For sale nz$175k Gardner diesel, ownd by Shipwright and in perfect order.Located Bay Of Islands NZ

JULEEN

Always liked this little deadrise sharpy.Some may even call her a scow.28 feet or so with a cosy cabin with more or less headroom.Motor up forward in the foc'sle.For sale in the Bay of Islands NZ.

CASILDA

Back in 1978 I sailed to Tasmania in a 56ft yacht called UTIEKAH 111 which I had restored in NZ .Robyn and I decided to settle in Tassie and found a 108 ac Island called Huon Is at the mouth of the Huon River. We sold UTIEKAH and in part payment we aquired CASILDA the last sailing wet-well crayboat and a 42 pot licience.I fished with Chas as skipper around the south and west coasts, setting pots from a 14ft al dinghy.Later sold to 2 brothers for $A26k.
B and I visited Tasmania a few years ago and spied her in Constitution Dock for sale.$A365k.The pot licience had been sold for 3.5mil.! oh well I have done a few things in the meantime.
I must say she was in very good condition.

SPINDRIFT  Not sure if I have posted this new design of mine befrore. 10 m ocean capable low powered motor boat. Aft wheelhouse, in fact the passages are all conned from aft. There are 2 sea berths,a galley and chart table. forward of the well deck is the luxurios in port accommodation with shower toilet and double berth. Sheet ply construction. Power is 36 hp on 3.14 red.

Tacking dual the day after the Waikare regatta. Near is LUDIQUE 28ft schooner and SHANTY 28ft yawl.Opua in the background.

SUMMER CRUISING 2014-15

Been out cruising since the beginning of December. Now back in port for resuply.Had both daughters and Husbands and two lots of guests from USA.The new waychdog is MISSY a schipperke cross with a bichon.Richie calls her his Covergirl! Mason Bay going perfectly.Even solved one small annoying leak.

PASSAGE ON KELVIN

Just come back from Nelson in the South Island. I helped Davey take his 1929 ex fishing boat down from Tauranga about 450nm.The Island is the active volcano WHITE Is. in Bay of Plenty.Sails were used when possible but the JP4 Lister rumbled away at 2.5 nm per litre and 630rpm.Very easy to live with.

Now getting ready to move aboard Mason Bay for the summer.

MOERANGI

I have posted some fotos and the work that has gone into this 1901 Logan motor-sailer.Unfortunately the presnt owners have over extended their budget and now want to sell.It is very hard to put a figure on her. to some people she is a treasure. to others a liability.But she must find a new owner.
Loa54ft, Boa 13 ft 22tonnes 5L3 Gardner on 2:1 3skin Logan construction on heart Kauri copper rivitted. Lots of history around.Berthed in Town Basin Whangarei.Contact me if interested.

SPORTBOAT

Whenwe were in Falmouth UK on our way round we got to know the local club race scene. Wednesdays and Sundays the local hot shot sailors race these Falmouth Workboats. 28ft displacement yachts. Crewws can vary up to 12-15 plenty of room with the deck at waist level. There is a cuddy up forward for the sailos and beer. When used to go to the Sail-ins in France they put the camping gear up forward with an awning for the cockpit. Now this is the sort of craft a lot of club racer/cruisers should have. And if you think they are slow you would be mistaken. (CURLEW)

JOHN S GREY

Found this artist who specialises in schooners and cod fishing off Nova Scotia. Go looking ....

MIZZEN BACK IN

Finally re-installed the mizzen mast which has an extention to the exhaust pipe up it.It sort of worked ok before, but not quite right. The mizzen got hot- not enough to bubble the paint but too hot for the hand. So we hardly ever used the mizzen. Also you may recall had a bit of over-heating on the last tow job. All been fixed and new ss heat deflector installed just in case.

NORTHERN LIGHT

This photo was taken some years ago. Sweet little boat, one of Roger Carey's However have heard on the grapevine it is hauled out in Havelock and does not look promising. Some rough additions to wheelhouse and destruction to bulwarks. Gardner Diesel. any further news?