Live-ish From The 2011 New Zealand Classic & Antique Boat Show – A Clinker Wins!

The Eventiac Award for Best Themed Display went to "SS Flirt" - Jacquetta Bell Photo

As promised all week, we are now Live-ish from the 2011 New Zealand Classic & Antique Boat Show at Lake Rotoiti. As the reports and images come in we will get them posted for everyone to enjoy. This is so cool, providing same day coverage (for everyone in North America) from a boat show over 8,600 miles from Woody Boater Headquarters… An 18 hour flight.

Thanks to fellow Woody Boater Jacquetta Bell from the Nelson Media Agency in Nelson NZ, here is the first report…

Lake Rotoiti, Nelson Lakes National Park
5-6 March 2011

A Danish built double-ender, that came to NZ in 1927 on a factory whale ship, won the Jens Hansen Cup Award for the Best Vessel Overall at the weekend’s NZ Classic and Antique Boat Show held at Lake Rotoiti in the Nelson Lakes National Park.

“Else” is owned and was restored by Doug Johnson, who now lives in Christchurch, but is originally from Stewart Island, where the boat had been in family ownership for over 50 years.

"Else" on Lake Rotoiti for the 2011 NZ Boat Show - Jacquetta Bell Photo

Judges Mick Fone and John Harris said picking the most worthy boat was very difficult.

“The Else had a good story, and the album of the restoration that Doug had, showed the effort that had gone into a very thorough job,” Mick said. “He had done it very skilfully and sympathetically, where necessary using modern methods and technology without detracting from the fact that it was a very old boat.”

The Eventiac award for Best Themed Display went to “SS Flirt”, a replica royal mail steam ship that was completed in time for the Classic Boat Show by Lionel Jeffcoat in Havelock and launched on Saturday morning. Owner Robert Hamlett had his entire crew thematically attired in navy and white stripes.

The CWF Hamilton award for Best Jet Boat went to an original condition unrestored 14’ Hamilton Jet 30, built in 1958 by Darby Martin, to a design by George Davison.

The Ron Culley Steam Trophy went to “India”, built in 1906 with an enclosed cabin added in 1922. India was bought in 1999 and has been under restoration for most of that time by her owners, Peter & Lyndia Wood of Wellington.

In sunny conditions two days of racing were held for yachts, row boats, seagull motored dinghies, poppers, canoes, child rowers and swimmers. On Sunday morning boating 30 heritage devotees met to discuss the feasibility of a permanent home for classic boating at St Arnaud.

Organiser Pete Rainey says “Although it’s early days, the concept of a classic boat museum met with a lot of enthusiasm.”

“There is some caution about how it would work financially but there is definite support for a community facility for locals and visitors, with classic boats as an attraction to add to the outdoor activity in the area and help to keep people for a longer stay at the lake.” – Jacquetta Bell, Nelson Media Agency

Thanks Jacquetta – Here are a few more images of “Else”, this year’s Jens Hansen Cup Award winner for the Best Vessel Overall at the weekend’s NZ Classic and Antique Boat Show. These images are courtesy of Traditional Boat Builder Doug Johnson, you can view the entire restoration which they have documented on their web site by clicking here. As noted on Doug Johnson’s web site…

The Else is a beautiful wee traditional classic boat. (22″6″”) double-ended clinker hull, powered by a 2cyl Lister diesel engine. The boat was originally build in Denmark by Jorgensen & Vik in the 1920’s and has been here in New Zealand since 1927, she was carried out by a Whaling Ship (Sir James Clark Ross) .
Doug and his dad Ian brought the Else from Trevor Johnson in Stewart Island in 2006 with the purpose of restoring the Else and to keep her in the family.

Best New Boat – Mid 50s runabout design by Glen L Marine, USA. Plans bought and boat entirely built by owner in his first attempt at building a boat. Powered by a Ford V6 3 litre inboard. 40 “Typhoon” John & Rosie Herd, Wakefield.

Best Original Row Boat – This 9.74m owner built replica Jackson Family whale boat, was completed this year by Ron Perano of Blenheim. 71 “Swiftsure” 1 Ron Perano, Blenheim.

Best Jet Boat CWF Hamilton Award – In its original condition this unrestored 14’ Hamilton Jet 30, was built 1958 by Darby Martin, to a design by George Davison. 51 Kim Chapman-Taylor, Christchurch.

Best Non Powered Craft Johnson Family Trophy – A 7.2m clinker Faering sailing boat, owner built in 2006 to Ian Oughtred’s Arctic Tern design, but enlarged from 17ft to 24 ft. Everything on board is owner built – even the sails were made by Peter. 108 “Silver Tern” Peter Sewell, Auckland.

Best Powered Craft Mathieson Jeffcott Trophy – Built in 1956 and purchased by current owners in 2008. The boat has a Kauri keel and transom with lapstrake over pohutukawa ribs. Rather than replacement, all damaged timber was repaired – to preserve the vessel’s history. The only new material is the persex windscreen. 72 “The Gull” Nevil & Rosemary Paterson, Marlborough.

Best Themed Display Eventiac Award – The replica royal mail steam ship was completed in time for the Classic Boat Show by Lionel Jeffcoat in Havelock and launched on Saturday morning. Owner Robert Hamlett had his entire crew thematically attired in navy and white stripes. 42 “SS Flirt” Robert Hamlett, Wellington.

Best Steam Boat Ron Culley Steam Trophy – Built in 1906 by Bill Shakespeare, apprentice to the Logan Brogthers. The 22 ft steam launch is two skin kauri carvel construction with a transom stern. The enclosed cabin was added in 1922. India was bought in 1999 and has been under restoration for most of that time. 79 “India” Peter & Lyndia Wood, Wellington.

The Jens Hansen Cup Award for the Best Vessel Overall – 22ft Clinker, built in approx 1925 in Denmark. Came to NZ in 1927 on a factory whale ship. Has been in the Johnson family for 50 years. Doug started a website in 2009 when the restoration began: www.elserestoration.webs.com 11 “Else” Doug Johnson, Christchurch.

Congratulations to all the winners this year. Stay tuned to Woody Boater for more photos and information on the 2011 New Zealand Classic & Antique Boat Show as it comes in from 8,600 miles away.

Texx